Unbound’s Lair (The Blog Edition)

I've never been to any of my high school reunions. There isn't a great mystery behind this. It's actually very simple - I couldn't stand 95-98 percent of the people I went to high school with.

During my formative years in high school I grew to strongly dislike small-town minds and attitudes. So when I got the chance to get away from all that, I did so as quickly as I could and I never looked back. Not once since have I wondered what so and so was up to or how was this person or that person who I haven't seen in the 20-some years it's been since I graduated high school.

However, I have occasionally wondered what it would be like to have been a part of a different environment and what it would be like to have a reunion I actually did look forward to. What would it be like to see this person or that person or see this couple who I genuinely liked and enjoyed spending time with? How would that be after so many years apart?

Those thoughts crossed my mind this past week as I prepared to see the long-awaited sequel to the first "X-Files" film. It seems like ages ago since I first reported this film was in development after an interview with a representative from 20th Century Fox. But now, six years after the series came to a bitter, disappointing end, the latest installment in the series titled "The X-Files: I Want To Believe" has been unveiled.

When the first film came out 10 years ago, the show was at its peak of popularity. I was caught up in the excitement of the first big-screen installment. I downloaded everything connected to the film I could find and I was part of the opening night crowd which helped the film take home a tidy $30 million when it premiered.

A decade later, I found myself not having the same sense of excitement toward the sequel. That isn't to say I wasn't looking forward to the film. I was. But that sense of excitement, that thrill of seeing "The X-Files" on the big screen wasn't quite as powerful as it was when the first film came out. Now, a large reason for that was because it had been six years since the show ended. So there wasn't the same sense of excitement going from the end of one season directly to the film. But another was I just had a sense of trepidation I could not shake.

Some of it stemmed from the lack of publicity the film was receiving the past several weeks. That's usually a strong clue the studio believes it doesn't have a hit. And when I watched David Duchovny's appearances on Letterman and Leno in the past week I was struck by how little discussion there was about "The X-Files" or the film itself. It was almost as if Duchovny knew the film wasn't strong and he wanted to avoid talking about it as much as possible.

So when I went to the film Saturday night my expectations were low. Unlike a decade ago, I didn't expect to be dazzled (which I was then). I was merely hoping not to be disappointed. I was hoping for the best but prepared for the worst.

The verdict? Well, it felt like I was at a reunion with two people I really missed but ultimately none of us really had anything very memorable or exciting to say or do. We saw one another, we laughed a bit, smiled a little and it was nice to see two old friends. But then it just kind of ... ended.

That's not to say the film is terrible. It isn't. There were the seeds of a strong X-File in place. Young women are being abducted and a former priest who "buggered 37 altar boys" (as Scully coolly observes) is having visions of the women and their abductions. When one of the women turns out to be a federal agent, the FBI intensify their search and bring in Fox Mulder to help them assist in the case. When we last saw Mulder six years ago, he and Scully were spooning in a Roswell hotel room after he had been broken out of a federal prison after being convicted of murder. The feds have apparently been looking for Mulder ever since but are willing to forgive and forget the trumped-up murder charge if he'll help them with the investigation.

Now I don't mean to nitpick ... oh, who in the hell am I kidding, of course I do ... but I'm wondering just how hard were the feds looking for Mulder? After all, one of their agents found Scully rather easily (probably because she's now working as a doctor using her real name). So if it was that easy to find Scully, couldn't they have just followed her ... well ... to ...

HER HOME?

I'm not sure how to break this to the feds but all they had to do then was ...

WALK INSIDE.

Lo and behold, there's Mulder.

Wow, that was a backbreaking manhunt, fellas.

Seriously, how inept are these guys? Is Doggett running the bureau now?

Anyway, Mulder and Scully are shacking up. Scully's a doctor for a Catholic hospital but no longer refers to herself as a "medical doctor" and Mulder's gone all Ted Kaczynski, wearing a beard and turning his den into a mini version of his office at the FBI, complete with a brand new "I Want To Believe" UFO poster. Or did he track Doggett down and beat the shit out of him for stealing the original one?

