Now, there was an entertaining evening!
Bless!
It’s been a little while since I’ve actually managed to host a Movie Night, and that’s on top of an episode of Merlin complete with Georgia Moffett — daughter of Peter Davison and Sandra Dickinson — cropping up as Lady Vivian.
Can I be honest, here?
Can I?
I’m going to be, anyway!
She definitely reminded me of her mother, in this episode, even down to the Dickinson voice, she really did!
Actually tonight’s episode was quite a fun one; one that sees Arthur and Vivian bewitched into falling with each other, Gwen mooning after a lost love, and Merlin, himself — played with his usual enthusiasm, and joy, by Colin Morgan — running around like a headless chicken, trying to sort things out, and make sure Arthur doesn’t get killed in a duel to the death, with an annoyed father!!
Very entertaining, actually.
•••••
As was the movie Kevin D brought over, tonight, bless ’im!
And I’m probably going to refer to it as The X-Files; mostly because its full title, The X-Files: I Want To Believe, is just a bit on the long side.
Certainly with the fonts I tend to like!
I’m going sideways, here, aren’t I?
I’ve got to admit, this is a movie I know I and Kevin Z hadn’t seen; and it’s one I know I enjoyed.
It picks up some years after the series, and sees both Dana Scully and Fox Mulder formally retired from the FBI; with Mulder hidden away from view, and Scully working as a doctor in a Catholic run Hospital.
And persuaded back to their former employers, by Special Agent Dakota Whitney, who has something of a job for them.
Investigating — purely in an advisory capacity — the defrocked pædophile priest, Father Joe, played by Billy Connolly.
Who’s been having what he claims are visions from God, of a kidnapped FBI agent.
One that’s seemingly been kidnapped by a rather more unpleasant than usual bunch of black-market organ-leggers …
•••••
Now, I’ll confess, here, that, despite Virgin One and BBC 2 having shown The X Files series many times over the years — one I’d personally loved, for its mix of alien abductions, government conspiracies, and assorted shenanigans — it was also a series I know I’d not managed to keep up with, especially in later years.
So the fact that I Want To Believe resembled one of the stand-alone, Monster of the Week stories was a good thing, from where I’m sitting.
It meant I was looking at a trio of characters — Dana Scully, Fox Mulder and their boss, Deputy Director, Walter Skinner — I’d known and thought well of, in a new story; without having to worry to much about various bits of previous story-lines I may have missed.
Something that I know worried Kevin D, somewhat; as someone who’d followed the series, more intensely than I, he’d felt there were holes and gaps that could — or should — have been resolved, and hadn’t been.
At least to his satisfaction.
Something I think I’d be a touch miffed about, in his shoes.
But …
But I know I’ve seen an enjoyable film, tonight.
And one that doesn’t ask too much prior knowledge, to be enjoyed.
So, while some may give it a 3★ ‘Could Have Been Better’, I’m personally thinking that it could have been worse.
And certainly deserves checking out.
8 comments:
I saw this film when it first came out, it was enjoyable, however not enough to add to my must buy list, there is still to much Dr Who/ Tom Baker stuff to get. I did however have any enjoyable evening watching Paradox, and Collision. Paradox was good, in these days of televised pap for the masses i.e "get me out of here" etc, it was a breath of fresh air, as was Collision, but then Douglas Henshall is yummy !
I’ve to confess, Sue, Collision I’ve not heard of! I’ll try and keep an eye open!
But I did see Paradox, and thought rather well of it.
Personally, I think it's a very under rated film. Ok, there's still a lot of loose end's to be tied up, but at least that can form the basis of another film. What I liked was that it was more character driven than I thought it was going to be, but, coupled with the unsuitable release date in the cinema, was the reason why it failed at the cinema. Chris Carter promised a "balls out horror film" and ended up delivering something a bit different and, in my opinion, a bit more personal. I say personal because of the theme of the film: questioning one's faith and beliefs. The only real problem with the film was that it left me wanting a new series!
Now there’s going to something we’ll be waiting a long time for; given both lead stars commitments.
One’s in a series, the other’s got kids, remember!!
But I’m thinking that faith was a big — if subdued — theme in the series: don’t forget that both Mulder and Scully have very different — and conflicting — belief systems.
We could go on for hours, couldn’t we?
Ok, a mini-series then. They should have time for that!
That’s actually a good thought: a Children of Earth style 5-night job would allow a slower pace, and more time to develop both story and character.
An hour and a half can make a good film, I’m thinking, but not necessarily a good TV show.
Sue, Andy, Graham, if you’re reading this, what are your thoughts?
as requested :)
OK, not quite what I had in mind, ComBom!!
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