'The X-Files' Could Be Returning to TV with Mulder and Scully; Fox Eyes '24' Series Minus Jack Bauer

The dismal response to 2008's The X-Files: I Want to Believe wasn't enough to curb fans' appetites for further adventures with Mulder and Scully. While the poor box office wasn't going to convince 20th Century Fox to invest in another cinematic effort, the desire for a new TV series hasn't slowed in the least. And now all of those fans who kept hope alive could be rewarded with The X-Files' return.

According to Deadline, Fox TV's Gary Newman confirmed that series creator Cris Carter is in talks to bring The X-Files back to television. What form it would take is unclear but chances are it would be a limited "event" series in the vein of 24: Live Another Day which performed extraordinarily well for the network. Even better, it seems David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are both on board for a comeback, because let's face it nobody wants to see The X-Files without them. It's all going to boil down to scheduling, and so far the talks haven't even reached the creative stage yet. In other words it could be awhile before everything comes together.

Meanwhile, Fox is also looking into continuing the 24 franchise after the success of 24: Live Another Day, but it may be happening without Kiefer Sutherland's Jack Bauer. Series producers have pitched to Fox a limited series that would follow the other characters in Bauer's dangerous world, but not necessarily Bauer himself. The project has the support of Sutherland, who is more than happy to take on another run of saving the world as Bauer in a future series. Fox TV's Dana Walden says “there is a point at which Jack Bauer could come in and fit organically into the story, or they are prepared to do… one installment without him."

Having a 24 without Jack Bauer would be like The X-Files without Mulder and Scully. It may be in the same world but audiences relate to that world through these specific characters. Not sure it's a sound idea but this is all just in the "idea" stages now and may not come to pass.

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Review: 'Phantom' starring Ed Harris and David Duchovny

Sometimes the best part of the past is the blurry nature of it. With it being so nebulous in some regards it is fertile ground for storytellers to make good stories. One of those great times is the Cold War there were so much cloak and dagger and military things going on with the secret battle of wills between the United States and the Soviet Union with the fate of the world at the balance that it makes perfect sense to want to go back to that time. The film Phantom is a film that is making a story out of what happened to missing Soviet Submarine K-129 and what could’ve caused for it to sink and the mystery around its failed missile launch.

Phantom is set in the late 1960 during the Cold War where a soon to be retired submarine captain, Demi (Ed Harris) is pushed into one last mission with his crew. He has to use the first sub he ever captained for this secret KGB mission in the south pacific. The crew while disappointed that they don’t get the leave they were promised is loyal to Demi and go forward with manning the old sub for the mission. Along the way Demi is having dreams from his past haunt him during the mission and KGB agents on the sub are not all what they seem to be.

Ok the first thing you have to get past in this movie is that it’s entirely in English. Not English with crazy Rocky and Bullwinkle accents either. Just normal American accents. You know they didn’t even try to “otherize” these people with an English accent. Most of the time you totally forget that these are soviets until they make pretty generic remark about Russia or the Americans. Now with that being said Ed Harris does a pretty good job as the Captain Demi. He looks mentally tired throughout most of the film. You believe he seen some terrible things in his day. Most of the other actors in the crew do a fine job also.  They all feel like they are a crew that have known and worked with each other for a while. None of the interactions feel forced or unnatural between them. David Duchovny is a bit too on the nose with the suspiciousness in his performance. He’s clearly playing a bad guy and one that you can’t really side with or understand his motivations.

One thing that is really done well is the direction inside of the submarine. Every shot is tight and either close up or medium shot. It gives an effect of the claustrophobic nature of subs especially the old ones from the mid twentieth century. The sound and the score really aren’t that memorable and that might be good thing or bad thing. Nothing really distracted you from what you are watching. Now if you really enjoy a great memorable score than you will not find one here. The filmmakers also did well with keeping the film tight in terms of time. It’s not too long or too short. No matter if you will like the story or not, the screen time is not an issue that should affect that judgment.

Now this with this film as you get into it, after you get past the accents and issues with the crew you do have decent movie about captain and his boat, which happens to be sub and unknown others on it vying for control. It does well as a thriller in the middle 45 minutes but it’s the end that can completely take you out of it. It goes towards a thing that is a tad bit fantastic and heart string pulling that is unnecessary. They also tack on this speculative information on the end since this story was inspired by true events. In the end that harms the film greatly. They should’ve gone for a more grounded ending and let the viewer wonder in the end but they didn’t and the movie is lesser for it. 

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The Sunday Drive: 8/15/10

3. Eat Pray Love
Don't go on an empty stomach. That's all I'm sayin'. Ryan Murphy(Glee, Nip/Tuck) has adapted Elizabeth Gilbert's female empowering memoir into a luscious, beautiful film. Julia Roberts glows as the globe-trotting writer, on a life changing journey to rediscover the most important things in life.

2. The Expendables
Let's be honest, The Expendables is a straight-to-DVD action flick if anybody else is starring in it. But that's sorta the point, isn't it? The cast is phenomenal, featuring an all-star cast of muscled, grunting action heroes each with their own cheesy name and weapon of their choice. It's big, chiseled action with a super high body count and enough explosions to make Michael Bay jealous. That's what it's all about, right?

1. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Possibly the most innovative experience you'll have all summer. Edgar Wright's film could be dismissed as just another comic book movie, but that would be oh so far off. Michael Cera stars as the titular hero, a somewhat below average guy who's got an above average problem. His new girl, Ramona, has a checkered past which is coming back to haunt them in the form of 7 evil exes that must be defeated before Scott can truly win her heart. The perfect film for anybody who grew up not just playing video games and reading comics, but for those who have made those things an integral part of their lives.

DVD Pick of the Week: The Joneses
Have you ever had that one perfect family move into your neighborhood? The one who seems to have it all put together? Great house, great car, beautiful kids, and they were always on the cutting edge of every trend before everybody else? Y'know, that family that was just too perfect to be true? David Duchovny and Demi Moore star as the heads of a family that fits this description. The catch being that they're not really a family at all. They're marketing creations, a fake family put together and moved into an upper crust neighborhood, given all the latest toys, clothes, and gadgets in order to impress their rich friends and boost sales. Director Derrick Borte brings this unique concept to fruition with sharp, insightful humor but also a tinge of dread that this might actually be happening in our own world.  For more on The Joneses, be sure to check out the interview we had with him back in April.

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