when the comic book movie dialogue is actually realistic
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- Опубликовано: 9 фев 2025
- #constantine #keanureeves #videoessay
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Constantine, starring a mid-Matrix Keanu Reeves, is one of the most often neglected comic book movies pretty much ever. It was an odd adaptation of its Hellblazer source material, and it received pretty mixed reviews from audiences and critics alike when it releases back in 2005. That was all a surprise to me, as someone who's watched the movie regularly since I was a kid. In fact, every time I watch Constantine, I seem to find something new to love about it. So today, I want to look at one of my favorite aspects of the movie: the way Constantine, a $100M comic book movie, handles its exposition, dialogue, and world building.
Written & edited by Danny Boyd
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
There’s quite a lot more I could say about Constantine and the manner in which the movie was put together. If this video and this topic gets a strong enough reception, I may consider following it up with a second part sometime soon. Leave a like on this comment if that’s something that might be of interest to you.
And a huge thanks again to Markues for the tremendous support, and the suggestion! If you’re not already a Patron and would like to be, you can support me directly at www.patreon.com/CinemaStix
CinemaStix is a 100% independent film analysis channel owned and operated entirely by me. So every contribution goes a very long way in making this work possible.
:)
Danny Boyd
Yes please! I've never watched it so gonna watch it next week, would be nice to get another video about this! P.s. any updates on the newsletter that tells us which movie is coming next?
Please! Saw this when it came out and dismissed it (was big fan of SWAMP THING/CON. comics). Re-watched a few years back and it was a revelation. REALLY good film for re-examination by people, I think.
please danny! this movie/graphic novels has been so important to me for so long! would listen to you for hours talk about hellblazer
Would love to see you talk about this hidden gem more!
oh please please make a part 2. I have loved this movie ever since I watched it and would love to hear more about it
I love the fact that Keanu has always been this movie's #1 supporter and cheerleader. His SDCC panel where he remembers EVERY cast and crew member's name shows that he absolutely loved working on this project. While I hold some slight reservations about smaller details, none of them have to do with straying from the source material. If anything, I appreciated that.
The fact that, even with all of his support and the outcry from fans, reboot-hungry producers STILL refuse to make a sequel is honestly shocking to me. That said, I think it's better on it's own.
@@AndrewPRoberts Because Hellblazer sadly doesn't hold "mass appeal". You can't put him on a lunchbox or market him to kids. Despite almost all the MCU movies being PG-13, there's enough cross appeal for McDonald's tie ins. It sucks.
@@ZyxthePest its not like DC was trying to have mass appeal, with it's even darker and grittier Batman, R-rated Joker and 4 hour director's cut.
@@mandarinduck That's a good point. Though, I feel like Batman and Joker are big enough characters to take a risk on, just due to name recognition.
On the flip side Marcel has Deadpool. So it’s not like there isn’t a precedence for rebooting Constantine. I think it would work even better now that Keanu is older.
For the longest time, Constantine felt like a ‘cult classic’ or a ‘guilty pleasure’, but the more I watch it, the more I realize it was just an honestly great movie that simply missed fame.
And the cast…*chef’s kiss*.
Very few pieces of media, especially for beginner or unfamiliar audiences can world build so that it that draws you in and implies so much more without being confusing or holding your hand through it.
ya dude, it's just kino af. wonder if the sequel will be any good
Cult classics usually are good movies tho? It’s pretty uncommon for weird, interesting things to get popular so I’m not sure about that metric.
This movie is dear to me, because it's my Los Angeles. It feels like someone who really lived here. It was stuff that didn't feel right , in my city when I was a kid. the bowling ally that shouldn't be there. The emptiness of downtown at night.
I feel the same about Hellboy 2
@@dumbumbumbum8649 For me, a cult movie is one that’s bad, but is enjoyable anyway. Like The Covenant is a terrible movie, but I love it anyway, it’s a cult classic for me.
That you can make such a great discussion about Constantine without even getting to Peter Stormare's amazing scene is itself high praise for the rest of the film.
I was kinda thinking that exact thing when I finished my script and realized I hadn’t even touched on him, or Swinton. One of the many reasons why I hope this won’t be my last video on the movie.
pls dont let it be lol. this movie doesnt get enough attention in my opinion.@@CinemaStix
@@CinemaStix I was going to bring up Swinton and Rossdale. The way Swinton says "No, no, you _know,_ and there's a difference" in her first scene, and her silent first reaction to pain. Rossdale's "Word is you're on your way down. Fresh meat. Ssssss, finger lickin' good!" Great performances throughout the cast.
