The X Files: I Want To Believe - Thoughts

The thought of the opportunity to experience agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully back together investigating the paranormal was simply awesome. Having been a huge fan of the TV serial, and enjoying the horror sci-fi elements of the show, hearing of another X Files movie made me a happy camper. Since the first theatrical movie in 1998 titled The X Files: Fight The Future, it’s been a 10 long year wait for The X Files: I Want To Believe. In this installment, retired agents Mulder and Scully are asked for assistance when a priest claims of visions to do with a missing FBI agent. Oddly enough there was very little promo activity and hype around I Want To Believe.


After Californication, which is relatively fresh in my head, it was interesting to see David Duchovny as Agent Fox Mulder again. The most noticeable observation being that the show and its characters have aged very well. There has been considerable character development, and this is presented to the audience in a faultless ’10 years later’ sorta fashion. The relationship between Mulder and Scully has evolved substantially, and it’s nice to see this side of things, especially for those who wondered, what after?. In keeping with the roots of the show, the plot has unexplainable elements to it, in the form of the psychic priest. On the flip side, grounded scientific reasons exist for all his actions and predictions. The movie is slow, and dark; though the runtime is a mere 108 minutes, it feels like a lot more. Being a standalone plot, new comers to the franchise don’t need to worry about backstory, while existing fans will love to see the changes, and reappearance of old characters. Compared to the first movie, there’s a lot less action, and a lot more emotion; so be warned if you were hoping for aliens and exploding buildings. Chris Carter has certainly taken it down a few notches. If you love The X Files as I do, and grew up enjoying it, you’ll probably rate this quite high, but even otherwise it’s definitely worth the watch.

It wouldn’t be The X Files without Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully played by David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. Thankfully neither one of them has lost their touch; he seeming just as out there and believing, and she coming across just as grounded and stable. Both characters have aged, and are yet just as wonderful, if not better in a mature sorta way. An interesting addition to the case was Agent Dakota Whitney, played by Amanda Peet. While I was skeptical at first, owing to her comic nature, I was pleased to see her execute the suited FBI agent role with ease. While the only glimpse of humor on her part was from the gag/outtake reel, she brought to the table her usual energy which fit in well. If you’ve ever wanted to see rapper Xzibit in a suit, here’s your chance; he plays Agent Mosley Drummy, and does a good job of being the stereotype skeptic.

The DVD I was watching was a Region 1 US DVD. It featured both a theatrical and extended version; I sampled the later. Video was good, but had a dark undertone to it. While this was probably intentional, it did take away from the flawlessly sharp crystal clear video we’ve all come to get used to. That said, it did look a lot like the old show, and that’s probably what the desired output was anyways. Sound was presented by means of a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. There was ample usage of the surround stage, with a lot of ambient effects coming from the rear channels. This set the mood, and really made it feel like The X Files.

My Recommendation: Watch It (The X Files, a decade later)

Hung: Season 1 - Thoughts

I’d heard of Hung in passing several months ago, but never really took the time to read about it. Recently, as part of my initiative to not just watch follow-up seasons, but try new stuff out, I did some online research and figured I should check out Hung. It sounded interesting, and having liked most of Thomas Jane’s past work, I figured I should give it a shot. In Hung, a once star athlete with much promise now realizes that he’s a middle aged history professor making too little money to support himself and his kids. With a failed marriage, and several other unexpected mishaps, a not so ordinary solution needs to be found as a source of a second income.


The first season was pretty short with just 10 episodes. The show for most part is a drama, with tiny bits of humor, most of them being dark. The pace is slow, and while there is a looming sense of hardship, the show is crafted well, and the lead character Ray’s optimism helps keep the show comfortably pleasant. Considering I watched all 10 episodes in one go, back to back, it’s probably safe to say that the show is not boring. To be fair, it’s hard not to draw a parallel between Hung and the Showtime series Weeds. Instead of a single mother with several responsibilities, children to take care of, and an extremely tight financial situation, here we have a male lead who plays the dad in a similar situation; the solutions in both cases being unorthodox. Season 1 sets the stage well, with a good sense of background, setup, and scope for further development. Like most TV shows nowadays, expect situations and circumstances to be gripping and intense, with seemingly real situations, and intense hardship. Needless to say, the show is not aimed at young audiences, as the theme alone is inappropriate; added to that theres a good deal of abusive language and nudity thrown in. If you’re in the mood for a serious drama, with some dark humor, you’ll find Hung – Season 1 to be quite worth your time.

