Another underrated comic book film...

Rating: 7/10 (2 February 2006)

It seems like "Constantine" didn't get much attention when it was in theaters. Personally, I really enjoyed it. The best way I could describe the feel of the movie to those curious to see it is that it's sort of like the Matrix movies, but with angels and demons instead of machines. The movie is based on the "Hellblazer" comic book series, featuring John Constantine. With his power to see demons and angels as they interact on Earth, he attempts to keep the balance between good and evil.
The most interesting aspect of this movie for me was the storyline. While I am an agnostic, I've always been curious about religious mythology, and this movie plays heavily on just that. It has an entire history regarding God, the Devil, and mankind's role in existence. I enjoyed the backstory almost as much as I enjoyed the film's plot. One of the coolest visuals in the film is it's envisioning of Hell. At some points in the movie, we are given the opportunity to view Hell. It is a fantastic landscape mirroring what exists on Earth, except distorted. The film's creators took the look of Hell from the moment during an atomic bomb detonation between the heat blast and the shockwave. It is really something that must be seen, I was really impressed.
The theology and impressive visuals aren't the only thing to enjoy in this movie. Reeves gives his usual performance, perfectly suited for the role of the callous Constantine. I can't think of much to say about Rachel Weisz, as it seems I love her in any role she plays. The most entertaining performance to watch for comes in the form of Peter Stormare as Satan. The man just seems to ooze with evil.
I think this movie is generally a hit or miss. Either you like it or you don't really care. It does seem a drag at points and that may turn people off, but I think overall the film has more highlights than low points.