Synopsis:  In the grand “X-Files” manner, the film’s storyline is being kept under wraps. This much can be revealed: It is a stand-alone story in the tradition of some the show’s most acclaimed and beloved episodes, and takes the complicated relationship between Mulder (DUCHOVNY) and Dana Scully (ANDERSON) in unexpected directions. Mulder continues his unshakable quest for the truth, and Scully, the passionate, ferociously intelligent physician, remain inextricably toed to Mulder’s pursuits. (Provided by studio.)

Story:                                 $12.00
Direction:                          $11.00
Acting:                               $12.00
Editing:                              $10.00
Production Design:        $11.00
Special Effects:              $12.00
Score/Music:                   $11.00
Costumes:                       $12.00
"REEL" Value:                $11.36 – Ten years since the film, and eight years since the last episode of the series, Chris Carter and company fall right back into step, delivering a compelling thriller that captures the darkest moments of suspense and tension from the series and takes it in a direction that sets the plot on par with great thrillers like “Silence of the Lambs.”

If you’re looking for hordes of freaks, monsters, and little green men, X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE might leave you a tad disappointed. And that is what makes this a great film. Series (or should I say franchise) creators Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz do a brilliant job of taking these characters they developed during the slightly more innocent early 90’s and places them in the more jaded 21st Century, adulterated, cynical, Bush era. Faced with 9/11 and the wars in the Gulf, we have little doubt that government conspiracies exist on some level. The catch phrase in the media today is that people have “lost faith in government.” And so X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE aptly deals with these characters and their loss of faith in a numerous aspects of their daily lives. Mulder is reintroduced to us in a scene that harkens back to the scene when Mulder and Scully meet for the first time. But Mulder seems like a man who is been beaten down – lost his faith, most importantly in himself.  Scully is dealing with faith issues in relation to what she believes as a physician working for a Catholic hospital. And Fr. Joseph Crissman is a man of the cloth, plagued by visions, looking for a sign for God that he is forgiven for his horrible transgressions. Some might feel that a comparison to “Silence of the Lambs” is a bold statement. However, the writers have crafted these scenes between the characters that play out as intense as any of the scenes from “Silence” where Clarice and Hannibal mentally spar. There is a depth to these characters that we’ve not scene before.

And the performances are equally up to the task. There are moments when Duchovny and Anderson show us the characters that we came to love in the series. As the drama evolves the tension heats up. These are powerful performances that are psychologically charged and so well acted that they will leave you emotionally drained. Without taking anything away from Duchovny and Anderson, once again Bill Connolly proves what a versatile and talent actor he is. From his work here to “Fido,” to “The Last Samurai,” and his stand up comedy, he has the acting props to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart.

The film doesn’t forget its roots. There are some interesting moments that fans of the series will truly appreciate, a few interesting political statements where they wink at the camera ever so slightly, and a brilliant contemporary take on the score that has those key sound cues fans have come to know and love. There is an interesting statement, intentional or not, that has to do with the villains and what they are attempting to do. Think about after you see the film. There is a scene at the end, so sit through the credits. Overall, the camera work is sold and breathtaking at times, the editing skillfully pieces together the action sequences, and Carter’s direction is right on the money.

While you can say that X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE is steeped in as much mythology as “The Mummy” or “The Dark Knight,” it has a resonance that lingers well beyond the viewing experiences. It leaves you with a lot more to talk about, regardless of how dedicated fan you are of the series. In a summer market where the majority of films are about the external film experience, like a thrill ride, X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE is an intense emotionally and spiritually charged mind game.

{Based on the average Manhattan Theater Ticket Price of $12.00.}