|
“The X
Files Mythology: Colonization”
|
 |
Reviewed
by: |
Wayne A. Klein |
| Genre: |
Science Fiction/Horror
|
| Video: |
1.33:1 Full
Screen and 1.78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen |
| Audio: |
Dolby Digital
5.1 |
| Languages |
English |
| Subtitles |
English |
| Length |
740 minutes
|
| Rating |
NR |
| Release Date |
9/27/05 |
| Studio |
20th Century
Fox Home Entertainment |
| Commentary:
|
By Christ
Carter on “The Red and The Black”; by Frank Spotnitz on “One
Son”; “Kim Manners and Robert Patrick on “Within”; Kim Manners
on “Closure” |
| Documentaries:
|
“Threads
of Mythology” documentary |
| Featurettes:
|
None |
| Filmography/Biography:
|
None |
|
Interviews: |
None |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
None |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
None |
| Music
Video: |
None |
| Other:
|
Mythology
timeline |
| Cast
and Crew: |
David Duchovny,
Gillian Anderson, Robert Patrick, Mitch Pileggi, William B.
Davis, |
| Written
By: |
Chris Carter,
Frank Spotnitz |
| Produced
By: |
Chris Carter,
Frank Spotnitz |
| Directed
By: |
Kim Manners,
Chris Carter |
| Music:
|
Mark Snow
|
| The
Review: |
“The X-Files” can be pretty neatly
summed up into these theme based sets because of the story
arcs that ran the course of the series. By concentrating on
these themes Fox has neglected some of the best stand alone
episodes of the series. Still, this is a nice Cliff’s Notes
style set with 16 of the key episodes from a variety of seasons.
Unfortunately, a key episode “Emily” involving Scully’s daughter
which is related to this series is missing from this set.
This includes some terrific and suspenseful episodes including
“Patient X”, “The Red and the Black”, “The End”, The Beginning”
and “The Sixth Extinction” among many other fine episodes.
|
| Image
and Sound: |
This appears
to be the same transfers that Fox put together for the other
season sets. While the image quality is solid there is noticeable
grain and compression artifacts throughout the set the further
along in the set you move the better the picture quality is.
That doesn’t mean by the last season episodes like “Within”
that the picture is perfect; it’s not. These transfers could
definitely use an upgrade as the improvements in transfers since
those were initially released are significant and would improve
these episodes. The sound is very good dialogue comes through
with nice presence while the music and sound effects benefit
very well from the 5.1 presentation. --- |
| The
Extras: |
There’s
no rehash of the extras from the season sets. We don’t get
the deleted scenes or the featurettes exclusive to those sets.
Instead, Fox has put together a very nice short documentary
on the series story arcs. Featuring new interviews with Chris
Carter, Frank Spotnitz and other production members, “Threads
of Mythology” is a multi-part documentary spread over all
the sets for this theme driven sets. “The Mythlogy Timeline”
is a graph that provides information about episode in this
set. There’s also some key information for some of the characters
as well.
|
| Commentary:
|
Three brand
new commentary tracks are included featuring writer/producer/creator/director
Chris Carter, writer/producer Frank Spotnitz and director Kim
Manners. “Within” features Manners and actor Robert Patrick
in the only brand new commentary featuring one of the actors
from the series and it’s a good one. “Within” was one of the
highlights of the Patrick years on “The X-Files”. Each one provides
interesting trivia about the development of the series and various
changes that occurred to the mythology storyline over time.
--- |
| Final
Words: |
For fans
of the series that don’t want to collect all nine seasons on
DVD, the thematic series is a good way to pick up some of the
best episodes of “The X-Files” at a low price. The set comes
with four new commentary tracks and a new half hour documentary
on the mythology arc featuring the key production members. Nicely
designed, this set won’t take up as much room as the season
sets on the other hand they are all missing some of the best
episodes. Frankly, as good as the story arc episodes were some
of the finest episodes were stand alone episodes that just introduced
good old fashioned chills down the spine. |
