The X-Files: I Want to Believe, The Mothman Prophecies, Young@Heart
X-Files: I Want to Believe, The
[ 2 stars out of 4 ]
I’m not an avid fan of “The X-Files” (but a fan nonetheless) mainly because I haven’t seen many episodes from the later seasons. But I know the importance of Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dr. Dana Scully’s (Gillian Anderson) relationship pertaining to the overall story arc. Although most of the time one believes and one doubts, things get really interesting and entertaining when both characters touch the gray area. After eight years, I think Duchovny and Anderson still got it but the writing isn’t as strong so the characters feel a little different. Watching this picture is like watching a good (but not great) episode of “The X-Files” TV show. It’s another mystery-of-the-week kind of story that doesn’t much contribute to the infamous alien mythology. I wish the filmmakeres have decided to tackle that mythology instead because there are so much unanswered questions in the series finale. I found adding Amanda Peet and Xzibit as FBI agents to be refreshing because they reminded me of how much Mulder and Scully have evolved over the years. Billy Connolly as a psychic was nothing impressive but he was still mysterious and I wanted to know much about his character. One of my biggest problems with the film is that Duchovny wasn’t given enough material to work with in order for the audiences to understand him that much more. Most of the time, we see him moping and believing in the paranormal… and that’s pretty much it. But I was glad that Anderson was able to play various emotions whether it comes to dealing with the paranormal or science. As for the conclusion of the film, although shocking in its own right, the writers could’ve done something that could last in people’s heads after the credits ended. “The X-Files: I Want to Believe” wants to me to believe that the filmmakers will make another film to possibly bring back every effective element the TV show had to prove to moviegoers how powerful (and astute) the series can be.
Mothman Prophecies, The
[ 2 stars out of 4 ]
This film was supposedly based on a true story but there were many things about it that were so unbelievable, it was borderline science fiction. Still, I managed to focus on the film’s skill to entertain and effectiveness to thrill rather than its validity. The story kind of reminded me of a stand alone episode of “The X-Files” to the point where I expected Mulder and Scully to eventually appear on screen to help Richard Gere and Laura Linney solve the mystery. There were many questions that were raised, particularly during the first half, but almost none of them were ever answered clearly. It’s as if the filmmakers decided to put together one creepy scene after another without adding up to anything concrete. So, I would definitely say that there’s no reason for this picture to run for two hours. Nonetheless, there were two standout scenes for me: the phone call right before the film’s first hour and the disaster in the end. Other than those two scenes, I found the rest to be the kinds of scenes that can be seen in other thrillers. I did like the perfomances from Gere and Linney, but I wish Debra Messing had more things to do other than be happy or sad. What this film excelled in was the bleak atmosphere that gave me goosebumps from time to time. Ultimately, I won’t recommend this picture to anyone with short attention spans and to those who are not comfortable with unclear answers.
Young@Heart
[ 3 stars out of 4 ]
“I will never complain about being too old or being too tired anymore,” says one of the audiences after one of the Young at Heart Chorus concerts. That phrase sums up the entire documentary because we get to see a group of senior citizens, whose ages average about 80 years, singing, dancing, and having fun as if age isn’t at all a factor. I really enjoyed this picture because the subject is new to me so I was very interested in what insights it has to offer. All the happy singing and dancing aside, we also got a look at some of the members’ failing health. But instead of feeling depressed about their situation they still look forward to going back to perform again. It made me wonder whether what keeps them alive is the hope of rehearsing with their friends the next day. I was amazed by some of the Young at Heart Chorus’ renditions of certain songs like Coldplay’s “Fix You” and “Schizophrenia” by Sonic Youth. They made it their own without actually leaving the song’s catchiness and the original artists’ messages. This film also has important advice regarding teamwork, perserverance, and retaining a sense of humor. Ten minutes into the picture, I wanted to meet the members of the choir because they seem so energetic and interesting, unlike some young people I know. This movie also reminded me of my late grandfather because he was always had a positive outlook about everything. It made me wish that when I turn 80 I could be as young at heart as the members of the chorus.
