X-Files – Exordium

Updated
 
8.4 (23)
4391 0 1 0 4
X-Files – Exordium
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie Title:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1993
Original Running Time:
Not provided
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
127
Time Cut:
Not provided
Brief Synopsis:
This is the first of a series of edits focusing on the mythology episodes of the X-Files. Several episodes have been edited together for a theatrical experience.
Intention:
I wanted to present the mythology episodes of the X-Files in a theatrical way. There were so many great stories and events leading up to the feature film FIGHT THE FUTURE. I wanted to make these into movies that would give me the same experience. What I have done here, is try to present the first season as a movie. This film is represented by 5 episodes: the pilot, ‘Deep Throat,’ ‘Fallen Angel,’ ‘Tooms,’ and ‘The Erlenmeyer Flask.’ This is really the story of the start of the X-Files.
Special Thanks:
Special thanks to boon23 for all his help with this project, and zorzalita, AvP, and everyone else who showed interest & support.
Release Information:
DVD
Special Features
Animated & still menus, chapter selection, trailers, ThrowgnCpr edits info, X-Files Mythology timeline, and an Easter egg.
Editing Details:
Episodes Included : pilot, Deep Throat, Fallen Angel, Tooms, The Erlenmeyer Flask
Cuts and Additions:
Cuts removed/added/extended :
* added THX style FAN logo intro
* added Fox Fanfare intro
* added intro credits
* reframed from 4:3 fullscreen to 1.85:1 (16×9) widescreen
* cut Scully walking into FBI headquarters
* cut airplane scene
* cut some dialogue in car referencing medical examiner as possible suspect
* cut “I’m wired” line by Mulder
* removed some commercial fades
* cut confrontation at cemetery
* cut discussion of “father knowing about sons involvement in abductions” with Tracy at diner
* cut father/son reunion
* added Smoking Man in warehouse over dialogue from Mulder to phone conversation to heighten tension and aid transition
* cut credits to pilot
* cut theme intro to ‘Deep Throat’ episode
* integrated intro to ‘Fallen Angel’ before Mulder & Scully pnone call and intro of ‘Deep Throat’
* removed reference to crash happening in Wisconsin
* some panning and reframing to Mulder meeting Scully in bar – to remove episode credits
* lots of cropping/panning/editing to Mulder & Scully case discussion in bar – to remove episode credits
* cut crazy fly-fisherman
* added some nature sound effects & score over some cuts during Scully talking outside to smooth audio transition
* cut waitresses line “Quiet like a hummingbird” – This makes no sense. Hummingbirds are VERY vocal.
* cut kids from film. While they were good characters, they really served no purpose for this edit
* completely rebuilt audio with score and sound effects for night helocopter chase to accomodate loss of kids
* removed more obnoxious commercial fades
* cut reference to kids in hotel conversation
* cut kids leading mulder through fence. Mulder is not guided. He explores on his own.
* did I mention about removing commercial fades???
* had to cut some dialogue of Scully holding agent at gunpoint to remove kids from scene
* reworked end of Deep Throat (meeting between Mulder & Deep Throat at track) a bit
* trimmed some of Mulder’s dialogue from final meeting with Deep Throat (from Deep Throat episode).
* cut credits to ‘Deep Throat’
* cut intro credits to ‘Erlenmeyer Flask’
* lots of reframing to remove credits
* cut all local police scenes, and the search for the missing suspect
* cut actual murder scene of Dr. Berube
* arrgggggg, begone ye worthless commercial fades
* removed corny dialogue between Scully & Mulder about trust and faith.
* removed reference to Deep Throat meeting Scully before
* cut final phone call between Mulder & Scully. There is no talk now of shutting down the X-Files. It would have been way too soon to all happen (opening & closing) in 1 movie.
* removed end credits to Erlenmeyer Flask
* custom end credits
* many many more little cuts that aren’t listed. I probably forgot a lot
Cover art by ThrowgnCpr (DOWNLOAD HERE)
image

User reviews

23 reviews
 
52%
 
48%
5-7 stars
 
0%
3-5 stars
 
0%
1-3 stars
 
0%
Overall rating
 
8.4
Audio/Video Quality
 
7.5(4)
Audio Editing
 
9.5(2)
Visual Editing
 
8.5(2)
Narrative
 
7.7(3)
Enjoyment
 
8.9(23)
View all user reviews View most helpful
Overall rating
 
9.0
Audio/Video Quality
 
9.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
9.0
Narrative
 
8.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
Best intentions notwithstanding, the resultant edit remains locked in its episodic roots. Not that this is a bad thing. For me, the Season 01 paled in comparison with S02, S03 and S04. Influences from Outer Limits to Twin Peaks were readily apparent. It found an audience readily enough, but finding its narrative footing took longer.

