"Constantine" the movie

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Anyone planning to see Constantine, the movie, with Keanu Reeves and Rachel Weisz, and a slew of others? I have it on good authority that it’s a rather profound meditation on good, evil, exorcism, and the Church.
 
If someone gets a chance would ou mind posting a mini-review of what you thought after you see it? I was interested in going, but I am piccky about anti-Catholic material.
 
Keanu Reeves was on the Early show. He said he took latin in High school. (Hrm THink Catholics?) He said that they Consulted with a Catholic Exorcist in the film and he said that his character, Constentine, died and went to hell because he was dying of Ciggerrrette smoking and he killed himself. (Run on sentance.) He said the Character is in Hell but Heaven doesnt want him. He is trying to redeem himself by fighting demons on Earth.
 
I heard a couple of reviews on it thiss morning, they say it is pretty bad. Both said in no uncertain terms something along the order that religous people will be insulted. And it’s no Passion.

Entertainment - possibly, though the reviews are bad. Significant/relevant/reinforcing to Catholics - highly doubtful.
 
(CNN) – The title role of John Constantine in the new science fiction thriller “Constantine” is actually tailor-made for the limited talents of Keanu Reeves. His vacant “nobody’s home” delivery is perfect for this antihero, a demon-hunter who is caught between heaven and hell.
 
Here’s a review from the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. I can’t vouch for the review’s veracity, since I have yet to see the movie, but usually the NCCB reviews are pretty fair.
 
I have not seen this movie yet but I have heard and read some reviews. This is not a movie for those who are seeking their faith… They’ll just get lost. There are good parts and some problematic parts as far as Catholics are concerned. However, I am still watching this movie for entertainment. The effects are awesome and the actors play their roles very well. Just don’t get too absorbed with the theology the movie is presenting. I mean how can the forces of hell be equal to the forces of heaven? The movie (as I have heard on a review) makes it look like the forces of hell are on the same level (of power) as the forces of heaven.

I have yet to watch the movie to make any real comments though.
 
I just saw it and would encourage all of you to go see it. It is very entertaining. It presents a strong sense of Gnostic dualism (the eternal struggle of good and evil). The idea of a good God Himself is not seen nor heard most of the movie. It does come down hard on the Roman Catholic church in a couple of areas:
  1. All people who commit suicide go to hell (the main sub-theme of the movie.
  2. Much Roman Catholic folk-lore (the extravigant use of holy water and crosses as if they have power in and of themselves)
  3. God does not seem to be with any “religious people” necessarily because of their position, but because of their faith.
  4. Elements of faith alone are present. God just wants our belief.
  5. A normal lone rebel, who is not in submission to the Church is the hero (Martin Luther??).
Riddled with folk theology, but a must see for Chistians. People will be asking questions . . . we had better have the answers.

Hardly any sexual content (nothing explicit–one scene with what looked to be demonic lesbians), some cursing (not much), and rebellion. Violence is there and many scary scenes. Keanu even does some decent acting. Special effects–increadible. Matrix cheesiness–not present!!!)

Hope this helps,

Michael
 
I saw the movie last night. I’m not Catholic. I wouldn’t say that the theology of Constantine is gnostic dualism, because it’s not as if Good and Evil are presented as equal; rather, both sides have agreed to limit their powers to influence humans. In fact, I would say the movie is anti-Gnostic, because Constantine thinks that just knowing that God exists can get him into heaven, whereas he’s told that it can’t.

The movie certainly offers a non-traditional explanation of why angels and demons do what they do, and why God does what he does.
 
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Dredgemate:
Awww, you totally just killed that demon, dude!! Excellent!
Click to expand...
Strange things are afoot at the Circle K. :cool:

I want to see it & CURSED with Wednesday Addams. 😃
 
Decent film guy is slightly off the mark…

I recommend the movie…really…isnt EVERY movie simply “your call”? :rolleyes:

He is also WAY OFF in 2 stars as to the production…its a WELL MADE movie… and I give it a o for “Basically Harmless”…Anyone looking for “the faith” in a horror action fantasy based on a Graphic Novel comic book…or who thinks someone can “lose their faith” by watching a movie like this is off the mark.

The critics have been unfair to this movie…

Constantine is a genre bending blend of elements from other movies (which I loved) they are: The Exorcist/Blade II, and The 1st Prophecy movie w/Christopher Walken. People have complained about the movie skewering the Churchs stance on suicide…well…guess what…at one time many imortant prelates DID state you go to hell for suicide and many Catholics were denied buriel in Catholic cemetaries for that reason…just because the movie doesnt update that the Church no longer teaches that isnt a problem for me at all…its a movie based on a fantasy world where a guy gets another shot at redemption… Gabriel is gender neutral and has some issues…just like in The Prophecy…there is a Priest that drinks… the film doesnt “attack” the Church, nor does it go out of its way to defend her either… its just a great time at the movies watching a guy send demons back to hell for “breaking the rules” cause even though he knows that repentance is what gets one into Heaven, he wants to do it his way cause he’s mad at God for giving him the gift/curse of seeing beyond our dimension…but he also finds his redemption in a unique way at the end. If people had problems with Exorist, Blade and Prophecy, and just cant stand fantasy movies that dont teach Catholic Doctrine in its rightful manner (mind you I aint a fan of Stigmata, cause THAT film tried to pass itself off as somehow knowing the TRUTH…Constantine is a different movie) I would suggest staying away and sticking with other lighter films. Reeves is great as chain smoking anti hero, Peter Stormare is awesome as Satan… the special effects rock…and the film has some great touches about the battle between God and the Devil…especially liked the touch how Hell has its own version of the Bible with a differnt ending… kinda made me think how that is fitting in the Devils arrogance in this great battle we are in… once again… if violent. semi scary, semi Catholic doctrine teaching turns you off…stay away…all others who dont have a problem and like this genre…see the movie…its awesome. 👍
 
I saw the movie last weekend. The theology is not 100%, and a bit sacreligious (Gabriel exercising moral relativism), but I enjoyed it. Right or wrong, I left the theatre with a sense that I had to work harder in my life to get closer to God. One could compare this film (kind of ) to C.S. Lewis’s “The Great Divorce”, and “The Screwtape Letters”.

I recommend it. Just be prepared to explain the theological failings to weak Catholics.
 
I thought it was great!!! Keanu’s acting was a little weak but other than that it was good. My husband had a lot of questions about catholicism after (he’s pentacostal) and i tried to answer them at the best of my ability. It’s true not all of the theology is correct but it is a movie after all. i recommend it, it’s very entertaining.
 
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