Review of The Rite (2011) by Tim B — 21 Jan 2012

I had wanted to see this since it was first released but it never came on on my top priority list since it was A) a January release for the theatres (aka leftovers) and B) the trailers didn't impress me all that much.

I was surprised to find myself not squirming around on the couch or passing out while viewing it. The movie starts off with a great original plot (for this type of movie), the atmosphere in it is bleak and eerie throughout.

The cast at play were also my main tie to this one. Anthony Hopkins made the movie for me. I was afraid this was going to be one of those cases he shows up for a few and is off to the bank but here he was the main star and gave a unique, quirky and different kind of performance.

Loved him. Colin O'Donoghue was likeable and believable the whole way. Alice Braga and Rutger Hauer both shined with the small amount of screen time they're given. Mikael Hafstrom can generate some eerie atmosphere as it was present throughout this whole freakin flick.

I also loved his plays with flashback scenes. Directing department was also great. Another great thing was how the possession angle of the flick was to be taken one way or the other. The audience (along with the characters) were allowed to choose what they believed in and that made the whole not only more convincing but also more scary.

Add to that ome great cinematography and settings (Rome... ahhh) and an amazing score (Alex Heffes... remembering that name) and you get a pretty fun time at the movies. On the downer, the middle section of the movie did come with a lot of muck-ups.

After a great first act, the movie kind of jumped all over the place and we weren't given enough on a lot of scenes that needed more substance to it. The film definitely needed to be at least a half hour longer to get its full tale across.

I have a feeling it was another 'studio approved' edit. A lot of scenes also just 'ended' and left the audience with nothing on it afterward. Made a lot of moments feel trivial. I personally wanted more debating on the 'was it a demon or a case of the crazies' type of scenarios but alas, never got 'em.

Finally, I couldn't help but crack up during the final exorcism scene. It just got a little too over-the-top for me. But overall, I had a decent time with The Rite. I'm definitely glad I waited until I was laying down on the couch comfortably instead of paying money in a theatre for it.

It's definitely the more ideal viewing for me.