tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031498593064294214.post1933141422194666973..comments2024-03-13T14:53:58.150-04:00Comments on MUSINGS OF A SCI-FI FANATIC: The X-Files S1 Ep13: Beyond The SeaSFFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04256589316922398158noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031498593064294214.post-34818234734498693612012-05-26T08:32:40.930-04:002012-05-26T08:32:40.930-04:00Great article. There are a few episodes of The X-F...Great article. There are a few episodes of <i>The X-Files</i> that pre-sage <i>Millennium</i> - I would add "Grotesque" to those you mention here - and I think this speaks to the themes and dynamics that permeate through much of Chris Carter's work, right up to the superb <i>X-Files: I Want to Believe</i>.<br /><br />Gillian Anderson was just wonderful throughout the entire series' run, but you're right that "Beyond the Sea" gave her an early opportunity to really shine as Scully. There was something of a perfect storm in the production of both <i>The X-Files</i> and <i>Millennium</i>, from writing and production through to cast, direction and cinematography, and it's wonderful how well received, widely discussed and relevant both series still are to this day.Adam Chamberlainhttp://fourthhorsemanpress.com/Chamberlainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031498593064294214.post-22743527026581737302012-05-23T09:47:47.575-04:002012-05-23T09:47:47.575-04:00Spontanious Combustion was Tobe Hoopers last "...Spontanious Combustion was Tobe Hoopers last "watchable" film before he went down into straight to video hell...so sad to see a great director fade away into crappy films. For Spontanious Combustion he still had a bit of good storytelling in him. Sadly the film has a terrible ending, but the rest of the movie is actually pretty cool. And the effects of Dourif bursting into flames are pretty cool to watch. Recommend it if your ever in the mood for a weird movie.Franco Macabrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10994905312221715861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031498593064294214.post-25455274403739814522012-05-18T21:09:32.970-04:002012-05-18T21:09:32.970-04:00I love all things Dourif myself Fran. Love him. He...I love all things Dourif myself Fran. Love him. He's so good. You're so right.<br /><br />I have not seen the film you mention but, of course, he's got a huge filmography and I haven't seen it all.<br /><br />You will love his performance here. He's a highlight. THis is hands down my favorite episode of Season One of THe X-Files, obviously in front of a handful of other very fine episodes.<br /><br />Beyond The Sea is damn near X-Files poetry. Great stuff.<br /><br />Cheers for stopping Fran<br />sffSFFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04256589316922398158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031498593064294214.post-22354583460030419972012-05-18T16:39:45.526-04:002012-05-18T16:39:45.526-04:00Strange man! I've been having an X-Files reviv...Strange man! I've been having an X-Files revival at my house, trying to re-watch all those really good episodes, recently watched one called Jose Chung's From Outer Space, what a cool episode! <br /><br />I will write this one down and watch it with my friends! Brad Dourif is one of my favorites, did you ever see him in Tobe Hooper's Spontanious Combustion? Where he plays this guy that burts into flames whenever he gets upset? Decent movie, great performance by Dourif, very intense as always.Franco Macabrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10994905312221715861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031498593064294214.post-14942426565538238812012-05-17T14:37:49.743-04:002012-05-17T14:37:49.743-04:00Thanks as always L13 for your additional commentar...Thanks as always L13 for your additional commentary.<br /><br />I know you are a true fan of Thomas Harris and was certainly aware of that source material and by no means would want you to think my omission was through ignorance, but rather selective pop culture reference. : ) Though, I appreciate the additiona input to which you are much more knowedgeable than your humble Sci-Fi Fanatic.<br /><br />Exorcist III is also interesting. I knew Brad Dourif was in that film but I have not seen it, but it definitely sounds as though he does a bit of channeling there.<br /><br />Cheers L13!SFFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04256589316922398158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031498593064294214.post-82961348086777675722012-05-16T14:48:38.091-04:002012-05-16T14:48:38.091-04:00Excellent examination of stellar episode and perfo...Excellent examination of stellar episode and performance by Gillian and the always solid Brad. It's interesting you mention "<i>director Jonathan Demme's The Silence Of The Lambs [1991], of which Beyond The Sea itself seems to echo and mirror to a degree.</i>" There is that aspect. However, the interview-the-brilliant-serial-killer arrived earlier than that as it came from author Thomas Harris novels' from the previous decade (both in Silence from 1988 and Red Dragon from '81). I'm sure they had an influence on Carter. This ep also shadows the interchangeable personas shown on-screen (Brad's Bogg's :: David Duchovny's Mulder) so prevalent in the underrated Exorcist III (1990), which was directed by William Peter Blatty (himself no slouch at writing about faith and its challenges) based on his novel 'Legion' from '83. The coincidence there is again Brad Dourif, as he portrayed the incarcerated and vicious serial killer, "The Gemini" in that '90 film. The man has gotten himself a good gig with such roles, it seems. And he's superb at it, never seemingly being the same person in each. Great look at all of this, SFF. Well done.le0pard13https://www.blogger.com/profile/09421175808461787862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031498593064294214.post-8754194535261913702012-05-15T22:24:49.439-04:002012-05-15T22:24:49.439-04:00Well, thanks for the kindly comment John.
Gosh,...Well, thanks for the kindly comment John. <br /><br />Gosh, Chris Carter is indeed from the mold of the masters like Roddenberry and Serling. True visionaries who bucked the system with their belief in intelligent stories.<br /><br />And you should be proud of that interview. It was excellent along with a number of intriguing interviews like the ones with Johnny Byrne.<br /><br />I always try to do my research and homework accordingly for these things and sometimes you find information that might seem an unlikely fit to the focus of a given piece, but in this case that interview regarding the new film seemed a nice fit here thematically.<br /><br />Anyway, thank you and as always your work certainly inspires. Take care, sffSFFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04256589316922398158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031498593064294214.post-76928138513112945732012-05-15T19:31:52.246-04:002012-05-15T19:31:52.246-04:00SFF:
Thank you for this beautiful reminder of wha...SFF:<br /><br />Thank you for this beautiful reminder of what a great series The X-Files was, even starting out, in its first season.<br /><br />You wrote: "Carter mines the essence of our lives, trust, belief, faith and does so through the depth of his characters. These are touchstones or cornerstones to our own lives and he injects these facets into the heart of The X-Files like poetry."<br /><br />Beautifully written, and so true. <br /><br />For me, Chris Carter remains the latter-day Rod Serling or Gene Roddenberry, a creator of uncommon sensitivity and intelligence who imbues his programs with tremendous humanity.<br /><br />Great review! <br /><br />And thank you for including that excerpt from the interview I did with Mr. Carter n 2009, which remains one of my absolute career high-points...<br /><br />best,<br />JohnJohn Kenneth Muirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.com