São lindosss... o photoshop comeu solto, mas quem se importa? Só a manchete que é totalmente século passado - a gente SABE que M&S se apaixonaram, se não à primeira vista, com certeza em "Ice" ou, sei lá, em qualquer outro dos milhares de momentos shipper que vimos ao longo dos anos. Esses dois sempre foram hot hot hot!

Eu estou totalmente ansiosa pelo 25/07...

Endlich stehen Scully und Mulder wieder für Akte X vor der Kamera. :-)

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X - Files.
Per dieci serie il dipartimento più segreto e scomodo dell'FBI ha creato grattacapi di non poco conto al nostro cervello finendo per farci passare notti completamente svegli inveendo contro Chris Carter e il suo estro artistico. La stessa serie ci ha fatto desiderare che i due attori protagonisti copulassero tra loro per dar vita all'allegra famiglia Bradford.
Ma niente da fare, i due carismatici e freddi protagonisti, pronti ad affrontare qualsivoglia creatura esistente, in questo pianeta o no, dal chupacabras agli ibridi, avevan di meglio da far che scambiarsi affettuosità.
Ci siamo anche illusi con l'edizione cinematografica che potessero essersi scambiati un bacio, ma era solo il replicante di Mulder.
Poi, quasi per sfinimento e in onore dell'ultima puntata, gli autori decisero di finire il tutto in modo romantico: con un bacio.
Il bacio servì tuttavia più come consolazione per il non aver svelato nulla nè tantomeno di aver preso una posizione decisa in quanto all'esistenza di alieni, che invece come reale scambio di fluidi corporei da parte di due colleghi innamorati da tempo immemore.
Una volta terminata la serie, subito sorse l'ipotesi di un possibile film, poi l'idea venna accantonata.
Fin che i produttori di Hollywood, già in crisi di idee con la costante riproposizione di pellicole fondamentalmente storiche, decisero di riesumare la serie e realizzare un nuovo film-episodio per X-files.
"Voglio Crederci" narra della misteriosa scomparsa di un gruppo di donne e il ritrovo di strani resti umani tra la neve. Il tutto lascia presagire a strani esperimenti cui Mulder e Scully, richiamati di urgenza dall'FBI a investigare, dovranno dare una risposta.

trailer italiano: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exswQEOPvug

Trailer Apple: http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/thexfilesiwanttobelieve/

Cada vez pinta mejor, desde luego.

Recordad que podéis contactar con Frank Spotnitz, guionista y productor de la serie, en su blog (a mi me contestó :D), Big Light, y con David Duchovny en su recién estrenado blog, The Duchovny Files.

Fuente: finalternativo

Mulder's musings in his living room late that evening have little, if anything, to do particularly with sex. We understood him to be speaking of their lives as a whole: separate and together, as partners, friends, and lovers. Essentially, if they had never met it was not just one aspect of their lives that would be different -- they would not be the people they had become without the influence of the other. These thoughts are not directly or specifically related to the sexual component of their union. We as human beings so often separate our sexual and emotional lives, even with the ones we love -- sometimes especially with the ones we love most. They likely began expressing their connection physically before being able to discuss the implications this sexuality would have on their emotional, intellectual, and professional partnership. The love Scully and Mulder have for each other has always been evident and while existing simultaneously with their sex life, most likely and rather pointedly did not collide in its earliest stages. Mulder's rambling about the possibility of their never meeting really has nothing at all to do with when they consummated their relationship. This scene is not about sex, it is about the choices human beings make throughout the course of life. It is fate versus free will. Given what Scully had been through while Mulder was away, she was far too raw to embark upon a new sexual relationship that evening. It is plausible, however, that the closure she received led she and Mulder to a new phase of understanding with what they'd already begun. It seems, to us, that Dr. Waterston's brief reprisal in Scully's life led her to a great deal of reflection and, eventually, to a place where she was able to cross the bridge to something new with Mulder, unafraid. She was able to fully accept her past and only then can one fully embrace one's present. This frame of mind does not lend itself well to immediately starting something new; rather it is quite helpful in solidifying a pre-existing situation.

The emphasis in "all things" was centered around a spiritual re-awakening in Scully; her coming to terms with the path she had chosen and finally, it seems, gaining a sense of closure on areas in her past which perhaps haunted her. A past that to some degree prevented her from fully dealing with her relationship with Mulder on all levels. It is entirely common for two friends who love each other to start sexually expressing this love before they are emotionally capable of engaging in a dialogue about it. The entire episode, and naturally that scene specifically, was moreso about a realization or revelation of feelings [or really, the status of their relationship] versus any sexual connotation. "That says a lot, a lot, a lot. That's probably more than we should be getting into at this late hour." Mulder was essentially saying that maybe they should avoid the "what are we" conversation at that late hour, the relevance of the statement important due to their quiet acknowledgment that both were finally at a place of readiness and openness for that discussion. If anything, that quote has always strongly implied that it was NOT their first time, along with the entire tone of the opening and closing scenes of “all things.” Scully's immense growth we bear witness to in this episode brings her to a point where she can acknowledge what has developed between she and Mulder. Due to their ongoing behaviour and antics throughout S7 we cannot fathom that this was this first time they slept together. Much, much prior to "all things" they were relating to one another on a more knowing, intimate level that generally comes from a sexual relationship. The emphasis, therefore, was on the new understanding they had reached by the end of "all things" regarding the apparent [in our opinion] pre-existing physical element to their union, not on their induction to a shared sexuality. We doubt that Scully and Mulder would entertain such an exchange so heavily weighted and then later that night end up sleeping together for the first time EVER after such a tense few days. The beauty of the implication of their sexual encounter in “all things” is that it wasn't necessarily special in the way that many people interpret it, but rather it was special in the sense that they had finally come into a place in their relationship where it was going to be a lot more clear for each of them from then on out. Much of this had to do with Scully's revelations throughout the episode and with her more fully dealing with her questions and doubt. This glimpse into the path she did not take [a chance Mulder had received months prior when he dreamt of a life with Diana Fowley] served to guide her to embrace where she was in her life and with Mulder.

Another issue at hand is we simply fail to believe that after they spent their first night together Scully would or could slip out of the door while Mulder lay sleeping in his bed. They had too much history together and far too powerful feelings for one another for that to be the case. Scully's journey at this time in her life was not about fleeing – it was the opposite. She fled from Daniel Waterston and it is not within her character to experience such personal growth -- to receive such resolution – only to almost immediately disregard the lessons learned and flee once more. The monumental element about the "after sex" scene was that it was not, in and of itself, monumental. Sometimes when we are only privy to glimpses into the lives of another, the ordinary is extraordinary.

Taking the entirety of the series into account, their ability to express their connection physically [not necessarily meaning sexually] had always come before their ability to vocally express their feelings for one another. This is a relatively common and natural occurrence in most relationships, or at least that is our opinion due to our own life experiences. Scully and Mulder were never the types eager to sit down and discuss their “feelings.” Only in times of desperation or duress did we see them readily engage the other in such raw openness. Even in those situations they failed to truly confess anything blatantly, as they instinctively sought to protect themselves by riddling their expressions with various hidden meanings and possibilities. There are times when we feel things for others that are so overwhelming and so strong that mere words fail to do any sort of justice to what our heart and mind and soul want to scream out. Attempting to formulate these thoughts into inadequate sentences is frustrating and ineffectual. Often times, it seems, the simplest and most profound way to reach out to another human being and express those innermost feelings and desires is with a physical manifestation. Incredibly intense feelings, such as the ones Scully and Mulder possess for the other, would be difficult for anyone to express let alone two individuals who have a shared love of non-verbal communication. Why wouldn't they indulge in the ultimate non-verbal communication, you know, non-verbally?

