|
Mis muy estimados,
les copio aquí el mail (no completo) que le envié hoy en la mañana a Frank Spotnitz, después de horas de conversación con Pancho y Roberto. Es muy largo, quizá demasiado (y está en inglés, sorry, no tengo tiempo para traducirlo), pero quedamos con tantas cosas atravesadas que era necesario desahogarme. ¿Y qué creen? El bueno de Frank (lo queremos, haga lo que haga) me respondió 26 minutos después. Va también su respuesta (editada, porque hay un par de cosas personajes jeje).
Lo más importante: NO DEJEMOS DE CREER. Como Scully, NO PODEMOS RENDIRNOS.
Abrazos.
------
Dearest Chris and Frank,
The IWtB Premiere was yesterday. I watched the movie as a fan but also as a writer/media professional, so this review comes from my heart and brain, together. I hope it will help you, enlighten you, give you strength and a new view for the future.
Here we go (and apologizes for my any/many English mistakes!):
XF2 was, sadly, not good enough in every way. I’m sorry. Below our expectations, we saw a weak almost-two-hour movie (why so short?), a weaker all-time heroes, and most important, a non-existent X-File. You had a promising history in your hands. What happened?
- The first 5 minutes were amazing! The images of Joe’s vision crossing with the FBI agents smashing the snow, with Joe ahead, confusing, lost, was simply perfect. The beginning showed us a creepy case with a terrific main character… but it was only the beginning. Since then everything falls apart!
- When Scully showed up was great. She was different in a good sense. It was a bit odd but understandable after this 6 years of absence. Until then it was ok… we were waiting for Mulder. He showed up… and, god, nothing happened. It was extremely powerless! The back-dialogue with Scully was too long, and at the time he turned around the expectation was already down. He deserved much more than that! (and we, actually). Remember the scene when Mulder appears at the beginning of “The Truth” episode? The camera movement, the look in his face… That’s an appearance!!
However, along the first half of the movie the Mulder-Scully interaction was fine. They were almost strangers in their own field, odd with each other, no “FBI agents” atmosphere any more. I think that was great. Six years went on through their bodies and souls, and you showed it to us strongly. They were older, tired, clearly not the same persons back in 2002. NEVERTHELESS, their now visible romantic relationship was too much, even for me, a pure and enthusiastic shipper fan. It was like a sickly-sweet fanfiction on screen. Their love/sexual tension was the principal magnet for most fans… the softly touches, those intense glances, their unique and classic holding hands… There were a few moments of that, ok, but… May be in a way it was necessary, in order to give power to the break-up scene... just brilliant, by the way! The “Good luck then”, “You too” was a shock, priceless, but the feeling lasted very little… You should have kept that tension for much longer, even until the end of the film. They made up so easily wrong! Even Whitney’s sudden interest for Mulder was a non-used great idea. That tension was a perfect weapon to lead the entire movie lines to success… it made our heroes to take chances, look in different directions, develop certain sides of the history that concluded in anthological episodes back in the series… You –sorry to say it- wasted it.
- Whitney’s death… thumbs up. Fast, shocked, clean, and most important, at a time we never expected. Good.
- Skinner appearance… magnificent! We were waiting for him! But it was almost at the end… why was that? He’s such a strong character, the crowd at the auditorium turned crazy when he finally showed up. We hoped he was behind the black door at the beginning of the film, directing the missing agent’s case… that it was he who contact Mulder for the case. It would have been perfect, the perfect return, the perfect break. Why include him so late?
- We all loved the funny episodes like Arcadia, Dreamland, Bad Blood or Small Potatos. There were intelligent, well thought, well written, perfect. However, the comedy references at the movie were not that great. When Mulder and Scully entered J. E. Hoover building, very tense, nervous, after six long years, it was a really great scene, but when they reached the black door… the Bush joke, was it necessary? It was no funny at all, it broke the whole scene atmosphere! I think that was a mistake. We laughed another couple of times, though, specially for all the series-references through the movie, but not enough. And the freakiest thing of all… What was the boat scene about?? We freeze when it appeared after the credits. We didn’t laugh… we just looked each other with surprise, and not a good one. We didn’t understand it, it didn’t make any sense. Was it ironic, funny, a David-Gillian good bye? Because they could not been Mulder and Scully. They would never do that. They were not like that. Not ever. After a film that didn’t fulfill our expectations, that was not the better finale.
- Take out Samantha’s issue would have been useful ONLY if you had think the same mind process for Scully. Let me explain. Scully rebuked Mulder that he is involved in the missing agent’s case only to revive the case of her sister. However, this accusation was quickly forgotten and it served for no purpose. It was suspended in the air. Nevertheless, if you had connected it (well) with the case of Christian, would have been round perfect. Mulder suggested to Scully that this child reminds William to her, hence, when they confronted by the issue of Samantha, Mulder could have reproached her that she was being just as stubborn as he in the case of Christian only because she associated it with William. The tension would have been at the top, the confrontation would have been on equal terms and just then would have been meaningless draw alive the memory of Samantha. So, with that you could have been added more Mulder-Scully empathy to the situation, the same empathy that crushes with their complicated romantic relationship and makes things so interesting. We are sorry we didn’t see it.
- Father Joe’s character was great. Chilling, grotesque, perfect. The fact that a character like this was the key to resolving the case was an excellent move, because it put everybody nervous. It reminded me pleasantly to Hannibal Lecter. The scene when Scully visits him at his place is really creepy, almost disgusting. The blood tears image was remarkable. However, He, who should have been the focus of all actions, the truest X-File, blur in a history of organ trafficking that not convinced anybody. You wasted him too. I’m sorry if I’m tough, but this is the most important issue for me. I wanted an X-File, and I saw none! You kill Father Joe so sudden and almost has no protagonism at the end. The close of the case was insipid… You began a truly great terrifying history, you had it in your hands, but it was diluted until it faded! The paranormal status made the spirit of the series, it made us all to follow each episode religiously … Why make things backwards this time? Why loose a terrific x-files case?
After all the things I listed, please don’t get me wrong. I’m still here, as proud as ever, as hopeful as ever. It may seem a paradox, but just like Scully who now wants to believe and will not give up, I’m not going to give up either, because I want to believe still. On that belief, with all my heart and admiration for the work and passion of both of you, I beg you, I demand you, really, please dignified the memory of the best series of all time and return at 2012 with the film that we all want to see. It will be an unbeatable moment. Restore yourself to do it. After this movie we need a respite, an incentive to continue believing, to honor 15 years of fanaticism of millions of people around the world. And I know you: you can certainly do it. This impasse can make you stronger. Fans need you back. Really back.
A hug, blessings and the best of hopes to see you both returning shortly to surprising us with your talent,
Sincerely yours,
Fran
---->
Francisca,
Thank you for your honest and heartfelt response. I'm sorry you were disappointed in the film (although heartened there were some things about it you did enjoy).
With any luck, we will have the opportunity to make another one, and hopefully you'll be happier with it.
In the meantime, thank you again for all your support and the incredible generosity and kindness of the whole club in Santiago. You're a wonderful group of people, and that was an experience Chris and I will never forget.
Warm regards,
Frank
_________________
|
Login
.
, no me resigno a que todo acabe aquí y así.
