Sometimes bigger isn't necessary better

Rating: Null/10 (15 January 2007)

"Constantine" is, in no uncertain terms, a wasted opportunity. What always puzzles me is how film-makers can take perfectly good source material and transform it into something less effective, less gripping, less fun. The tales of "Hellblazer" comic's John Constantine could have made the perfect viewing experience with very little tampering. Shot in the UK, with a medium-sized or even small budget and a no-star cast, this could have been a cult classic. Instead, Hollywood have gone down the usual route, outdoing themselves this time with the worst example of miscasting in recent times.
Let's get this straight - Keanu Reeves was never going to play a memorable John Constantine...it's a bridge-too-far for this actor. In the right movie, Reeves shines (take the superb "Point Break" as an example). Here, though, Reeves is a drowning man, having bit off more than he can chew, and then some.
The film scrapes a 7 as it's visually impressive, the scenes of Hell are memorable and nightmarish and the production does display more intelligence than many other blockbuster affairs. Rachel Weisz delivers an understated and realistic performance but her heart doesn't seem in this production.
I would have dearly loved a faithful adaptation of the comic books...fans should perhaps avoid "Constantine" as it's a painful viewing for those craving the raw and uncompromising thrills of "Hellblazer". Non-fans will take this as it stands, a big-budget, Hollywood production with an imaginative plot but no soul.