My Review

I was going to give you my review of "The X-Files: I Want to Believe". Make no mistake-- I love this film. I was happy the first time, but thrilled the second when I had time to focus and not think, "wow, the filmmakers are behind me and damnit, Duchovny looks hot".

The X-Files grows up. This is a character piece. Sure, it's got a creep factor, but the story is a love story like no other. And I mean love in its purest form, as well as it's most twisted. The parallels between Scully's story and the main plot leave you with some fairly profound notions. This is a thinking person's film -- far closer to October indie films than summer blockbusters. If you are looking for explosions and CGI, don't bother. But if you are looking for character development, suspense, humor, a debate about redemption and love, then give this movie a chance.

But rather than tell you all the reasons I loved it, I thought I'd link to a fellow blogger. I've rarely read a more articulate review of any movie. So, even if you don't care about this movie at all, read this guy's writing: http://reflectionsonfilmandtelevision.blogspot.com/ (Do not read if you are trying to avoid spoilers. Major spoilers here).

Have no fear-- I'll be going back to bemoaning my fate tomorrow.

Kate

The Question Is

Would you go on television and give an interview if there was a chance of you looking foolish in the process?

Normally, I’m a relatively mature (hey, I said “relatively”), educated individual. In real life, I’m fairly serious, or at least I can be if the situation warrants it (unless we are discussing anal bleaching, and then there is just no way I can do anything sling mockery). I have responsibilities. But most of all, I try to avoid looking wildly foolish.

Enter “Temptation A”.

Fans of “The X-Files” are being offered the opportunity to help promote the second movie on an international special. While I don’t know a lot about it, I think it will be largely conversations about the show and the first movie, along with clips, etc. If you are a fan of show, and in Los Angeles, would you do it?

(If you want to, email me at katedating@yahoo.com, and I will give you the details that were forwarded to me from Raskolnikov at Big Light’s network).

I find myself in my usual role of instigator. I’m trying to get everyone around me to do it. I’ve sent out emails. I’ve cajoled. I’ve prodded. What I haven’t done is volunteered myself.

I am reticent. Once again, I am reluctant to put myself out there. Do I really want the world at large to see me regress to my inner 15 year old fangirl-ness? Or should I reserve that privilege for only those people close enough to me to witness it first-hand? And more than that, is this hesitance just another sign of my own natural reserve holding me back from doing something that I really want to do—like working in an invitation to George Clooney to call me? Is this yet another opportunity that I might regret missing eventually?

It really shouldn’t matter to me. I shouldn’t really care if there are people in their living rooms making fun of my lipstick, my lack of face-lift, or my gravitationally challenged breasts. But I think I might care.

So, I need a “Pro” list and a “Con” list. Here is what mine looks like so far. Please send me your additions. You hold my fate in your hands.

Pro
1. I get to help promote XF2
2. I might get to meet other people with similar interests and see what they think about the film (something that I had already started doing at Paley)
3. When don’t I like talking about “The X-Files”?
4. Potential to make “William Hung” money if asked to hum “The X-Files” theme music or to come up with a coherent sentence (which will obviously fail, making me the next YouTube sensation).

Con
1. Potential to look foolish
2. Potential to not be taken seriously in future industry endeavors
3. Potential to end up on Saturday Night Live as someone who needs to get a life
4. Potential to actually lose both undergrad and grad degrees when I provide graphic evidence that I’m an idiot (I’m not great at sounding anything but vapid under pressure in front of a camera)
5. Potential to never get a date again because men point at me on the street and say “there goes that girl who vomited on camera”
6. Potentially struck dumb by the enormity of "what I would wear" question
7. Potential to end up on “Girls Gone Wild” when I accidentally have a significant wardrobe malfunction

Now it’s your turn.

Kate, Oh, God, what would I wear?

An LA Story

I went to the movies today with friends to celebrate my impending mid-life crisis, and I noticed some things that seemed uniquely L.A. to me.

First, what does it say about the state of our society when “no weapons allowed” is a sign on every door at the local AMC? Sure, during the great “bee” incident during the first X-Files film, I might have been inclined to start shooting, but I refrained. I had self-control. How often do people think to themselves “ooh, I’m going to see a romantic comedy, better bring the Glock”? Do the concession people routinely find people trying to stab them when they realize that a small popcorn and drink cost more than the movie? How did we get to a point where we need the “no weapons allowed” warning at the front of a theater? I know everyone’s a critic, but I think bringing ammunition is a little extreme.

The second thing I noticed today: a woman with a leashed dog. Did I mention that she was in the theater? Look, I love dogs. I’m even mildly entertained by people who bring their dogs shopping with them. Most of the malls here have outdoor elements to them, so it’s not wildly unusual. As long as they aren’t lifting their legs in Bloomingdales, I’m good. But I’ve honestly never considered bringing a pet to the movies with me. Obviously, I don’t know the dog, so perhaps he really did have a thing for historical fantasy, and 10,000 BC was a treat.

We’ve embraced small, adorable dogs. What about bigger, adorable dogs? If I want to bring a bullmastiff in, is that all good? Have we fully drawn the line at farm animals? Ponies are fine, but the cow needs to remain outside?

So, two very important tips for those of you considering trips to Los Angeles that involve local movie theaters: 1) leave the weapons at home and 2) feel free to bring your pony.


Kate, just a tiny bit giddy after seeing the Indiana Jones trailer

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