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"THE X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE" (2008) (David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons *None Heavy Extreme *Moderate Mild Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Minor Mild Extreme None Mild Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Moderate Minor Moderate Moderate Heavy QUICK TAKE: Drama: Two former FBI agents who specialized in investigating the paranormal are brought back together to help find a missing agent. PLOT: It's been years since Fox Mulder (DAVID DUCHOVNY) and Dana Scully (GILLIAN ANDERSON) worked for the FBI investigating paranormal incidents. Now, she's a surgeon employed by a Catholic run hospital where she tries to help sick kids such as Christian Fearon (MARCO NICCOLI) while dealing with the associated bureaucracy offered by Father Ybarra (ADAM GODLEY) who runs the place. Mulder, on the other hand, has become something of a recluse and is bitter toward the way the FBI treated him, but he hasn't given up believing in the unbelievable. Which is good because FBI special agent Dakota Whitney (AMANDA PEET), along with her skeptical subordinate, Mosley Drummy (ALVIN "XZIBIT" JOINER), have recruited Scully to find Mulder. And that's because one of their agents has gone missing, and an excommunicated, pedophile-convicted priest, Father Joseph Crissman (BILLY CONNOLLY), is having visions he believes will lead them to her. They don't, but a buried severed arm is discovered, and Dakota believes that Mulder is the only person who might be able to figure out the troubled priest and whether he truly has paranormal abilities or is just toying with the authorities. Accordingly, he and Scully pair up again as partners, albeit reluctantly due to his anger toward the agency and her desire not to delve into the dark matters of the world once again. With Russians Janke Dacyshyn (CALLUM KEITH RENNIE) and Franz Tomczeszyn (FAGIN WOODCOCK) kidnapping various people, Mulder and Scully race against time to decipher Father Joseph's visions before it's too late for the missing FBI agent and the others who've been abducted. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of the TV series or the first film from 1998, they might be interested. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For violent and disturbing content and thematic material. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: DAVID DUCHOVNY plays a former FBI agent who specialized in investigating paranormal occurrences but has since become something of a recluse due to the agency's poor treatment of him in the past. He reluctantly agrees to try to help find a missing agent, and his dealings with Father Joseph get his investigative juices flowing again, meaning he has to convince Scully to keep working with him. He uses some profanity and is in bed with Scully, but we don't know if anything sexual occurred. GILLIAN ANDERSON plays his former partner who's left the FBI to return to being a doctor. While trying to find a cure for Christian's malady, she ends up being reluctantly pulled back into her former line of work, but doesn't like being around Father Joseph due to his past as well as making her confront her own religiousness. She uses some profanity and is in bed with Mulder, but we similarly don't know if anything sexual occurs between them. AMANDA PEET plays the FBI agent in charge of the search for the missing agent. Due to her interaction with Father Joseph, she ends up dragging Mulder and Scully back into the fold. BILLY CONNOLLY plays an excommunicated priest and convicted pedophile who's started having visions that he and others believe are related to various missing person cases. He smokes a few times. ALVIN "XZIBIT" JOINER plays a gruff FBI agent who's skeptical of both Mulder and Father Joseph. CALLUM KEITH RENNIE and FAGIN WOODCOCK play Russian men who abduct others for their body parts and then kill or at least dispose of those victims once they're no longer needed. One of them also kills an FBI agent. ADAM GODLEY plays the administrator of the Catholic-based hospital where Scully works. He clashes with her over her course of treatment for the sick boy played by MARCO NICCOLI. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a brief summary of the content found in this drama that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 3 "s" words, while a handful of other expletives and some colorful phrases are also uttered. There's talk of a priest "buggering" altar boys in the past (followed by some jokes at his expense) and an unmarried couple is seen in bed together (but nothing beyond a front to back cuddle and a sexually related remark occurs). Violence consists of a person being pushed down a shaft to their death, some fighting, two car wrecks, some dog attacks, and the abduction and off-screen dismemberment of people for their external body parts. Some of that has bloody results, and that violence, various moments of potential peril and various visuals (including severed heads, an arm, a dog's head, etc.) might be unsettling and/or suspenseful to viewers, particularly younger ones. Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, tense family material is present, and a character smokes a few times. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, varying amounts of camera movement (some fairly bouncy) occur in several scenes. