The Matrix meets End of Days... **yawn**

Rating: 4/10 (1 July 2005)

I really expected more from this movie, what with all the hype it has been getting. Arguably one of Keanu Reeves's biggest mortal sins! It's kind of like a strange mix of key elements of The Matrix part one and the Schwarzenegger epic "End of Days". Also thrown in are some neat but not top-notch visuals (Adobe After Effects and the latest filter plug-ins still seem to go all the way) - and that's "Constantine" for you.
The storyline is paper thin and can be summed up in one or two sentences: Mammon, the son of Lucifer, wants to gain control of the earth and erect a kingdom of horror on the earth's surface. John Constantine, played by Reeves, tries to stop him, ultimately willing to sacrifice his own life. Where have we heard that one before?
Everything else, the numerous sub-plots and unresolved threads of the story (like, whatever happened to the Mexican guy after he carried the Spear of Destiny all the way to L.A. and went for a swim in that pool? Was that even him right there? What really happened to that fat priest? Why exactly did he die on that supermarket floor?) are really beside the point and kind of look like they were just needed to blow up a story into a two-hour movie that could have been told in just under 45 minutes.
Moreover, we all know that talent-wise, Keanu Reeves will never make a second Marlon Brando, but his acting (or lack thereof) in particular was a big disappointment here - just as unimaginative and unemotional as ever! Same with the other actors, maybe except for Peter Stormare with his brief, offbeat portrayal of the Devil himself towards the end of the movie.
The ending scene however still tops it off - first we get a shot of Reeves and "that girl" standing in front of a dark blue sky as if they are about to kiss (think of it as a poor adaption of your typical late 40's Hollywood ending - off color in more ways than one, at any rate). Then we get a real "Matrix moment", where Reeves threatens to come back in a sequel, muttering the words "I've got a lot of cleaning up to do!"
Please, somebody talk some sense to the producers, and make it fast! The last thing we need is a sequel to this trashy pseudo-epic........
4/10