|
|
|
The X-Files
Season 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
hen The X-Files' fourth season first began, way back in 1996, no one could have imagined that this pivotal season would in fact fall into what are now referred to the "early years" of the show's existence. Nor could anyone imagine that The X-Files would change as dramatically as it did in the years to come; in a way, this season represents the last stand of X-Files as it was originally conceived, packed with mysterious conspiracies, enigmatic characters, and Mulder and Scully's constant interaction on cases. Now in its ninth season, the series is very much changed from its early days: Mulder is off on his own, and Scully is continuing the quest alone—determined to find answers both for her sake and her child's.
If you're in need of a classic X-Files fix, this boxed set will fit the bill quite nicely. Season 4 marks The X-Files at its best. The stories are interesting and, at times, controversial: this is the season that gave us Glen Morgan and James Wong's too-hot-for-network-TV horror-fest "Home." Morgan and Wong also co-wrote two other noteworthy episodes—"The Field Where I Died" and "Never Again"—notable for the stir they created among fans. It's the season that gave us some of the series' shining moments: Scully's cancer arc began with the touching "Memento Mori"; comic relief was never so poignant as in Vince Gilligan's classic "Small Potatoes"; Mulder's anguish over his sister is touching in "Paper Hearts"; and then, of course, there's the cliffhanger ending of "Gethsemane," which leaves viewers hanging all season long as to Mulder's fate.
One of the strengths of these stories is how they interweave the conspiracy elements—Bounty Hunter, the death of Mr. X, the Well-Manicured Man, the Black Oil, Cigarette Smoking Man and Krycek—while still leaving the mystery intact. The show was still shot in Vancouver, B.C., and the locations and cinematography were superb. In fact, the episodes are cinematically stylized without being self-conscious—something which mars later episodes in the series. The acting is top-flight, too: Duchovny emotes well in episodes like "Memento Mori," and Anderson won her Emmy Award for her portrayal of Scully as she bravely battles inoperable cancer.
Extras bring the Truth even closer
The pro to this seven-disc set is that its navigation menus follow the look and feel of its predecessors. The con: Elements such as the integration of missing scenes remain inelegant.
As with prior season sets, the 24 episodes in this set are displayed in full-frame, standard television aspect ratio. In addition to the English and French language Dolby Surround Sound soundtracks, there are also English and Spanish subtitles.
In a complex series like X-Files, which routinely has two cameras shooting simultaneously to provide different angles, it's not surprising to learn that much gets left on the cutting room floor. For years, the Internet has been abuzz with details about scenes that were cut and video clips acquired by parties unknown that showed Mulder and Scully's first true kiss ("Memento Mori"). Remarkably, many of these moments—including the tender hospital hallway scene—can be seen here.
This boxed set actually brings to light a sizable number of deleted or extended scenes—nine in all, across seven episodes ("Unruhe," "Home," "The Field Where I Died," "Tunguska," "Paper Hearts," "Momento Mori" and "Max"). Executive producer Chris Carter provides commentary (which you can enable or disable during playback) setting up the scenes, explaining why they were important originally, and detailing why they were left out in the end; some explanations, such as the setup for the four-plus minute scene with Scully's brother in "Memento Mori," are interesting, while others, such as the explanation behind the decision to cut the unscripted kiss between Mulder and Scully, are unsatisfying.
The cut/extended scenes can be found individually on each disc with their appropriate episodes; they can also be found on disc 7, with all of the other extras.
In addition to the added scenes, the other highlight of this set's extras is the new documentary "The Truth About Season Four," a 25-minute interview-fest featuring Carter as well as writers/producers Frank Spotniz, Vince Gilligan, John Shiban, Howard Gordon, director/producer Kim Manners and more. Although illuminating, several episodes are glossed over that deserved more attention, including "Never Again" and "Gethsemane." As if all of this weren't enough, there are 10- and 20-second promo spots for all 24 episodes, 13 one-minute-long "Behind the Truth" spots from previous FX Network marathons, and an interesting series of eight short special effects clips with commentary by Paul Rabwin. There are also a series of three-minute interviews with writers/producers Spotniz, Gilligan and Carter.
Once again, a text-based Shockwave game is included on the discs. Based on the books The X-Files Book of the Unexplained, volumes one and two, by Jane Goldman, the game is titled Urbs Tertia. Unfortunately, we had a few problems getting the game to work on our Windows ME system, but even that flub can't detract from the overall punch this packaged set provides.
Transport yourself back to the simpler days of X-Files and get your daily dose of Mulder and Scully here with the show's Season 4 DVD set. The most jam-packed X-Files DVD set we've seen yet, the extra content here should thrill any X-phile with its trip down memory lane. A must-have for any fan of the series. — Melissa
Also in this issue: Jack and the Beanstalk
|
 |
|
| Home |
Copyright © 1998-2006, Science Fiction Weekly (TM). All rights reserved. Reproduction in any medium strictly prohibited. Maintained by scifiweekly@scifi.com. |
