"X-Files: I Want To Believe" was received poorly by many because it didn't advance the popular "aliens are here" story line. This movie is a one-shot story like many of the episodes were during the original run of the TV series. The X-Files TV series successfully merged the anthology format with a continuing story-arc like no other had or has since. "I Want To Believe" is an example of the "monster-of-the-week" approach to the X-Files. The movie itself is pretty good with an interesting story and of course, strong characters that most have become familiar with. It gets pretty morbid by the end of the film and displays some patented X-Files creepiness.

The problem for me though was the Scully story. She has become a surgeon at a Catholic hospital and has to fight their administration to save a terminally ill boy. This doesn't really add anything to the film other than to give her a demon to fight and a point of irritability that is more easily reached when Mulder falls into one of his fits of believing everything kooky. Mulder's character has become isolated and is basically staying away from the FBI. He is reengaged by the bureau when they hit a dead-end in dealing with a paranormal. His story works because it really builds on his character's rocky past. The Scully story offers up an unfamiliar struggle and it distracts.

The movie looks good. I was always struck by the X-Files' use of color and this movie offers more cold blue and silver hues. Fans of the series should enjoy the extras on the Blu-Ray, especially the "X-Files Timeline", which is a great episode guide encompassing all nine seasons. It also includes clips from many of the episodes and offers a year-by-year event timeline explaining much of the X-Files story in the order it occurred.