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Before I begin with my review, I need to make one point very, very clear. I do not read comic books. So when I went into the theater to watch Constantine, it wasn’t with any pre-conceived notions or expectations. I didn’t have any images of what the comic Hellblazer would look like on the big screen. I was just looking for a little bit of entertainment. And that’s what I got.
John Constantine (Keanu Reeves) is an exorcist caught between heaven and hell. Due to a few technicalities of religion, he’s doomed to spend eternity in hell once he dies (which, thanks to his chain-smoking habit, probably won’t be long). Since he has a gift for seeing supernatural beings, he’s seen hell, and he doesn’t want any part of it—so he’s trying to buy his way to heaven by using his gifts to banish demons from Earth.
Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz) is a devoted Catholic who works as a detective. When her twin sister, Isabel (also Weisz), throws herself from the roof of the mental institution where she’s been held, she’s convinced that there’s more to it than suicide. So she turns to Constantine for help.
Angela and Constantine soon find that they’re caught up in more than just the average spiritual warfare—and it’s up to them to stop it…
Okay, so Constantine isn’t going to be nominated for Best Picture. And it may seriously anger fans of the original comic. But I found it entertaining—and even intriguing. Sure, Keanu Reeves comes off as his usual flat, cardboard self. But I didn’t really care. I’ve seen The Matrix. I’m used to it. And sure, the story may be a little difficult to follow at times. But it’s an interesting creation nonetheless. Weisz does an excellent job in her role (and Gavin Rossdale isn’t too shabby, either). And the effects are pretty impressive, too. It’s gruesome and horrific and even a bit disturbing at times, and it could very well give you a few nightmares—and that’s what makes it a decent movie. It may not be spectacular. It may not satisfy Hellblazer fans. And it may not be a movie that you need to run out and buy. But it’s scary, and it’s got an interesting story—and, if you’re in the mood for that sort of thing, Constantine is worth the price of a rental.
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