Praise the Lord, We Can Rewind!
A Report on the Viewing Habits of Older X-Files Fans
Following the Video Release of "Fight the Future"
by XayanFay
ABSTRACT
Twenty-three members of the Over-Thirty Philes discussion loop were
asked to complete a questionnaire regarding their viewing habits of the
"X-Files Movie" video release. Twelve members responded. Their
answers were tabulated to ascertain both how many times and by how many
people each movie scene or sequence was rewatched.
Although twelve responses of twenty-three requests may not seem like a
significant sample, it should be taken into account that the
non-respondents were most likely either too busy rewatching their videos
to respond, or actually physically unable to operate a computer mouse
due to carpal tunnel nerve damage from repetitive use of their remote
controls while rewinding their videos.
Based on the tabulation of responses, the following conclusions can be
drawn:
1) Older XF fans were not interested in re-experiencing the opening
caveman sequence, young Stevie's icky demise, Dr. Kurzweil and Mulder
holding their yanks in the alley behind the bar, or the meeting of the
Elders with the grammatically challenged Herr Strughold. These scenes
were not rewatched at all and, in fact, were subjected to
fast-forwarding by multiple respondents.
2) The majority of older XF fans are more-or-less sex-maniac
romance-crazed shippers who want to watch Mulder and Scully hugging and
touching foreheads and kissing and carrying each other naked and lying
in each other's arms gazing into each other's eyes with aliens hatching
a few feet away and rolling around in the snow and cradling each other
in their arms at the rim of a huge spaceship crater...over and over and
over.
The Questionnaire
For a copy of the questionnaire that each O3P member was given, go to FTF
Rewindometer Survey .
Quantitative Findings
It was ascertained in Questions 1-3 that three people watched the video
straight through the first time without rewinding. One person did not
explain this peculiar viewing choice. The second was watching at someone
else's house. The third person did not have access to a remote control
because her dog ate it.
The other nine people reported watching the video in segments, rewinding
to watch scenes or sequences whenever they felt like it (probably
waiting until they were alone in the room to indulge in this
self-gratification). The following results were obtained from these
nine, plus one who watched it straight through the first time but then
rewound to her heart's content during a second viewing.
SEQUENCES REWATCHED THE MOST NUMBER OF TIMES - TOP FIVE
Description of Scene (# Times Rewatched)
1) Just the hug, foreheads touching, and the kiss* (37)
2) Just the kiss (slow motion, pause, etc.) (37)
3) M&S's ascent from spaceship and the CPR (28)
4) The Crater Hug (23)
5) Mulder following Scully into the hallway through arrival of ambulance
(22)
* This is "the kiss" instead of "the near-kiss"
because their lips touched, dammit!
SCENES REWATCHED BY MOST NUMBER OF PEOPLE - TOP FIVE
Description of Scene (# of People Who Rewatched)
1) Just the hug, foreheads touching, and the kiss (9)
2) Just the kiss (slow motion, pause, etc.) (8)
3) M&S's ascent from spaceship and the CPR (7)
3) Scully's entrance into Mulder's apartment through arrival of
ambulance (7)
3) Mulder following Scully into hallway through arrival of ambulance (7)
4) Scully's end of road "this is fitting" rant (6)
4) Mulder in car with WMM (6)
4) Mulder finding Scully and pulling her out of the pod (6)
4) The Crater Hug (6)
5) M&S's rooftop search through "I had you" (5)
5) Skinner/Mulder/Scully in lobby outside OPR hearing (5)
5) Mulder in taxi and with Scully in her apartment (5)
DISCUSSION
This study revealed significant--and sometimes surprising-- information
concerning people's motives for rewatching various scenes and sequences.
For example several respondents reported rewatching:
-The bee dome sequence to examine M&S's facial expressions.
-The cornfield chase to see whether Mulder brushes Scully's breast at
the end.
-Mulder in the car with WMM to try to make sense of the wacky
explanation for why Samantha was taken.
-The pod rescue to see Scully naked--or to see if Mulder peeked.
Also revealed, as a result of the opportunity provided by the video
release for close, limitless, nonstop scrutiny:
-CC is "damn cute" in his opening interview!
-They snipped Scully's "this is fitting" rant!!!
-Mulder does indeed cop a glancing feel at the end of the cornfield
chase.
-Most people heard the telepathic "Mulder."
-Most people heard Scully say she saw the spaceship.
CONCLUSION
In view of the Video Film Industry Association's statistic that
commercial videos have an average lifetime of 30 viewings before
significant deterioration of picture and sound quality*, many older
Philes will be needing new FTF videos soon. It's a damned good thing
that special boxed set is coming out just in time for Christmas!
*NOTE: This may be true, however, it is a totally made-up statistic :)
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