XF: Not Sure I Want to Believe Anymore

[sarea]

Meeeehhhhhhhhh.

No wonder I wasn't excited to see it. I ended up pairing it with The Dark Knight, because I like watching 2 movies when I go to the theater, and the times worked out where I had to watch TDK first, which means it got my ticket money. Thank god for that, because it deserved it. The XF movie? Did not.

First of all, it was kind of a snorefest. The plot was unoriginal and kind of lame. When I first heard, oh so long ago, that it was going to be more MotW instead of mytharc, I was excited. Turns out that I think mytharc stuff is way more interesting in a theatrical setting. It feels way more epic, and you get to really feel investment in the characters and their crusade. I loved the first movie, but if you didn't watch the show it probably wouldn't have made a whole lot of sense or been very interesting. This movie might have made sense (relatively speaking) to a newb, but the interesting factor was severely lacking.

I don't even want to nitpick the plot (even though there were sooooo many things I could choose from), because that would take precious time that I don't want to spend on it, when I could be making sourdough. Suffice it to say that even if the plot were meh, they could have possibly won me over with the Mulder/Scully stuff -- but they didn't. I don't mind saying that I was pretty damn disappointed with where they had them in their lives after all these years ... stuck in the same rut (William/Samantha angst), but also so far removed from the things that made XF, well, XF. I mean, I guess they couldn't be in the FBI anymore? I can't really remember wth happened in the final season of the show, but them not having badges or carrying guns or really having any kind of law enforcement tie (DIRECT tie, not just for some contrived 'favor' they had to do Amanda Peet) really made it way too 'vanilla' for me.

And Scully faith angst? Has always been the part of the show that I found least compelling, so wasn't particularly glad to have to see her wrestle with it.

The MSR was cute-ish, I guess, but honestly it was rather lukewarm from both a physical and emotional perspective. I just didn't feel it even though I wanted to. I mean, this is a show that used to get me all hot and bothered when they would just look at each other sometimes. And now the open affection -- and contrived break up angst -- just doesn't match it.

Plus, Scully looks crap with long hair and DD isn't quite as gorgeous as he used to be, either. I really missed them in their suits. Honestly my favorite part of the movie was when Skinner showed up ... because he reminded me of all the good things XF used to be.

Comments

[corianderstem.livejournal.com]

All I can say is, "I know, right?" Although I liked the M&S stuff more than you did.

Oh, and I like Scully with the long hair. I think part of it is also that her face is thinner than it used to be, which isn't a bad thing. But, and I hate to be bitchy and shallow, she's also got some dark circles under her eyes ... but maybe that was on purpose for the character.

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know what you mean. She was cuter before. The same thing happened with SMG in Buffy -- she was so cute in S1 with a rounder face and real boobs.

[selinakyle47.livejournal.com]

At the end of the series, Mulder escaped from the military installation he was being held at. He and Scully were on the run, which would explain why they're not affiliated with the FBI anymore.

I haven't seen it yet...probably will see Dark Knight first.

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Wow, had totally forgotten that part. When I think of XF, I think of the good old days of them in the Bureau, wearing snazzy suits and chasing monsters.

I don't think anyone would dispute that DK is definitely the better movie. But if you still have affection for XF (i.e., not done with it like me), you would probably enjoy it, as many XF fans seem to have.