I want to believe that they still have enough material to make a quality movie...

When I went to go purchase tickets for The X-Files: I Want To Believe Friday night, I asked the cashier if the theater was close to full yet. He looked at me funny, checked the computer, then proceeded to laugh. "No man. There's PLENTY of seats. PLENTY!"

After all the record-breaking hoopla that The Dark Knight continues to create, I have to remind myself that not all the geeky entertainment that I loved has hit mainstream taste yet. The X-Files started out as this offbeat science fiction thriller about investigations into the paranormal that I recall Firecracker George telling me about early on in its beginnings on a then second-rate television network called Fox. I found it entertaining, but never really got hooked until the broad overlapping story arcs and mythology really started getting established. In that sense, The X-Files was ground breaking, and paved the way for some of my favorite television of recent years, including Alias, Lost, 24, and Battlestar Galactica. The X-Files was a must-watch show until it kind of sputtered out with the replacement of Mulder and Scully with new agents as the leads by it's final two seasons. But even though most of its audience lost interest at the end, the original X-Files movie proved that the formula could work on the big screen.

In this sequel, I Want To Believe reunites all the main players back together with David Duchovny slipping back into the role of Fox Mulder and Gillian Anderson reminding everyone that she's actually a pretty good actress, at least when she's playing Dana Scully. With show creator Chris Carter at the helm and writer Frank Spotnitz helping with the script, it seemed like all the main players were here for a great movie. Unfortunately, it just sort of fell short of my expectations.

As it's been six years since The X-Files was on the air, the movie seems to follow our own timeline to tell us what's happened to our favorite FBI pair after that span of time has passed. Scully is now working as a physician in a Catholic hospital, and Mulder is sort of in hiding (although it seems like the FBI could have found him easily if they wanted to merely by tailing Scully home). The search for a missing agent brings Mulder out of hiding, as the FBI needs his expertise in the paranormal to help them corroborate the only lead in the investigation which seems to stem from a pedophile priest having visions from God. This all seems to have something to do with a creepy guy hanging out at a local pool. I'd say more, but wouldn't want to ruin the movie for anyone. All the while, Scully is in the midst of trying some rather risky stem cell therapy on a young boy that tests her own faith in God and herself.

Like I said earlier, Gillian Anderson is a pretty good actress, and she's probably got the strongest and most developed character in the film (aside from silly lines like, "Look's like I got work to do."--since when did she get elevated to the status of cardiothoracic surgeon? Wasn't she just a glorified Quincy aka coroner before? If you watch the movie, you'll know what I'm talking about). David Duchovny always seems to have a laid back approach to his acting (which some might still consider flat), but it works with Mulder. The plot itself, although important to other underlying personal questions that Mulder and Scully deal with throughout the film, is kind of a throw away story, and the conclusion is a bit of a letdown. The inclusion of Amanda Peet and Xibit playing two FBI agents leading the case only serves to ensure a main character has a nasty (and somewhat over the top stupid) death scene--they might as well have just given them a red uniform to wear ala Star Trek.

In some ways, this film felt like an Ocean's Eleven sequel or the last Lethal Weapon movie. The purpose seems less about continuing the story arc of the original series, and more about providing a reunion for both the cast/crew of The X-Files and it's fans. If you stay long enough to watch through the credits, there's even a cute little shout out to the fans at the end. I guess that's OK. I should have known when the theater was only about half full that this wasn't going to be great. I hope at least one more sequel makes it out into the theaters, though. I'm not going to give this the greatest rating, but truth be told, I did enjoy watching these characters again. And we've gotta get another glimpse of The Lone Gunmen (they didn't make it into this film).

If this was on DVD, I'd give it a strong "Cheesy" rating. But for a $10 ticket price and a release date in the peak of summer? Well, I hate to say it, but...

Excuse me for a second. I need to throw up first before I write this review...

Back when The Blair Witch Project came out, I wasn't able to join it's cult fan base because I could never get through the entire movie without having to run out of the theater to vomit.  I'm sure it was good and scary, but the shaky handycam work made my eyes water, my head hurt, and my stomach really queazy.  Now with Cloverfield, the stylistic approach of the portable video camera is back.  I should have known better when I entered the theater with signs prominently warning that "Cloverfield may induce dizziness similar to that experienced on a roller coaster."  But then, I'm also lactose intolerant and that never stopped me from binging on a large scoop of Ben and Jerry's or a big bag of cheesy Cheetos.  I'll take a Lactaid pill for my milk indulgences and I'll take an Advil for this movie.  I followed the viral internet ad campaign, and coming from the creator of Lost and Alias, I'll be damned if I was going to let a little migraine get in the way of learning what in the world the puzzle was all about.  

