Leave your prejudices at the door

Rating: 9/10 (18 February 2005)

People love to pick on Keanu Reeves. Even before this film came out, people were bashing his performance without even seeing the film, and now that the film has been released, these people are letting loose even more  despite the fact that the film is extremely well made. There are also the people who think the film is bad simply because they're obsessed with the source material. ANY adaptation, now matter how well crafted would not be enough to satisfy them. These two groups hated the movie going in, and hated the movie going out. The rest of us can actually enjoy the movie, and see that it's a cut above the schlock that gets peddled in theaters these days. Now I'm not saying that you have to like Keanu Reeves, but why are you still seeing his movies if you hate him so? Just admit that you're prejudiced and deal with your own problems  you can at least TRY and be objective. Keanu certainly isn't going to stop acting, now matter how bad you think his movies are - It certainly hasn't stopped the Waynes brothers. And in the end, Keanu still wins, because you still went to see his movie. These criticisms are absurd, because the last thing John Constantine is supposed to be is flamboyant and exaggerated. Reeves' performance is completely appropriate. I loved reading Hellblazer, and I'm well aware Reeves isn't the most over-the-top actor in the world  but I still enjoyed Constantine a hell of a lot.
It's a great movie, despite what all the haters will have you believe.