After almost 10 years, one must ask: "Why do they still want to make another X-File movie?" I'd like to think that it's because they have a good script that may answer and tie up some of the loose ends left unanswered by the TV show. Alas, such is not the case.
When an FBI agent was abducted, Agent Dakota Whitney (Amanda Peet) seeks out Dr. Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), who has quit the FBI and is now working at a hospital. What Agent Whitney really wants, however, is Fox Mulder (David Duchovny), who is leading very much a reclusive life away from everything. The FBI is being helped by a Father Joe Crissman (Billy Connolly) who claims to have psychic power and can see what happened to the missing FBI agent. He sees things, and helps the agent find a severed arm that may have belonged to one of the attackers. Somehow Scully is able to convince Mulder to help in the case even though she doesn't believe Father Joe really has psychic power.
When Scully finds out Father Joe is a convicted pedophile, her view changes. She doesn't want to get involved in the case anymore, while Mulder starts to believe Father Joe. Scully doesn't want the darkness of their old lives, but Mulder lives for it. Meanwhile, Scully's faith is shaken when the hospital rejects one of her patients, a young boy dying of a rare brain disease. In researching for a treatment for the boy, Scully discovers disturbing facts about Mulder's suspects, and she must reluctantly comes to Mulder's rescue as he puts himself in danger trying to pursue the men.
David Duchovy (Californication) reprises his most famous role as Agent Fox Mulder. He looks and acts just like he did years ago, and he eases back into the character. Except he seems to have lost his edge. In this film, Mulder appears to be less driven and sharp (must be all the macaroni and cheese he has while in "retirement"). He gives off a vibe that since he's done the role for so many years, he's just coasting here.
Gillian Anderson (The Last King of Scotland) fares a bit better as Dana Scully, Mulder's equally famous partner. She looks noticeably older than the last we saw her as Scully, and more mature as well. Yet she's successful in keeping her character's intensity and skeptical nature. Also, the revelation about the relationship between Mulder and Scully seems to have dampened, not enticed, their chemistry. And they don't spend enough time on screen together.
Supporting cast includes Amanda Peet (Syriana) and Xzibit (xXx: State of the Union) as a pair of FBI agents. I guess they're supposed to offset Scully and Mulder, but they just come off as lame. Peet has nothing to do, and Xzibit's Agent Drummy is so annoying and incompetent that he adds nothing to the story. Callum Keith Rennie (The Invisible) gives a solid performance as the steely, creepy abductor, and Billy Connolly (Fido) has one of the best roles in the film and he delivers.
Written and directed by the X-File alum Chris Carter, the script is disjointed and mundane. At least we had alien colonization in the last film. This time around, the story seems more suitable for a TV episode than a feature. In fact the whole film feels like a long TV episode of the X-File, and not one of its best either. The relationship between Mulder and Scully, especially after all these years, are not fully developed and explored. The parallel stories of the abduction and Scully's dilemma at the hospital feel forced and disjointed. The mystery and horror remind us of Silence of the Lambs, but it's not fully developed either. I'm extremely disappointed with both the plot and the character development. It seems to me someone must have said, "Let's throw a few things together and call it a feature."
There are some intense moments and how the mystery unfolds in the beginning is intriguing enough. But Carter makes a mistake by following the abductors and yet not giving them enough time to reveal themselves or for the audience to know more about them. Why are they doing what they do? The pacing is off, and the plot loses its focus. The action sequences are tame as well.
I really wanted this to be good -- I was hoping that after all these years, they would have come up with a great script that answers a lot of questions from the original series. Now, I really do think Chris Carter never really has any answers. I don't believe anymore.Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Amanda Peet, Billy Connolly, Xzibit, Callum Keith Rennie, Adam Godley
Director: Chris Carter
Writers: Frank Spotnitz, Chris Carter
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for violent and disturbing content and thematic material
Running Time: 105 Minutes
Ratings:
Script – 6
Performance – 7
Direction – 6
Cinematography – 7
Music/Sound– 7
Editing – 7
Production – 7
Total – 6.6 out of 10
This time around, Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) has a few interesting things waiting for him in Gotham City. There are number of copycat Batmen running around the city being vigilantes in his name. But that's the least of his problems. A new criminal who calls himself the Joker (Heath Ledger) has come to town. In a show of supremacy, the Joker robs a bank, escapes unscathed, and calls a meeting with half the town's organized crime honchos. His proposal: Kill the Batman and everyone lives happily ever after. And he's the exact person to do the job. The crime bosses laugh him off at first, thinking they have it covered. Then Batman, with the help of new District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), picks them up one at time. They realize the Joker is right.
