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Constantine
2/18/05 - R - 121m
Keanu Reeves - John Constantine
Rachel Weisz - Angela Dodson
Shia LaBeouf - Chas Chandler
Director: Francis Lawrence
Story/Screenplay by: Kevin Brodbin
Studio: Warner Bros
Official
Website
LYN
Nutshell: Based on the DC/Vertigo graphic novel “Hellblazer” John Constantine (Keanu Reeves) is a supernatural detective of sorts setting out once again to save the soul of mankind, while his own hangs perilously in balance between Heaven and Hell (but leaning more towards the brink of the latter).
Basically a story of good and evil and John Constantine is somewhere in the middle fighting the fight for good. Throw in heroine police detective Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz) in moral distress and their stories become intertwined. Not to mention the hundreds of visually stunning and somewhat ookie demons throughout, and you got yourself a pretty good comic book to screen adaptation. Although, I must admit I’ve never read any the “Hellblazer” series, but there is a certain view of expectation one should take when going to see this type of film. It is after all…just a comic book from a 3-dimensional perspective. Now beings a self-proclaimed “Fanboy” of days gone by, I can continue under these rules. 
First and for most I am just a sucker for the whole ultimate “Good vs. Evil’ stuff, and being a recovering Catholic, throw in some fringe historical biblical stuff like the “Spear of Destiny”, some angels, demons, the Lord of the Flies, and the Big Guy himself (or even just the wrath of), just give me my popcorn and show me to my seat.
Although the story was hard to follow at times, like “What the frig is going on?” still didn’t matter much to me because I was already enthralled. The visual effects were stunning to say the least, as in the depiction of what the hell might be just over the fence and not very far down the trail…hmm, perhaps some place you really don’t want to even visit let alone spend the rest of eternity.
The acting? Well…considering it is mainly ‘Keanu Reeves’ how good can it be, but at least he didn’t use his signature “Whoa!” line. It was more the acting of the others that made up for “Ted Logan’s” lack there of. Smaller parts, less screen time sure, but affective just the same. I’d mention them individually, but it was pretty much everyone else in the film except for ‘Keanu Reeves’ and ‘Rachel Weisz’. They added such intrigue and depth to an already attention-grabbing film. Well done, and Bravo. Side note: I do have to mention though ‘Peter Stormare’ as Satan… nicely done.
I did however find the similarities in “The Prophecy” and this film kind of strange, but who cares. I loved the film...
Lyn
