The Film
This original X-Files movie remains a more satisfying sci-fi epic than its recent sequel, serving up a large-scale high-stakes government conspiracy brimming with cover-ups, flying saucers, black goo, alien invasions and experimental vaccines. The engaging story ably ties up a lot of fan-favorite elements from the TV show, which was still ongoing weekly on Fox when Fight the Future--as it came to be known, partly to differentiate it from I Want to Believe--was released. A top-tier supporting cast helps too, although the movie's depiction of FEMA as an all-powerful "secret government" is pretty laughable, post-Katrina. Theatrical and "Extended" cuts are provided although the differences are subtle, and the Extended running time is only about a minute longer.
The Picture
This movie does not make the transition to high-definition without a few bumps. The 2.35:1 image is frequently soft and almost always grainy, a reality worsened by varying degrees of digital artifacting over the film. The opening scenes set the tone, shot against the bright white snow before moving inside a dark, sometimes smoky cave, here with an unfortunate haze--often severe-- across the proceedings. Sure, there's a seemingly random not-so-bad shot (well-lit faces tend to fare better) along the way, but then it's another nighttime sequence, which can look flat and mushy, while most of the skies, day or night… okay: ugh.
The Sound
The X-Files was one of the first DTS-enabled DVDs and so it is only fitting that its Blu-ray debut comes equipped with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack. There's more than one helicopter looming above the mysterious doin's here, making excellent use of the rears. Emergency crews and an eerie wind at one point also have 360-degree presence, the billion-bee swarm remains creepy as hell, while nice moments like an approaching/passing freight train offer true directionality. There's also a great, big explosion about 20 minutes into the movie, with ample bass, which is also evident in the climactic scenes. It's a fine mix overall, particularly in the three-dimensionality of the musical score.
The Extras
The Picture-in-Picture video commentary by director Rob Bowman, creator/writer/producer Chris Carter, writer Frank Spotnitz and producer Daniel Sackheim; also available as an audio commentary; is joined by the original 1999 DVD audio commentary by Bowman and Carter. These are especially interesting if you have the time to listen to both, as a decade gone has added new perspective. Also ported over from the DVD is "The Making of the X-Files Movie" (27 minutes, presented in high-definition but looking soft).
New for this edition, all in HD, are "BLACKWOOD: The Making of The X-Files: Fight the Future" (19-and-a-half minutes), "Visual Effects" (nine minutes), "Scoring" (five minutes about Mark Snow) and a three-minute Gag Reel. Also included is an alternate version of the Bee Sting scene, two-minutes-plus, where Scully and Mulder… well, just watch it. Blu-ray-exclusive In-Movie Features add "making of" clips, storyboards and concept art onscreen as we watch.
Final Thoughts
A definite improvement over the DVD, the Blu-ray of The X-Files Fight the Future is a welcome alternative for anyone disappointed by I Want to Believe, or for anyone in the enduring fanbase who wants to relive Scully and Mulder's biggest adventure.
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