Introduction
Satan/Hell’s residents Vs. Humans seems to be the latest happening subject for Hollywood movies. After Arnie took on the Satan in End of Days, We had a cute little Hell product running loose on the earth in Hellboy. It is now Keanu Reeves’ turn to take on the denizens of Hell.
Plot
John Constantine (Keanu Reeves) is a private Exorcist who can see the creatures of hell roaming around the earth. Whenever any of these cross the line, John sends them packing back to Hell. The reason for John’s fight with these creatures is the hope that his killing of these creatures might send him to heaven.
Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz of the Mummy Returns fame), a female cop, is shocked by the apparent suicide of her twin sister Isabelle. She is convinced that there has been some foul play and ditches the logical world of law and seeks help from John Constantine.
John takes her on a tour of the hell and its creatures in an effort to solve the mystery of Isabelle’s murder. Check out this action thriller for the details.
Critic’s Viewpoint
Constantine directed by Francis Lawrence seems to be a rehash from a host of movies like Van Helsing, MIB and End of Days. So like Van Helsing we have Constantine tracking down and killing bad creatures. Like MIB he can see hell’s creatures living in the shape of humans. And like End of Days we have a girl wanted by Satan’s son on the run and a hero ready to fight for her.
The movie starts very well and there is an element of intrigue, but very soon the movie becomes a total farce wherein the plot is just borrowed from these two movies. The acting of Keanu Reeves is good but is more or less wasted in this insipid movie. It seems that Francis is just trying to cash in on the Matrix fame of Keanu.
Rachel Weisz tries to do the best of her weakly defined role. As for the rest, they are just passable. Some characters seemed so stupid, that they were more comic than anything else. I really could not understand what the hell Djimon Hounsou was doing in that freakish character of midnite!!
The visual effects are ok, but nothing really unique to boast about. The music is engaging enough to keep some moments tense. The pace of the movie is quite fast, but overall the direction and presentation was just about ok.
Summary
All in all a quite missable movie as far as I am concerned. If you have already seen End of Days and Van Helsing there is nothing else for you to see in this movie.
I would give this movie a two starrer as it offers nothing unique.
Statutory Warning
The movie has Keanu Reeves smoking a cigarrette in almost every scene. Cigarrette smoking is injurious to your health and of those around you.
There’s my bit for the anti smoking campaign ;)