So pleased.

The X-Files: I Want to Believe had the right balance of everything that made the show what it was in its most brilliant moments. All of the elements that fans of the show enjoy are in place--drama, action, suspense, creep-out factor, humor--but the movie had a quietness to it that at first seemed foreign. As the narrative unfolded, however, it made so much sense for the film to be presented in that way. It need not be an event picture; by the end, I think you'll agree the contemplative approach was perfect. It creates a very intimate experience.

The visual backdrop (all of the beautiful snow) gave the film a dreamy, almost nostalgic quality--perfect for those of us lost in our memories of the show. It was like being inside one's very own X-Files snow globe. We there-from-the-beginning fans are growing older--right along with the principal actors--and it drives home how much, and how little things have changed.

The film is set in real time, and explanations emerge to explain the current state of things, but never in a way that seems forced or expository. Certain changes--ones that might have been shocking had they been introduced in such a casual way during the course of the series--seem perfectly natural.

Everyone's work is solid; there are some fantastic moments that I won't fully give away, but one involves an assist. :) Also, there is a riotous bit that involves W. That's all I'll spoil. Oh...except for a recommendation: stay for the end credits; you'll get an amusing and sweet send-off.

Grade: A. I needed this movie in my life. Thank you, Chris Carter, Gillian, David, and everyone else involved.

Official The X-Files: I Want to Believe Film Website