Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION The Anywhere Machine Constantine...

Saw it today. It was an okay movie. Wasn't great, wasn't earth shaking, but it was pretty good. I will say one thing about it, it needed a little more omfph to compete in the genre it was in.

It did have some cool stuff, like the pot of water, and the devil really being pissed at him, but i think we needed to see a little more of actually why he was soooo hated. Just the one at the beginning wasn't quite enough. There just wasn't that much of a reason to think that the devil would risk breaking the compact to come to earth because of this major, monumental pain in the side.

Rachel Weisz...hot as usual. Nothing new there. Great special effects...

I don't know, maybe i am becoming jaded to the "big" thing. It might be time to tell some smaller, much more personal and realistic movies about murder, betrayl (sp?).

What i thought of it, anyway.


Oh, one other thing, someone needs to teach hollywood types how to smoke if they are gonna portray smokers. His movements were stiff and over the top with the smoking. It should have been second nature. Very little posturing in the smoking department would have worked better. Just a thought.

Please tell me the 'switching to gum' scene doesn't exist...

I was surprised that I actually LIKED this movie! I went to see it kind of half heartedly, thinking it wouldn't be very good; so I was pleasantly surprised that I actually liked it. Rachel Weisz and Tilda Swinton were dependably good; Peter Stormare as Satan was great. As for Keanu...well, he's sure pretty.

I have a serious confession to make…

*deep breath*

I’ve grown to really like Keanu Reeves in movies.

There, I said it! And I’m not sorry! Ha! Go ahead and judge, but you’ll someday agree with me!

Besides, he did a pretty bang up job in “The Gift”!

I'll freely admit that I've always liked Keanu. If you put him in the right role, he's tons of fun to watch. In the wrong role (can anyone say "Jonathan Harker") he's excruciating, but in something like Point Break, he can really make he movie. And really, could anyone else have played Ted?

I've been conflicted about whether to see Constantine. I love the comic, especially Ennis and Dillon's run, and I know that I can't go into the movie looking for anything approximating that story or character, but the story they're telling does sound interesting and, as I said, I do like Keanu. We'll see.

the movie was boring, they did great effects which made up a tiny bit for the utter slow pace. I read an article where the director said he edited out an entire character out of the movie, the lover of john constantine, a blue half breed, it may show up on the dvd, according to the director.

I've been a Constantine fan ever since Swamp Thing 37, way back when... Haven't seen the flick yet, but probably will.

I, too, have come to appreciate Keanu... I kinda HAD to b/c he keeps picking roles in movies that I want to see (as opposed to, say, Michelle Pfeiffer, whom I love, but rarely picks movie projects that interest me). I have a sort of fondness for the guy, as long as he isn't trying to do an accent or a period role.

Not sure if it's needed, but...


MINOR SPOILER>>>>


SPACE>>>>


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As for Constantine the Movie, I give it a solid "OK." Wasn't great, but wasn't a disaster by any means. There was an awful scene where he shakes Rachel Weisz trying to get her to remember something, which scene is actually a mini-parody of really bad movies. And the middle finger at the end was cheesy (and awkward) as all get out (as was the gum scene Starboy dreads seeing). But I liked the overall story, the special effects were pretty cool, and I generally liked all the actors in it.

Well I went to see it just because I like the comic. I try not to go with any pre concived judgement and judge in terms of entertainment.
So...I liked the movie. I dont think it would make it if not for the visual effects. The story was a little slow but it does pick up. But the visual effects was pretty darn cool.

I liked it.

Having started out dreading it and gradually voming to terms that it wasn't going to be how I'd do it, I went it and watched it on its own merits.

Keanu was actually very good.

I even liked the slow parts; they had subtleties I liked. Only towards the end action did it lag somewhat, and that was more execution than story structure.

I just saw this movie and I *really* liked it!