@@CinemaStixyou should do a "why audiences gravitate to villains video" or something like that
@@CinemaStix Swinton and Stormare absolutely slay it as Gabriel and Lucifer the brief few minutes they're on screen. Probably two of the most underappreciated supporting actor performances.
I always wondered why I liked that movie so much and seemingly no critics did.
You hit the nail on the head. There's nothing I hate more than a story treating viewers/readers like morons that need every little thing spelled out to them constantly. Constantine puts you in the story, lets you get most things by context, and just ignores the rest. It makes it feel real.
Nothing worse than the buddy cop scenes where they stand in a circle and talk through the whole crime in turn finishing each other sentences. That doesn't happen in real life, but the writers either aren't creative enough to present the information naturally or think viewers are too stupid.
Except the wire where Bunk and McNulty investigate a crime scene and only ever say the word fuck.
It's because it has to be for the idiot masses, studios care more about what focus groups think.
Critics are CIA backed capitalist propagandists. They grade things not on objective merit but by the propaganda narratives they expose the public with. The industry is closely regulated even though it pretends not to be.
The idea of this film being a sequel to a movie nobody saw, and making the audience reach for it rather than it reaching for them really resonates with me.
The first part of your sentence literally is what I think the DCEU should of done with some of their IPs. Maybe this approach would of saved a lot on unnecessary exposition and fluff.
which movie? ik its prolly in the video but ive never watched this film so i wanna watch it first
@ysmg1061 there is no first movie. The video talks about how they could have made the same boring origin story about how he gets his powers, how he meets the other characters etc etc. But they don't.
It's more like watching The Dark Knight if they had never made Batman Begins(if that makes sense).
Everything that needs to be explained gets explained, but it doesn't stretch the explaining part out.
ooohh thank you sm, hyped to watch it@@locusofintent
@@finaljustice3848 Batman in particular. It's been done dozens of times and nearly every time we gotta see Bruce's parents get killed in the alleyway. At this point you'd have to have been living under a rock your entire life not to know Batman's origin story, even as a non DC fan. Uncle Ben is a close second.
I rewatched this recently and was suprised how well the effects hold up. I think you hit the nail on the head and it's that blend of practical/miniatures that make it hold up like LOTR
I did the same with the Matrix trilogy recently. We are at a point where we "could" have totally photorealistic CGI. The problem is that instead of doing that, they studios, as usual, went for quantity over quality. Quality in CGI has barely moved in about 10 years now because they absolutely drench those films in it nowadays. Films like the Matrix LoTR, Constantine, were carefully planned and executed. Nowadays they remake the entire film in post just like that ridiculous Radioactive man episode of the Simpsons. And it fucking shows.
I stand by the view that practical effects are usually better if you can manage it. CGI should be an enhancement first, and the main tool only when the practical effect is impossible or too lethal to try. They've just about reversed that with marvel stuff these days. When I found out the time travel suits were CGI just because they couldn't decide on a design...a little part of me died. Like what a total waste of special effects.
You should watch benicio del toros movies. He made a career out of phenomenal story telling and practical effects
@@IshtarNike Should be noted that both Constantine and The Matrix sequels had the VFX produced by the same company, ESC, which was created originally to produce the VFX for The Matrix 2 and 3.
Ironically, the SW prequel movies had more practical effects in each prequel movie than the entire original trilogy. It had real sets, tons of miniatures, but people thought it had "too much CGI," which is pure nonsense. It also used matte paintings, real liquid flows, then CGI touch-ups on the practical effects. They would use a clip of a set covered in green material as their supreme evidence whilst ignoring the mountains of full sets, miniatures, practical effects, etc.
The irony comes in when people say a scene that used real practical effects "look bad" because they think it is 100% CGI. This just exposes that people jump on a bandwagon and have no idea what is good or bad, as evident by the fact that they claim the actual practical effects they are witnessing are bad because of they mistakenly believe it to be pure CGI. But if the notion that it is practical effects is programmed into their head, they will claim it is good, even if it is CGI they are witnessing.
@@pyropulseIXXI The worst thing in current movie making trend is pretending there is zero CGI when every single image of the movie actually contains CGI. And producers now even go as far as not mentioning the CGI team of the movie in the credits and commissioning a low cost CGI team to hide the green setups in the making of documentary.
So the actual CGI team that worked countless days and did a perfect job at seamlessly blending their effects into the movie to the point that they are impossible to pinpoint gets zero credit for their amazing work. And the bodged up job by the secondary team on the making of reinforces the bad image of CGI.
same reason why i love ghibli movies. they dont explain all the rules of their world which just makes it more magical and engaging
That same reason is probably why I'm lukewarm on Ghibli.
