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"The X-Files: Revelations" DVD doesn't reveal much

by
Malinda Lo

To further stoke fan speculation about what's going to happen in The X-Files: I Want to Believe, which opens July 25 — and to reintroduce the series to those who may not have been X-philes when it was on the air — a "new" X-Files DVD is being released today. The compilation of eight episodes is called "Revelations," and as the cover itself proclaims, this is the "Essential Guide to the X-Files movie," with "8 critical episodes handpicked by the series creator."

Does it deliver? Yes and no.

The DVD's eight episodes span the first six seasons of the television series, skipping (wisely) the last three seasons entirely. At first this seemed a little odd, because if this DVD is supposed to be the essential guide to the movie, and the movie takes place after Season 9, don't we need to know what happens in those last three seasons? A short "series trailer" included on the first disc does give a rundown of the entire nine seasons, but I'm going to guess that what happened in the last three seasons just isn't that important. (Sorry, Annabeth Gish fans, but I never could get into the character of Agent Reyes.)

Each episode is certainly a classic — "Pilot," "Beyond the Sea," "The Host," "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose," "Memento Mori," "Post-Modern Prometheus," "Bad Blood" and "Milagro" — and each one is introduced by series creator Chris Carter and executive producer Frank Spotnitz. Their commentary, though, is limited to a couple of minutes each time, so they don't provide a lot of new information.

It is amusing to see Gillian Anderson stick her head over Chris Carter's shoulder in the commentary before "Milagro," and she is wearing the tan trench coat you've seen in preview photos for the X-Files movie, but very little is revealed about what's going to happen in the film. It does seem that Carter is shooting these intros on the set of the movie, though, because at one point a man in full surgical scrubs (an actor, I'm guessing) walks right behind him. I can't believe that wasn't entirely orchestrated, so, uh, spoiler alert? Man in scrubs will be in movie!

The DVDs also include the movie trailer, which is pretty useless because you can watch it everywhere online, and a recording of a Wondercon panel featuring Carter, Spotnitz, Anderson and David Duchovny. The panel is fun, and the actors and producers all say they'd love to do more X-Files movies in the future — if this one does well.

Which is why, I imagine, the DVD includes a coupon for $8.50 off a ticket to see the new movie in theaters through Aug. 31. That is certainly a nice bonus, and the episodes in the DVD set are definitely a well-rounded introduction to the series.

Most importantly (in my opinion), the DVD provides an amusing visual history of the development of Agent Scully's hair (not to mention her suits!).

Season 1: "Pilot" — So young, so skeptical! And such bad suits.

Season 2: "The Host" — Pregnant Gillian Anderson has no time to do her hair.

Season 3: "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose" — Don't mess with this girl's curls.

Season 4: "Memento Mori" — Even when diagnosed with cancer, not a hair is out of place.

Season 5: "Bad Blood" — Straighter (not necessarily that way), harder, hotter.

Season 6: "Milagro" — The bob, perfected.

My conclusion? Even though "Revelations" doesn't reveal much about the movie, it was a fun trip down memory lane. So what season of Scully hair did you love the most?

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    • Submitted by
    Malinda Lo
    on July 8, 2008 - 5:00pm.
    TAGS :: 
    Daria-esque's picture

    Season One she looks like Jodie Foster ala Silence of the Lambs

    Submitted by
    Raerly (84 posts)
    on July 8, 2008 - 5:13pm.

     It just makes me want to say 'well hello clarice'...Er, maybe not. Anyway, I think she looked best in season 4/5 and Bad Blood is my favorite episode!!

    Never met a pearl quite like you that could shimmer and rot at the same time through

    Nathiest's picture

    I remeber having both a

    Submitted by
    Nathiest (627 posts)
    on July 8, 2008 - 5:14pm.

    I remeber having both a Xena fanpage and a Scully fanpage! Hell I remember the time when it was cool to have a fanpage, or at least I thought it was cool. ;)

    I loved X-files season 1-3 but after season 3 it got all goverment conspiracy and boring But I was still a big fan of Scully and the rare "X File" episodes!

    Ok two X-file movies now and still not a one Xena movie!?! BS!!! >:(

    -Nathiest
    the devil is in the details

    RedReeder's picture

    OMG-Bad Blood

    Submitted by
    RedReeder (31 posts)
    on July 8, 2008 - 5:33pm.
    What a hilarious episode!  I clearly remember Scully's varying degrees of somewhat geeky, disbelieving coolness thoughout the seasons.  I even watched after Mulder left; I didn't miss him @ all.  Clearly by season 4, Scully had her look down pat, and she just got better as the seasons went on.  Plus, she and Reyes had some excellent chemistry to boot.  One of my favorites w/Scully & Reyes is the ep featuring numerology to catch a serial killer called "Improbable."  Talk about LOL!
    frosted_fraggle's picture

    I agree

    Submitted by
    frosted_fraggle (57 posts)
    on July 10, 2008 - 8:11am.
    both on the Scully/Reyes chemistry and 'Improbable' being an excellent episode.
    deathbyblonde's picture

    I have to say

    Submitted by
    deathbyblonde (307 posts)
    on July 8, 2008 - 5:45pm.
    I was quite fond of season two Scully.  She was so cute!  The pregnancy weight made her face softer, kind of angelic.  But, um, she was always hot, and I love badass Scully just as much.  *Sigh*  What is it about Gillian Anderson that just turns me into a fangirling 14 year old?
    insanely_normal's picture

    What? The X Files had more

    Submitted by
    alex (76 posts)
    on July 8, 2008 - 5:59pm.

