The X-Files: I Want to Believe

The X-Files: I Want to Believe, 3 out of 4 stars.

David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson team-up again for a new cases in "The X-Files: I Want to Believe".

This is not about alien anymore...but the truth is still out there.

I write this reviews after I wrote Eagle Eye review. Actually I watch this movie before "Eagle Eye". Sounds strange? Ah...cut the crap. Actually I found myself a lot of time today, so I just using this free time to do some reviews. The X-Files: I Want to Believe, directed by the creator of The X-Files TV series, Chris Carter. Sounds nice isn't it? Since that I almost forget my comment in my head, so I just make it quick. The film begins with a FBI agent, Monica Banan has been attacked by an unknown person. Then the films jump to the scene where Father Joseph Fitzgerald Crissman (Billy Connolly) and a group of FBI found a broken hand on the spot. After that, the films focus on Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) are now a physician in a Catholic Hospital and she's now treating a boy named Christian who has Sandoff disease. One day, an FBI agent came and ask her to help them to investigate the disappearance of two women. Scully, then trying to convince her ex-partner, Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) to help her. Then both of them has been sent to Washington D.C. There, they met Father Joe who claims god giving him the vision to see crime and others. From there, Mulder has found out a lot of clue and finally knowing the answer of disappearance of the women and before the time has gone, Scully and Mulder have to face the problem with each others and Scully has to make a choices whether to continue treat Christian or just let Father Ybarra, the head of the hospital to make the decision which is removed Christian from the hospital to a palliative-care facility to live his remaining day. Actually, I'm tired to write out all the story of this movie, because I don't want to be a spoiler sometimes. Actually and honestly I really enjoy this movie more than "Eagle Eye", of course not a lot. First, this movie is about making a choices, mindset and other small issue about moral. That's why I liked this movie. Like I said "this is not about alien anymore.." Unlike the first X-Files movie, "The X-Files" (1998), although I not yet see it, but it is about aliens. The story of this movie is fine but not great. I think some of the TV series fans will feel disappointed with the story, but for me I think it is fine because it is not involve in alien or other supernatural things. I think aliens are outdated already. The story is very simple, easy to absorb and easy to understanding. The acting is great especially Gillian Anderson. It been a while I didn't see her in the big screen, and I found out that her acting is still great when she act in X-Files. Besides that, the chemistry between both of them is very good. Despite good acting, this movie also contain a few thrilling moment which is I quite admire of. The director done a great job in maintaining the thrilling sequences with the story telling. He arrange it perfectly, and audiences will not feel this movie is boring or draggy. Did this movie require a lot of thinking? What I can say is yes, but not a lot. The ending of this movie is nice also because it doesn't show how it ends, the ending is depends on the audiences themself, and that's how the x-files tv series sometimes did, if I not mistaken. I'm a fan of x-files, and I really like the way they do the ending, it sometimes scary and very disturbing but not this one. This ending is very comfortable and relaxing. Here comes an overall. Oops, this is a very short review. It is short because this movie is very simple but very absorbing. That's all I want to say. Overall, this movie is very absorbing, sometimes thrilling, sometimes touching and I really enjoy every moment from this movie.

Eagle Eye

Eagle Eye, 2.5 out of 4 stars

Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan are getting instructions from an unknown woman in "Eagle Eye".

Eagle Eye, released few weeks ago and I'm planning to watch it few weeks ago but I couldn't make it. I just saw "Eagle Eye" yesterday with my friends and I just feels like this movie is not what I expected from director D.J Caruso who also brought you his masterpiece, "Disturbia" in 2007 and also starring Shia LaBeouf who is nowadays a great young actor. The films begins with the army forces lead by The Secretary of Defense (Michael Chiklis) are tracking down an unknown terrorist and they have to make a decision to eliminate the terrorist by using a MQ-9 Reaper UCAV. But they have a difficulty of getting a possitive ID proves. So, the system recommend to abort the mission. But the president orders The Secretary of Defense to carry on the mission. Then the films focus on the life of Jerry Shaw (Shia LaBeouf) which is very lifeless and gameble everyday to earn extra money. One days, his mother called him and told him that his twin brother is dead. After the funeral, Jerry when home and found out that his room is filled with explosives, weapon, and other top secret documents. He then recieve a call from an unknow woman who told him that the FBI will catch him in 40 sec? If not mistaken. He must escape before the FBI come in. He don't believe and he was catch by the FBI lead by Agent Thomas Morgan (Billy Bob Thornton). Then the films focus on the life of a single mother, Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan). The unknown woman call Rachel and she's been told that if she didn't follow her instruction, her son will be kill. Then in the FBI office, Jerry have a permission to make a phone call. But the unknown woman call Jerry again and he been told that she's already plan his escape plan. During the escape, he meet up with Rachel, both of them escape from the FBI by listening the instruction which the unknown woman gave. During the escape, they finally found out the identity of the unknown woman and before the time went out, both of them must find a way to save themself and Rachel herself must also find a way to save her son. Since last week, I write a review about "Death Race" and I said "this movie is not a really good movie". So, Eagle Eye also not a really good movie either. Most people or my friend will ask me, "Why? This movie is so much fun!" I personally quite like this movie but not much. This movie is not what I expect from D.J Caruso actually. First of all, I'm not statisfied the way he handle the plot progression. For example the part where Jerry has been told that his brother is dead, and the part where Jerry has been told that the unknown woman is actually is a ....(I'm not going to be a spoiler) then the film only started to introduce the ....(I don't want to be a spoiler). It feels very weird when you watch it and it doesn't give you the intense feeling and it does not require a lot of thinking. Besides that, the thing which happen from the first half of the movie for example action sequences is not intense at all and I didn't feel any eye-popping moment. But I liked second half of the movie, it started getting more and more intense. I don't know whether you all got notice one thing from this movie or not? which is if this movie don't have action sequences at all, this movie actually don't have a great story and it will be suck. I think I better stop blaming this movie already. The only thing I envy a lot from this movie is the acting. Shia LaBeouf is a great young actor, his acting in this movie is great. I think his acting is better than in "Transformers". His expression delivers the feeling of sad, curiosity and andrenaline rush at the same time. This is why I give this movie a credits. If there is no Shia LaBeouf, this movie will be boring. Overall, despite the great acting delivers by Shia, it is still not a great but fine action thriller.