Some people can't deal with that and have to have everything laid out for them without mystery.
Simpletons is what they're commonly known as.
@@fuckamericanidiot Or the exact opposite problem: that by not explaining enough, the viewer is distracted trying to figure out all the things that aren't explained. They end up down in the weeds trying to solve mysteries that don't actually have explanations because they're just window dressing. Maybe that's just an ADHD thing?
@@jliller
“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.”
I think Ghibli movies get a bit too carried away with not explaining anything at all, so ultimately you're still left not knowing the rules and you're just along for the ride.
Constantine is actually the film that got me interested in comics which is funny considering that the film was nothing like Hellblazer.
But it’s still one of my favorite films and one I think more people should give a chance to.
The comics are incredible, they have their highs and lows but still are amazing stories, and John is the perfect snarky suave englishman sorcerer, and this movie betrays that in a fundamental level... but the movie Is.So.FUN.
II was introduce to the comics because of the movie, and despite having not read all of the Hellblazer series, i really came to love John Constantine and understand that this movie is a gross adaptation of the series, but i still hold this movie dear to my heart, because strangely enough, despite the betrayal... it still has the Constantine DNA.
Some fans will disagree, specially the older one i think, but this movie just feels good to watch, it is a mystery supernatural noir movie that hits all the right notes, it has flaws, but what really doesnt? But all that it NEEDS to get right it gets.
9:01 the diner scene is an explainer, but it's Constantine explaining stuff in a setting that makes sense and doesn't seem forced.
Contrary to the da Vinci code, when they meet at Teabing's mansion and 'explain' to Sophie the backdrop of the story
That scene really came off as infantilized for dumb audiences, IMO a big put off on an otherwise great movie
I would love to get a sequel of this. I feel Constantine marks the tail end of the gothic fantasy/SF movies of the 90's -2000's started by The Crow, including their relationship with the then-popular alt rock/ nu metal scene (like the final credit song "Passive" by A Perfect Circle and the fact that Francis Lawrence was a music video director before Cnstantine).
It was a great time for the genre. Both music and film.
Queen of the Damned 😂
Silent Hill
Resident Evil's
Freddy vs Jason
Just the first ones that popped fast to mind.
And there should've been many Constantine sequels right after this one. It's a shame. I can't love this movie more.
I felt the era started earlier, with Bram Stoker's Dracula.
There's one in the works apparently :)
The actor who plays Lucifer is brilliant in this movie. The line "busy, busy, busy, I need a vacation." is so good. Like, the Devil has problems keeping his empire together and it is a pain in the ass to have Constantine screwing up his plans. Also, the little dance when he thinks he has Constintine's soul is pretty good. I actually use that when I get my way sometimes. Also, interesting is that Keanu said this is the one movie he would like to remake.
Peter Stormare. A gem in any movie that's lucky enough to cast him.
And we saw how his vacation might be on Lucifer tv series. Its so nice to sometimes connect different projects by common threads :)
Not as good as comic Lucifer though thats my gribe 😉
I absolutely adored that one of Constantine's problems gets solved not by him being clever, but because this Devil is so absolutely PETTY that he can't bear the thought of losing.
Not remake, make a sequel.
What an absolutely fantastic yet underrated film. Tilda Swinton as Gabriel was an inspired choice, and using the literary tool of "show not tell" is perfectly used.
2:31 I love that kind of exposition. I hate it when movies tell me EVERYTHING... Leave something for me to figure out (or even dream about) on my own.
Especially when it comes to magic a lot of stuff just doesn't need to be explained. My go to example for this is medichlorians in the prequel star wars movie, that harmed the force as a magic system.
@@xipheonjthat ended the whole Franchise for me. It said: no we're not doing moral mysticism any more.
@@stevecarter8810No, I don't think them adding midichlorians actually says that… Many, like yourself, may have interpreted it that way, but, to my mind, the concept of Science and Mysticism being mutually exclusive and therefor incompatible is too shallow a viewpoint and therefor… Less than ideal… In both fiction and philosophizing about what might exist that's not physical in reality. My line of thinking is that the midichlorians in Star Wars are how the characters are able to interact with The Force, and _that's it._ Just because most characters in the series need a symbiotic microbe to use the series's mystical energy field, it doesn't necessarily change anything else about the energy field itself, and it can still function thematically as "moral mysticism", just with a certain biological requirement for a character to be able to _do_ anything with it.
@@GabrielusPrime agreed. The tricky thing with a ‘moral mysticism’ route is that you wonder why some people can’t use the force, or how it is that being bad doesn’t make you less force-capable.