Which was a very pleasant surprise as I'd heard nothing but bad things before seeing it. Sure Keanu's acting wasn't great but when is it ever? Going to a Keanu film and complaining about the acting is like going to the beach and complaining about getting wet. But this film was cool. It had great special effects, an interesting/twisty-turny plot, some cool concepts and I thought it was directed very well.

I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a good action film.

Disclaimer : I've only read about 2 or 3 Hellblazer comics so wasn't very bothered by the relatively minor (in my eyes) changes they made to the concept ie. Constantine becoming American, etc. Much bigger Hellblazer fans may have more of a problem.

I'm a HUGE Hellblazer fan. I think being exposed to the "worst" of it (Americanization, the Keanu choice) prepared me better... I went in with diminished expectations and came out ahead of the game.

MINOR SPOILER WARNING

Keanu actually did a good job playing the character. There was enough in the spirit of the original that I appreciated, even little details - the hospital was called Ravenscar, the Snob (albeit an effeminate one) plays an appropriate role, best buddies meet grizzly fates, and enough Constantine-ish maneuvers, both magical and bluffs. Although the 'water' bits could have used a bit more magickal trappings - even just a few candles or chalkmarks - for my tastes. I can see how an early reviewer commented (mistakenly) that any time JC's feet get wet, he goes to hell.

finally saw this. It was really disappointing but not for the reasons you'd expect.

It's actually a good story, but i got the impression that because many of the ideas have appeared in comics like Hellblazer the director decided to buy the rights so he wouldn't get sued.

John Constantine is only the same in name. Different backstory, different character. Chas drives a taxi but apart from that is different. Papa Midnite is pretty much a cypher and totally different, and i was really looking forward to even a hint of his sister whom i've always believed is an awesome concept.

The story is pretty good and told in a low key way. If it was allowed to stand on it's own i would've enjoyed it.

Keanu did a good job portraying someone who wasn't JC. Rachel Weiss was good in this as she usually is, tohugh at one point i was wondering why they just didn't have her attend wet t-shirt night. The actress who played Gabriel, however, was great. And the actor playing Lucifer was just the right side of creepy/camp.

I seen this too and as someone who has not read more than one Hellblazer thought it was an ok film. I liked the actors playing Gabriel and Satan, although I felt no empathy for either Constantine (But I guess your not really supposed too) or the female lead. (And I can’t even remember her characters name)

Some good parts and some silly bits, but really until the end the film stood up quite well. However, I was major disappointed in the ending, JC’s ascension, the “cure” and the whishy washy way Hollywood seems to want upbeat endings even in such a down beat movies as this. And it is downbeat because really at the end nothing changes, the demons are still to be despatched, Constantine is still a pain and still trying to get into heaven, and Satan and his son are still around.

watched this again last night with a friensd who knows absolutely nothing about the religious mythology or the comic.

And on second viewing, and without dwelling on th differences to Hellblazer, i liked it a whole lot less.

The performance for Gabriel is still the strongest thing in the movie for me, and Keanu shows more animation in the role than he's usually allowed (give the guy a fun part, for chrissakes! the last time i really saw him enjoy himself was Ortiz the Dogboy in Freaked!).

But the storyline seemed forced, the pacing was not so much measured as glacial, and i had to explain almost all of the magic (except demons) to my friend.

This was not so much because she has no knowledge in that area than it was really unclear as to what was happening ('Why is the priest hearing voices', 'how do you get a halfbreed angel?','why are his feet boiling?')

and, just in case i was inclined to cut the director some slack, i read an interview with him on the movie. He reacts to fan complaints about changing so many basic elements of the story with (paraphrasing i'm sorry, can't find quote) the idea that the fans are just whining because they want to keep Hellblazer "their little secret".

I'm sorry? fans wanting to keep it a secret? What is that man smoking?? As far as most of us here know the LAST thing a fan wants is to be the only person reading a book, most of us are right up there with televangelists for spreading the word about our favourite fiction (it is impossible to leave my house without borrowing a book, tpb or dvd). He must be thinking about goths.