Constantine (15)
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Peter Stormare and Tilda Swinton
John Constantine first appeared as a supporting character in the DC Comics series "Swamp Thing", and finally given the "lead" role in the spin-off comic "Hellblazer". So is this just another Comic book hero on our silver screen? If you are expecting Spawn or Hellboy, think again. If you are expecting a huge CGI monster bashing fest, sorry but no. Read on.
Our film noir hero has the power to see through the human disguises that "half breeds" use (angels and demons "living" here on Earth). So terrified by what he sees, the young Constantine takes his own life, and because his death was a suicide, ends up in Hell....for two minutes. Doctors succesfully manage to revive him, but John knows where he is destined unless he can change and earn admission to Heaven. This change in lifestyle takes the form of deporting demons back to Hell who try to cross "the line" on Earth (in other words upsetting the balance between good and evil). His quest for redemption is made all the more urgent by a cancerous tumour devouring his lungs as a result of smoking. John Constantine (by the way note the initials) is approached by a police officer who is desperate to solve the case of her twin sister's suicide, and together they discover a plot to bring apocalyptic doom to the world. I won't tell you how it ends, but there is an unlikely "saviour" and "baddie" in this.
So is it any good? To be honest it's one of those "glad I saw it movies, but wouldn't rush out to se it again". Keanu Reeves has never been one of my first choices for "in-depth" roles, and I can think of better candidates. Thankfully he isn't so bad that he ruins the movie, but it could have been better. I have to say that I loved the appearance of Peter Stormare in a white suit, succesfully upstaging everybody. All in all, yes go and see it if you are wondering what to do for a night out.
