Feeling a little lazy and unwilling to tackle the big pile of papers on my desk, I just spent some time searching for various reviews and comments of fellow bloggers on the new X-files movie. Being the X-files fan that I am, I decided to challenge myself by writing a review of my own.

I followed the X-files from the beginning thanks to a friend of mine who, having too much time on her hands, watched the pilot on the night it was first aired and told me all about it the next week in high school. I was immediately hooked and soon, she and I had (almost) nothing else to talk about.

I’m fiercely loyal to the series, but also terribly critical; Chris Carter and the entire team have proven time and again that they are capable of creating amazing episodes, and I expect nothing but the best from them. It was difficult watching some of the episodes of the last three years of the series, but one in awhile a gem would reappear that gave me hope that the series could rise back up to its former glory.

This is the hope I had for this movie; I found out about it eons ago (I regularly searched the web for the latest rumors) and have been keeping my fingers crossed while hoping for the best. I knew it could deliver, but if it would do so was another question.

I saw the first showing of the movie on the day it premiered, which clearly reflects my level of excitement. I left the theater in a bit of a daze. Mulder and Scully were back, but to what I wasn’t sure.

Critics have a reason to be as disappointed as they have been. After all, the series that became a pop culture phenomenon should have made a huge comeback, and failed to do so. However, I think it’s unfair to dismiss the X-files altogether. Some of the best reviews I have read manage to balance out the negative with the positive, but I have yet to read one that left me completely satisfied – hence my attempt to do the same.

On the one hand, the paranormal aspect was terrible. After everything Mulder did and the extent to which the government went to get rid of him in seasons 7 through 9, does it really make sense that they decide to forgive him just because of one missing agent? The agent should have been more important, the case should have been a bigger (and longer-standing) headache that it was presented to be, or someone should have been manipulating the strings à la Cigarette-Smoking Man to make sure that Mulder came back to fill some agenda.

Then there was the actual case itself. This was the second disappointing point of the movie, but, considering the fact that the premise didn’t make sense, the plot could only follow suit. I was looking forward to jumping in my chair at least a dozen times, but I wasn’t spooked out at all. There were some omg moments, but they even weren’t worthy of an omg in full capital letters. While the plot would have made a good episode of a regular season, it isn’t shocking enough to make a blockbuster out of a comeback movie.

But what the movie lacked in premise and plot, it clearly made up in character development, which was amazing and very well thought-out. Although it was a bit of a shock to see all the changes in Mulder and Scully, the changes made sense. Although I miss the Mulder and Scully from back in the day, having them come back to life unchanged by everything that happened wouldn’t make any sense at all. I also loved the fact that the movie took time for the viewer to get used to the changes.

So while this X-files might not have made the big buck at the box office, I think it has opened the door for a Star Trek-like franchise. And apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks so – Chris Carter seems to also be itching for more . Until then, I don’t think anyone should consider the usual paraphernalia that comes with Twilight-like obessions. Although I do have to admit that I am kind of a little tempted to buy it…