Better than expected

Rating: 7/10 (17 February 2005)

From the trailer I knew it wouldn't be the comic-book Constantine, but Keanu Reeves' prosaic and typically deadpan performance grounds a movie that would otherwise be pure sfx schlock. It was also a treat to find a few more subtleties and nuances in the script than might be anticipated. Lots of nice supporting performances, too. I was especially fond of Peter Stomare.
It was also nice to see that new (?) director Francis Lawrence jumped the learning curve and avoided the typical shortcomings of directors recruited from the music video arena. The movie's flow is quite good, the build-up to the movie's climax satisfactory and there are a few nice surprises saved for the end. Thankfully there's not the big revelation that many movies have recently become fond of.
If you haven't read the comic, and are a fan of metaphysical good vs. evil conflicts (with big budget sfx that look great BTW), you'll find a lot to like in this movie.