The Rite (2011)

I'm a big fan of Sir Anthony Hopkins works from 'Silence of The Lamb' all the way to the his latest movie, 'The Rite'. Its about his calmness, his convincing acts and his steadiness in his speech despite the age, that hooked me deep, among few other things like the expression on his face while devouring a human heart, getting possessed by Baal. Not to mention the annotation of lines, even a long one, which accented of Welsh as he is one. 

This movie revolved around one young man, raised by a single father [profession - kind of undertaker at morgue, handle the preparation of the death for wake ceremony]. The way his life was set to either life of solitude [being a minister] or inherit the family business makes a depressing retaliation within.

After the whole courses of solitude and about becoming minister, he decided to drop out. When  it was actually well planned as the only way to be away with his father's expectation and hope. It was then he was introduced to special exorcism class held in Rome.

Even with his whole life was Christianity and death, his doubtful faith towards evil spirit was getting him to face them firsthand right after his 2nd class. And here come our Father Lucas to save the day, not this guy faith obviously. Unfortunate to this guy, the devil's faith was not as mutual towards humankind.

You think you've outsmarted HIM?

Putting out unsur-unsur keagamaan, other aspek kemanusiaan (not humanity but humanly) dengan jayanya ditonjolkan. Michael Kovak lebih memilih penjelasan/pendekatan saintifik dari sudut psychology in choosing the best cure for what claimed to be demon possession rather than choosing exorcism ritual as it looks more like a torture to unbelievable extent. Being the victim of his own circumstances, still keeping his doubtful faith, he stick with Father Lucas learning bit by bit the father's side of the story.

Unsur kekesalan yang terpendam dalam jiwa Father Lucas pula mula menghantuinya when he start realizing the similarity between them two when he was young, the doubtful faith towards the evil powers. This weakness resulted in him losing quite a number of patients [death], worsen his condition to the point he himself got possessed by Baal [proved that he was in poor mental condition].

Michael long foreseen resentment, was snapped by the death of his father. Not because of the death news, not so much i guess by the fact that the devils brought it up even before the phone call got to him. Then kena main dengan makhluk-makhluk iringan syaitan & hallucination, triggered the changes in him. He start believing and get into the action, treating Father Lucas possessed body, against the 'big dog' straightaway. Camner dia bleh menang plak? Ceit . . . tipu tul.

Quite rare for a movie, crowning the evil side as the winner and this one was not excluded. Even with the opposition was among the Prime Evil.

The act was of course first class, it just that the storyline could have been better if it was more complicated, with lots of issues or more unpredictable or even sophisticatedly messy.

Another thing that comes to mind was the rating in Malaysia. I wouldn't mind if it was PG13 in the US because its not an Islamic country like us. Even the mind of 18 years old youngster might still need guidance, explanation  and warning concerning their belief/faith.

I've seen the movie at JJ Cheras Selatan with my 17 years old nephew. Good thing he didn't show any 'shock and awe' after that. Yang bangsatnya ada mamat dua ekor duk sebelah yang tak tau nak duk diam and shut their holes. I'm focusing here brader!!! Dah la subtitle takleh harap sangat.

 - pakcanjibam-

I'm gonna add some more when i feel like it...