The X-Files

Directed by Rob Bowman

Starring David Duchovney, Gillian Anderson, Martin Landau

OK, I was a little worried going into this film. Although I am an X-Phile, I had fallen behind on keeping up with the conspiracy. But, be aware, that this film does cover its bases pretty well, and I wasn’t that lost. Like Godzilla, this was a movie I was looking forward to ever since I saw those first trailers a few months ago. And when rumors started flying of Scully doing a topless scene, well then I knew I had to be there!

The film, picking up where this season’s finale left off, has Mulder and Scully searching for a bomb in Dallas, seeing as to how the X-Files have been destroyed. The bomb naturally goes off, and now we find Scully and Mulder under investigation for not finding it in time. While drowning his sorrows in a bar, Mulder meets Dr. Alan Kutsweil (Landau), who reveals that the bomb was part of Mulder’s conspiracy. And thus the race for the truth begins. Now, being a fan of the TV show, I knew I was instantly going to like this film. My only fears were that it was going to be like Star Trek: Generations. Sure, it was movie, but it felt like just a two-parter. The X-Files was not like that. It managed to pull off being a big screen epic. And true, not all of our questions about the conspiracy are answered. But hey, they had to save something for next season, right?

So, what questions are answered? We know what the bees are for. We know how the black ooze fits in. We find out a little more about the Syndicate’s Agenda. We don’t find out where Mulder’s sister is. Do Mulder and Scully kiss? Hey, if you haven’t seen it, I’m not telling! And the final confrontation at the alien fortress in Antarctica is spectacular! There have been some complaints about the animatronic alien, but he stays in the shadows most of the time. I just hope that they can keep this momentum going all next season! Oh, and Scully doesn’t have a topless scene.

3.5 Nibs

Mulan

Starring the voice of Ming-Na Wen, B.D. Wong, Eddie Murphy, Miguel Ferrer and Pat Morita

Directed by Barry Cook and Tony Bancroft

This film was my annual birthday film. I see a movie every year on my birthday, and this year I picked Mulan. You’ve got to love the Disney animated film. They represent the idealization of society! Every woman is babe, every man is a hunk, and everyone has a goofy sidekick! You instantly know who’s the good guy and who’s the bad guy. I mean, if I could live in any fantasy world I would pick Disney animated movies.

I will admit, I was a little worried when I first heard of the plot of Mulan. A woman who disguises herself as a man so she can join the army. Therefore, her ailing father won’t have to. How could this be a musical? Well, Disney pulls their usual charm, and it is indeed a musical. When we first meet Mulan, she’s getting ready to go meet the village matchmaker, and she soon discovers she wants much more to life than simply being a wife. When Shan-Yu and the Huns breach the great wall, the call goes out for one man from each family to join the army. Mulan has no brothers, so her ailing father joins, and so then she disguises herself as a man and takes off to join the army! In order to look out for Mulan, her ancestors send Mushu, a midget dragon who can be a full-blown guardian again if he brings Mulan home alive. Oh, and somewhere along the way Mulan falls in love with her captain, Shang.

That’s pretty much the plot. As with the ususal Disney animated film, the animation is beautiful! The songs, well, they aren’t as good as they could have been. Disney has had trouble doing a decent soundtrack since The Lion King. Mushu, however, with the voice of Eddie Murphy, is the funniest sidekick since the Genie in Aladdin. Every scene he’s in will have you laughing out loud. The best scene, however, is this skinny-dipping scene where Mulan tries to disguise her womanhood while swimming with three other soldiers! The only drawback to this film is the songs. Why can’t Disney have the courage to do a non-musical? But hey, I bought the soundtrack, so I should quit whining. It is Disney’s best animated film since Lion King.

3.5 Nibs

The Truman Show

Directed by Peter Wier

Written by Argh! I can never remember, I’m going to quit doing this

Starring Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, Ed Harris

A lot of people have been raving about this film, so naturally I had to go see it. Of course, we had all heard the doubts about weather Jim Carrey could do dramatic work or not. We were also fairly aware of the premise at this point: Jim plays Truman Burbank, a man who was legally adopted by a corporation, and raised inside a giant TV studio where his family and friends are nothing but actors, and he is the only real thing in his world. And of course, things begin to unravel.

I was really looking forward to this movie, and it delivered. Jim Carrey can do drama. Calling him the next Tom Hanks is a bit much, but Jim is good. I also really liked how this movie was set up. For the first half, it is as though we are actually watching The Truman Show. We see Truman and his made-up world the way Truman’s audience does. Then, when we are allowed behind the scenes, we get to meet Cristof (Ed Harris), the show’s creator and director. What I liked about Harris’ performance was, even though he was sick and twisted enough to do this to Truman, he really did care about Truman.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to tell you the end the way my sister did. Let’s just say that Truman’s flight to freedom is one of the most inspirational movie scenes in a while. This is definitely a great movie, and I hope it will be remembered come Oscar time.

4 Nibs