Product: Constantine [Blu-ray] (2012)
Rating: 4.0
Not without its faults, but definitely under-appreciated.
I'll be the first to admit that this film is not without its faults, first and foremost being Keanu Reeves. You can tell that this casting choice was made by producers who were hoping to ride on the coat-tails of the Matrix series. Reeves' stoic performance drains the acerbic wit and douchebaggery that Hellblazer fans have come to love from John Constantine. However, we get a surprisingly good performance from Rachel Weisz, who clearly put a lot more effort into her work than Reeves. Furthermore, the film has a very solid sense of visual style, which doesn't solely depend on its visual effects. At times, it simply makes use of good cinematography and editing, which is enhanced by Brian Tyler and Klaus Badelt's refreshingly original soundtrack. Perhaps this film's strongest asset, however, is its script, which has its occasional drags and forced dialogue. However, it succeeds where many recent comic-book adaptations have failed. It gives us a fairly original story that contains some genuine surprises and some cool action. Sure, it didn't deserve any Oscars, but it was a solid B-movie that was under-appreciated for its time.