The Joker starts to terrorize the city by targeting key players in the crime fight: first a key judge and the police commissioner, then it's the DA himself. When the Joker fails to kill Harvey Dent, due to Batman's interference, he starts to kill innocent people unless the city gives up Batman. An attempted assassination of the mayor puts the city in a state of fear, and the citizens begin to question the authority: Are they going to sacrifice them to protect the Batman? The cunning Joker pits everyone against each other. Most of all, he knows how to get to Batman, by going after Rachael Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal), who is now dating Havey Dent.
Reprising his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Christian Bale (
The original cast of 
Clearly, though, the star of the film is Heath Ledger (
The Nolan brothers (
Christopher Nolan also has the good idea of setting the film on location instead of depending on green screens and CGI cityscapes. Much of Chicago dubs for Gotham, and the result is exhilarating and real. There's also a sequence set in Hong Kong that is cinematically breathtaking. The pacing is tight, and the plot moves along with great urgency. The production design is fantastic, the locations and sets are gorgeous, and technically it's a marvel.
It's not a perfect movie, however. Even at almost three hours, the film feels rushed especially toward the end. There seems to be too much story and perhaps a four-hour director's cut would do it better justice. Also, some of the action sequences are too dark and tight. We want to see the Batman fight and use his gadgets; some of the close-ups and tight action rob us of that. There's not enough "quiet" and reflective moments to balance the action and frantic pace. Also, during one key plot development, I feel that there's not enough emotion from most major players (except for one) and it feels unsatisfying, like we've been cheated. It was such a key emotional turning point and I think Nolan missed the boat there.
Professor Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser) has been following the footstep of his late brother, Max (who disappeared 10 years before somewhere in Iceland) in geological research, and is on the verge of losing his lab. Meanwhile, his sister just forces him to spend a few days with his nephew, Sean, whom Trevor hasn't seen for six years. Stuck with each other, Trevor and Sean must find a common ground, and it seems like Max is the key. When Trevor discovers Max's notes, as well as strange seismic activities in Iceland, he takes Sean on a field trip in hopes to find out what happened to Max.
Once in Iceland, they enlist the help of local guide Hannah (Anita Briem), whose late father was a "Vernian." Convinced that Max was also a Vernian, Hannah dismisses Trevor's assertion that Max might have found the "center of the Earth" as Vernes described. However, soon they find a portal on top of a volcano, just as Verne said they would. Little do they know, they're going to have an adventure of a lifetime.
After a few years of absence from the action/adventure genre, Brendan Fraser (
Josh Hutcherson (
Supporting cast includes Seth Meyers (
Written by Michael Weiss (
Under the direction of David Brevig (
That alone may be worth the price of admission, since few people can experience 3D movies at home. If you are looking to spend a lazy afternoon with a harmless family adventure, it doesn't hurt to make a journey to your local multiplex for this one.
John Hancock (Will Smith) is a drunk living in a remote trailer somewhere in Los Angeles. He's rude, obnoxious, and simply indifferent to everyone around him. And people hate him. The funny thing is, he also has some kind of superpowers. The ability to fly, super strength, invincibility... that sort of things. While Hancock will step in and help people and the cops in case of emergencies or crime, he does it in a way that just makes people not want his help -- such as millions of dollars of damages and putting innocent people in harm's way.
After Hancock saves Ray Embrey's (Jason Bateman) life, he's intrigued by Ray's proposal. You see, Ray is a public relationship consultant who has a "save-the-world" complex. He wants to make Hancock a real superhero, someone everybody would look up to. All Hancock needs is a little push in the right direction, some new clothes and attitudes. Oh, and a stint as an inmate. Reluctantly Hancock follows his advice, while still trying to figure out who he is and why there's only one of him in the whole wide world.
Ray's effort pays off, even to his wife Mary's (Charlize Theron) disapproval. As Hancock slowly regains his respectability, he also starts to figure out his history and he realizes Mary plays a key role.
Will Smith (
Charlize Theron (
Written by TV writers Vincent Ngo (
Then the last third of the movie turns into a tried and true action flick, except there isn't really any specific villain for us to root against. There are villains, of course, but they're very secondary. As Hancock's history is revealed, we're reminded of many other stories including 
The direction under Peter Berg (