Constantine/Alexander (2004)

Constantine: Based on the DC Comics/Vertigo Hellblazer graphic novels and written by Kevin Brodbin and Frank Cappello, Constantine tells the story of John Constantine (Keanu Reeves), a man who has literally been to hell and back. Alexander: Oliver Stone recreates the towering, true story of Alexander the Great (Colin Farrell), who in the 4th Century BC conquered Greece, Persia, Afghanistan and India- 90% of the known world.

2 movies to while away your time

Constantine:
I enjoyed this movie, even though it seems overly 'witchy' to me: heaps of demons, demon-possessed people and references to the devil which I admit did have me feeling a little uncomfortable at times... but the special effects were excellent.

Keanu Reeves made a great chain-smoking Constantine, I think he played him well. I have always found Rachel Weisz incredibly annoying, she reminds me of a deer in the headlights. In this movie though, she gives a well rounded and credible performance as the woman who enlists Constantines help -her twin sister dies while in a mental institution and is written off as a suicide. Rachel's character refuses to believe this, since her sister was a 'good Catholic' and wouldn't take her own life because she knew she would go to hell if she did.

Constantine comes into her house, does this amazing thing where he goes to hell (via the eyes of a pet black cat?!) and finds out what really happened. Unfortunately this opens another whole can of worms (or demons as the case may be). There are some good subplots going on in there too.

I can't give it 5 stars because I felt the ending descended slightly into farce, normally this type of movie terrifies me but I found myself rolling my eyes, especially in the scene where Keanu lifts his finger to "Luc" (as in Lucifer), I found it incredibly implausible and glib.

But it was still a good way to spend a couple of hours.

Alexander:
This was OK to start but I confess I got bored very quickly. Colin Farrell as a gay man was just too implausible, as was Angelina Jolie playing his mother! Watch it if you must but don't expect too much January 16, 2006

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