Han turning good by joining the rebellion doesn’t give him force powers.
Vader turning bad doesn’t take away his force powers.
So why don’t morally grey characters have any force powers? Why is Anikan/Luke more important than others, before he’s even been trained?
Midi-colorians answer these questions.
@@GabrielusPrime I disagree. I don't think magic/science has to be separate to be interesting. Not philosophically or in principal. Some of my favorite sci fi makes that blend.
But just the way it was handled in Ep1 was just terribly bad. It was like the background lore for jedi changed from 'tibetian monk stuff' to 'scientology', and it went over like a wet noodle with audiences. Honestly though, there were MANY things wrong with that movie. So midichlorians didn't kill the franchise by themselves.
Lucas is very creative, but can't make a good movie without producers who will tell him "no, that part is dumb, rewrite that part". He got big, nobody would tell him no anymore, and his work suffered greatly.
And Disney, just doesn't make good movies at all these days.
I agree. The Noir of this alone draws you in and the dialog, world building, sets, lighting and Casting. All on point. I can watch this movie over and over. Also, the ingenuity in props is awesome.
The scene towards the end when he flicks off Lucifer was so cool! I rewatched that scene many times when I was a kid.
Keanu has such a funny, even cute way of giving the middle finger. 😂
I screenshoted the exact scene and had it as my wallpaper
I remember thinking nooooooooooooo when he gave the finger.
Peter Stormare is amazing as Satan.
Are you still a kid? Mentally, primarily. Cause you sound like one.
To be honest, your presentation of the deeper nuances of the movie... amazing. Your insights are immaculate. I rewatched this movie so many times and I thought it was Keanus best work, and now you have explained why.
Seriously, I feel like I should be paying for this.
The contrast , the scenes lined so perfectly with the way you’re narrating in such exquisite details about things we have all felt, but not able to put into words. This is one of my comfort movies and it’s on my frequent to watch list. The way you said about us being dropped in the middle of the storyline is so true. During my first few watches I would often find myself on google trying to learn more about the phrases they used. Like the chair , or Ashgar. And it makes it that more immersive , and further develops interest in the story. Great job man. You’ve earned yourself a subscriber for life.
"Matter of Fact" describes Keanu Reeves typical acting style, pretty spot on...
He is everything different from the original comic setting but his performance and personality re-set a new idea about what Constantinople is all about
2:04 En Media Res storytelling is my absolute favourite. Worlds feel so much more believable if events and interactions are presented as just another blip in a long-running timeline of personal interactions. It's why in my own writing, I like to have characters reference events that they have experienced that we as a reader aren't privy to. Because that's how people are. We are always using our past to contextualise our present. And that present can't be contextualised without a past to back it up. This movie is great because it feels like a small glimpse into a life already in motion.
Agreed - my favourite literary example being The Odyssey, which itself has similar contextualising techniques like those in Constantine; as well, there’s Hamlet. Quick note, though: It’s ‘in medias res’ - not en media res - from the Latin “into the middle of things” (first used by Horace in his exegesis on the art of poetry, Ars Poetica, itself a Latin phrase for “poetic arts”) rather than a French, romantically derived en. Similar but different 🙂
Also it just makes the story feel more real by using en media res. Whenever we have an ideological conflict with someone, we’re always using our pasts (even the briefest of interactions) as an anecdote to why we presently believe the things we believe in.
I love it when it's done right, but you have to be careful about how to use it. A really bad example is Attack of the Clones. George Lucas never really show us what makes Anakin and Obi-Wan "like brothers", but he tries to tell us by having the characters quip about previous adventures. That is a case where I think it would have been more impactful for us to meet the characters in the events, rather than meeting them retelling the event.
@@pontusoskarsson7322 That’s actually something prevalent in most of the Lucas era movies. An example is Empire Strikes Back where Han talks about the bounty hunter they ran into on Ord Mantell. Other than that Empire is the PERFECT gold standard for how to do a film sequel.
I just recently watched Kevin Smith's cut of Mallrats. It has this whole C plot that turns the first 20 minutes of the film into set-up for very little payoff. Instead for the theatrical cut they got rid of all of that footage but left in some references to the events in later scenes. What this does is create the feeling that this world exists outside of the movie and like things happened even before we started watching and they're never explained because everyone in this world knows what happened. It made Mallrats such a better movie.
I never read the comics but fell in love with this movie the first time I watched it, because it was just so different. Great video!
Started to watch this video and realised from your initial intro that I should probably give it a watch. Pause your video... streamed the movie... came back to finish yours without any spoilers. Thanks for the prompt.
