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Constantine [2005]


RRP: £15.99
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

In the grand scheme of theological thrillers, Constantine aspires for the greatness of The Exorcist but ranks more closely with The Order. Based on the popular Hellblazer comic book series, and directed with nary a shred of intelligence by music video veteran Francis Lawrence, it's basically The Matrix with swarming demons instead of swarming machines. Keanu Reeves slightly modifies his Matrix persona as John Constantine, who roams the dark-spots of Los Angeles looking for good-evil, angel-devil half-breeds to ensure that "the balance" between God and Satan is properly maintained. An ancient artifact and the detective twin of a woman who committed evil-induced suicide (Rachel Weisz) factor into the plot, which is taken so seriously that you'll want to stand up and cheer when Tilda Swinton swoops down as the cross-dressing angel Gabriel and turns this silliness into the camp-fest it really is. The digital effects are way cool (dig those hellspawn with the tops of their heads lopped off!), so if you don't mind a juvenile lesson in pseudo-Catholic salvation, Constantine is just the movie for you! --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com


has it moments
Review date: 2008-06-07 Rating: 4 out of 10

passable but dissapointing this adds nothing new to the genre and the climax is awful

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Reviews


Much better than you'd expect
Review date: 2008-05-10 Rating: 8 out of 10

I bought this DVD purely because of the bargain price, to be honest not expecting much but feeling that if it was even half decent then it was worth the purchase. My expectations were well exceeded. It's not quite the Matrix, but in it's favour it's actually faster paced. The story is good (I've never read the comics on which it's apparently based so I came with no preconceptions), the effects are great, and the ending, whilst probably not qualifying as a twist, I very much doubt that anyone will be expecting. A thoroughly enjoyable 2 hours and very definitely re-watchable.

Reeves best film since the Matrix trilogy
Review date: 2008-03-08 Rating: 8 out of 10

I dont believe in God and I dont like religion .... but despite the heavy influence of religion in this movie, I still found this a very enjoyable film. Reeves is decent and the supporting cast all turn in good performances. This film deserves a sequel but thats not happening.

Keanu Reeves is awsome!!
Review date: 2008-03-02 Rating: 10 out of 10

what a film!! so many people told me this film was going to be another over rated crappy american film. but everything in the film rocked. the acting was superb and the storyline was amazing, even the effects were cool. i think the most inpressive part of the film is the ending, its a mixture of good and bad emotions. definatly a rollercoaster of a film.

Poor ending derails this movie.
Review date: 2008-01-13 Rating: 6 out of 10

A supernatural thriller with Keanu Reeves as damned cop John Constantine who can see things others can't see - demons, angels and other supernatural phenomena - and who uses this psychic ability to 'deport' demons who have invaded our world and send them back to hell. Rachel Weisz stars alongside Constantine as Angela Dodson, a cop who works in the same precinct as him and who is investigating the death of her mentally ill twin sister who jumped off a building, a death that was officially recorded as a suicide by the coroner. However Dodson is convinced that her sister was brainwashed somehow - i.e. it wasn't a suicide - and wants Constantine to use his abilities to find out what really happened to her sister. On their way to get to the bottom of what happened to Dodson's sister it transpires that Dodson is hiding a secret: she is also a psychic, as was her late sister. On top of this our two leads discover a sinister plot: the 'son of Satan' - quite literally the prince of demons - is looking to be born into the world so that he can create hell on earth. But it gets worse: for this to take place he needs a human body, and Dodson is the chosen vessel. When she is kidnapped to this end, Constantine and his trusty sidekick (played by a pre-Transformers's Shia LaBeouf) rush off to save her and to save the world. This is all played out against the backdrop of why Constantine is damned in the first place: he tried to commit suicide as a teenager and according to 'the rules' (set out by God, of course) this means that when he dies he has to go to hell, where the demons he deported there will have their revenge on him for all eternity. So Constantine is not just trying to save Dodson and the world: he is also trying to get a pardon from God and hence save himself. Up until the last twenty minutes or so I found the film to be a fairly enjoyable ride despite its religious themes, the fact that the movie was just over two hours long and Keanu Reeves's usual monosyllabic delivery. Rachel Weisz was a good supporting actress as Angela Dodson, the special effects were good and the whole thing was carried off with a fair bit of panache. The parallels with The Omen with the whole 'son of Satan' thing did not detract from the film either. But the last twenty minutes of the film derailed the movie for me as one ending - a satisfactory one - seemed to be taking place when all of a sudden the scriptwriters seemed to change their mind and offer us instead another ending, one that was wholly unsatisfactory because it defeated the point of one of the major strands of the plot of the film. A missed opportunity.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Djimon Hounsou
Tilda Swinton
Rachel Weisz
Keanu Reeves
Shia LaBeouf

Creators:
Keanu Reeves (Primary Contributor)
Rachel Weisz (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 7321900389419
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Colour, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, PAL, Subtitled,
Release date: 2005-07-11
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 116 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2005
Language: Arabic (Subtitled)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: German (Subtitled)
Language: Hebrew (Subtitled)
Language: Icelandic (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: German (Dubbed)

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