Dare to dream.

So Mulder decides to help the Feds while Scully reluctantly tags along. Joined by two new FBI agents (played by Amanda Peet and somebody named Xzibit) the story is now put into motion. The stage has been set for what could have been a glorious return to the big screen for Mulder and Scully.

Instead, the film just kind of moves along. The developments are interesting but never really shocking or frightening. Other than Mulder and Scully, only one member of the series returns (a nice cameo at the end of the film from Skinner) although given how nearly everybody was killed off, that was probably for the best. Mulder's still prone to recklessness in his pursuit of the elusive "truth," Scully's science proves critical in saving the man she loves from being chopped up and sold for 50 cents on the dollar and at the end Scully's faith in herself and her beliefs are restored.

Along the way, Mulder and Scully are allowed to show their age and how their experiences have affected each of them individually and together as a couple. The intelligent way both characters are presented as having been so strongly impacted by their work together is among the strengths of the script. Unfortunately, the X-File which brings them back needed to be stronger and more befitting of the strength of their partnership. But it never reached that level of greatness. 

Series creator Chris Carter directed the film and co-wrote the screenplay with Frank Spotnitz. It was their intent to take this film back to the "scary stories" of the show's roots and so there was nary a reference of UFOs save for Mulder's poster and Xzibit's sly joke about how Mulder's sister was "abducted by E.T."

But while the intent was good, the execution often left a lot to be desired. Unlike the first film which was presented in grand fashion, the sequel lacked presence and panache. The first film felt like a BIG X-File which is what a cinematic version of the TV series should have been. This film felt smaller as if Carter the director had no idea how to make the story he was telling and the characters he created feel majestic. Everyone does their best but you could almost sense the actors involved knew this wasn't a grand adventure and so everything was kept to a minimum. The film just felt smaller than it should have and when you're talking about a sequel to one of the most successful TV series of the past two decades, nothing about it should have felt small.

This film should have been big. It should have been glorious. Instead, it was a simple story with Mulder and Scully in it. It was great to see them both again but couldn't they have been asked to do more or be a part of something more special? Couldn't the story have been (to coin a phrase) spookier? Was that really too much to ask?

The best moments came, not surprisingly, between Mulder and Scully. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson still radiate that rare type of chemistry that is so elusive and yet so magical when it can be found. That's readily apparent when projected against the rather bland duo portrayed by Peet and Xzibit. Their partnership was more paint-by-numbers acting whereas Duvhovny and Anderson bring forth something of far greater artistic talent and beauty.

Surprisingly, one of the film's strongest vines was the subplot involving Scully and her care of a dying young boy. Every second of that story was filled with Scully's longing for the son she gave away for adoption in the series' final season. Her pain and loss resonated through her being and Anderson was quite good in projecting both as she brings Scully's torment to the surface.

Color me surprised that after creating and butchering one of the most controversial developments in the series' history (Scully's pregnancy), Carter and Spotnitz actually gave it legitimate meaning to Scully's character for the first time. Instead of being a weak plot device, they effectively showed how the loss of her son enveloped who Scully has become and why she is trying so valiantly to save this young boy. One of the film's strongest themes is atonement, Scully's is as poignant as anything. That's good writing. It's a pity so little of that was on display in the series final two seasons when it came to young William.

But I digress.

What wasn't good writing was the rather surprising decision to have a critical plot development come after the credits. For those who departed early, you missed Scully (clad in a sexy black bikini) and Mulder in a rowboat heading toward an island, attempting to find some peace and tranquility. The two of them were together, hoping to find some light in the sea of darkness that has always surrounded them.

If this is to the final time I see Mulder and Scully, I can't complain about the last image being Gillian Anderson in a bikini. And a black one to boot. Smart is definitely sexy. But smart in a black bikini is off-the-charts sexy.