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE None, but when a suspect darts out in front of a bus, we hear the driver ask, "What, are you drunk?" BLOOD/GORE Father Joseph leads FBI agents to a severed arm that's been buried in the snow. It's slightly discolored and bloody, especially on the stump end. We later see color photos of that limb (including a better look at the meaty end). We see drops of blood hit the snow below Father Joseph as he's on all fours, and when he's brought upright, we see blood in and from his eyes. A woman has some slightly bloody cuts on her head following a car crash and the air bag hitting her. We see a dead face beneath the ice, with eyes and mouth open. We see a male patient on a makeshift surgery table with what look like large scratch marks on his face, as well as some blood in/from his eyes. We see a little blood on Scully's surgical gloves. We see a liver being removed from a body for a transplant. A case is opened to reveal bloody plastic or something similar inside. Another case is opened to reveal a severed head. We see that a makeshift surgery patient has a woman's arm on his body, and then note the stitch marks around his neck, suggesting his head was transplanted onto the body. Mulder has blood on his head following a bad car wreck. We see a photo of a severed dog's head, and then that of a two-headed dog. We see the small reflection of some surgery in the doctor's glasses. We see a hostage near-fully submerged in ice water, with a surgeon working on her neck, including what initially looks like a cut. We later see, however, that tubes run from her neck to a blood machine, and then see blood flow through those tubes. We see a severed, but still alive human head. Mulder has some blood on his face after being punched. Mulder has a stitched-up wound on his head. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Janke, Franz and those working with them obviously have bad attitudes for abducting people for some of their body parts and then disposing of what's left. We hear that Father Joseph is an excommunicated priest who was convicted of sexually abusing his altar boys in the past. Some viewers might not appreciate the joke of the X-Files theme music playing when a portrait of President Bush shows up on the screen. About Father Joseph, Mulder says if he were the FBI, he'd be "in bed with him kissing his holy ass" Scully then informs Mulder that Father Joseph is a convicted pedophile, prompting Mulder to state maybe he'd stay out of the bed a little. After hearing that Father Joseph lives in a sex offender dorm, Mulder dryly jokes to "just avoid the activities room." Drummy is skeptical and even mocking of Mulder and Father Joseph. Scully says she's cursing God for the cruelty of creating a child like Christian, only to have him suffer from his brain disease (some viewers might not like such sentiments). FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence," "Blood/Gore" and "Jump Scenes" may be unsettling, suspenseful or scary to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material. An FBI agent returns home to her garage or carport at night where her restrained dog is barking wildly. She then sees someone's breath coming from along the outside wall as well as a fresh footprint in the snow. Armed with a garden hand tool, she slowly walks toward the opening and then repeatedly strikes an assailant with that tool, bloodying his head and hands with the sharp prongs. She then runs, but a second assailant chases and tackles her to the snow. A woman tries to drive past a snow plow on a snowy rural road, but the driver of the latter speeds up and races her. That ends when he bumps her car, forcing her off the road and through a field where she slams into something, thus deploying the air bag into her face, dazing her. That driver then climbs over her car and punches out the driver's side window. From a distance, we then see the motion of him striking her while she's still in the car, and then dragging her away in the snow. We see a hostage held in a wooden cage/crate while makeshift surgery is prepped by her. As surgery is performed on Christian, we hear the sound of a bone saw. Scully then inserts some sort of medical device into the boy's head (seen on a display as a graphic, rather than the actual view of the insertion). Father Joseph starts convulsing, and we see a patient elsewhere simultaneously do the same thing. A hostage escapes from the Russians, but just as she gets outside, a guard dog races at her (we don't see the impact). Mulder and Dakota (who's carrying a handgun) chase after one of the Russians through a building that's under construction. One of the Russians pushes an FBI agent who falls down a shaft and lands hard (we don't see the deadly impact). Mulder follows a suspect tow truck, but while distracted by trying to make a call on his cell phone, he runs into the stopped truck. It then uses its snow plow blade to ram Mulder's car and eventually roll it over. We next see it at the bottom of a ravine, upside down, with Mulder crawling out, bloodied and injured. A guard dog attacks Mulder, seen in a disorienting fashion, including close-ups of the dog's teeth (it turns out to be a two-headed dog). We later hear the dog squealing and see it lying on the ground with some blood in the snow near it). Mulder storms into a makeshift surgery room holding a large wrench or pipe, but he's zapped by a tranquilizer gun, followed by one of the Russians punching him in the face. Moments later, he's dragged out and down some wood steps and taken to a shed where that Russian apparently chops up an earlier victim (we don't see the impact). The Russian then pulls Mulder up onto the chopping block, sharpens his ax, and raises it above Mulder. Scully intervenes, however, hitting the Russian on the head, knocking him out. A man then goes into the surgery room and holds his handgun on those inside there. GUNS/WEAPONS Armed FBI agents burst through a door with their guns drawn, followed by Dakota chasing a suspect with her gun drawn. A Russian nearly kills Mulder with an ax. An FBI agent holds his gun on some suspects. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Full of sh*t," "I didn't bugger 37 altar boys," "What's up, doc?" "Who believes that crap anymore?" "I hope you told them to go screw themselves," "I'd be in bed with him kissing his holy ass," "He's a creep," "Pulled that right out of his ass," "Cuz he's pulling it out of his ass," "Don't put the boy through hell," "I don't know what the hell it means" and "Somebody there with balls who can." Scully notes many pencils stuck up in Mulder's ceiling (from him previously throwing them there -- not seen). One of the Russians has a tattoo. JUMP SCENES Mulder's hand touches Scully's shoulder, startling her (accompanied by sudden music on the soundtrack). The sight of a severed human head in a case might startle some viewers. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) An extreme amount of suspenseful, ominous and some action-oriented music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 3 "s" words, 4 asses, 3 hells, 1 crap, 1 bugger and 1 use each of "God," "Jesus" and "Oh God." SEX/NUDITY About Father Joseph, Mulder says if he were the FBI, he'd be "in bed with him kissing his holy ass" (meaning to get info from him). Scully then informs Mulder that Father Joseph is a convicted pedophile, prompting Mulder to state maybe he'd stay out of the bed a little. About obviously not liking Father Joseph, Scully states, "I didn't bugger 37 altar boys." One of the Russians (in just swim trunks in a pool) watches a woman pass by in a standard and not terribly revealing one-piece bathing suit (he's doing so as he plans on abducting her later). We see Scully and Mulder in bed together, but it doesn't appear anything sexual has happened. When she says she can't sleep, he cuddles up with her from behind (he's shirtless, she's in a nightgown or something similar) and says, "I have a little something for that." She then jokingly replies, "Just a little something?" They chat for a bit, share one kiss, and then try to go to sleep, but end up getting up. We then see him shirtless, while her nightgown shows a little cleavage as they talk and he starts to shave. Scully shows a little cleavage. Mulder and Scully briefly kiss. SMOKING Father Joseph smokes at least twice (and we later hear he's dying from advanced lung cancer). TENSE FAMILY SCENES There's brief talk of Mulder's sister who he believes was abducted long ago by aliens and likely is dead now. There's brief talk of William, Scully's son (that she put up for adoption in the TV show). Christian's parents inform Scully that they want to stop medical treatment for him due to believing he's already suffered enough (and they appear worried about him in other scenes). TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT We hear that Father Joseph is an excommunicated priest who was convicted of sexually abusing his altar boys. The FBI and whether they ever had or currently have a division for investigating paranormal claims. Scully says she's cursing God for the cruelty of creating a child like Christian, only to have him suffer from his brain disease. The long-standing battle between science and religion when it comes to handling some sick people. Father Joseph states that he castrated himself when he was 26 (for being a pedophile). Drummy says that the Russian abductors were married in Massachusetts, but we don't know if he's just being sarcastic or if that's the truth (nothing else indicates it is). We hear that Father Joseph has advanced lung cancer. The transplanting of body parts (not internal organs) from one person to another. VIOLENCE Entries listed under "Blood/Gore"(including a severed head, arm, etc.) show the results of unseen violence. An FBI agent returns home to her garage or carport at night where her restrained dog is barking wildly. She then sees someone's breath coming from along the outside wall as well as a fresh footprint in the snow. Armed with a garden hand tool, she slowly walks toward the opening and then repeatedly strikes an assailant with that tool, bloodying his head and hands with the sharp prongs. She then runs, but a second assailant chases and tackles her to the snow. A woman tries to drive past a snow plow on a snowy rural road, but the driver of the latter speeds up and races her. That ends when he bumps her car, forcing her off the road and through a field where she slams into something, thus deploying the air bag into her face, dazing her. That driver then climbs over her car and punches out the driver's side window. From a distance, we then see the motion of him striking her while she's still in the car, and then dragging her away in the snow. One of the Russians pushes an FBI agent who falls down a shaft and lands hard (we don't see the deadly impact). Mulder follows a suspect tow truck, but while distracted by trying to make a call on his cell phone, he runs into the stopped truck. It then uses its snow plow blade to ram Mulder's car and eventually roll it over. We next see it at the bottom of a ravine, upside down, with Mulder crawling out, bloodied and injured. A hostage is manhandled and then shot with a tranquilizer pistol. A guard dog attacks Mulder, seen in a disorienting fashion, including close-ups of the dog's teeth (it turns out to be a two-headed dog). We later hear the dog squealing and see it lying on the ground with some blood in the snow near it). Mulder storms into a makeshift surgery room holding a large wrench or pipe, but he's zapped by a tranquilizer gun, followed by one of the Russians punching him in the face. Moments later, he's dragged out and down some wood steps and taken to a shed where that Russian apparently chops up an earlier victim (we don't see the impact). The Russian then pulls Mulder up onto the chopping block, sharpens his ax, and raises it above Mulder. Scully intervenes, however, hitting the Russian on the head, knocking him out. A man then goes into the surgery room and holds his handgun on those inside there. Reviewed July 23, 2008 / Posted July 25, 2008

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