Is It over for X-Files?

About a week ago, I had the opportunity to watch once again The X-Files: I Want to Believe. I have had an interesting journey with the X-Files television series. I watched it once and awhile when it first aired, but never really got into the series.

My friend, Clyde, who has all the seasons on DVD then offered to journey with me through the show. We are almost done the series now. We have, I think, eight more episodes to go of season nine. I am kind of sad to see the journey come to an end. Although we plan next to watch another Chris Carter series, Millennium (courtesy of my DVD collection).

When the second movie came out this past summer, I made an effort to go see it in the theatre. Going to the theatre is something I seldom do nowadays, unless it is a film or series I have some connection with or have invested time in. The X-Files has been such a series.

To be honest, I was disappointed in the latest film addition to this series, The X-Files: I Want to Believe. Keep in mind I am still someone who has yet to complete season nine (the last season) of the television series, so maybe I missed a few significant connections. However, given what I have read online and heard from friends, I do not think so.

The film did have some good moments, however. For example, the conflict in Dana Scully's personal life as someone of a person of faith but also a woman of science. During the film she struggles to determine if she is acting as God in her position as a caregiver or simply doing the best she can for her patient. Granted, this is a tired theme from Hollywood, but Chris Carter tends to take tired themes and conflicts and breathes new life in them. I think he did it again in this film.

Yet while the subplot of Scully's personal journey is touching, the main plot of the story is a disappointment. From the use of a soundtrack from the Millennium television series to a picture of a two-headed dog that looks as credible as a tabloid photo, this new movie leaves the viewer wondering how excited the cast and crew were about the story.

Will there be a third film? There were some rumours that if there was it would probably be direct to DVD, but those rumours have been squashed. If there is a third film, hopefully it can continue to strengthen the relationship between Scully and Mulder and allow these two characters the opportunity to explore some of their own personal conflicts. But at the same time, the film needs a strong main plot, and maybe Chris Carter and his crew need to dig through the old shows to remember what made X Files so popular and the second greatest cult TV show in history.

At best, The X Files: I Want to Believe is a pretty good made for television film. I want to believe if there is a third film it will be worthy of the big screen.