There is also the issue that emotional love and the act of sex are two very, very different and separate things. It is entirely possible to have one without the other and vice versa. The lucky ones find someone to share both with, which is what Mulder and Scully found. The fascinating quality about these two, which really is touched on quite a few times with the "intellectual romance," is that they eventually had both but the feelings versus physicality were quite separate entities for a rather long time. Reducing “all things” to their “first time” not only fails to make sense to us but really goes against the true nature of what we saw in their relationship and why it was so special and unique [which includes the fact that their bond always transcended the physical and even verbal].

On the matter of Daniel Waterston and his role in the apparent turning point in the emotional reconciliation Scully and Mulder undergo with regard to the various elements of their multi-faceted dynamic: sometimes our pasts haunt us. Regardless of how much we love the person in our present, there are times of solitude and immense reflection when we ponder the path not taken [or when we relentlessly Google-stalk the person and then erase the search history.] The inception of a new love, no matter how consuming it may be, cannot always erase that stubborn glimmer of the past that swirls through one's subconscious mind, rearing its head when uncertainty in the present comes into play. Scully's line to Daniel, "I don't know what I have," implied to us that she was confused as to how the sexual nature of her relationship with Mulder fit into the previously existing relationship and partnership they shared. How he felt; how she felt; where it was going. There are times in life when the ferity of a feeling scares the person it exists within. Fear of that sort combined with insecurities as to how the object of the affection feels in return may lead us down the paths of the past. Scully was evaluating her present, re-evaluating her choices, and coming to terms with a past that she so abruptly left behind. When there is no definitive cessation of a romantic relationship, when one never firmly says "goodbye" and instead chooses to flee, that door will forever remain slightly ajar unless a resolution between the two parties can be attained at some point. In our personal evaluation of their situation, it would seem that the psychological impact of sleeping together would lead them both to reflect upon lovers past, as is oft the case in reality.

In what is a rather frustrating element of the human condition and psychology, a love that existed once never ends. It is imprinted on the heart and on the soul, and while the bruise of its failure lessens over time, part of the blaze of that passion can never fully be extinguished. Our capacity to love may be exponential or it may be relative to our openness and acceptance of it. While the intensity of love can fade significantly given time and distance, there is no way to "Eternal Sunshine" the experiences and memories. Scully will, in some way, always love Daniel. This does not diminish the unique connection she shares with Mulder, as she would not be the Dana Scully we know if her experience with Waterston was not imprinted on her soul. These dormant or suppressed feelings are actually helpful in reminding us that we do indeed possess the capacity for such emotions and that at some point, once the former pain has faded and a person and timing unite, we have the ability to access those emotions. A past love is always somewhere swirling about our subconscious mind and will undoubtedly follow and haunt and threaten to destroy every other love that gets in its way if one does not attain a sense of finalization on some level. When there is that one person who holds a frustrating presence in one's mind, regardless of how far away a person manages to get from them both figuratively and literally, it is more than plausible that as one attempts to navigate other relationships the one left behind seeps into that individual's thoughts. So often a present lover evokes memories of past loves. Scully's insecurities, doubt, fear, enjoyment, and love concerning the physical relationship she was sharing with Mulder would undoubtedly lead the ghosts of her past to resurface in her conscious mind. When these are not properly dealt with, they become walls separating us emotionally from someone we are with physically.

When one bolts from a situation, that individual is setting themselves up to forever wonder. In essence, a window is created to be haunted by a past that was too overwhelming to properly deal with in the present and the proverbial door is stuck open indefinitely. Generally responding in this manner is not a one-time reaction but rather a tendency or pattern when things grow increasingly complicated. It would make sense that the ever-increasing intricacies with the existing sexual relationship Scully and Mulder were unable to discuss led her to a reflection of former loves, to moments in time when she considered spending her entire life with another person and questioning that feeling of absolution -- the feeling that this individual is the one who deserves that life. When one has previously envisioned a life with another and came to discover it was not in the cards, it leads to utter confusion and a need for reflection and self-analysis. There was no end, no finality, no goodbye between Dana Scully and Daniel Waterston. As the one who ran, she faced the unavoidable residual doubt about her decision for years; seemed to harbour a deep-seated guilt, pain, fear, and curiosity. Reaching a definite conclusion to her situation with Waterston would not lead her to Mulder's bed for the first time -- being in Mulder's bed would, however, lead her to exploring closure with Waterston when presented with such an opportunity. She found herself traveling into a deep exploration and examination of her past. Already consumed with thoughts of paths and choices when Waterston dropped into her life again as abruptly as she left his, Scully was forced to take stock of everything leading up to the very moment she was living.

Anytime an individual abandons a relationship, the residual psychological effects of those actions generally rear up in one's conscious mind once one has already begun to embark upon something new. It is the act of revisiting feelings that were experienced in the past with someone else; actions that were carried out before that spark a sense memory and bring an abundance of suppressed feelings roaring to the surface. It is easier to keep those thoughts in a state of dormancy when one is not entrenched in a romantic situation, when that part of the mind and heart are unused. We believe Scully experienced everything in "all things" so strongly, with such a ferocity and intensity, because she and Mulder had been carrying on a sexual relationship for some time and with each passing day of words going unsaid, she was growing more confused and unsure of it all. Plagued with such insecurity only to suddenly be faced with the man she left behind, Scully was led to a new understanding of herself, her motivations, what she wanted from Mulder and even an acceptance of how he had expressed his feelings for her. Her response to Waterston's presence is so intensified because of her existing physical intimacy with Mulder, because she “doesn't know what [she] has.” There were great, great implications in that statement and the way in which she uttered the phrase. It seemed to relate not only to her romantic life but to her life as a whole. She was at something of a crossroads and viewing her life on a larger scope, in search of a greater purpose.

Gaining that long-awaited terminus with Daniel allowed Scully further insight into her relationship with Mulder. In fact, this event seemingly tore down the final barrier to her freely accepting the sexual part of their relationship. All of the contextual clues and the psychological and emotional lives of the characters leading up to this episode leave us unable to entertain the idea that "all things" was their first sexual encounter. As one who fled rather than dealt, beginning a sexual relationship with a best friend is highly likely [if not an inevitable result] to prompt one to reflect upon the past and yearn to tie up loose ends. If sex was an ongoing or regular occurrence between Scully and Mulder, and they were becoming more intrinsically linked to their emotions and experiencing further clarity that it was just as much a part of their relationship as anything else, Scully would certainly want to come to terms with her past. She did not actively seek resolution with Daniel Waterston but when presented with such an opportunity, Scully jumped onto the emotional roller coaster of confronting her past and accepting, nay, even embracing her present.

