Video summary
Mark your calendars for August 14th, as a new cut of *X-Files: I Want to Believe* is arriving on Hulu and Disney Plus. This release features director Chris Carter's original vision from 2008, which was previously altered due to studio interference that forced the film into a PG-13 rating with an unsatisfactory edit. The upcoming version promises new footage and changes in tone, shifting away from the episodic "monster of the week" feel of the first release toward something more akin to a Frankenstein-style horror story. As a dedicated fan who owns the box set visible behind him, the host expresses genuine curiosity about how much this revised cut differs from the version that felt too tame and lacked sufficient paranormal elements for his taste.
The controversy surrounding the original 2018 release stems largely from its rating; executive pressure reportedly caused creator Chris Carter to tone down scary scenes, including those involving the iconic Smoke Man character, resulting in a PG-13 film he felt was compromised by censorship rather than artistic choice. Eighteen years after that initial theatrical run and subsequent home media releases, fans are finally getting what Carter intended: an R-rated experience with previously unseen material. However, skepticism remains high regarding whether these changes will truly elevate the movie or simply result in a minor adjustment to gore levels and scene ordering without fixing fundamental issues like pacing or tone.
Despite his initial lack of faith that this director's cut would save the film from being merely a cash grab for Disney, the host confirms he plans to watch it immediately upon release and provide an honest review on his channel. He acknowledges the inherent appeal of *X-Files* but warns viewers not to expect miracles based solely on the "director's cut" label, noting that previous attempts at fixing other films like *Daredevil* or various versions of *Alien 3* have often failed to deliver a truly great experience regardless of edits. The community is left to speculate whether this will be a standalone storyline satisfying fans everywhere or just another attempt to spruce up an underwhelming project, with the final verdict expected within a week when he publishes his thoughts.
Read the full video transcript
[crying]
>> Mark your calendars for August 14th
because there's going to be a brand new
cut of X-Files I Want to Believe hitting
Hulu and Disney Plus. This is the
director's cut by Chris Carter of his
2008 film, the second X-Files movie in
his massive franchise that's been
spanning decades now. In fact, they
recently announced an X-Files LEGO set
which I really want to get my mitts on.
Carter says this is the movie he wanted
to make way back in 2008 but due to
interference and things just not working
right in the editing room, they had to
do that shitty version out of the gates.
I say shitty version because I did not
like that movie at all. It was a monster
of the week thing instead of an alien
invasion story, which can be fine. Some
of the best X-Files episodes are monster
of the week. I'm looking at you, Tooms.
But the X-Files movie we got was more
kind of like almost CSI in a way. Just
did not have the paranormal supernatural
stuff enough for me to be engaged and
think, yep, I'm watching X-Files. Also,
with it only having a PG-13 rating, did
kind of handcuff the film, I thought,
because of the subject matter. The first
X-Files movie was freaking epic. It
worked. Anyway, 18 years later, we're
getting an R-rated cut with new footage,
a bunch of crap not seen before. And
apparently, this one's going to be more
of a Frankenstein movie which we
definitely did not see the first time
around. So, I'm actually very curious to
see how different this one is. I am a
big X-Files fan. I got the You can see
the See the box set right behind me back
there. Carter jerked himself off a
little bit more by saying that the
original version of the film was too
scary for the higher-ups over at Fox.
The freaking Smoke Man himself was like,
"Cut it down to PG-13." And so, that's
exactly what they did. How brave. So,
now all these years later, we're going
to get the the true vision.
Here's the deal with me. If I don't like
a movie, one cut, the next one typically
does not sway me another way. I remember
many times people saying Adam, sir, they
come to me tears in their eyes of course
pouring down their cheeks. Sir, have you
seen the director's cut of Daredevil,
the Ben Affleck masterpiece? And I reply
to them,
no. Does it still have the teeter-totter
fight scene in it? And when they don't
reply to me instantly with a hell to the
no, I know I've won the conversation. I
know the movie still sucks. I couldn't
find anything too concrete about how
much of this is going to be new footage,
how much the edit's going to change from
the original. The trailer really didn't
give us much new information here. I
guess they're keeping it close to the
chest for the release in a week. I will
tell you this. I am going to watch it. I
will absolutely review it on my channel,
so feel free to sub if you want to hear
my thoughts. Right now though, I do not
have faith. I mean, obviously it's
X-Files, so I want to believe this could
be great. I just don't buy it. Usually
director's cuts just move things around
a little bit, add a little bit more
gore, maybe cut out or rework some
scenes, just maybe up the quality by 5
or 10% or in some instances remove some
of the quality. There are several
versions of Alien 3. They vary in their
suckiness in my opinion, but all
versions equally are not adding up to a
good time. But that's just me. Let me
know your thoughts in the comments
below. Do you think we're finally going
to get a great follow-up movie, a
standalone storyline that'll make
everybody happy, or do you think this is
going to be just a a sad little cash
grab for for Disney to get some more
fans onto the app, and for Carter to
maybe go back to the well, spruce up
this goose a little bit more? Only time
will tell, and it's going to tell you in
just a week's time. All right, that's
all I got for you. Let me know in the
comments, like this video. Again, I
encourage you to sub and hopefully I see
you next time. Mr. Carter, are you
suggesting there's a good cut of this
movie somewhere?
I laugh at the idea.
>> [music]
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