Much more interesting movie than the trailer

Rating: 8/10 (26 February 2005)

If like me you saw the trailer a number of times and thought this film was going to be another "Exorcist" or "Omen" wannabee with Keanu Reeves sleepwalking through the part, you might want to reconsider. I ended up seeing it because my husband thought the special effects looked great (they are quite interesting), and came away pleasantly surprised by the interesting mythology, quirky dialogue, and Keanu's take on the character. (I've had no exposure to the underlying comic books, so I have no idea what the "true" John Constantine is supposed to be.)
In particular, I enjoyed the way the film blurred the typical good/evil distinctions even when describing an epic battle between the two forces. The "good" characters do things we question, while the "bad" ones occasionally do good (or at least are seen as more honest about their intentions.) This highlights Constantine as a man caught between two worlds who must sometimes visit the dark side in his attempts to do good.
Because the film raises interesting questions about good/evil, theology, and even psychiatry in dealing with people of visions, this is one of the few movies of its type where I walked away looking forward to the sequel.