Matthew R. Reis: Film and TV Critic

Not the Band from Lodi.. 4 stars Blog Exclusive! Lately my attention has been turning to a lot British TV shows including Luther, Skins and Misfits. Misfits is perhaps the best UK import to come to America due to it's pure ingenuity and crass humor. The show centers around a bunch of kids who avoid juvenile hall by during menial community service gigs in their London community center. A tyrannical probation worker eagerly watches their every move in hope that they screw up while their family and friends seemingly abandon them. A freak storm surge pops up out of no where and instead of killing the teens it imbues them with special superhero-like abilities. The only question is if they will use their new found talents for the betterment of humanity or for pure evil! Feel free to check out the series premiere of "Misfits" courtesy of Hulu below: As always thanks for reading! © 2011 Matthew R. Reis, All rights reserved.

Repent. This movie is a sinner (Now on DVD) 1 star As Featured In: The Ithacan Truly terrifying movies rarely grace the big screen these days because of over-cooked turkeys like “The Rite.” Inspired by Matt Baglio’s book, this adaptation doesn’t take its source material seriously either. Inundated with a ghastly mix of drama and unintentional comedy, director Mikael Håfström’s latest film belongs in purgatory. Supposedly based on true events, “The Rite” is immensely unrealistic because of its emotionally inept performances and over-the-top visual effects. The film follows American Michael Kovak (Colin O’Donoghue), a deacon who is second-guessing the clergy. He travels to Rome to take part in an exorcist-training course at the Vatican. Here, Kovak meets Rev. Lucas Trevant (Anthony Hopkins), one of the most sought after exorcists in the Roman Catholic Church, who becomes his mentor and an unlikely friend. But when Trevant becomes possessed himself, Kovak must summon what faith he...