The X Files

Two key questions surrounded the big-screen incarnation of The X Files: 1) Would it alienate the devoted viewers of the television series by revealing too much of the government/alien conspiracy FBI Agents Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) have battled for five years? 2) Would it alienate the uninitiated who wouldn't know a Cigarette-Smoking man from Shinola? In retrospect, it's hard to believe the first question was ever a question at all. Though the film does reveal significant details about dark plans for alien domination, it's not the Place Wherein All Things Shall Be Revealed; essentially, it's a two-hour long episode of the series with amped-up production values. Yet there's something strange about moving the show's claustrophobia to the big screen. Blown up larger than life, the conspirators are less sinister, the situations less sublimely creepy, perhaps leaving fans wondering who took their Mulder and Scully and dropped them into a summer action blockbuster. Of course, that same vibe is exactly what will make it easier for question number two to get a big "no." Director Rob Bowman complements the necessary, economical exposition with energetic, visually arresting set pieces, creating a satisfying visceral entertainment which will leave you scratching your head only during token moments of "in" humor. In fact, The X Files may work best as a cunning lure to draw new potential viewers into the fold. Regular viewers, on the other hand, have seen better stories with these characters. The truth is only partially out there in The X Files, and the truth is that X-Philes with high expectations will be much harder to please than the average viewer who is likely to find this a smarter, more intense action film than most blockbuster brethren. Recommended. (S. Renshaw)