Word from producer J.J. Abrams himself was that this was going to be a simple monster movie, a sort of Godzilla for the modern age.  And guess what?  That's exactly what it was.  No Lost-like puzzle.  No intricate Alias-sized plot.  For almost 90 minutes, we essentially watch a video tape found in Central Park in the aftermath of a disasterous event codenamed "Cloverfield" by the Department of Defense.  The tape begins with Rob and Beth during their post-coital day after their first night together.  We jump ahead since the cameraman forgot to change out the tape, and now we're at a farewell party for Rob, who's off to Japan for a new job.  In the midst of the party, all hell breaks loose in New York City, and the rest of the movie follows Rob and his friends running through the streets as a creature destroys the city.

In Japan, Godzilla was regarded as this allegorical representation of the fear of nuclear holocaust and destruction in the wake of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  Cloverfield seems to be approaching those same fears, although instead of atomic bombs, New York City and the American public try to figure out how to live in a world after 9/11.  Buildings crumble and crowds of people run from the resulting dust cloud--it's as if the World Trade Center towers are falling again.  It's an interesting idea, and even though it's been six years since that dreadful day, I'm sure there will be debate as to whether this movie was made too early.

None of the people in this movie are known actors.  Although this relationship between Rob and Beth has a somewhat central role, it's the sense that they have a strong love for each other that's important in exploring our own feelings in the backdrop of a world falling apart around us rather than truly diving into what makes their relationship and characters tick.  The movie doesn't focus too much on the monster itself.  You only get glimpses and the occasional roar that echoes through the streets, which makes it all the more terrifying.   

And then there's the shaky homemade camera technique.  I think it's effective, keeping the movie feeling very real and moving along at a good pace.  But I just couldn't watch it.  I tried, but I couldn't.  I think it probably deserves to be "Cheesy."  In my current dizzy state and because I spent most of the movie with my eyes closed, unfortunately, I have to give it a "Bland." 

Just released in theaters and soon to invade a DVD bin near you...

The roles that A-list movie stars pick often bewilder me. Nicole Kidman, owning three Golden Globes and an Oscar in her resume, could probably have her pick of any role she chooses. Yet she's come up with a couple of real stinkers in the past such as The Stepford Wives and Bewitched. One could say she isn't cut out for mainstream movies, but I'm quite a fan of her other thrillers The Peacemaker and The Interpreter. And truth be told, I liked her in Days of Thunder. But after watching The Invasion this weekend, I'm left scratching my head again as to why such a talented and beautiful actress with such Hollywood clout would devote her efforts to another mediocre film.

I guess money could be a reason--she reportedly became the highest paid actress in the world currently by receiving $17 million for her role as Dr. Carol Bennell, a Washington D.C. psychiatrist who uncovers an alien disease taking over the world and turning the human race into zombies. Working with an up and coming director Oliver Hirschbiegel and a stellar back-up cast with the likes of Daniel Craig and Jeffrey Wright doesn't hurt either. Rumor prior to its release, too, buzzed about the script for this fourth remake of The Body Snatchers as being a completely fresh take on the science fiction thriller genre with a timely allegory to the current political climate of the world. This movie, however, never quite achieved that lofty goal. Bad early test screenings forced Warner Bros. to rework the entire movie (bringing in the uncredited Wachowski Brothers of The Matrix fame, no less), and delayed its premiere by a whole year. Interestingly, you can sort of tell. Something about the flow of The Invasion is just a little disjointed at times. Perhaps this was to reflect the disjointed personalities of humans infected by the alien germ, but whatever the case, it doesn't quite work.

Nicole Kidman is quite easy on the eyes and her allure keeps you drawn into the movie. Her acting is quite up to par to most of her previous work, but otherwise this wasn't that memorable of a film. What suspense exists never really had me on the edge of my seat, and the final act to wrap the whole thing up doesn't satisfy. The film throws in a blatant monologue of a speech by some Russian at a dinner party about our innate nature for conflict to really try and beat it over your head that this movie was supposed to be something much deeper than your typical zombie movie. And perhaps, in its original incarnation it was. You can tease out a few signs of artistry and moodiness early on. Maybe a great film is hidden in here somewhere. Too bad nobody found it.