This brings me to my final point. It has long been Carter and Duchovny's hope that "The X-Files" could become a film series with new Mulder and Scully stories hitting the big screen every few years. Carter and Spotnitz have hoped this second film would be the first step toward making that happen. But with dismal returns of only $10 million projected for the opening weekend, it's possible this film will turn out to be a flop, thus putting a final nail into the coffin of a show and a pair of characters loved by so many for so long.

Hopefully, that won't be the case. Although Mulder and Scully deserved a stronger story, I still enjoyed watching them onscreen together. So I would definitely be enthused about another film occurring should that come to fruition. If it does, Carter has said he'd like to return to the alien mythology which provided the foundation for the series.

But I can't help thinking the image of Mulder and Scully heading toward a tropical island is the last one we'll ever have of the two of them. What this film should have been was a grand spectacle that re-introduced these two dynamic characters. It should have reminded those of us who loved the and show why we loved them so much and provided something magical for new viewers to grasp onto.

Instead, it felt like a nice reunion for those of us who had known them before. Meanwhile, newcomers may have been left wondering what the fuss was all about.

I've been avoiding this film for over a year due to the negative reviews. I finally checked it out recently and it really is a major disappointment. As I feared, Colin Farrell was just wrong completely as Sonny Crockett. Jamie Foxx was OK but wasn't any more memorable as Tubbs. The two completely lacked chemistry and paled in comparison to Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas.

The movie lacked any sense of style and fun - two of the original series' strongest elements and while Mann was as usual visually stunning, his story lacked depth and interest. The love story between Crockett and Isabella was lame and forced and at no point did I ever really care about these characters. Instead of being Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs, they could've been any old movie cops doing the things movie cops do.

Mann's a great filmmaker and like all of his films this is incredibly well made and visually impressive. However, as a whole, this film was nothing short of disappointing and fell far short of the greatness his television show often achieved.

But could this time be the time it really comes true?

I'll believe it when Fox officially announces it.

Once again, David Duchonvy is talking up "X-Files 2" as being good to go. He said last weekend he expects to see a script this week. That, at least, is a step closer to this film becoming a reality. And with Chris Carter's lawsuit against Fox now settled perhaps that will prove to be the final hurdle that remained to be cleared.

Again, I'll believe it when Fox officially announces it.

It seems like decades ago that I first reported that Fox had the film in development. It feels like an eternity has come and gone despite all the comments from Duchovny which said this film was going to happen. And it has been nearly a decade since the first film was released. If it does happen will there be enough revival interest in a show that was so good for so long but ended so badly?

We'll see if this time Duchovny's words prove prophetic or merely are another case of him expressing optimism about a project that's been stuck in Development Hell for the past several years.

For your perusal:

http://www.intervocative.com/dvdcollection.aspx/tpkone

I'm currently enjoying a 10-day vacation from work. I've not only taken some time off from work but also from the blog as well. So let's catch up a bit:

Personal
I spent five days with some members of my family. I spent a couple of days in Iowa with my sister and her husband. I always have a great time visiting Cedar Rapids. They are great hosts. We ate well, drank well and I finally saw "Ocean's 13." Very fun film. Much much much better than the second film but still not as good as the first one. But the sense of fun which permeated through the first film was very much intact. Instead of a convoluted storyline, this one was more straightforward, allowing the audience to follow along more easily than was the case in the often-muddled middle entry. The keyword for this film is "fun." If you liked the first film you'll enjoy this one. I then hopped up to Madison and spent three days with my parents. My mom is doing great and my dad, brother and I went to Milwaukee on Tuesday night to see the Brewers beat Arizona 3-2. Hard to believe but the Brewers are actually a damn good team this season. I didn't think I was ever going to see that again.