Love, sex, friendship and completely indefinable relationships and connections all coexist within a very grey area ... and often we desperately wonder about our past while actively engaging in our present. As sex between Scully and Mulder seemed more of a natural progression and not a wholly cognitive decision, the issues at hand were likely amplified to a degree most of us will never know. Closure with Daniel would lead her to Mulder's bed that night, just not for the first time. It would certainly heighten their connection and the sexual experience following the event, but it would be far too overwhelming to begin a sexual relationship with Mulder after the Waterston encounter. Under the view that sex already existed between the two of them, they would most likely ease the tension of the past few days and reconnect physically and with a new and deeper understanding. Scully shook the past by tying up a loose end. The freedom she found from doing so, along with the greater understanding of herself and what she wanted, led Scully to personal revelations about Mulder. The Waterston incident surely changed their sexual relationship as well as their emotional connection and their friendship. These are two individuals who are not necessarily able to readily express their feelings in a verbal sense, so the sleepy conversation at the end of "all things" was a rather profound admission for them both. The scene, in its simplicity, demonstrates that nothing about the situation at face value was out of the ordinary for the pair. They were extremely comfortable lounging so closely on his couch. Scully easily fell asleep on Mulder's shoulder. He gazed at her with a look of pure unadulterated love and followed the look with a complete lack of hesitancy to caress her face. It was as if he'd done it a thousand times over and he lacked any fear of being caught should she have been roused from her slumber. The gentle way in which Mulder covered her up [and/or moved her to the bed] indicates a situation not diverting far from the ordinary. This all speaks to a pre-existing sexual intimacy. Sex did not enter their relationship on that night for the first time, but sex with the last of their emotional barriers gone occurred for the first time that evening.

Sidebar I: As we first presented our thoughts on this matter on an X-Files message board, it was brought to our attention that Scully refers to Mulder as her “friend” when telling him that she was not comfortable performing an autopsy on his mother. As “Sein und Zeit” and “Closure” aired before “all things,” our timeline and theories have been called into question by that five-letter word. Though it has been awhile since either one of us have been half of a widely understood definition of a "relationship," from our experience in the grey areas it is entirely likely that Scully would call Mulder her friend regardless. There is absolutely no need to trail off dramatically or to define their relationship in that instance. Whenever a relationship has progressed in that fashion we must remember that the two parties involved will always be friends first. That is how the relationship beyond friendship thrives and survives – it has an unshakable core, the sturdiest of bases.

Lest we also not forget the context in which this word was uttered and the tone and emotion in Scully's voice. As is generally the case with these two, it is not their choice of words that matter but the way in which they are said. The word "friend" was expressed with such profundity that there was no need for her to call him anything more. At the heart of any relationship is the friendship, it is ultimately what holds two people together when the honeymoon is over, so-to-speak. Scully referring to Mulder as "friend" carries no weight in the situation concerned nor does it provide any bearance to the status of their sexual relationship, as the reference does not equate him to only a friend. This moment between the two was about a friend supporting a friend during a time of grief, the focus not being on them but on what was lost. Regardless of how deep the connection or how physical the relationship, they were founded on friendship. We suppose the plausibility of the use of this word in relation to “were they or weren't they” lies within an individual's own experience. Pulling from our own lives, it is absurd to insinuate that her having no hesitation but simply communicating something to her friend in an emotionally charged moment indicates that they were not sleeping together. As far as human behaviour [and most specifically SCULLY behaviour] is concerned, there is no real basis to assume that simply stating the word "friend" to someone who is that and more implies they are nothing more.

If one could bridge the gap between fiction and reality, and likewise travel through time, and confront Scully and Mulder in “Requiem” or even in “Essence” and “Existence,” they would likely still struggle to give definition to their relationship. This is not because they were lacking the makings of defining "lover" or even the cringe-worthy and far too simple "boyfriend/girlfriend,” but because their relationship was always so beyond anything that could be classified in those somewhat unremarkable terms. What would she say in place of friend? Lover? Boyfriend? Soulmate? Unlikely. Scully's discomfort in autopsying his mother was obviously because they were friends. Bringing up any other aspect of their relationship in that scenario would almost have been inappropriate and really was not what Scully's hesitation was based on. The lack of a definite classification for their relationship was also largely why they had issues coming to terms with what they were long after the point in their relationship when they consummated. These characters are frequently terrified of expressing emotion, especially ones that relate to the other. Sex doesn't mean the friendship ceases to exist, or that the two parties involved should not consider one another a friend. It will only last if the friendship continues. It is also important to note that Scully and Mulder did not really consider anyone else in their lives a friend. Therefore, Scully's use of that word carried a rather singular association to one person: Mulder. In "Amor Fati," as they embark on their discussion of being one anothers' constants and touchstones, Mulder tells Scully: "You were my friend, and you told me the truth." This thought leads directly into his telling her something rather intense about who she is to him and what she means to him. "Friend" is a profound, important word to the two of them, and one they do not use lightly. The term does not disappear when sex enters into a friendship nor is it offensive, awkward, or out-of-place. It does not imply any promiscuity or failure to understand the gravity of their actions by those involved.

Perhaps this may be one of those instances where the concept is fully understood only after it is lived. Our interpretation of the relationship between Scully and Mulder may differ from the status quo because we do not compare what they have to any sort of run-of-the-mill romance. We don't intend to give anyone's relationship less meaning, simply for the two of us they are The Ultimate: a bond and connection so rare and raw and true, any of us would be extraordinarily lucky to find something anywhere near that level of trust and love. They were beautiful, flawed, complex, frustrating, confused, insecure. They were also madly in love and intellectually on par and because of these things, they had something more than any of us may ever conceivably hope to have ... and through all of that, they were friends.

Sidebar II: We feel our analysis lends credence to Mulder's awkwardness in S8 regarding Scully's pregnancy. While some feel it was uncharacteristic, it really fits in so perfectly. Imagine being Mulder in that situation. You had been sleeping with your best friend but not openly discussing that aspect of the relationship. She asked you to donate sperm and father her child and though you expressed reservations about a child causing destruction in the relationship, you agreed only to have the invitro procedure fail. You then disappear for an extended period of time without much memory of what happened in that span of absence and when you wake up in a hospital room, you find the woman that you thought you didn't get pregnant about to burst from the belly. That would be horrifically jarring for anyone, and especially so for Mulder. Not to mention that Scully had been working with a new male partner and for all of his cocky narcissistic tendencies, Mulder can also be rather insecure with regard to the more personal aspects of his life. Due to their reluctance to ever assure that they were on the same page romantically, despite carrying on a sexual relationship, they were both legitimately awkward and confused when attempting to deal with the ramifications of their actions [or lack thereof]. We always envisioned them not being able to bring themselves to discuss in-depth where they stood on an intimate level prior to his abduction. Returning to her life mid-pregnancy is a far different dynamic than being there from the start. Mulder felt replaced at work and unsure of his role outside of the FBI, not because he questioned his responsibility in Scully’s pregnancy but because he had literally been given no time to process this miracle that had developed in his absence.

Chi, come me, ha un passato di addicted degli X-Files ricorda senz'altro uno dei tanti maledetti episodi in più puntate legati al rapimento della sorella di Mulder, dove il buon vecchio Fox giunge appunto a Tunguska in Siberia e trova una sorta di gulag nel quale i prigionieri sono usati come cavie per il «cancro nero», costretti ad estrarre da una miniera del minerale di origine extraterrestre... ricordo bene il finale della storia con il malefico Krycek con una protesi al braccio...

