What movie did YOU see?

Rating: 9/10 (16 February 2005)

It seems most of the people posting comments here saw a different movie than I did.
Although, I suppose if they went in expecting a typical horror movie as produced over the last 25 years (an over-the-top gore/splatter-fest whose primary purpose is to showcase the dubious "talent" of the makeup and SFX techs, linked with a weak excuse for a "plot" and chock-full of equally gratuitous nudity and profanity that serve no purpose other than to distract viewers from noticing there is no real story), they would be obviously disappointed. The makeup and SFX in "Constantine" exist in total service to the story, and not vice versa.
"Constantine" is an intelligent, well-written, well-acted, fast-paced and visually stunning apocalyptic story, which also offers (as an added bonus to those with an attention span longer that that of a gnat) an exploration of metaphysics and Christian theology. The plot is coherent, though intricate, and it definitely helps if the viewer PAYS ATTENTION to what's going on.
The film takes the rather standard plot of ... "Dark forces are gathering. Something Big and Bad is about to happen. It's up to Our Hero to figure it out and thwart the Villain's plans" ...and does interesting and unpredictable things en route to the resolution.
Plot twists abound, the pace is quick, and dead spots (no pun intended) are virtually nonexistent. And the characterization of the Devil's chosen Earthly manifestation in the climactic scene was the scariest/creepiest portrayal I've ever seen.
And my initial trepidation about Keanu in the title role was put to rest when I attended the preview panel at San Diego ComiCon last summer. I watched the montage of scenes and clips that were presented, and heard Keanu Reeves, co-star Djimon Honsou (Papa Midnight) and director Francis Lawrence give their views and insights into the characters and their motivations, and left feeling much more comfortable about their approach to the project. I'm pleased to report that the confidence in the success of their endeavor that I felt when I left the presentation proved justified when I attended the screening last week.
If you're interested in a real 'thinking-person's" horror movie that's effective on multiple levels, look no further than "Constantine".
But if you're just looking for the typical blood-and-guts flash without the bothersome sizzle of an actual story, keep on moving. There's nothing for YOU to see here.