Sports
The Milwaukee Bucks re-signed Mo Williams to a 6-year, $52 million contract. That's nothing short of asinine. The most money Mo could receive from another team was $6 million a year. The Miami Heat offered him five years and $31 million. So what do the Bucks do for a shoot-first point guard who doesn't pass well and can't defend who the market couldn't pay more than $6 million a year? They offered him nearly $9 million a year. Brilliant work from general manager Larry Harris. On the bright side, Yi continues to insist he won't play for the Bucks next season. This is on the verge of becoming one of the worst off-seasons in recent team history. There is no realistic reason to believe the Bucks are going to contend with their current core group. I haven't been this discouraged since the nadir of the 90s. It would be nice if the Packers offered a brighter alternative but their prospects for the 2007 season aren't very encouraging either. But football is just around the corner which means more intense preparations for fantasy football. That'll be fun. :)

Etc ...
Let's see ... Lindsay Lohan is still a drug-addicted whore. Paris HIlton is still a stupid slut. David Beckham will be the latest in a long line of failed attempts to get this country to embrace soccer. I finally got my deck chairs and table so now I can kick back on my deck and enjoy the summer sun and I think my my mom got me hooked on "Law and Order." Has that show really been on the air for almost 20 years? Wow.

Some other thoughts:

Harris and head coach Larry Krystkowiak talked about signing a "significant free agent." How is that going to happen if they re-sign Mo Williams and Charlie Bell? Something's got to give if the Bucks are going to be a serious player in free agency. With the Grizzlies taking Conley as expected, the market has really shut down for Mo, though. The Bucks are in the driver's seat as the only teams I see possibly having any interest (like the Lakers and maybe the Cavs) can only offer ML deals. It's really going to come down to whether the Bucks want Mo Williams or not.

I do think the arrival of Jason Richardson hastens the departure of Gerald Wallace in Charlotte. It's probably going to take around $10M to get Wallace, though, so if he's the "significant free agent" on the list, the Bucks have to cut bait with somebody.

I don't know what was funnier - the Celtics trading the fifth pick for Ray Allen or the Knicks fans going crazy because they added another gigantically selfish player to their collection of gigantically selfish players. Yes they got rid of Francis and his bloated contract but at what cost? But at least Spike Lee was there still thinking it was the 90s and Patrick Ewing was in the paint.

I still think the Hawks screwed the pooch by not trading for Stoudamire but Horford and Law aren't bad fallback options by any means. Those are two terrific players they added to the mix. That team's future just got a whole lot brighter and it wouldn't be a surprise to see them take a major step forward next season.

A player who doesn't want to play for them. Yi Jinalian.

On the one hand, I commend Larry Harris for sticking to his guns and taking who he thought was the best player available. I've long preached that's the way to go. But there's no question he's put the team's future on the line in a big way in the process by taking a player who has made it clear he wants no part of the Milwaukee Bucks.

When Yi was picked by the Bucks, he looked like a guy in a room full of super models who was just told they all left and the only girl remaining was Rosie O'Donnell. Me and my buddies couldn't stop laughing at that. Player after player was picked and they walked up onto the podium smiling and laughing and basking in the moment of their lives. Except for one.

The one the Bucks just happened to take.

I don't question Yi's skills. He is a skilled player. I do worry about the scouting reports which question his heart, his defense and his desire to be a physical player. The Bucks aren't lacking for perimeter shooters who abhor defense. And now they may have possibly added another. Harris' ability to improve the team's frontcourt defense has been undercut because unless he trades Villanueva the primary frontcourt minutes will be handled by Bogut, Villanueva and Yi (assuming he's still on the team), none of whom are or project to be a good defender.

That's a problem.

So by drafting Yi, Harris didn't appear to solve any of the glaring problems his team has but instead, potentially created a large number of other ones in the process. This is the type of thing you do for a player who, without question, has elite talent and/or potential. I'm not sure that's the case with Yi.

To be honest, I'm more bummed about what transpired at 33. That's a pick the Bucks should have had were it not for the gigantic blunder by Harris last year. The Markota trade made zero sense at the time given the talent that was expected to be available in this draft and sure enough there were a large number of players who were on the board at 33 who are much more talented than Markota has shown to be thus far. And to think such a player ends up in the hands of the World Champs is even more incredible.