D'accordo, mi ricompongo, le righe precedenti erano un po' troppo only for fans :cool:

Tornando coi piedi per terra (o quasi), Tunguska è il luogo in Siberia dove proprio cent'anni fa un "qualcosa" provocò un'esplosione udita a centinaia di chilometri di distanza, fra le altre cose abbattendo (Wikipedia docet) "60 milioni di alberi su 2150 chilometri quadrati"

L'ipotesi più accreditata è ovviamente quella di un asteroide precipitato sul nostro bel pianeta azzurro, o forse esploso in quota. Ma è pur sempre un'ipotesi, ancora non provata completamente.

Nel numero in edicola questa settimana della rivista New Scientist compare un articolo che "celebra" il centenario  dell'evento presentando, fra l'altro, le ipotesi di un gruppo di astrofisici bolognesi (certo, bisogna ammettere che pronunciare "X-files" con accento bolognese senza far sorridere chi ascolta deve essere un po' problematico... :roll: )

Le ricerche dei nostri connazionali riguardano particolarmente il lago Cheko, che si trova a meno di una decina di chilometri da quello che ormai è considerato il luogo "dell'impatto".  In pratica, basandosi su esami fatti col sonar, si sospetta che sotto il fondale del lago sia presente una massa di materiale denso. Vuoi vedere che sotto il lago c'è un pezzo dell'asteriode di cent'annifa? La forma del fondale del lago Cheko poi, è proprio quella che si pensa possa essere generata dal un oggetto che sprofonda, una sorta di cono rovesciato.

Ahimé, esiste anche un'altra campana, e ha molte buone frecce al proprio arco:  ad esempio il lago Cheko ha una sagoma visibilmente ellittica, mentre in genere i crateri da impatto sono generalmente circolari. E alcuni degli alberi sulle sue rive hanno un'età certo superiore ai cento anni...

La ricerca è ancora aperta, e anche se dubito di vedere Fox Mulder all'università di Bologna a cercare informazioni (soprattutto adesso che finalmente sembra si sia deciso a fare robba con la -mi si conceda- ancor più rinfighita Dana Scully nel secondo film di XFiles... :cool: ) un pizzico di orgoglio scientifico nazionale mi brucia dentro... :)

]]> http://luvandjoy.wordpress.com/?p=102 Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:24:02 +0000 Peter Parkour http://luvandjoy.wordpress.com/?p=102 My movie picks are not based on reviews. They’re simply movies that I would like to see. I’m not even giving them ratings. I’m just saying they look interesting to me. In the event I do see said movies, I’ll let you know what I thought. The following is a list of movies coming out in July that I would like to see:

In theaters Tuesday, July 1st

Oh yeah, here we go, a superhero movie. :) I've been seeing trailers for Hancock (rated PG-13) for a while now, and they all leave me wanting to see this movie, in the theater I might add. It would appear Hancock (Will Smith) is an accident prone superhero/menace to society. With the help of his PR guy (Jason Bateman) Hancock is attempting to make a reluctant comeback. It's hard to be a hero when you can't get any respect due to your less than subtle ways. It would appear Hancock is too powerful for his own good. I can't wait to see him fumbling his way through to being a respectable hero. I'm rooting for you, Hancock. ;)

In theaters Friday, July 11th

Next up at bat is Hellboy II: The Golden Army (rated PG-13). Bring on the Superheroes. :mrgreen: Rumor has it this sequel is better than the first movie. I sure hope so, because while I enjoyed the first movie, it wasn't all that great. But to Hollywood's credit, more and more sequels and turning out better than their predecessors. I think they're finally starting to realize that special effects alone ain't gonna cut it. For those of you not hip the the Hellboy phenomenon, Hellboy works for Bureau for Paranormal Research and Development. Think MIB (Men In Black) but instead of dealing with aliens the BPRD deals with monster, demons, extra dimensional bad guys, and such. Once again such a threat has emerged and it's up the Hellboy and his BPRD posse to save the world.

In theaters Friday, July 18th

They just keep coming, so you know I'm happy. :P The Dark Knight (rated PG-13) is greatly anticipated by many including myself. This could very well be another case of two being better than one, the sequel that is. Batman fans everywhere are dancing around in their capes, counting down the days. As for fans of Heath Ledger, this is the last movie he made before his untimely death. I'm sure their will be plenty of his fans there mourning his passing and enjoying this talent on screen as the Joker. I'm not sure if anyone else noticed, but it looks like the Joker might not be the only bad guy making an appearance this time around. Perhaps I've said too much already. ;) "What's the movie about?" Why Batman kicking ass and protecting his city, Gotham of course. :P

In theaters Friday, July 25th

Any big fans of the X-Files out there? The X-Files: I Want To Beleive (rated PG-13) is the sequel you've been waiting for. Me personally, I'm not a big fan, but my wife is so I'll adding this one to the list just for her. "What's the scoop, Peter? What do we have in store?" Well from what I hear it's not really a part to or a follow up to the last one. This is supposed to be a stand alone movie. More searching for the truth, because you know it's out there. ;) More Mulder and Scully awkward (what's really going on between those two) moments. It's all one big mystery, which usually means "we don't want you to know just how much this movie sucks until after we have your money". Watch at your own risk. I'm gonna urge Bunny to hold off on this one. I mean look at all the other cool movies we can blow on dough on instead. :mrgreen:

In theaters Tuesday, July 29th

Part of me wants to see The Lost Boys 2: The Tribe (not rated at posting time) and part of me says "what are you... stupid?" Decision, decisions. I like the first Lost Boys. Honestly, the only reason I want to see this one is because Corey Feldman is coming back as his original character, Edgar Frog. I saw the trailer and he looks exactly the same as he did in the first. Surely a trade secret he picked up from his buddy Michael Jackson. Either that or he scored some real vampire blood while on the set of the first movie. Everyone know in order to make a good vampire movie you have to consult real vampires for the 411. :P Chances are it will suck the big one, so again exercise extreme caution when choosing a movie to shell out the big bucks for. This sounds like a video rental to me.

Am 24.07.2008 sind Scully und Mulder wieder da und man kann ihr Abenteuer auf der großen Leinwand mitverfolgen. Die Regie zu "Akte X: Jenseits der Wahrheit" führte Cris Carter und die Hauptrollen übernahmen Gillian Anderson und David Duchovny. Mehr Details zum Film gibt es wie immer bei IMDb und einen Trailer zu "Akte X" gibt es hier zu bestaunnen.

Die beiden müssen erneut einen mysteriösen, ungelösten Fall des FBI aufklären, bei dem die komplizierte Beziehung zwischen den beiden sehr unterschiedlichen Agenten eine unerwartete Wendung nimmt. Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) verfolgt weiterhin seine unerbittliche Suche nach Antworten, bei dem ihm Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), die intelligente und rationale Wissenschaftlerin, unerschütterlich zur Seite steht. Doch beide haben sich lange nicht mehr gesehen.

Voor mij zit inmiddels het schooljaar erop. Vandaag nog wat foto's van wat trekkers die ik nog tegenkwam op mijn laatste schooldag. De foto's zijn genomen met 't mobieltje, verwacht dus geen topkwaliteit :wink: .

Massey Ferguson 2435 met Pegoraro kopeg van Mulder.

John Deere 4055 met klepelmaaier van loonbedrijf M. Moes.

