Rate Constantine

[The_Universe]

I gave it an 8 - highly enjoyable. I thought Keanu Reeves was perfect for the role as scripted, if not perhaps the best to portray John Constantine from the Hellblazer comics.

The imagery was excellent, though the plot was a bit transparent - I was able to pick out one of the antagonists during their first appearance on screen.

But I loved it. Absolutely loved it. I'd go see it again, and I'll definitely grab this on DVD.

 

[The_Universe]

Not much of a spoiler, but that kid who drove him in the taxi ends up being an angel. Constantine puts his lighter on the kids gravestone and is walking away when the kid grabs it and takes off over constantine's shoulder... decently cool.

Neat. I liked that kid - if there's ever a sequel, I had hoped that he would have lived so that he could be in it. Too bad.

The witchdoctor also managed to rock my socks off.

 

[Greylock]

Voted 7. Almost an 8. Immensely enjoyable movie that I plan on seeing again.

 

[Viking Bastard]

As a John Constantine movie it's a 5.

As a Keanu Reeves flick it's a 9.

So I gave it a 7.


The lack of good Constantine-ism really irked me, though, even though I tried not to:

Spoiler

He got redeemed?!? Maaan! John frickin' Constantine does not get frickin' redeemed!
When Lucifer asks John whether he wants some extra lifespan he does not say: "No,
I want you save that poor innocent girl instead." He says: "Yes."

In the end, after he's cured and we see he gave up smoking! Argh! Hurts!

 

[D+1]

Rated it a 7. Adequate, worth the price of admission, but stilted. Didn't seem to have a good flow to it, like the script could have used a few rewrites or something. Definitely a fair amount in the story that is taken for granted - there's a lot of information that should be communicated but instead is simply filled in by the viewer. Terrific visuals. Not hamfisted with the religiosity as would be very easy to have done. A SLIGHT difference in its take on heaven vs. hell, but not enough to really be thought of as inventive - in fact, it seemed a little predictable and pedestrian that Constantine has nerdy James-Bondish "Q" to provide him with gear. That bit is now officially OVERDONE so can we do something more with it than Bond movies have done for 40 years?. Rachel Wiescz seemed a tad wooden in the part. Overall, not bad, but definitely not terribly memorable either.

Edit - missed the post-credits ending also. I HATE it when that happens. We sat through most of the credits waiting for people to file out. I ALWAYS get ribbed for actually WATCHING credits (and thus knowing names of minor actors whose performances I liked and being seen as a movie trivia master as a result) and in recent years have lost the habit. This now convinces me that I need to resume it. A movie is never over until it's REALLY over.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

I gave it an 8. I liked it enough to go see it again. I can't compare it to the comics, as I haven't read them, but I really liked the film, dispite Reeves wooden acting.

My thoughts exactly. This is another film where the character doesn't require enough range for Keanu to mess it up. I thought he did well in the cynical, jerkish role of John Constantine.

Also, the movie had a lot of nice touches, and avoided a lot of badness that I was half-expecting to see, like a giant CGI devil aka Spawn.

I plan on getting the DVD.

 

[Michael Tree]

I gave it a 7. It was enjoyable, and got much of the tone of the comics right, despite the cardboard cutout cast as Constantine. Spoilers below:

Spoiler

Constantine's clever way of saving the day, and the Devil's appearance alone were worth the price of admission. The bare feet covered with filth was a nice choice

The skull-lopped-off demons got very tired very quickly though. They weren't scary, they were just typical "movie demon CGI". The golden dragon-shotgun was also very un-Constantine.

Keanu got the bitter jaded aspects of Constantine right, but had none of the rakish charm, the sneering wit, or the massive charisma.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Glad I went in not expecting much, if you went expecting the comic book; you will be disappointed, I liked the comic but I put that aside. I was also concerned hearing a whole character was editted from the movie. As a movie it was not bad, gave it an 8, which is a tad high but I liked the way Gabbie and the Devil were done.

 

[Greylock]

Edit - missed the post-credits ending also. I HATE it when that happens. We sat through most of the credits waiting for people to file out. I ALWAYS get ribbed for actually WATCHING credits (and thus knowing names of minor actors whose performances I liked and being seen as a movie trivia master as a result) and in recent years have lost the habit. This now convinces me that I need to resume it. A movie is never over until it's REALLY over.

Oh good lord. What did I miss?

Seriously, I was the only guy left in the theater and they'd turned on the lights, and there was a porter with a broom and bucket staring at me from the end of the row, so I got up and left. Seriously. That janitor owes me admission if I missed something good.

 

[Wombat]

My problem, of course, is that I like John Constantine.

Not Keanu Constantine.

I gave it a four for some interesting special effects, bad plotting, wooden acting, and a lot of looking at my watch.