CONSTANTINE

WB

RELEASED 18 March 2005

John Contantine (Keanu Reeves) is a man both gifted and cursed. Everyday he must battle the half demons and angels that walk unseen amongst us, something even suicide cannot save him from, as he learnt from a very young age.

Knowing his suicide attempt means hell awaits him, Constantine seeks constant redemption by battling against the devil’s minions. Yet Constantine’s mission does not make him your typical hero. He drinks, he smokes, he’s generally pretty miserable really, and despises the thought of being praised for any heroics he might be responsible for.

Keanu Reeves latest contribution to the film world is entertaining and yet somehow unsatisfying. Reeves plays his usual calm and collected self as Constantine, displaying as little emotion as possible. Not even imminent death from hell’s hordes, roughly every ten minutes, can particulary move him.

Co-star Rachel Weisz is as beautiful as ever, and also as predictable. This isn’t a very strong female character, surprising seeing as she’s playing a cop. She’s not too bright either, taking her jacket off to get in a cold bath for some otherworldly act, but keeping her shoes on.

The action scenes are stylishly carried off, although somewhat brief. There’s no epic sequence to be found here, just small ones, even a fight with Balthazar (Gavin Rossdale) ends quickly, disappointing when he’s come from the pits of hell to kill Constantine!

‘Constantine’ sets up a vision of hell on earth that might be more successful in a sequel, as this movie takes too long explaining things and the story is fairly slim, and actually a bit anti-climatic. Still, if you’re a fan of dark television shows like ‘Buffy’ and ‘Angel’, or a disaffected teen, you might enjoy this.

THREE OUT OF FIVE