Constantine (DVD)

I have high hopes for the audio/visuals on this disc. Definitely has the potential to make for a reference quality dvd.

My recollection of the movie from seeing it in a theater is that its image characteristics are pretty dark. I'm not sure how well that will translate to reference-quality DVD video.

John

Yeah, that is true.

Fight Club was also very dark, but that disc turned out fantastic!

I just read the review and it would appear John has found himself a guilty pleasure.

Tim ;)

I actually liked Constantine quite a bit. The FX were great and the story was interesting to me. I haven't ever read the comic book so I have no problems with its translation. The acting was pretty good, except for Reeves monotony. I can't seem to understand that. Reeves was awesome in "The Devil's Advocate" and he was very convincing in "Speed" despite the fact that it was an action film. Now, with the Matrix films and "Constantine" he seems content to play the same squinty-eyed emotionless badass. But why? Based on those other films we know he CAN act. Has he lost his talent or do the directors tell him to play it this way. Anyway, I liked this film and will certainly buy the 2-disc. The cover art is okay (I just saw cover art for the Interpreter and it's terrible; it doesn't even look like Kidman on the front) although I don't like how all covers are collages of people's heads or just one giant head. I like covers that are generally minimal or conceptual, like 28 Days Later, Halloween, Mystic River or the paper bag version of Fight Club. Just a title can be enough. Either way, I would have given this film a 7 or 8, but on a serious level and not on the basis of comedy.

I really enjoyed Constantine both times I saw it in the theatre. I wasn't aware of the comic before the movie, but I see how the gritty idea must have come from a comic, although I read that it is isn't too loyal.

I think the visuals are great, the audio as well, and I really enjoyed the dark humor and especially the irony of Lucifer, or as Constantine refers to him, "Lou," actually doing a good deed -- out of spite!! Love it!

Great characters, awesome representation of a vision of hell and the soldier demons.

This 2-disc set will be in my collection for sure.

Were all the 2-disc Constantine copies errored on the back cover (MPAA rating description) or what?

"Were all the 2-disc Constantine copies errored on the back cover (MPAA rating description) or what?" --zrelmar

My 2-disc edition says the MPAA rating is R, which was its theatrical-release rating.

John

TGP, the only concrete proof that Reeves can act can be found in My Own Private Idaho. It's a great movie, and Neo gives the performance of a lifetime.

Now, I'm a hige fan of the comics, and while the movie is very different, I think they did what they could, and did a great job. They really captured the spirit of the comic. To proove it, here's a breif history of John Constantine from the Hellblazer novel:

The comic is about a man named John Constantine, born in 1953, Liverpool. There he grew motherless, tormented by his resentful one-armed father. Eventually John became enamored with the occult. After his despairing dad burned his books, John impulsively let out a grave curse, which required he first mutilate and butcher a cat. Sure enough, the curse worked well and pops fell ill. Constantine, in a flurry of guilt, halted the supernatural death sentence he imposed on his caretaker by jamming the cat into a preservative jar of formaldehyde. Now there's a good boy. Think it's interesting already?

Later in life John formed a Sex Pistols flavored punk band called Mucous Membrane (it sucked). He was also believed to be a child murderer and subsequently incarcerated at an insane asylum. After time spent being crazy, John met God and the Devil -- he blackmailed them both. Now he's old, drunk, stern, full of smoky cancer, and happens to spend his nights hunting demons and thwarting the machinations of unsavory devils.

Much more simply, the movie is about Keanu Reeves, an American magus recently diagnosed as having lung cancer. He "teams with Detective Sergeant Angela Dodson in the hunt for a serial killer who preys on psychics and magicians." Whoops.

Keanu does a great job with Constantine, and his persona, attitude, and acting suit the character very well, even though Hellblazer John is a blonde brit.

i felt the movie was good, not spectacular, but good. the acting was probably the week point. keanu was ok, but the usually poignant Rachel weiz, was a dissapointment. the effects were amazing, and i enjoyed the story.

I have heard a rumor (yes, it is strictly a rumor) that this film is coming out as a director's cut. Now I enjoyed the theatrical very much but I never know with all these double-dips. Anyway, if there is any truth to this rumor I'd love to hear it; thanks!