Product: Constantine [Blu-ray] (2012)
Rating: 3.0
enjoyable movie for Keanu Reeves fans
Random thoughts on this movie...response to other reviews...On Keanu Reeves: I went to see this movie because I am a Keanu Reeves fan and I enjoy him most in his action/fantasy movie roles than in his attempts at straight drama. While this movie is not as enjoyable as a "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" or a "Matrix", it is not the hopeless mess that so many Amazon reviewers have indicated. It is a solid 3 star (mid-range) movie. It is a must-see and perhaps must-have for Keanu Reeves fans. I might not watch this movie over and over again as I have watched the "Matrix" and "Bill & Ted" but I will definitely watch it again.On the movie genre: I am not an expert on nor a die-hard fan of this movie genre. So my rating of this movie is intended for people who are not fans/experts on this genre, just ordinary movie goers like me. The antecedents of this movie -- that it is based on a comic book series -- are clear. Where else would such an arcane plot come from except the panels of a comic book? I like the fact that this movie does not take itself too seriously. The movie is not produced with the extremely polished block-buster values of a "Batman" or "Spiderman" movie. I have no problem with that. Some movies with tons of money put into production become overly-polished and bland (the equivalent of waxed apples). I like my fruit and movies unwaxed.On offensiveness to Catholics/Christians: No real Catholics or Christians were harmed in the making of this movie. The intent of the movie is neither earnest (e.g. "Jesus Camp") nor satiric (e.g. Monty Python's "Life of Brian" or "South Park"). Its usage of the Catholic religion is a plot device only, a prop. I could detect no statements, negative or positive, about real religion in the movie. Nothing in this movie will cause a Christian to become an atheist. That said, I will state the obvious: this movie is inappropriate for impressionable and/or sensitive children (younger than 10), regardless of their religious upbringing. It is the kind of movie that would have given me nightmares as a child. (I have amended my review to add the preceding caution statement because I am always surprised at the age of children brought to some movies by their parents. What are those parents thinking? Are they crazy?)On why 3 stars: I would not have chosen to watch this movie if Keanu Reeves had not been in it. The biggest downfall of this movie is the script. There are no memorable scenes in the movie until the end. It was boring for short periods. The boring parts were never long enough for me to lose interest completely. (I will not finish watching a thoroughly boring movie even if Keanu Reeves is the star.)Another movie in which Satan attempts to take over the world, comedy, non-comic book: Kevin Smith's "Dogma", solid 4 star movie, starring Ben Affleck, Matt Damon.Dogma (Special Edition)