Landini Legend 165, ook met klepelmaaier.

Released - July 25th - View The Trailer here

Detectives Mulder and Scully are back, 6 years after the end of the of their Emmy Award winning American TV series. The paranormal investigators are re-opening their case of unsolved mysteries in a bid to find some answers in the sequel to the 1998 self titled big screen hit. This time with a little help from Scottish comedian Billy Connolly and US rapper Xzibit.

But those involved with the film are keeping a tight lip on any telling details. Due to the top secret nature of the project, the studio has released little information about the film's plot. The producers have only revealed that it will take place six years after the events of the series. It is also known that, unlike the first film, the plot will not focus on the series' ongoing mythology and will instead be a standalone thriller/horror story.

In an interview, director, Chris Carter stated that the film would be consistent with the entire X-Files story archive, as Scully's child William would "not go unconsidered" in the film, and that it "takes place in the present and uses a story envisioned when the series ended".

In addition, photos of Duchovny and Anderson embracing and kissing appeared on Internet fan sites in early March 2008, fueling speculation about a romantic subplot between their characters. Duchovny dismissed the rumors and described the kiss as a practical joke, adding, "We staged that".

Personally, i think the film looks great as does the simple yet effective poster.Although I've never been a huge fan of the TV series, it's success has always been down to the growing popular fascination into UFO sightings, Urban Myths and Unexplained Occurrences taking place at the height of its release, something that I've always taken an interest in and i can't wait to see what  phenomena the film revolves around this time.

I'm also really behind the films great idea to keep the plot under wraps until it hits theaters, something that's very hard to come by in cinema these days, with the internet leaking so much info, so this will add to the suspense and intrigue surrounding the film. The trailer serves its purpose well. Billy Connolly's frightfully unconventional role looks like an conscientious effort to deliver him across as a credible actor, in what appears to be a "psychic medium" type role, that i think will serve him rather well.

Hopefully Gillian and David have put their well known personal feud to rest for this, but only time will tell.

The Truth Is Out There...

- A

Well sign me up. I really would like to believe, but we'll see.

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To formally introduce this new feature to the Bizzle Bros network, me and my brother Tom decided to do it on a show that we both had respect for but never really understood.  Myself, I watched this show on only a handful of occasions while it was actually on the air, and my brother was only 4 when this show even premiered.  However, due to the wonders of Bit Torrent technology we have gotten in our hands almost every episode ever created.  The follow series will be our reactions, reflections, and break downs of the seasons we watch.

Late to the party is about finding out something that we completely missed out on, and want to be able to have those conversations or udnerstand those inside jokes.  In this case, with the impending movie release, we want to know 'Whats the Big Deal?'  Why is there such a die hard fanbase? Is the truth out there? What happened to David Ducovany's career?  So here is our first post, on season 1.

I'll admit, at the beginning I was pretty big X Files skeptic.  The most that I can remember from the few episodes i watched in the mid 90's were that: they were scary, they were on Fox, and in one episode I remember hearing them talk about someone from Orchard Park.  Otherwise I didn't have much to go by, and I associated this show with goth girls and people who took that alien autopsy video they aired on fox a little too seriously.

Now for those of you who are also late to the party, The X Files is a sci-fi / thriller / crime drama about two FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully.  If you want a more detailed outline of the plot and such, read the Wikipedia page.  The first episodes you get the impression that every scenario will find them in a situation where some weird thing happens, Mulder comes to some insane conclusion off the bat about some paranormal activity (with a 70% chance that it involves aliens), Scully immediately tells him he is wrong and that science will prove the correct answer, more spooky things happen, one of the two are abducted/almost killed and they find out the truth only to be hidden by the government.

I'm currently on season 3 and so far that is a pretty fair assessment of the majority of episodes.  However that isn't a bad thing, its just sometimes a little too expected.  Some of my fondest moments from Season 1:

• Deep Throat (a character in the show) is pretty bad ass, so is the smokey man but not as much
• so far I've seen Percy from Green Mile, Grima Wormtongue (LOTR) and Seth Green having cameo's

• My personal favorite episode would be E.B.E. or Beyond the Sea
• Born Again (episode 21) mentions a girl from Orchard Park, and talks about Kenmore and Brylin Hospital.. kinda cool.
• The Lone Gunman are awesome (although their short lived TV show, was not)
• Eve was possibly the worst episode of them all
• The outfit Scully wears on her date is ridiculously ugly and Mulder wears way too many Jean shirt/Jeans combo

Overall, the first season was very promising.  There was definitely it's share of misses, and I think if this show came out in 2008 it would have been canceled after the first season but I am glad it wasn't.  The mythology episodes (those revolving around aliens and the government) are what carries the show, the monster of the week however are where they sink and get a little 'cheesy'.

Id first off would like to share the fact i did not create, nor do i endorse the photograph of myself above.  Second, I would like to share that the only X-files episode I saw before watching it now was the series finale.  I thought it looked cool and remembered watching it in our den/computer room.  X-files is one of those shows with such history that seemingly everyone knows what it is...you just gotta know.  Mulder believes in crazy stuff, Sculy doesn't...though you think after the...idk...8th case you might start to turn around.

The show has its two sections:
1.Their monster episodes...episodes not relating to an ongoing story.
2.The Alien/government conspiracy...episodes that are related to the story of x-files.

I like Mulder a lot more then Scully...he's just so collected even when like...the craziest stuff is going on.  He gets carried away, but he's an awesome character.  I'd also like to say that I couldn't picture anyone else playing either of these characters in this show...it just wouldn't seem right.  Its like Harrison Ford not being Indiana Jones....who the hell else could wear that hat?

Each episode has a sucking quality, but I am more fond of the Alien episodes.  Now i know some will disagree with such opinions but hey...the alien stuff is cool.   As I write this, I am watching episode 20 of season 2..well its actually paused, but you know what i mean.  I never thought I would get into this show but I have said that about many things before.

X-File Pros:
-Characters are awesome, complete opposites but match perfectly.
-Has a certain 'dragging the viewer in' effect.
-Doesn't always have the whole alien conspiracy story, so many people can enjoy
-It takes fun myths/ideas and makes them realities.

X-File Cons:
-Some cases seem kinda lame
-There can be many talkative parts that make you tune out

I can't say that everything will be peaches and cream(a phrase I've used twice since starting this blog...twice) with the whole show, but so far so good *knock on wood*.  Just remember...the truth is out there.

]]> http://mysassygirl.wordpress.com/?p=206 Sun, 08 Jun 2008 18:46:27 +0000 shorty http://mysassygirl.wordpress.com/?p=206 Die Wahrheit ist irgendwo da draußen...

So liebe Leser... nun ist der erste "deutsche" Trailer vom heiß erwarteten Akte X-Streifen draußen und man kann nun auch die neue Stimme von Mulder hören... ähm... also, uns beiden gefällt sie ehrlich gesagt nicht. Oder man muss sich schon seeeeeehr dran gewöhnen.

Aber hört bzw. sehr doch selbst. ;-) Was haltet ihr von der Sache?

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Ich bin gespannt, auch wenn die Vorschau ziemlich lahm wirkt...mmmnaja...

Zur Synchro können wir leider immer noch nichts sagen, da man sich in diversen Foren uneinig ist, ob die Quellen stimmen oder nicht, deshalb gibt es dazu noch kein Statement von uns.