This is an excellent introduction to X-Files, especially for newcomers. Neither Duchovny nor Anderson seem comfortable in their roles in the Pilot, though by Deep Throat, Duchovny had found his Mulder. The Erlenmeyer Flask section is by far the strongest. Anderson was secure with Scully, though she was heavily pregnant.

Video - Grain is to be expected, all my X-Files DVDs suffer from it. Cropping to create a widescreen view worsened this, but blacks remained solid and aside from a few pan jitters, the look was fine. Editing was quite good, though it is readily apparent when one episode concludes and another begins.

Audio - Solid work here, as well. Nothing hard or noticeable. Could do without the final music at the end. Editor’s perogative, I understand, but non Snow tunes ushered me out of the mood and I punched mute.

Narrative - The three episodes selected are wise choices of the earliest views on the various “myth” strands of arcs that would be elaborated and explored to dizzying heights in subsequent seasons. Did this feel like a movie? No - to me - never. The three stories never transition or connect well.

Enjoyment - Very much, I must say. Again, I am not a fan of S01. The show reeks FOX quality for most of that year. Aside from a handful of episodes, I never view that season. This edit, however, I suspect I will return to numerous times. If nothing else, it is a concise package showing Duchovny and Anderson grow into characters, and spotlights how swiftly the overall writing (plotlines, dialogue, characterizations) improved in quality.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
DVD
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 1 0
Overall rating
 
8.2
Audio/Video Quality
 
8.0
Audio Editing
 
9.0
Visual Editing
 
8.0
Narrative
 
7.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
I've always been a huge fan of The X-Files, way back to the original broadcast run. I can even remember the promo spots before it aired - What's with the music? Who's the redhead? Aliens and other weird shit? Cool. I watched religiously each week. The source material is now almost 20 years old and I still think that this show is one of the best ever created. I watched this edit years ago and never left a proper review. I watched it again recently and and thought I should fix that.

A/V Quality: Cropping the 4:3 ratio to 16:9 inevitably reduces the video quality. However, the end justifies the means in this case. The edit looks like a movie, not a TV show. The picture looks a little dark and I did notice some stuttering in scenes with motion, but it was not unwatchable. I think the sacrifices made to make it 16:9 were worth it.

Visual editing: Great job with removing the commercial fades, but there were still too many fade in/outs for my liking. I did notice one errant frame in the scene with Skinner, Mulder and the CSM, but no real issues otherwise.

Audio editing: No jarring, hard cuts. Perfectly fine.

Narrative: The toughest thing with a TV to movie fanedit is removing the episodic nature of the source material. I don't think that this edit succeeds with that, at least through the first half or so of the edit. The second half flows much nicer and it feels like a real movie. There are some strange scenes that did not seem to serve the plot and some scenes where plot points are introduced and not resolved (what happened to the helicopter chasing Mulder and Scully? Who is the cop in the woods calling for the fire department?). I think further cutting could have been made.

Enjoyment: Despite my criticisms above, I really enjoyed this edit. It's one of the few fanedits I've watched more than once, so I guess that's something. Fans of the X-Files will love this. If you're new to the series this is the perfect introduction. The only question left is, where are parts 2-9?
Owner's reply March 22, 2015

Thanks for the review. The criticisms are certainly fair, and I agree with them. This was my first fanedit, and it was definitely too big an undertaking for a first time editing attempt. Still, I'm pleased that people still generally seem to enjoy this edit.

As for parts 2-9(+) - they will happen. Real life has kept me busy, but the big delay is that I know that widescreen (as filmed) blu-rays are in our near future. I've seen glimpses, and they will be beautiful. This will greatly help my edits, and it may even allow me to go for a wider scope, like I originally planned.

Thanks again for the review

Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
Overall rating
 
8.5
Audio/Video Quality
 
8.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
December 25, 2011 @ 6:45 pm

It was good to see these episodes was refreshing my memory.
Definetely recommended.
A/V: 8
Entertainment: 9
Overall: 9
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
(Updated: September 11, 2012)
Enjoyment
 
8.0
October 1, 2008 @ 3:17 am

*This rating was given before reviews were required*
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
(Updated: August 31, 2012)
Enjoyment
 
10.0
October 3, 2008 @ 5:41 pm

*This rating was given before reviews were required*
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
View all user reviews