The first impression is unavoidable.
Fans view a preview of the movie "Constantine," which looks relatively interesting, but they discover who is starring in it. Jon Constantine is played by Keanu Reeves, and he serves main role in a three-world struggle between Heaven, Hell and Earth.
It can't be the same guy from "Speed" movies, right? Oh, yes, but do not let Reeves's previous performances affect an impression of this film, because it is certainly one of the most tolerable of his works. There are certain moments when Reeves is at his melodramatic worst, but the rest of the movie makes up for it.
The film's concept is absolutely brilliant. It follows along the lines of a comic called "Hellblazer," written by Kevin Brodbin, Mark Bomback and Frank Capello. Jon Constantine goes to Hell in an attempt to take his own life due to the horrible visions he saw as a child.
Not realizing that the visions in his head are a gift for him to use, he is angry at the world and his character takes on the role of a tough-skinned man who doesn't care about anyone.
Since he is no longer allowed in Heaven, he becomes almost along the same lines as Van Helsing. Constantine's ability to see the "half-breeds," demons from hell inside humans, inhabiting humans on Earth has him performing exorcisms and mumbling strange languages over victims.
The plot thickens after a series of initial battles with these demons, as a local policewoman named Angela Dodson, played by Rachel Weisz of "The Mummy" and "Confidence," tries to figure out the reason for her sister Isabella's suicide.
Here, the film really takes off, as it reiterates the ideas of existence taking place on three planes, and that Earth is just in the middle, and Heaven and Hell are right outside but can't cross into one another.
The film's action rises as the half-breeds try to bring Satan's son onto Earth's plane. Some of the ideas in the movie seem far-fetched at first but, in time, are actually quite enticing.
Director Francis Lawrence created this movie perfectly for fans of the Heaven/Hell battle plot. His depiction of Hell and Heaven are genius, and both are sure to raise some eyebrows.
The Hell scenes are enough to make any viewer never want to sin again. The combination of computer graphics and Lawrence's demonic creations was absolutely brilliant. These scenes stand out from the rest of the film.
In the beginning, it seems as if the film will turn into a rip-off of a combination of other movies, but it is quite original.
One of the freakiest scenes finds Constantine walking through a private nightclub to speak with an old friend. The people he passes are, to put it mildly, a little off.
Though "Constantine" maintains its serious approach to the struggle between Hell and Earth, it is a wonderful satire. The shocking and hideous imagery is frightening, but the movie is actually quite funny at times. There is a great deal of adult humor woven into the script, and the director did a great job of using it as relief.
Adding in humor could have been disastrous, especially when this movie's purpose was to explore the possibility of multiple realms of existence, but Lawrence and the cast make it work.
The film took a good idea and made it happen. For those who aren't interested in archangels, demons from hell, mankind struggling, and the age -old questions of life and existence, there is always "Sweet November."