Trailer

Similarly, a Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Mulder presented and submitted the party’s application at the ninth general meeting of (Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation) UNPO at the European Parliament in Brussels a couple of weeks ago. To me this type of people is just concerned audience that they are not free, hence the name of their party and the title of the article printed in die burger.

The Afrikaners must just get used to the system and move on with the travelling train; otherwise they will be left behind. I think there are more issues that we can worry about than Afrikaners feeling excluded and unfree, and not enjoying the democracy enjoyed by everyone in S.A. Firstly, SABC 2 has more news, drama and content in Afrikaans that the Shangaan, Venda, Pedi etc so what is this cultural or language marginalisation are this people talking about. We have Afrikaans as a language at Rhodes and this means that this same people can still pursue their mother tongue in higher education. In addition, this same group of people are still taught in Afrikaans in high schools and other than English first-language speakers, no one else in this country enjoys this privilege. Visits Grahamstown townships people will admire you as an Afrikaans speaker unlike speaking Venda or Shangaan where they will simply say you are a foreigner , so what more do Afrikaners want?

I think these people just need to move on and deal with other democratic issues, because they are really free people. I hope they consume media and they will agree with me if I say that people that should be complaining are Tsonga, Swati, Venda and Pedi people, because they are the minority and they are not represented in every sphere of the country.

The most striking aspect of this episode is that in the "present day" scenes we are presented with Scully, and likewise throughout the seventh season in the episodes we feel the "Per Manum" flashbacks transpire over we are presented with Scully ... yet in the rewound moments in time themselves, we catch a glimpse of Dana.

The first flashback occurred shortly following "Theef." It is our belief that they were sleeping together by that point and had been for quite some time. As the episode opens they were extraordinarily [and quite playfully] flirtatious. It is evident by the end, however, that Scully had retreated into her introspective solitude. With themes of extreme parental love pulling at her emotional strings, as well as her own questioning of morality as a physician, Scully figuratively and literally pulls away from Mulder. In the hospital room in the final scene, she was not speaking to him but rather thinking aloud. She then walks off, without Mulder, leaving him standing alone to look after her and continuing the eternal male quest of figuring out the innate complexities of the woman he loves.

We surmise that upon returning to DC, Scully continued on this introspective journey and remained somewhat withdrawn from Mulder. She appeared to still exist in this state in the first "Per Manum" flashback in the elevator, and with the manner in which Mulder attempts to reconnect with her rather firmly, suggests to us that perhaps a week or two had passed after "Theef." He was concerned and becoming rather perturbed at her prolonged withdrawal and the lack of communication between them. Finally, Scully rather begrudgingly opens up to him but remains at a distance ... Mulder sadly stands aside, feeling quite precariously balanced on a very blurred line.

The flashback in Dr. Parenti's office occurred within days of the first flashback, with Mulder's response to Scully's question shortly thereafter. It was long-since established that she wanted to experience motherhood and was not ever really able to accept her inability to conceive. It wasn't so much an obsession for her as an open wound, something she always expected to have in her life at some point that was seemingly ripped away from her at too young an age. Regardless of how clinical and orderly someone may tend to be, when a shot at something one thought had been lost forever comes into play often the need to obtain whatever one was seeking outweighs the desire to have that thing arrive in a certain pre-determined way. We believe that Scully's urgency to enter into motherhood overrode her anxiety regarding how to ask Mulder: she thought something out briefly and laid it all on the line that evening. Scully asked him as a friend, yes, because they were not at a point in their relationship where they were thinking "hey, it's about time we settle down and make babies." They were both under the belief that that scenario was out of reach, and thus was a discussion neither had ever really planned for. Mulder vocalized his fears that a child would come between them because they would be prematurely inserting something very stressful into their undefined romantic and sexual relationship. Whereas Scully attempted to compartmentalize the different aspects of their relationship and put the child into the "best friend" category, Mulder appeared to be more ready to think in terms of "we will have a baby" as opposed to "I will help you have a baby." Separating the pregnancy or potential pregnancy from their more primal urges and emotional desires was Scully's way of attempting to not realise Mulder's fears, and also to keep from putting pressure on him. Given his deep guilt over Scully's infertility in the first place, along with the death of her sister and her own cancer, it was almost a given that Mulder would say "yes" out of love regardless of whether or not he truly wanted to co-parent with Scully. Understanding this about him, Scully behaved in the way that she did in order to leave certain decisions -- such as his level of involvement -- up to Mulder. It was not an ideal circumstance or timing, but they were both playing the hand they were dealt the best way they knew how. Though Mulder needed time to think it over, he wouldn't have her wait an excessive length of time, placing the third flashback the following afternoon.

On the subject of their decision to create a genetic union, it seemed to be understood between the two of them that Mulder would undoubtedly be more than just a sperm donor, as Scully could have easily just used an anonymous donor as Dr. Parenti had initially suggested. The fear that a child could potentially "come between them" stemmed from the two of them having avoided blending the three distinct aspects of their relationship together: work partners, friends, lovers. The difficulty therein lies in the question of how Mulder's involvement would be perceived by the child and also by the parents, who would be forced to figure out where they stood and where they wanted to go with much more immediacy. We know from "Requiem" that Mulder was harboring guilt over the life that Scully wasn't leading because of their work. A child would change their working relationship, yes, and they would then be forced to deal with the remaining aspects of that relationship. The question posed here, the request for a chance at motherhood, was daunting because it propelled the need to address those issues. Scully was experiencing an almost frantic tunnel-vision over the possibility of carrying a child and it was Mulder who stood just outside of the crusade and was able to provide the rational, sensible voice of reason. In essence, their roles were reversed in this instance. As Scully so often did, after voicing the possible negative outcome of a radical response to fulfill a quest, he joined her for the journey. They were a team and they would never let the other venture into uncharted waters alone.

Scully's harvested ova had been preserved for years and were likely nearing their expiration date. That combined with Scully approaching her mid-thirties at the time would indicate a level of urgency. Parenti's words left us feeling that the ova would not be viable forever and that if they were to be successful, the invitro procedures would need to start sooner rather than later. When a woman is artificially inseminated, it is suggested that she wait two weeks to take a pregnancy test. "En Ami" would, then, logically fall into that window. A great deal of their behaviour could be attributed to the agonizing wait -- the strain put on their relationship/friendship/partnership because of it. Scully sought some level of escapism, something to take her mind off of what may or may not be happening within her body. Though generally not one to allow emotional stress to impair her good judgment, Dana Scully is human and in this particular instance, it seemed to occur. She may have also been acting on an urge to prove to herself that, despite not being able to conceive a child in the natural manner, she was still a woman; still a strong and independent human being. She strove to get away from Mulder not only to feel as though she was still her own person, but perhaps he was being characteristically overly attentive. Scully may not have wanted to focus on the possibility of being pregnant in case it didn't happen [and also to allay Mulder's vocalized fears that an attempt at conceiving and a failure to do so, or a pregnancy/child would "come between them"] and Mulder's delicate treatment of her interfered with her attempts to do so.