Thomas Jane plays the lead role of Ray Drecker; a basketball coach and history teacher in a public school. Considering that the last I’d seen him was in The Punisher, it was interesting to see him in a non-action role. That said, even in The Punisher, he was a passionate man, driven to seek vengeance, and fight against corruption. Thomas Jane brings the same level of passion to his character in Hung, portraying well the myriad of emotions that Ray Drecker experiences, thanks to the turbulent circumstances that surround him. Jane Adams plays Tanya, a poet; an artist at heart, stuck in a relatively dreary desk job. While her character isn’t as likable as Ray’s, her performance as Tanya is incredible. I remember Jane from smaller roles in past movies and shows, but nothing that really stood out. As Tanya, she’s troubled on the inside, breaks down easily, and comes across as a soft weak person, with a lot of bottled up emotions. Her performance will without doubt have the audience’s sympathy in a flash. A rather chubby older Anne Heche plays Jessica Haxon, Ray’s ex-wife, now remarried, and still a bit of a scatter brain. After seeing her in some intense movies over the past decade, it was fun to see her in a relaxed random role here. Rebecca Creskoff plays Lenore, a loud, extrovert, socialite, who interestingly fits into the character mosaic of Hung, as Elizabeth Perkins character Celia Hodes did in Weeds.

The content I was watching was a lossy HD 720p DivX. Thanks to the HD resolution, the content was pretty good, keeping in mind expected loss in vibrancy owing to the DivX format. Picture was pretty good for most part, and sound was good as well. Thanks to a 5.1 soundtrack, the narration style story exposition and other regular character dialog was very clear. Scene ambience was also good, with no areas for complaint. The aspect ratio perfectly fit a 16:9 home widescreen TV, with no letterboxing.

My Recommendation: Watch It (HBO’s masculine version of Showtime’s Weeds)

Transformers 3 - Thoughts

Deciding to watch Transformers 3 was a no-brainer; being a fan of the franchise and someone who loves big budget blockbuster action flicks. I recall seeing the first teaser trailer several months ago, and more recently the 3rd trailer with considerably more content. In Transformers 3, the mission to put man on the moon is tied into the war between the Decepticons and the Autobots. The battle that ensues after is colossal, and in line with the Decepticons intent to colonize earth and enslave mankind.


In true Michael Bay fashion, the scale of the action was mammoth; presenting a seemingly larger than life perspective to the audience. If you felt the first two installments in the series were big in terms of action and scale, take it up several notches, and you’ll have Transformers 3. The plot is by no means lacking in creativity, tying several historical events into the storyline, from as far back as 1964. Since the first 2 movies some character development is imminent; this works well, adding a sense of realism by means of the progression of time. While 2 of my friends whined excessively about the flaws of Transformers 3, particularly commenting on inaccuracies when compared to the original storyline, and the imperfections of the plot and execution, I will have to differ and say that the movie was pretty good. At the end of the day the aim is to please the general public, and make money. Most general audiences enjoyed the movie, and financially it has been an incredible success, with the worldwide gross being in excess of 4 times the production budget in just the first month of release. At the end of the day, if you love action, special effects, and Transformers you’ll enjoy Transformers 3. Keep in mind though that the plot is unassuming and keeps it simple, fun and light.

Shia LaBeouf plays Sam Witwicky, the lead character who has now finished college and is looking for a job. This transition is portrayed very believably, and he does his bit in an expectedly humorous manner. Though the previous female lead had quite a prominent role in the plot of the first 2 movies, her stepping out and being replaced by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley played by Carly Spencer was packaged and delivered seamlessly. While her role is not as hardcore or intense as that of Megan Fox, she does add a new dimension of British exoticness to the blend. John Turturro plays Simmons, now a retired rich man, adding without any depreciation his comedic antics. Other returning cast members include Lennox played by Josh Duhamel, and Epps played by Tyrese Gibson. New and a pretty impressive addition to the cast is Frances McDormand who plays Mearing. Her character has assumed command of security in relation to the Autobots and their peace keeping initiatives. As Mearing has only taken control recently, post the initial incidents with the Decepticons, her role is that of the stereotype government agent who needs to be convinced all over again. As for having to play a tough cookie, she is just brilliant.

Being one of the few movies that I was unwilling to wait for the DVD, I ran to the theatre to catch it. Additionally, it was presented in 3D, which compounded the reason. The use of 3D was effective, and added more punch to the already solid action sequences. The highway car sequence being quite standout; such as memorable predecessors from Matrix Reloaded and Bad Boys 2. On a general note though, with several 3D movie out nowadays, 3D per se has certainly lost the charm it once had, back when Avatar was released. Owing to the 3D it’s hard to comment on the clarity of the video, but colors were vibrant, reds and blues looking gorgeous. Sound was on point, with the surround stage fittingly supporting the action.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (Get ready to experience 3x Transformers mayhem)