Day 100: "Choosing not to believe in the Devil won't protect you from him."

OK, day 100.  Well, I wish I had a better review for you all, but unfortunately, I saw The Rite.  I should have left.  Sorry, awful joke.  The story of one man's struggle with faith as shown through the rites of exorcism.  The seminary student believes in God, but has his doubts about the other fella.  He is sent to train in Rome with an experienced exorcist, and thus the nonsense begins.  Lots of talk about the nature of faith in both good and evil goes on for a long time with nary a resolution in sight.  Boring, boring, boring.  This is a film in a long line that was horribly advertised.  From the trailers, you would think this was a horror film solely about the expulsion of demons from a man of God.  Nope.  Said exorcism isn't even hinted at until the final third of the movie.  I guess I expected a bit more, but I shouldn't be surprised that I didn't get it.

Anthony Hopkins is the main star in this.  He does his usual job of underplaying the role and then having huge outbursts at opportune moments.  He tries to pull of the world weary exorcist with his own flair, but it kind of comes off like Hannibal Lecter as a priest.  Max Von Sydow's character from 1973's The Exorcist would kick this guy's ass up and down the streets of Rome.  Rutger Hauer makes a welcome appearance as the young priest's father, but still can't save this movie.

Maybe I'm bitter for expecting a horror movie, but getting a treatise on the pitfalls of not believing in the Devil.  I don't know.  What I do know is that this was a dull, overthought story.  5/10

See you tomorrow, and GO WATCH A MOVIE!!