Product: Constantine [Blu-ray] (2012)
Rating: 4.0
Well, I think I missed something, but...
...what the heck, why can't I at least sort of like this movie?The first time that I saw it (yep, bought it before I saw it) I wasn't so sure. I think in part because I didn't have the volume turned up very loud, and I missed a lot of what was being said. Also, I've never read the comic book(s?) that the movie is based off of, which made me even more confused. This past time that I watched it I turned on the closed caption so that I wouldn't miss anything, and that helped out quite a bit.As other reviewers have noted, the storyline is simple enough: John Constantine is trying to help prevent the Devil's son from being born on earth and terrifying all of it's inhabitents. The special effects are incredible, and I really enjoyed the many visual aspects of the movie.The acting is, well, not the best. I get a kick out of Keanu Reeves, but not so much because I think he's a good actor - more just because it's sort of entertaining watching him make sort of a stooge out of himself trying to look all tough (he was perfect in the Matrix - he was supposed to be the confused guy). Rachel Weisz (Angela/Isabel Dodson) was by far (in my opinion) the best actor in the whole movie, and the only one who came off as believable for the whole movie. Gavin Rossdale (Balthazar) is flat out laughable. He tried to be all mysterious and evil, but he comes across more as seeming like he's in a stand-up routine in which he's trying to convince Barbie that he's far cooler than Ken doll. It's unfortunate, because his character could have been so much more sinister. Peter Stormare (Satan/Lucifer), on the other hand, did have the subtleness of his evil played out perfectly and he really came across as terrifying; in a charming way. Tilda Swinton (Gabriel) was a mixture of good and bad acting: she was fine intially, but the very last scene where she's telling Constantine just how 'well he's doing' is just pathetic.I think that I can understand why this movie has had so many poor reviews - many parts of it are awkward and too long, with other parts not being explained well enough for someone unfamiliar with the story. But I think this movie is alright, in the best sense of the world.Theologically, the movie is strong at parts and weak at others. Suicide as always damning is not biblical, and the whole half-breed thing is also a stretch - I found the way that Gabriel, one of the Archangels in the bible, was portrayed as basically evil was unfortunate. However, Angela is right - you can't buy your way into heaven! Let it be clear though that I'm not trying to say these are really negative marks against the movie - this movie isn't about theology, it's about entertainment...enjoy!