While evidently not-my-sort-of-thing, that doesn't excuse Constantine from having no set-up and little explanation for the boring and cliched Angel and Demon preachy plot. This one follows John Constantine, saving the world from the son of Satan to buy his way back into heaven. This has all been done before many times, although I can't think of any examples of it being done well.
Surprisingly, Keanu Reeves is bearable as Constantine, for although he still can't deliver a line, his physical acting is capable. Shame he is paired with apparently-I'm-American-and-a-cop-but-you-won't-believe-either-in-a-million-years Rachel 'Yawn' Weisz. The echoey dialogue was a mistake and adds to the snooze effect of the leads.
Bearable for what it is, but mostly confusing and dull.
Keanu Reeves plays a medium between the world and Hell in this weird special effects eye candy flick. The Devil as a character bathed in light is actually truer to the old Judean version of him, as opposed to him all dressed in red or black. That part was cool because he was evil but appeared to be light. The rest, unfortunately, including Reeves' acting, was horrible.
Not the best movie ever, but one of my favorite actors, Tilda Swinton as Gabriel was excellent. Its not going to win any awards, but a fun and dark movie.
I know there are a lot of people who disliked this film because it was different to the comics upon which the film is based. In my case I've not read I had not read any of these comics, but I know the feeling of having something butchered for the film industry. Overall I thought this was a good supernatural thriller, with some good special effects, and even a good performance from Keanu as Constantine.
THE DEVIL IS SOMEONE I DONT WANT TO MESSS WITH EVER..I AM THANKFUL THAT I DONT SEE THEM LIKE MY BROTHER..I WOULD HAVE PEED MY PANTS IF I EVER SAW ONE..THANK GOD IN HEAVEN I DO NOT CHOSE TO SEE THEM...AMEN..
Caught this on FX today...the movie was extremely quiet for some reason. Couldn't hear the damn thing...then the commericals nearly gave me a heart attack cuz I had the volume cranked so loud.
Keanu does a decent job...Weisz is nothing special...Le Douche is just as big of a douche as ever...so of course he lowers the score.
I did like the visuals and the way it was filmed, though - great atmosphere created. 3/5 stars
It's kind of a guilty pleasure, but I really enjoy this movie. The fact that none of the occult workings are explained is a plus. In a semi-paradoxical way it's more realistic; there's never been any sort of rhyme or reason in witchcraft--alchemy for example--and it made it interesting to watch.
This is easily Keanu's best dramatic role by far (I swear I saw him emote! Though it may have been a special effect...) Shia LaBeouf is good in it too.
I love movies with supernatural themes. This is an awsome example of one. The speacial effects make is seem real and spooky. I love the style of characters.
Constantine is one more of those movies that are adapted from a comic series. Now, people in comics' stories often seem pretty wild in the eyes of watchers or readers. Just think of Batman. Isn't Gotham City crazy? Constantine, I think, is a most excellent picturization of the comic stories. It is full packed with action, the story is quite entertaining, there is wit, the actors are amazing, the way of filming is great. Just watch these pictures and camera stills. Beautiful! Constantine is worth going to a movie theater. The pictures may blow you away. It is stunning.
Go and watch it, make your own point of view. "My name is Constantine. Joe Constantine. ***" ^_^
A very controversial movie, filled with intrigue and excitement, and one of my favourite actors - Keanu Reeves. What I found most enjoyable about this movie, it is the questions raised through the movie, that of religion, heaven and hell, superstition and human believes. This is done in such a way that it does not condemn any of these beliefs. It plays with the ideas, however, does not say that it is wrong.
Probably one of my most favorite comic licenses from Vertigo DC Comics. Constantine is a chain smoking demonic fighter who has the abilities to see demons living in this world and has powers to travel to hell and back,
This filmed revolved around Constantine trying to help this detective solve a case revolving around her sisters apparent murder. Upon investigating Constantine gets thrown into a paranormal investigation that takes him from earth to hell.
Keanu Reeves as Constantine was a decent casting call. right after The Matrix trilogy was complete he did a decent move to go in and do this film. Shia LeBouf did a decent job as one of his first movie roles and Rachel Weisz also didn't do sucha bad job as well either as the detective.
Yet again this film visually shined and alot of scenes really looked amazing with the digital effects they used. The monsters looked scary and was very imaginative as well.
Francis Lawrence did a good first directorial debut. With initially doing music videos beforehand he took a good step to direct this movie. Now he did I Am Legend probally his directing experience gotten much higher now.
I personally liked this film and really do hope that a sequel eventually gets green lit
This was amazing! By far Keanu Reeves best performance! The film brings the whole idea of exorcisms and demons and angels and the devil to a different light. It was very interesting and I could watch again and again
Gabriel: "Your ego is astounding. John Constantine: Gabriel. Figures. "And the wicked shall inherit the Earth". Gabriel: You judging me now, John? John Constantine: Betrayal, murder, genocide, call me provincial."
Let me first disclose that I am ignorant to the DC/Vertigo comic, Hellblazer, this film is based on. So if you want to know if the film is faithful to its graphic novel roots, you'll have to look elsewhere. I'll admit it, though: I'm a sucker for Christian mythology played against thriller and action settings. I'm captivated by the imagery, the discussion of Heaven and Hell - although my belief is that none exists - and its mythical logistics, and just the psychology of supernatural biblical beings. With this in mind, it took me more than I expected to watch Constantine. What I got wasn't exactly what I expected but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't entertained.