    What? The X Files had more than 7 seasons? Naaaah.

    I was wondering about this DVD. My inner Xphile has been begging me for it, but...

    Quote:
    commentary, though, is limited to a couple of minutes each time

    Really? That's it? Meh. I wanted more new stuff dammit.

    GA's hair. Anything after seasons 4 will do. And season 2 was just scary. I do get a kick out of watching the pilot though.

    That Bad Blood screen cap is priceless. Can't believe I know this, since I haven't rewatched that ep in years but that's the scene where Mulder gets up and starts kicking the trashcan, no? Loved that ep.

    I love how AE keeps covering the XF. Not that I'm complaining, GA did help many a lesbian with the coming out process, so I assume she's the reason? :D

    rachg82's picture

    Yep, you're right.  I'm

    Submitted by
    rachg82 (27 posts)
    on July 8, 2008 - 11:17pm.

    Yep, you're right.  I'm pretty sure I can even out-geek you by adding what Mulder was saying when that picture was shot.  Something about the cell Scully would be sharing with "Large Marge" if they didn't get their versions of the facts straight.  Hee.  Best episode ever.

    I love how AE is covering the X Files stuff too.  Makes me nostalgic for the days of the original movie, when X Files stuff was all over the place.  I still remember how people lined up for the movie opening weekend and how the audience clapped and cheered when they first heard Scully saying "Mulder, it's me".  I'm hoping there'll still be that sense of fan-nuttiness this time around despite the time that's passed. 

    *** 

    EMILY:  You were on the phone.
    RICHARD:  Long distance.
    LORELAI:  God?
    RICHARD:  London.
    LORELAI:  God lives in London?
    RICHARD:  My mother lives in London.
    LORELAI:  Your mother is God?

    queeniefakesit's picture

    Woo!!!

    Submitted by
    refrigeratoraider (648 posts)
    on July 9, 2008 - 3:41am.

    "Your cell mate's name is gonna be Large Marge; she's gonna read a lotta Gertrude Stein..."

    I heart X Files.

    That needed to be my major in college.

     

    I got a dick like a mule...with a big dick.

    insanely_normal's picture

    "She's gonna read a lot of

    Submitted by
    alex (76 posts)
    on July 9, 2008 - 4:11am.

    "She's gonna read a lot of Gertrude Stein" Heh. It's scary how much X files info lies dormant in our fannish brains, just waiting for an occasion to come out, isn't it?

    Quote:
    I'm hoping there'll still be that sense of fan-nuttiness this time around despite the time that's passed.


    Oh, definitely. Half the fun in waiting for this movie is anticipating the batshitery that's gonna hit the interwebs. I know my fandom and what they're capable of. I'll just be over here with the popcorn :D

    rachg82's picture

    I'll bring the twizzlers

    Submitted by
    rachg82 (27 posts)
    on July 10, 2008 - 12:23am.

    I'll bring the twizzlers then.  :-)

    Also, can I please add how much I love the word "batshitery"?  Ha.  Bring it on, X Philes!  Maybe we'll even get a good ole Noromos vs. Shippers battle going again.  Ah, memories.

    *** 

    EMILY:  You were on the phone.
    RICHARD:  Long distance.
    LORELAI:  God?
    RICHARD:  London.
    LORELAI:  God lives in London?
    RICHARD:  My mother lives in London.
    LORELAI:  Your mother is God?

    insanely_normal's picture

    Heh. Yes please. I remember

    Submitted by
    alex (76 posts)
    on July 10, 2008 - 3:02am.
    Heh. Yes please. I remember flame wars that went on for months. Shippers vs barbieshippers vs finishippers vs noromos. The whole creepy RPS crowd, the DAGS who hated on Tea Leoni... Good times indeedy. Topped off with some pseuicides, of course.

    The fandom's already getting kinda wanky again but I think it's mostly restricted to LJ comms and the like. And it's pretty tame. People who liked S8-9 vs. those who stopped watching. Sigh. X philes, you can do better. ;)

    What can I say, watching craziness unfold cracks me up.
    jaydock's picture

    gillian Anderson

    Submitted by
    Julie (28 posts)
    on July 8, 2008 - 7:43pm.
    Gillian Anderson makes my tummy -and other parts - feel funny. In a really, really good way.
    Niuxita's picture

    Yay for Scully coverage

    Submitted by
    Niuxita (78 posts)
    on July 8, 2008 - 8:06pm.

