|
|
| Roadshow (Australia). Region 4, PAL. 2.40:1 (16:9 enhanced). English DD 5.1. English Subtitles. 115 minutes |
| The Movie |
| Cover Art |
 |
| Credits |
Director: Francis
Lawrence
Starring: Keanu Reeves,
Rachel Weisz, Shia LaBeouf, Djimon Hounsou, Max
Baker, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Gavin Rossdale, Tilda
Swinton, Peter Stormare
Screenplay: Kevin Brodbin,
Frank Cappello
Country: USA |
I am fortunate to be reviewing this movie as
I have no comic knowledge to compare it to. I
have not been tainted by the 'the comic
book is better' creed that we hear so often
(I, myself am guilty of such comments). I have
always thought that Vertigo comics were for three
types of people: Anne Rice Pseudo Goths, people
who missed the Punk movement and the wannabees
of both. Sure I have picked up the occasional
Sandman or Swamp Thing, but didn't like
the art or writing styles of them. Just my opinion,
sorry to those I may have offended.
So onto the movie.
Keanu Reeves plays the titular Constantine,
a man haunted his whole life by the fact that
he can see the demons who dwell within the bodies
of some humans. He, and the usual array of misfits
and miscreants that comic heroes generally have,
fights the good fight against these demons with
their combined psychic powers and knowledge of
the Bible and all its trappings. Unbeknownst to
Constantine, a young Mexican has discovered the
Spear of Longinius, the weapon that killed Christ,
and the usual demon activity escalates, and to
top it all off, he has just discovered he has
contracted lung cancer due to a lifetime of 30
cigs a day, and the devil just can't wait
to welcome him to Hell for his sins on Earth.
I was surprised at how entertaining I found
this movie. It is deeply steeped in Catholic/
Christian religion and mythology, but also explains
itself nicely, even if the line between good and
evil wavers slightly. Luckily, Keanu Reeves, who
still seems to be playing Johnny Nuemonic,
has many excellent actors opposite his subtle
Constantine (Rachael Weisz, Tilda Swinton, and
the excellent Peter Stormare, amongst others)
to help him along , and may I say how far CGI
has come since Van Helsing was
released, thank the Lord. The images of Hell are
well designed, not the usual Little Nicky fire and brimstone but a terrifying place that
burns constantly from a Terminator 2 style nuclear blast.
This movie may or may not appease comic Constantine fans, but I really enjoyed it. My one gripe would
be the discs layer change, which is right in the
middle of a breath taken by Rachael Weisz's
during a monologue; I really think the bigger
studios should find more suitable position to
put it. |
| Video |
| As you would expect from a company like Roadshow's
releases, this DVD has picture quality written all
over it. The colors are vivid, even during the night
scenes and never become muddy. The burning images
of hell will really give your TV's yellow
and magenta diodes a good working out, but it too
remains crisp and well defined. |
| Audio |
| The sound was excellent, from car motors to the
deep booming sounds of Hell's minions, this
disc really kicks arse. The movie is in Dolby digital
5.1, with the extras mostly in 2.0. |
| Extra Features |
Disc one: The commentary by Director Francis
Lawrence, Producer Akiva Goldsmith and Screenwriters
Kevin Brodbin and Frank Cappello, and is both
fun and informative. The usual array of trailers
and a music video round off the first disc.
Disc Two: The second disc is where this set
really shines. Conjuring Constantine is one of
those usual comic to movie stories where everyone
talks about the 'spirit' of the comics,
but actually shows genuine concern for the tone
of the movie. The Production from Hell documentaries,
of which there is 4, cover all the production
decisions and directorial problems. The Imagining
the Underworld documentaries, of which there is
4, cover the special effects and designs of the
relics and environments. Constantine Cosmology,
which is about the legends of myths and the origins
of heroics and why mankind needs it, and how Constantine
is a classic hero. Foresight: the Power of Previsualization,
which is a documentary and examples of how animatics
help the design of the movie and how directorial
decisions can be changed during this process.
Of course the usual deleted scenes round this
disc off. |
| The Verdict |
All in all I think this is a pretty good movie
in a kick arse 2 disc package. Fans of the comic
may find reasons to nit pick, but I think the horror
fans will enjoy it. This is one set that covers
every aspect of the film production without becoming
self congratulating and over proud. Roadshow are
going to have trouble topping this package.
Comment Script
|
Got something else to say? Spill your guts on the
Digital Retribution Message Forum! |
|
|
 |
Be the first to comment on this item!