Sexy Doomed Demon Fighters: Constantine.

[dangermousie]

Rented and saw Constantine today with Mr. Dangermousie. It's about someone who can see demons, angels et al. He also knows he is going to hell when he dies. And since he has lung cancer? That is going to be awfully soon. There is also a cop (Rachel Weitz) who comes seeking his help etc etc. Loved it. It's visually amazing, has nifty Catholic storylines about damnation and redemption and mortal sin and all that, is totally gloomy and atmospheric in a good way and has Keanu Reeves playing someone whose life sucks even more than Neo's. And it kept me on the edge of my seat. Alas, there is no kissing, though by the end I was chanting for Keanu and Rachel Weitz to get it on already, and the evil director kept teasing me instead.

Basically, the whole thing is a film noir seen through an anime lens (and yes, that sentence made sense in my head). It comes with an anti-hero hero, a mysterious woman in need of help, twisty plot, and scenes mostly in night time.

Here is a link to a Flick Filosopher [sic] review that explains so much of what I like about it.

My mother saw Pride and Prejudice today. According to her, not bad, but Lizzy in the BBC version was intelligent. Also, apparently no one owned a comb or a razor. She said Mr. Darcy wandered around hair uncombed, unshaven, and looking like he hasn't been near a bath in 3 or so years (my Dad's comment? That's because they cut out a scene of him in a Turkish bath :P). So glad I am staying away from this one.

Comments

[life-on-queen.livejournal.com]

Dude, I loved this P&P. I loved it so much I feel like I'm cheating on the Beeb's P&P with a younger, sexier version. I found Keira Knightley brilliant, possibly even better than Jennifer Ehle for playing Lizzie as slightly less arch and slightly more self-mocking. The ending they've stuck onto the cut showing in American theatres should be ignored but otherwise, I found it a delightful and faithful adaptation. Less exquisitely detailed than the six-hour version but all the major episodes are dealt with and P&P deserves to be seen if only for Donal Sutherland's effortless Mr. Bennet. And Rosamund Pike? Most. Beautiful. English. Woman. Ever. For serious, dude.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Vive le difference!

I am actually staying away from this movie because it looks like a Bronte adaptation rather than Austen. Nothing wrong with Bronte, but the romantic landscapes and windswept hair would really put me off an Austen adaptation...

[antiqueskies.livejournal.com]

Constantine was good. Definitely liked it as well. (Hell, I own it, lol.)

That sentence made sense to me too! It was actually what I was thinking when watching it for the first time last summer.

I actually didn't really like the heroine-girl. She just generally annoyed me because she was so "No, I don't believe all this b.s." then decides that she does and asks to be a part of it. That was a complete character 180 for me, and it didn't seem to work for me. /shrugs/

I concur on the P&P thing. It looked...eh. Plus, what's a good movie that Keira Knightley made recently? Honestly?

[equustel.livejournal.com]

I actually didn't really like the heroine-girl. She just generally annoyed me because she was so "No, I don't believe all this b.s." then decides that she does and asks to be a part of it. That was a complete character 180 for me, and it didn't seem to work for me. /shrugs/

Well, she does mention that she "saw" the same things her twin sister did when they were little, but always was too afraid to admit it. She was basically in denial, and knew it. So it's a character growth when she's able to accept it throughout the course of the film and deal with it, instead of a contradiction - at least, it felt that way to me.

I'm very possibly biased, though, as I really like Angela as a character (and I rarely dig "the side girl" so much - she, however, I thought had a lot of class).

Anyway! Agree entirely with you about the film, dangermousie. I loved it when I first saw it in theatres - even participated in the burgeoning fandom that appeared immediately after - it's just a surprisingly solid and unusual genre flick. A fusion of a lot of different styles. And I adore Constantine himself as portrayed by Keanu. Great, great character.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I really like Angela as a character

I do too. She is intelligent, she doesn't scream like a banshee and she has the great strength of will to refrain from jumping Keanu (white shirts are a thing of mine :P) Impressive.

[antiqueskies.livejournal.com]

So it's a character growth when she's able to accept it throughout the course of the film and deal with it, instead of a contradiction...

Well, to me, the way her character was introduced was that she had more of an analytical mind and wasn't willing to accept things without cold, hard proof. (She was a cop/detective after all, no?) So, while, yes the death of her twin sister did leave her searching for answers, how often does a character just completely change what is essentially their way of thinking? I just didn't buy it.

I'm probably also biased, as I didn't really like the actress who portrayed her...

I too was surprised by how good the movie was. I read about it online and such because, well, Keanu is quite yummy, and it seemed almost mediocre from the descriptions. I'm very glad my guy friends dragged me with them, though. Hee.

Your icon is funny.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I agree with what alizzy said about the heroine-girl. She was in repressive denial but she couldn't not accept it any longer. I mean, I am a sceptic about all that stuff, but if I did see that giant wings/talons thing, I'd definitely believe.

[antiqueskies.livejournal.com]

Response above. ;)

By the by, what is your icon from? Also, the icon you used on your post is Farscape, right? I've seen parts of two episodes and determined that Aeryn/Crichton are hot angsty love. Heh.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

This icon is Book from Firefly/Serenity. It's great, you should check it out.