John Constantine (Keanu Reeves) is a very troubled man. Since his youth he's had to live with his gift that allows him to see through earthy disguises and witness angels and monstrous demons walking among us. He's turned this ability into a modest side job of exorcizing demons and sending them back to Hell. Constantine figures his loyal service should grant him passage into the pearly gates, but Archangel Gabriel (Tilda Swinton) reminds him that that's not how it works. Constantine is doomed to go to Hell because he tried taking his own life as a kid, and if that's not enough he also has terminal lung cancer from smoking like a chimney. "In other words, you're fucked," Gabriel confides to Constantine.
Police detective Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz) is investigating the suicide of her twin sister (also Weisz). She swears her mentally disturbed sis wouldn't do such a thing, and she seeks out the help of Constantine. He challenges her beliefs, stating that God and the Devil (Peter Stormare) have a wager over the souls of mankind but cannot directly interfere. But now something is breaking this rule and it looks like demons may be getting closer to entering our plane, and it looks like Angela's dead sister may have known more than people would have thought.
The plot of Constantine is dominated by contrivances, aborted sub-plots, underwritten and nearly forgotten supporting characters, and sketchy logic (staring at a cat can transport you to Hell? Nice!). Often the film feels overwhelmed by good special effects, as they seem to be the crux of the film's purpose of being and not, on the other hand, a theological playground of ideas. Constantine gives veiled glimpses of something smart, but routinely shuts that door to focus more on what ultimately makes it such a fun and entertaining flick: great special effects, fast and well-crafted action, charming and charismatic actors and a stylishly moody and Gothic atmosphere.
It's interesting that after spending two years making The Matrix sequels, Keanu Reeves would choose to attach himself to another big-budget theological action flick. He never really rises beyond the morose loner but somehow makes for a satisfying, brooding hero. Reeves' low-key monotone speaking voice allows him to spout cheesy dialogue with a straight face and mercifully keeps the audience grounded. Weisz is solid, bringing intelligence and vulnerability to an underwritten role and looking as gorgeous as ever, while LaBeouf plays pretty much the same character he played in I, Robot. The true stars of Constantine, however, are the memorable supporting players. Swinton uses her hermaphroditic looks to forge what David Bowie might be like as an angel: angular, mysterious, forsaken, and somewhat creepy. I can't remember having so much fun watching an actor having fun on screen. Stormare delivers a performance so loony, that it could only be compared to the weirder moments of Christopher Walken. Both actors truly liven up the film.
The occasional brilliance of Constantine is in its game it holds with the audience. Suspension of disbelief is needed to even go along for the ride, but when we start learning that Hell has its own line of Bibles (and they're longer) we've gone beyond suspension of disbelief and into wacky I-speak-to-aliens land. While sitting through Constantine, we the audience think, "There's no way this film could get any sillier." And then it does! We think, "All right, that was crazy. Now there's no way after that this film could get any sillier." And then it does, again. Constantine is an amazing ascent into film madness. After a while, I became drunk from the film's insanity and wanted it to get even crazier, if possible. It almost seems like there's a drinking contest between the film and the audience, and Constantine isn't afraid to piss its pants to win.
By the time Lucifer shows up, clad in all white à la Alec Guinness' Sidney Stratton, and the Dark Lord appears to have Tourette's Syndrome and/or a speech impediment, Constantine has hit the bottom of its Insanity cup. Sure, the film's cinematography is slick, and the premise is intriguing, but the real draw of Constantine and the real enjoyment of the flick is how bat-shit crazy it is. In a good way. I'm sure David Lynch had a blast if he saw this.
With del Toro's Hellboy establishing something of a niche market for heroes who travel not just from Hell to Earth, but from comic book to the silver screen, it was really only a matter of time before Constantine would get a cinematic incarnation. Reminding me of what said about Underworld a couple of days ago, Constantine is the kind of film that's destined to be rejected and hated by Film critics. Again, can't quite get what's their problem. This is, despite its flaws and limitations, a fine film, shot in subdued browns and shadows, with its protagonist more like a carefree anti-hero than a muscle-bound superhero. Sure, there are the occasional CGI beasts to fight, but these are, if you can believe it, rather understated - and even Satan himself is really just a guy in a white suit. Constantine is concerned less with demonic destruction than with allegorising the eternal conflict between good and evil, sin and redemption (note the main character's initials) - which is why right from the outset it aligns itself directly to that other enormous, classic horror film with a strongly theological bent, The Exorcist.
Constantine is thrilling, funny, frustrating, confusing, gorgeous, and just plain insane. The film exhibits a rare and engaging form of insanity that may glue audience eyeballs to the screen to see what happens next. I've seen Constantine twice (don't ask why) and, even though I knew all the weird plot turns, I still found myself getting an enjoyable contact buzz from the film. Who knows how long such a novelty can sustain itself, though. Comic book fans, especially those with a spiritual bent, should get a kick out of Constantine as will anyone else searching for a pristine example of how wonderfully out of control Hollywood filmmaking can be. Sometimes - very rarely - in a good way.
based on the character from dc comic/vertigo hellblazer graphic novel.
keanu reeve play as john constantine who is inside the mind who help with the cop(rachel weisz)that her twin sister death.
sort of "matrix" to "exorcist"
MCT:August 7, 2008
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