    Yay for Scully coverage around here!

    It's hilarious to watch the progression of Scully's hair through the years. My favourite seasons for Scully hair are definitely 4-6. Swoooon. And thanks for that cap from Milagro. That is one of my top 10 favourite episodes and one of the reasons is because Scully looks SO FREAKING HOT in it, I almost can't stand it. Whew.

    Batman's picture

    love her hair

    Submitted by
    Batman (331 posts)
    on July 8, 2008 - 8:58pm.

    after season 4...

    I am the only one who liked Reyes, and that guy ( I will only refer to him as the bad liquid terminator) Could have done without...but Reyes...she was hot.

    ________________________________________________________

    got Cloverfield? 1-18-08-underground.com does...
    Rachel452's picture

    Reyes = Nummy

    Submitted by
    Rachel452 (15 posts)
    on July 9, 2008 - 1:11am.

    You're not alone, I LOVED Reyes! Her and Scully had some great interactions and yeah she was pretty hot!

    queeniefakesit's picture

    John Dogget.

    Submitted by
    refrigeratoraider (648 posts)
    on July 9, 2008 - 3:37am.

    My friend said John Dogget sounds like an expletive.

    I hated Dogget. I thought Reyes was hot, but her character was useless as hell.

     

    I got a dick like a mule...with a big dick.

    Batman's picture

    it does...lol

    Submitted by
    Batman (331 posts)
    on July 9, 2008 - 12:05pm.

    but his name is Bad Liquid Terminator Guy...

    ________________________________________________________

    got Cloverfield? 1-18-08-underground.com does...
    sarahef's picture

    OMGah, she's so hot.

    Submitted by
    FonFreaka. (59 posts)
    on July 8, 2008 - 11:40pm.

    I think I'm going to celebrate by watching the seasons back-to-back. I have, what, three weeks to pull it off?

     

     

     

     

    Kaki King's cover of "Lovestoned"-http://youtube.com/watch?v=1kD1nsmeXRk

    http://fonfreaka.blogspot.com

    Faithful Chosen's picture

    yeah...

    Submitted by
    Faithful Chosen (90 posts)
    on July 9, 2008 - 1:19am.

     

    Okay, confession: I was pretty damn youngwhen this aired here and I think I only watched seasons 5 through 9. This (andthe short movie Annabeth Gish did called 'Gillery's little secret ( http://www.logoonline.com/shows/events/short_films/details.jhtml?cid=1527871&popThis=popVideo(80888)) made me waaaaaay more of a Reyes fan than a Scully fan.

    Still gonna see the movie and quiet possibly this box set.  

     

     

    Who you gonna be if you can't be yourself,
    you can't get it from t.v., you can't force it on
    anybody else.    -- Ani Difranco

    queeniefakesit's picture

    Scully's Hair!

    Submitted by
    refrigeratoraider (648 posts)
    on July 9, 2008 - 3:36am.

    Dude I totally used to think about the phases of Scully's hair and be able to refer to seasons because of that (not to mention I knew names and episode numbers because I was geektastic...)

    Yeah not interested in that DVD as I still have like, every episode ever on VHS (i know i know...)

     

    I got a dick like a mule...with a big dick.

    afterdark69's picture

    First Crush

    Submitted by
    Afterdark69 (37 posts)
    on July 9, 2008 - 5:24am.

    I started watching the X-files.....loved the show....but by season 2 maybe 3 (and I was pretty young)....couldn't get Scully out of my mind. By season 9.......a lesbian:)

     

    Thank you Scully... You were my first!

    kyrielle's picture

    Season 4 Hair was the best

    Submitted by
    kyrielle (1 post)
    on July 9, 2008 - 4:02pm.
    Season 4 Hair was the best in my opinion and it was the best season with season 3 a close second. They had my two favorite episodes, "Memento mori" and "Pusher". The acting was awesome in those 2 episodes.
    brown clown's picture

    i love scully

    Submitted by
    dylan rae (9 posts)
    on July 9, 2008 - 5:51pm.

     

     

    Quote:

    Season 4: "Memento Mori" — Even when diagnosed with cancer, not a hair is out of place.

     

    Hilarious! so funny yet so true! lol. but scully was the only reason why i watched x-files through the years.and now i cant wait for the movie to be shown.i've been scully deprived for oh so many years.

     

     

    fyca's picture

    I loved Monica Reyes

    Submitted by
    fyca (11 posts)
    on July 10, 2008 - 10:49pm.

    Seriously. Still infatuated with the character and to some degree with Annabeth as well. Reyes/Gish was just about the only good thing to come out of s8 and 9.

    That and Scully's hair. Am I the only one that dug Scully's long locks at the end? The only thing that I want to remember from Trust No 1 is the way she flung them over her shoulder at the train depot when she turned around.


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