mariiam-57251 One of the most boring movies i've seen. there's honestly no horror & it doesn't deserve that rating.

jacklyn_lo This is a movie about a man's agony in finding faith in God.The culmination of the film is the protagonist's Spiritual Choice.Spiritual Choice comes with doubts, confusion and hesitation, which are always in our way at any particular period of one's life.The protagonist is at a higher level of consciousness than the average human, which is what makes the Choice so tough. An interactive physical reality plays strangely around the protagonist and he starts to think he is going insane. His Choice of Light is not obvious to either himself or the movie's audience.However, after a long period of struggling with his inner self, Michael, with the help of other people and situations, finally makes his Choice to head toward Light and obtains Faith in God. The chosen direction opens a New Path to Michael – to help other people.P.S. This story is a great example of the significant effort our Higher Brotherhood puts into each and every one of us to help with our Choice towards Light!Also, I like that in this movie a Church is shown as a powerful institution, one with the skills and intelligence to support and help people, which is unfortunately not always the case.The Rite is an excellent movie and I highly recommend it to any spiritual seeker.

Screen_Blitz Since the uncompromising success of the 1973 horror film 'The Exorcist', Hollywood has spawned many attempts to revitalize the concept of exorcisms and demons in the effective manner the aforementioned film achieved. The results are rarely successful, or even passable for that matter. This religious-based horror thriller offers a slightly less sobering portrayal of exorcism and casting the demon out of a supposed tortured soul. Director Mikael Hafstrom does so by reducing grotesque depictions of blood and gore, and horrifically graphic imagery that have become established tropes of the exorcism-horror subgenre. His efforts transpire to a slightly more realistic approach on the Catholic Church's practices of exorcism. But the question is does the film succeed in terms of scares? Sadly, it does not, nor does it amount to anything beyond a bland exorcism masquerade. This film follows Michael Kovak (played by Colin O'Donoghue), a twenty-something year old seminary student struggling with his faith who holds resentment for his mortican father(played by Rutger Hauer) who wants him to go into the family business. He is coaxed by his mentor Father Matthew (played by Toby Jones) to travel to Rome and take a course on exorcism taught by Father Xavier (played by Ciaran Hinds), hoping it could restore his faith. Seeing his crisis in faith, Xavier sends Michael to an unorthodox exorcism expert Father Lucas (played by Anthony Hopkins). As the two bond, Lucas prepares for what could be his most faith- defining exorcism of his life. From the first quarter of the film, it grows almost explicitly clear what director Hafstrom is trying to achieve, and there is some compelling evidence that his ideas have potential. Unfortunately, the direction in which he operates falls shallow of energy that could have made for a more compelling supernatural vehicle. The first hour moves at a sluggish pace, offering striking arguments on the existence of God as well as compelling debates on the presence of heaven and hell. This accounts to some somewhat intriguing commentary on Catholicism. But when it comes to building up the story, that is where things get increasing faulty. The story grows tedious and slaps viewers with jump scares of grotesque imagery that come far and few in between, before arriving at its formulaic climax. And it certainly does not help that the lead character in which the story revolves around in such a humdrum character while Anthony Hopkins's Father Lucas is the one exceedingly stealing the show. Colin O'Donoghue's performance is fine to say the least, but it does little justice for how uninteresting his character. Easily the striking star here is Anthony Hopkins who breaths immense atmosphere and grit to his role. Looking back at his talent in roles such as Hannibul Lector in the 'Hannibul' series', it is little wonder why Hopkins effectively suites the role. In the end, he at least becomes the saving grace of this otherwise forgettable exorcism fare. The Rite may wield the compelling theatrical talent of Anthony Hopkins, but it fails to deliver the scares and thrills to compete with the criminally shallow execution. Sure, they are plenty of intriguing concepts about Catholicism and the existence of God that serves for good food-for-thought for religious viewers aching to see this film. Above it all, it is sadly forgettable.

Sherin The movie starts slow ... but picks pace ... it is a movie for those who don't believe in God ... to understand things from their perspective ... I loved the movie and how it dealt with questions that modern youth are bound to ask... it would have better if these questions are addressed in more detail .. but actions speak louder than words ... Some things aren't explained clearly ... particularly why the father had to get possessed ... however, the hero rose up to the occasion as always :). This movie reinstates the importance of God and how devil works in cunning ways, even today ... when most think it is a myth! However, am not sure why they had to kill the girl ... and why they were not able to exorcise her!