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Reviews
Mia aioniotita kai mia mera (1998)
A Welcome Surprise
"An Eternity and a Day", as the title translated in English means, is the answer Alexandros -the film's hero- receives as an epiphany, while pondering on the meaning of Tomorrow.
We surmise that he has only a few days left to live, and watch him face a dilemma: should he choose to give some meaning to the rest of his life, learn to love, care and express himself to the people he's in close contact with; or wither away, a stranger in his own life only to die a pointless death?
Contrary to popular opinion, the film's concept is really this simple.
Theo Angelopoulos has managed to win the appraisal of many, at the same time obtaining a hateful opposition. And while there are sequences in the film which will have you rolling your eyes and proclaiming "Get on with it!", it's unique pictorial beauty and lyricism will more than make up for the lack of movement.
Some of the downsides are the director's constant moulding of the world (and a strange one it is, where an 8 year old boy can debate like an adult and everyone spouts poetry instead of words) to fit his own megalomaniacal impulses - but maybe that's not a sin after all, maybe that's just what Creation is all about...
A deserved 7.
The X Files (1998)
It's tough pleasing everyone
It's a given that views and opinions are bound to be subjective; and as people differ, so will their opinions. I usually read reviews as a guideline, but I *do* expect them to be mixed. So the reviews on The X-Files: The Movie didn't surprise me at all (although I would've liked to hear more from the non-fans of the show).
Having in mind that Chris Carter had a very tough job trying to make the film appealing to X-philes and non X-philes, I think he did a pretty good balancing act. As someone else pointed out, a $60 million in-joke wouldn't make much sense. On the whole the film was enjoyable, not too convoluted, and answered some long-standing questions about the aliens and the Consortium's project. Some complained that we should also have learned Samantha's fate, but I disagree. Just imagine how mixed up a casual viewer would be! As an X-Phile, I believe I got value for my money.
BUT... as much as I liked the film, I believe that the fans deserve more... and if we are going to have a film franchise once the series wraps up I would NOT appreciate the watering-down of the plot for the benefit of the non-fans and the studio's gross profit. A made-for-TV movie every year, or maybe even a mini-series that would still allow DD & GA other assignments would be more welcome. What do ya think?