It is during "En Ami" that we believe CSM may have reactivated a hormonal response in her body. A woman is generally born with all of the ova she will ever have -- women do not reproduce ova as men do sperm. As CSM kept careful watch and seemed to understand something about the evolution of our heroes' relationship and their status with each other at that time, he would've been aware of the fact that the relationship had long since been consummated. Under this knowledge or justified assumption, he was then operating with an ulterior motive. Following the events in the three-part Season 7 opener, Mulder had returned from the brink of death with his DNA altered and even an alleged immunity to the impending colonization. That development along with however Scully's physiology was affected through her own abduction may equate, to whomever was left on the project, the perfect child. The Answer. It is our belief that CSM used this opportunity to reactivate something within Scully, something to do with the chip in her neck, causing her body to spontaneously regenerate ova. Without knowledge of this Scully would continue to sleep with Mulder without utilizing birth control, thus leaving her open to conceiving a child as nature intended. William was a special child and so the most logical explanation to us was that -- in whatever way it was done -- the dark forces that manipulated these two truth-seekers for so long made it possible for Scully to conceive again, possibly even observed the two agents' patterns in order to control her ovulation. In essence they "created" William through his parents' own carnal desires. [Another possibility is, of course, that the ship Scully came into contact with in Africa caused a similar reaction in her body and restored her fertility.] Mulder would of course be livid with Scully for jaunting off with CSM under any circumstance, though his response was intensified by what they had just been through -- the possibility that Dana Scully was pregnant, thus not only putting herself in danger but perhaps THEIR unborn child, as well. When she returns safely he is unable to easily get past his fear-spun anger. The gravity of what could have happened weighed heavily on them both and did not dissipate quickly.

We feel that the final flashback in "Per Manum" takes place post-"En Ami" yet before "Chimera." It would be highly unusual of Mulder to leave Scully while they were still waiting to discover if the invitro was successful. Due to character tendencies it is plausible that Mulder was being overly attentive to Scully following the news, to an unbearable extent. Comfort and understanding had escalated into him driving her absolutely crazy, especially as Scully is the type of individual who needs some level of solitude to deal with what plagues her emotionally. She, like many people, prefers to work through the psychology of a situation in her own mind and on her own time. The previous withdrawal, the stress of the potential pregnancy, the despair over the failure to conceive ... all of these things create strain in any relationship, leaving the people involved vulnerable and all too tempted to build walls and retreat into themselves. Mulder was trying to prevent a divide [intent on his fears not being realised] but was unable to balance the unwavering connection and devotion with providing his partner the space she needed to grieve. A few weeks appear to have passed when Skinner called Mulder away in "Chimera" and we figure Scully insisted that he go. Mulder would have hesitated, not wanting to leave her alone and overcome with the male need to protect, provide, and care for. While strong and singular in many respects, Scully is still a woman and regardless of how many times she told Mulder to do what Skinner said until she forced him out the door, she was not entirely thrilled that he did so. It's that perplexing cycle of pushing someone away when perhaps what one really wants is a closer, deeper, more open and honest connection. Being apart does seem to help them on the path to returning to "normal." The separation and the circumstances at hand -- work, namely -- allowed them to focus on something else and recapture an aspect of the working relationship that served as the foundation for everything else they had become.

As we see in the beginning of "all things" their dynamic is still somewhat compromised. With everything that had transpired over the course of a month or so, the strain makes complete sense. Scully's spiritual and emotional journey in that episode allowed her to reach a new peace with the failed conception and, it would seem, a new understanding of her relationship with Mulder or what she personally wanted out of it. Logically the pair conceived William either in "all things" or shortly thereafter, as Scully was logically about three or four weeks pregnant by "Requiem." The fact that Scully was not only desperate for motherhood but had on some level, somewhere in her mind or heart, envisioned Mulder as fathering her child speaks volumes. She was not asking him simply because she knew his genetic makeup, she was asking him because he had become the only person she could imagine having a child with. Verbally communicating their innermost feelings was never something either of the duo were keen on or even adept at. They had become incredibly symbiotic in mind and in spirit, yet there were clearly certain places that conversations just did not go between the two of them. Throwing a child into the mix, the only way and the only time a child could enter their lives, was awkward and confusing yet ultimately brought them closer than ever before. William's existence forced them to officially recognise the turn their relationship had taken. They could finally take stock of the path they'd traveled together and accept without barriers what they had become.

Click on thumbnails for larger images.

The Show

Agents Scully and Mulder are, to me at least, the quintessential example of what partners in a TV series should be. Alien abduction, angry spirits, and government conspiracy - and the arguments they caused between the partners - were all in a day's work for these two. They each had the other's back, but they also disagreed with each other, sometimes vehemently. It was apparent that they cared for and had a great deal of respect for each other. My love for this show is, I'm quite certain, what inspired my love of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, a show that has a very similar vibe as far as the interaction between the leads goes (and which I will also review at a later date.)

Given that The X-Files did start over 10 years ago, the technology seems dated, at best. For many shows this could, quite literally, make it unwatchable. Not so with The X-Files. At most the technology plays a peripheral role. The real draw behind the show was always the plot line, which involved a healthy mix of stand-alone and so-called "Mytharc" episodes.

The "Mytharc" episodes followed Agent Mulder's search for the truth behind his younger sister's disappearance when they were both children. Many episodes that seemed to have nothing to do with the "Mytharc" at the beginning would, by the end, fit somewhere in the puzzle. In my opinion, the "Mytharc" episodes also gave more insight into the characters themselves, which made it very easy to feel like they were real, complex people that did take time to get to know.

The stand-alone episodes fell along a "monster-of-the-week" format, exposing us to the supernatural, the occult, and the downright weird. These are great episodes to watch if all you want to do is get a feel for the series without feeling like you'll have to commit. The first season is particularly good in this respect since almost every episode can stand-alone without inducing mass confusion.

Between seasons five and six the movie The X-Files: Fight the Future was released. It was written so as to play into the series while still being accessible to those who had never seen an episode. The fact that they've included this in the set with the actual series has given me warm tinglies all over. This movie was probably the height of my summer vacation in 1998, and deservedly so. While fans of other shows were anxiously awaiting the season premieres of their favorites, I was fully enjoying approximately two episodes worth of new The X-Files material in the middle of summer. And it wasn't a lame cop-out, either. It fit in perfectly with the series and never felt like a cheap ploy to make more money. You can't beat that with a stick.

Past season seven you will find heated debate as to whether it should have ended or not. In my experience, most hardcore fans of the series thought it really went downhill when Duchovny sort of left the show at the end of the seventh season and was replaced by Robert Patrick of Terminator 2 fame.

For my own part I can't bring myself to hate the last two seasons. I'm not sure if it's because I like Robert Patrick as an actor - and it helps that his brother is the lead singer of the bands Filter and Army of Anyone - or if I'm just so adaptable to change in what I view. There were times that I thought the character of Agent John Doggett was a real jerk, but then he'd do something to completely change that opinion. I really don't think he got a fair shake from the viewers, but I have to admit it is understandable given how much the fans adored the Mulder/Scully dynamic.

Monica Reyes is a little harder for me to place. I don't dislike her by any means, but I'm not sure if I really related to her as much as I would have liked to. She only really spent one full season on the show, which didn't give me enough time to see what made her tick. Mulder was always my favorite character (helloooo, David Duchovny) but over the course of the series Scully really gave him a run for his money precisely because her character was interesting and I could see a definite change between seasons one and nine. There wasn't time to see that with Agent Reyes.

