I wasn't too keen on seeing "Constantine" when I first saw its trailer. I thought that, after "The Matrix Trilogy", Keanu should stay away from movies with such genre. It was like Viggo Mortensen coming up with the epic "Hidalgo" after the epic trilogy of "The Lord of the Rings". However, when I saw the making of the film and some scenes of it on "Opening Night" at Star Movies, I thought that it had a good premise. Besides, based from what I saw, the special effects of the film, particularly the demons, were spectacular. I said, hey, what not give it a try, right?
Truly, the effects were awesome! I liked the way they have shown the demons on screen - really scary! Aside from those, the angels' wings were magnificent! Its texture, its motion, its span. The angel Gabriel was characterized very well. It was played by Tilda Swinton and she was truly a sight to look at. In the movie, she was neither a woman nor a man. Her breasts were wrapped by a cloth so that she would look androgenize. 'Cause, according to books, angel are genderless.
Contanstine may be the center of the film but I believe that it was Gabriel who gave it the heart. Gabriel, in its childlike ways, has so much love for God that it wants men to see Him the way He wants them to. So much love that she was able to commit a sin - making a deal with the son of the devil. Its intentions may be noble yet its ways aren't. Of course, that is not acceptable! So, as a consequence, its wings were clipped and it became a human being. Sometimes, we are blinded by so much love that we commit grave mistakes just for the betterment of the one we love.
Another premise of the film was self-scarifice. Self-sacrifice is truly a tricky value because of its counterpart, pride. Pride, according to one "Charmed" episode I saw entitled "San Francisco", is the sin one can never get rid of - especially if one knows fully about it. I believe that, too. Why? You see, pride can be characterize as "too much love" for oneself. One needs to let go of it by self-sacrifice. Now, if that person knew that his "salvation" is only through self-sacrifice, he would try to do deeds that he may be consider self-sacrifice. Then, in the end, he could tell him, "See, I could do such a thing!" So pride comes back in again. It is like humility. Humility can never be noble if one knows how "humble" he is. Humility has to be seen by others, not by oneself. If a person talks about his humility, then he isn't humble at all! Tricky, right?
In the film, Constantine has to make sacrifices for other people in order to get to heaven. So, when Lucifer asked him what he wants after he informed Lucifer about Gabriel and his son, he told him to free Isabel's soul. Lucifer granted it and immediately pulled him to hell. Yet, he wasn't able to. 'Cause, he has saved himself by saving other people instead of his. I can't believe that Lucifer fell for that trick! When Constantine was about to be raise to heaven, he gave Lucifer the dirty finger. So could that be a sign that Constantine's self-scarifice wasn't genuine at all? If it isn't, why didn't God see it? Anyway, as a revenge, Lucifer took away all the toxins in his lungs and made him continue his life! In that way, everyday would a constant struggle for him to be good! That is one hell of a trick from Lucifer! No pun intended! :-)
Re Keanu, leave it to him to showcase how an awesome acting should be! In "The Matrix Trilogy", he fought the villains in the computer world so he gave us a computer-character acting - 2D! Now, "Constantine", based on a comic, he gave us a comic-character acting - 2D! Isn't he marvelous?! I wonder what's keeping him away from the Oscars! Dammit!
(full write-up here)
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