And yeah, it's John/Aeryn. They totally are hot angsty love.

I actually like Rachel Weitz :)

[syliasyliasylia.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with you on your Constatine Review. I love when you say "the whole thing is a film noir seen through an anime lens"... lol, that's because the film is an adaptation of the Hellblazer comicbook (published by Vertigo comics IFFC) and I think it's a hell of an adaptation, the film captures the essence of the main character of the comic fantastically.

[thelana.livejournal.com]

I think it's a hell of an adaptation, the film captures the essence of the main character of the comic fantastically.

Well aside from being not blonde, not british, less mean and a lot more faithful ;)

But I did like it. It has its own identity and it works. And as far as comic adaptions go, I have seen much worse.

It's just that I think that the comics are much more bleak and sardonic. I thought the story of the movie was beautiful and very stylish, but the message of the movies is much more nihilistic in my eyes.

Still, I really wish they would do a sequel :(

[syliasyliasylia.livejournal.com]

Well aside from being not blonde, not british, less mean and a lot more faithful ;)
I agree to that, but despite the toning down of the character and the change of nationality (somwthing I can live with), I think that the movie is still quite loyal to the main themes of the comic book. And I have to day that the visual aspect of the film really impressed me.

I also agree with you, I'm usally afraid to see comic adaptations because the leap from comicbook lagage to cinematic laguage is not easy, some dialogues or shots which are perfect on the comic page turn into ridiculous on screen, or they lose the strength they had...etc.

And I'd also wisth there were a squel ;)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Now I am imagining the comic Constantine as a non-vampire Spike :P

The visuals are amazing. Just jaw-dropping. And I really like Constantine as this very weary noir hero. Even the cigarette is noir. I'd love a sequel, but I have no idea how well the movie did.

[thelana.livejournal.com]

I think for me the main difference was that comic!John always felt very devoted to the idea that there has to be a third path, since he dislikes both heaven and hell about equally. Movie!John seems to lean towards heaven pretty openly (and is mostly bummed because he thinks that they wont let him in because of the suicide thing).

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I guess in Catholicism there is always Purgatory. But if my only two choices were nice place and something that looks like Dante's imagination run wild, I know which one I'd pick :P

[thelana.livejournal.com]

No his way of dealing with it is by being determined to just never die. And that the third way between heaven and hell is the human one. Like that the humans should just tell both heaven and hell to screw off and leave them alone.

Or something like that.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I remember wanting to see it in the theater when it first came out, but I never got around to it, and Husband wasn't keen on it because he liked the comic and couldn't imagine it making sense as Keanu in LA. But he did like the movie quite a lot.

Also, don't watch the movie before going to sleep. Your dreams are going to be really odd.

[iheartpotatoes.livejournal.com]

Do you like the "nifty Catholic storylines" of movies? This critic disagrees:

http://www.newyorker.com/critics/cinema/?050307crci_cinema

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

New Yorker never likes anything. Unless it's a movie composed entirely from off center shots of grimy people occasionally speaking monosyllables in an obscure language :P

I have no idea if it's really faithful to Catholic stuff (not Catholic) though probably not. They certainly had an emphasis on intent over good works which struck me as more Protestant than Catholic. But hey, it all worked for me :)

[ange-louise.livejournal.com]

Visually Constantine was amazing, and I really liked the concept, but the story just left me going 'WTF is happening?'. I don't need to be spoon-fed a plot-line, but it helps if it actually makes sense. Tilda Swinton was a brilliant Gabriel,she just has a pale, androgynous look that worked really well. Keanu Reeves and Rachel Weiss are very pretty together too.

I'm not sure if I want to see the new P&P. I want to like Keira Knightley, but she's got this pout and a weird lispy way of saying her s's that really annoy me. I don't know that I could sit through a whole movie of it.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

The story made sense to me, so I rather liked it. I mean, the specific means of defeating specific demons I didn't know about, but then I was just "oh, so you get rid of demon X by trapping it in a mirror. Fine."

Now I want to read some fic :P

Yeah, Tilda Swinton was great.

Yeah, KK not my cup of tea.

[katranna.livejournal.com]

Basically, the whole thing is a film noir seen through an anime lens

Hahah, I love you. That's a brilliant description, and I'm so proud that you've now seen enough anime to make it!

I have no idea if it's really faithful to Catholic stuff (not Catholic) though probably not. They certainly had an emphasis on intent over good works which struck me as more Protestant than Catholic. But hey, it all worked for me :)

Oh no, but according to all the hoopla going on at IMBD over Narnia, if you're not Christian you can't like movies with any Christian themes or allusions! You have to hate them because they are opressive and aim to convert you!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

if you're not Christian you can't like movies with any Christian themes or allusions!

Of course. The thing is, I am hideously brainwashed and soon will chant on a street corner :P

[jammer77.livejournal.com]

I *loved* Pride and Prejudice. I went in w/o any expectations of it being like the BBC version, so, I took it for the movie it was. Mr. Darcy *sigh* was so very charming. He had me and my BFF swooning. Also, you really want Lizzy and him to get together by the end. *g*