But that's why the Spurs are who they are - they don't make foolish mistakes. They're smart and when a team offers them a potential value for garbage they jump at it. So now the Spurs add a possible rotation player to the mix and the Bucks still have Markota.

Wonderful.

I did like the Sessions pick. There wasn't much on the board and frankly I have extremely low expectations for the 56th pick but he has solid PG ability and is a solid defender. It'll be interesting to see if he can push Greer for a roster spot.

Back to Yi, so his handlers will demand a trade in what will be the least surprising post-draft story of the year. The main problem with trading Yi now is the Bucks have zero leverage. Everybody and their mother knows he doesn't want to play for them so why offer Milwaukee anything of value? I'm not sure Harris gets a better offer than he was getting prior to last night. I'm not sure Yi gets traded because at this point it may be impossible for the Bucks to bring back any value for him.

The Bucks really are screwed here. They are gambling that a player who insisted he didn't want to play for them before the draft and then again once the pick was made will somehow change his mind. It's a huge gamble and maybe it pays off but it also has the potential to blow up in Harris' face, end his tenure as the Bucks' GM and set the team back a decade or so in the process.

This reminds me of the line from "All the President's Men:"

"We're under a lot of pressure, you know, and you put us there. Nothing's riding on this except the, uh, first amendment to the Constitution, freedom of the press, and maybe the future of the country. Not that any of that matters, but if you guys f' up again, I'm going to get mad. Goodnight."

This is the first image from the new film. On the plus side, Ford doesn't look like somebody's grandfather in a fedora. I'm cautiously optimistic that this film won't ruin the legacy because unlike the last three "Star Wars" films, George Lucas isn't running the show here. Steven Spielberg is.

Here's the pic:

Indy20070621

1 comment

For my money this is classic Norris. You have the stilted acting; you have Norris at his most ferocious peak form; you have the red-hot Barbara Carrera and one of the best martial arts showdowns in film history between Norris and David Carradine (whose ego was so great he had it written into the contract that Norris couldn't kill him in their climactic fight scene). You even have a little person in a wheelchair and Jane Kennedy's husband.

What's not to love about this film?

If you're a Norris fan, this film is his "Citizen Kane."

We've had a lot of rumors and reports about the Bucks in recent weeks. As we get closer to the draft we're bound to hear even more. While there's no way to know how many are completely accurate or partially accurate or completely unfounded, if we presume there's at least some shred of truth to the ones which have been reported by multiple credible sources, it seems we can come to the following beliefs:

1. The Bucks are not 100% sold on Mo as the starting PG. If the rumors about the Bucks pursuing Billups are even remotely true this is clearly the case. We have gotten reports which say the Bucks will have no interest in Billups but others are now saying the Bucks are poised to make a run at him. If the Bucks were 100% sold on Mo there's no way we'd hear a sniff of Billups' name in connection with the Bucks. None. And yet, we are.

2. The Bucks believe Al Horford ie third-best player in the draft and want to trade up to get him if possible. That's been reported by multiple sources now so it stands to reason there's some (and possibly a lot of) truth to it.

3. If No. 2 is correct, then there's an excellent chance the Bucks' brass is not entirely sold on Villanueva as the starting PF. While many people (myself included) believe Horford can play C at the next level, the overwhelming consensus is that his primary position will be PF. If the Bucks are thinking about trading up to get him, it's pretty darn clear they are not completely sold on the current starting PF (and no, I don't mean Brian Skinner).

4. The Bucks aren't completely certain about Bobby Simmons' status for next season. If there's any truth to the Gerald Wallace rumors, this is clearly the case. No way the Bucks would be thinking about spending around $10M a year on Wallace if they had full confidence that Simmons was going to return to full health. Unlike 2005, I don't think we're going to hear great news about an injured player's return on the eve of the draft.

Those are the top things I've observed based on the recent reports and rumors.