Now, I have to mention the Mulder/Scully relationship because I know there has been a lot of debate as to whether their increased closeness started interfering with the show. In my own mind: No, but if it had been handled any other way it very well could have.

What I liked about this particular relationship is that even when it became apparent that there was more going on than meets the eye, they still treated each other with the same respect they had always shown. There were glances and flirting (both subtle and not-so-subtle) between the two, but it never descended into the realm of gooey schmoopiness that so often happens when a series finally breaks the sexual tension. Whatever they were outside of work, when they were on the case they were all business.

Which leads us to the end of the series. I honestly don't know how I feel about the series finale. On the one hand it was left wide open, which generally doesn't sit well with me. I like the hint of the possibility it might continue, not a full-blown second conspiracy that needs to be stopped. That said, I like the idea that the series could be continued on the big screen with a big explosive storyline. My only hope is that if they decide to revisit the conspiracy plotline they don't throw in some random deus ex machina to help solve the problem in two hours. If a movie can't contain the story I'd much rather they spend their resources on a miniseries, the path that should have been taken with Battlefield Earth.

Verdict: A. Being one of the most influential shows of the 1990's, a cult classic that became an international sensation, and spawning another movie six years after the series ended and 10 years after the last movie is a pretty good indicator that this show was more than just a cult hit on a fledgling network. Where many thought it dropped off during the last two seasons, I have to disagree. It changed, and whenever that happens there will always be angry people, particularly when one is dealing with a show that is as beloved as The X-Files. It was - and still very much is - a pop culture phenomenon.

The Movie

The X-Files: Fight the Future was a first in that no other TV show spawned a movie during its original TV run. Another unique move it managed to pull off was the fact that it was able to play to those who were ignorant of the show while simultaneously pushing forward the "Mytharc" of the series from where it left off in season five into season six.

I saw this movie when it premiered in my hometown and owned it on VHS when it was finally released to that medium. I've watched it a few times since, but until this collection came out I haven't been able to truly see the genius behind it. If there is one piece of advice I would give you now, it would be that I highly recommend watching seasons one through five before watching the movie. Especially if you've never seen it before. Like Firefly and its accompanying movie Serenity, The X-Files: Fight the Future has depths that only truly make sense if you know the full story within the series. It is a very good movie by itself, but watched within the context of the series makes it, in my opinion, extraordinary viewing.

Verdict: B+. There is one slight problem I have with this movie and that is the video transfer. It is not what I have come to expect from the DVD medium and it unfortunately shows when you are watching it on an HDTV. But that is my only complaint. Having watched the film within the context of the series just recently I was very much taken back to that mind-blowing summer night 10 years ago when I saw this movie premiere. I can honestly say that there are extremely few movies that do that to me.

The Set

The box is a very attractive black with some blue, white, and silver graphics on each side. The graphics are all from important episodes of the show and are very minimalist in nature, which keeps the box from feeling too busy.

When you open the lid you are confronted with the sight of all nine seasons plus the movie in their own cases. I'm not fond of the fact that the cases are all cardboard books with cardboard sleeves and have absolutely no protection for the back of the disc, but in my case that is a small complaint; I never leave my discs in their original cases as I have a filing system involving CD books (a method I highly recommend for anybody who collects DVDs for ease of transport and the space it saves on cramped shelves.)

On the front of the box you will notice a small drawer that includes an episode guide that covers every single episode in the series plus the movie, an X-Files comic book, a The X-Files: Fight the Future poster, collector's cards for each episode in the first season, and a coupon for $5 off one of The X-Files graphic novels.

As far as the drawer goes I've read complaints online about the discs being so heavy it causes the bottom to sag into the drawer. Because I don't keep my discs in the box I haven't run across this issue, but you may want to be aware of it on the off chance you keep your discs in the box and this is a show you will be watching multiple times.

The discs themselves are all single-sided and feature a picture from one of the episodes contained on that disc. The names and numbers of the individual episodes are also printed on the discs, making it much easier to track down a particular episode without having to pull out the episode guide.

Verdict: A-. While it would have been better to make the disc sleeves from the usual protective material used in CD books, none of my discs came scratched. The heaviness of the discs and the tendency of cardboard to lose strength over time may make you want to consider moving to the kind of filing system I've developed for my own collection, though there's no reason you can't display the box and proudly declare yourself an X-Phile. It is extremely aesthetically pleasing, which makes me very happy that I held off on buying the individual sets. And you can't complain too much when the movie is also included, giving you the chance to watch it between seasons five and six without spending more money to purchase it alone.

Special Features

The special features included in this set are, from what I gather, the same special features that came with the original stand-alone season sets (the original ones, not the slimpaks). There are eight DVD-ROM games to enjoy and plenty of commentary tracks and deleted scenes. Each season also has its own "The Truth about Season [insert season number]" documentary. Other special features include promotional spots from the F/X network and character profiles. The movie's case also contains a special disc dedicated to the "Mytharc". On it there are four documentaries that lay out the nine season long story arc.

Verdict: A. I couldn't spend the hours (quite possibly days) to get through all the special features, but all in all I'd have to say it's a lot of bang for your buck. I usually don't watch commentary tracks, but when I do it's fun to hear what those involved had to say about certain things that happened in the episode. I'm confident enough to say that you will enjoy running through these special features, though I wouldn't advise trying to do so after a marathon viewing of the entire series.

Video

The video is often grainy, though I can't help but feel it is a part of the show. It also tends to be dark, which at times makes it hard to see exactly what is happening. While this can be annoying at times, it is hardly a deal-breaker.

Since the first four seasons of this show were shot before anybody even thought of shooting TV shows for widescreen TVs, it is in standard 4:3 format, which means you'll have black bars on the sides of your screen if you own an LCD or plasma flat-panel TV. This should be nothing new to those people who own any older (and even some newer) shows on DVD. The remaining seasons, as well as the movie, are all shot in widescreen, which means that those of you who haven't hopped aboard the flat-panel wagon will be seeing the black bars on the top and bottom of your screen.

Verdict: B. For me the darkness is the really the worst part of the video, though as I said it is by no means a deal-breaker. A little bit of tweaking of the various settings on your TV may help alleviate this particular problem.

Audio

This particular area is one that I unfortunately can't really do justice to. Since the audio set-up I would like to get is over $500 and it seems rather silly to spend any amount of money on a cheaper system that won't give me decent audio to judge anyway, I am sadly resigned to listening to my TV speakers. Not the most desirable, I know, but they get the job done.

What I can tell you is that the first two seasons are in stereo, while seasons three through nine are in Dolby Surround. The movie is, I believe, in Dolby Digital 5.1.

Verdict: N/A. Like I said, I don't have the proper set-up to really give this an honest review. The audio works, is understandable, syncs with the video, and has a good overall balance between loud and soft. Unless you are very much an audio snob that absolutely must know the sound is pristine, I can't see anybody complaining much given the fact that this is The X-Files.

Overall: A-. Given the amount of special features, the lovely box, and the fact that we're talking about The X-Files here, there is no reason at all that you should feel badly about plunking down your hard earned change to pick this puppy up. Even if you absolutely hated the eighth and ninth seasons I would say it's still worth it because of the extra goodies that come with it, as well as the movie. Family Guy has it's "Freakin' Party Pack", The X-Files has the "Complete Collector's Edition". I fully admit I'm absolutely in love with this set.