A deal with Lucifer to save the world!
Mar 04, 2005
Constantine, a film that has been described as possessing “a bold, dynamic visual style, which fuses
The movie is about angels, devils, God and Lucifer
Film: Constantine
Running time: 117mins
Rating: R (Violence, gore, profanity)
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Shia LeBeouf, Djimon Hounsou
Director: Francis Lawrence
Screenplay: Bevin Brodbin and frank Cappello based on the comic book, Hellblazer by Jamie Delano and Garth Ennis
Showing at: Cineplex, Wilson Road starting today
Preview by: Sebidde Kiryowa
Constantine, a film that has been described as possessing “a bold, dynamic visual style, which fuses film noir elements with traditional horror motifsâ€, is a dark adaptation of a comic book. It neither falls directly within the genre of The Matrix and Hellboy nor is it a traditional horror movie. This movie is about angels, devils, God and lucifer.
These are the hardest stories to tell on a film owing to audiences’ opinion about the subject.
Most critics have lauded this beautifully filmed picture by a first time feature film director, who cut his teeth making music videos for the likes of Will Smith and Janet Jackson, tends to strike a middle position. “Good and evil, it seems, aren’t as absolute as we might like to believe,†one critic points out.
Keanu Reeves stars as John Constantine, a hard-drinking, chain-smoking detective, who has been cursed (at least that is the way he sees it) with the ability to see the angels and demons that walk the earth unlike all of us.
Constantine is aware that the battle between heaven and hell isn’t some distant, unfathomable struggle. It is being played out in the here-and-now, with the souls of human beings as its currency. In his youth, Constantine was overwhelmed by his visions, and attempted to take his own life. He was sent back and has been trying to atone for his suicide and buy his way into heaven by destroying demons.
He believes if he scores enough points for heaven, God will relent and grant him absolution for his unpardonable sin.
Constantine lacks faith, as the angelic Gabriel (Tilda Swinton) reminds him. God’s messenger isn’t the only one to torment the bitter protagonist.
The unsavoury Balthazar (Gavin Rossdale) delights in the news that Constantine has lung cancer. To make matters worse, something terribly wicked looms. Satan’s son is plotting to cross over into the material world in violation of every established rule.
With the help of a Los Angeles police woman, Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz), who can also see the damned, Constantine prepares to set himself opposite the greatest evil this planet has known.
When an expected friend turns out to be involved in the conspiracy, he is forced to seek help from the most unlikely sources, the Prince of Darkness himself (Peter Stormare, without horns or other prosthetics). Despite the relative weakness in plot, most critics were impressed by this movie.
Constantine’s core strength lies in its visual presentation. There’s always something to see, whether it’s a hellfire-tinged mirror image of Los Angeles or the wild insides of a nightclub that caters for those half-angelic and half-demonic creatures.
Film: Constantine
Running time: 117mins
Rating: R (Violence, gore, profanity)
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Shia LeBeouf, Djimon Hounsou
Director: Francis Lawrence
Screenplay: Bevin Brodbin and frank Cappello based on the comic book, Hellblazer by Jamie Delano and Garth Ennis
Showing at: Cineplex, Wilson Road starting today
Preview by: Sebidde Kiryowa
Constantine, a film that has been described as possessing “a bold, dynamic visual style, which fuses film noir elements with traditional horror motifsâ€, is a dark adaptation of a comic book. It neither falls directly within the genre of The Matrix and Hellboy nor is it a traditional horror movie. This movie is about angels, devils, God and lucifer.
These are the hardest stories to tell on a film owing to audiences’ opinion about the subject.
Most critics have lauded this beautifully filmed picture by a first time feature film director, who cut his teeth making music videos for the likes of Will Smith and Janet Jackson, tends to strike a middle position. “Good and evil, it seems, aren’t as absolute as we might like to believe,†one critic points out.
Keanu Reeves stars as John Constantine, a hard-drinking, chain-smoking detective, who has been cursed (at least that is the way he sees it) with the ability to see the angels and demons that walk the earth unlike all of us.
Constantine is aware that the battle between heaven and hell isn’t some distant, unfathomable struggle. It is being played out in the here-and-now, with the souls of human beings as its currency. In his youth, Constantine was overwhelmed by his visions, and attempted to take his own life. He was sent back and has been trying to atone for his suicide and buy his way into heaven by destroying demons.
He believes if he scores enough points for heaven, God will relent and grant him absolution for his unpardonable sin.
Constantine lacks faith, as the angelic Gabriel (Tilda Swinton) reminds him. God’s messenger isn’t the only one to torment the bitter protagonist.
The unsavoury Balthazar (Gavin Rossdale) delights in the news that Constantine has lung cancer. To make matters worse, something terribly wicked looms. Satan’s son is plotting to cross over into the material world in violation of every established rule.
With the help of a Los Angeles police woman, Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz), who can also see the damned, Constantine prepares to set himself opposite the greatest evil this planet has known.
When an expected friend turns out to be involved in the conspiracy, he is forced to seek help from the most unlikely sources, the Prince of Darkness himself (Peter Stormare, without horns or other prosthetics). Despite the relative weakness in plot, most critics were impressed by this movie.
Constantine’s core strength lies in its visual presentation. There’s always something to see, whether it’s a hellfire-tinged mirror image of Los Angeles or the wild insides of a nightclub that caters for those half-angelic and half-demonic creatures.