The eternal archetype...

Rating: 7/10 (11 September 2005)

Since a lot of friends have already submitted their comments on the movie in details (I mention very briefly that I enjoyed the movie and both Keanu's and Rachel's acting), I'd like to comment on a different aspect of "Constantine".
I found the movie extremely interesting, because it shows us the eternal and mot popular archetype: The man who goes even to Hell, to the world of the dead, for the woman he loves. Like Odysseus did for his Penelope or Virgil for his Beatrice...This archetype lives through the centuries and has inspired every form of art. "Constantine" revives it once again in the 21st century. John Constantine may have saved the world but this is only a side effect of his decision to save Angela, the only ray of light in his dark and lonely life. We can clearly see Constantine's motives when Midnight prepares him to use the chair. Midnight asks John to tell him that this is not about the girl and John replies: "Definitely, mostly not about the girl" in the most unbelievable and ironic way. So, John Constantine was never interested in saving the world-the only thing he wanted was to save Angela from Mammon. He even chooses to offer his life so her beloved sister would go into Heaven and Angela will be happy and relieved of her qualms of conscience for abandoning Isabel.
On a second level, John Constantine knows how Hell looks like-it's not something theoretical for him like it is for us. He has seen the eternal tortures his soul will suffer. He also knows that he's going to Hell no matter what he does, he's condemned (Gabriel doesn't give him any hope at all, on the contrary (s)he confirms what Constantine already knows). Finally, he knows that he's dying young and he doesn't have much time. However, Constantine never gives up hoping and fighting for his place in Heaven. All that gives a sense of deep tragedy throughout the movie. The scene where John Constantine puts out his cigarette in his own blood is the ultimate definition of a desperate anti-hero.
Well, I guess not many people will find these comments useful, but I'd like to share my thoughts.