That’s what I like to hear :)
-Danny
I've always loved this movie, unapologetically. Saw it twice in theaters in my teens. I'm so happy a sequel to his Constantine is being worked on.
I saw this in the theaters, it was very cinematic, it checked all the marks. I was in my late teens, and not old enough to appreciate it fully. Now I'm 40, It really holds up IMO.
One of my favorites movie of all time. Script for the second film was apparently completed last year.
Constantine is one of my favorites. This video absolutely nails something I had not really been able to put into words, but I've always liked movies that don't spoonfeed everything to the audience. There are so many ways to convey themes and ideas and setting, like through framing and color, through the music, etc. Constantine is one of the best at this. It allows the audience to fill in the gaps unless something explicitly needs exposition, and as the video described, it always introduced every concept in practice BEFORE throwing exposition. It showed before it told, and it only told when the details would be important later. There is a concept that exists in the best detective fiction that has a parallel in video game design, specifically with puzzle games. You want to guide the player to the correct conclusion while allowing the player to feel clever. You need just enough information to be missing that the throughline is easy to follow, but allowing the viewer/player to fill in gaps and give a sense of events unfolding, bestowing agency to the audience. Obviously, you need to give much more agency in a video game, but the overall effect should be similar.
One of my favorite things about this movie is how much quiet time there is. It helps oull you in more.
To be honest, I was one of those purists who decry how the movie is "unfaithful" to the source material, right down to John NOT being a British person. But funny thing about time; nearly twenty years have passed and it's wild this movie is reevaluated for it's positives, more so than just being "unfaithful".
Thank you so much for the video.
indeed, and even as matt ryan was a more "picture perfect" depiction of Constantine, reeve's depiction really did still hit certain notes of the character correctly
I know Keanu didn't play the Hellblazer, but even so, I've come to prefer the movie version. He's not blonde, not Brit, and has a very different flavor of sarcasm and wit, but I think Keanu managed that oldest acting trick: Taking an established character and making them anew.
Ummm. Have you HEARD Reeves' 'British accent' in B.S. Dracula? There was NO other call to make.
If an artist, be it a director, writer, or actor doesn't put their own interpretation into the adaptation of the work then what's the point of doing it? You can love or hate it, but it should be different than the original.
This is not a good hellrazer movie, but, it's a fantástica Constantine movie.
I always felt this film was massively under appreciated
You pack so much into these short videos considering how relaxed their pacing is. I've been loving the varied breakdowns, really really enjoyable.
I’m so glad! I won’t lie though, getting them down to size ain’t easy. I keep strict word limits when writing that will leave adequate space for clips and interviews and music changes and all that, and even then I often find myself cutting sentences out and moving things around at the last minute during the final edit. It can be a very interesting process.
I've said this before to other content creators that Quality is key. Although different creators have their style and goals, subjects can vary greatly. If one video is 11 minutes and the next is 17... don't fixate on time. Just quality. @@CinemaStix
@@CinemaStix Reminds me of a quote attributed to some famous person I can't recall: "I would have written a shorter letter, but I didn't have the time."
It truly is a skilled art to be both complete and concise, and it doesn't always receive the appreciation it deserves.
That Lucifer entrance. *ICONIC*.
I missed this one when it came out. I've always known it was "good" in the way I'd appreciate, but I never had a real reason to go seeking it out. Now having specifics, I cannot wait to watch it soon. Thanks for the thoughtful video, as always!
Be sure to report back!
@@CinemaStix gotta get that engagement! (i will)
Oh, enjoy. This has always been a great movie and this review is hitting it right on: The movie’s not pedantic; it expects you to figure some stuff out.
I remember g4 literally had a block just dedicated to airing the Constantine commercial for it coming out on dvd. Still didnt watch it lol.
Same! I'll watch the movie tinight and the cinemastix video after, don't want to get spoiled. I love their movie suggestions
God I love that you ended on the movie ending with Constantine chewing on nicotine gum. That scene stuck with me for a long time when I first watched it during my childhood.
Honestly Constantine is completely underrated. And as far as him not being british whatever. I like that he is keanu. To me he will always be Keanu. And thats that.
me too. Still the definite article.
That's sort of the only thing that kept the og fans to not go and watch it in theatres. Constantine is Blonde, British, and has a Dark humorous attitude. But if you get past that, it's a fun ride, to the end.
@@johnnk3256 yeah well im sure there was other factors other than the 5 of you! tehe
@@purefoldnz3070 yeah dude when he is acting like he is giving that demon his last rights. That is pretty funny.
I 52nd this statement
One of my top favorite films or tv shows (and comics) I never understood why. As a writer your explanation helps me a lot ❤
I've loved this film since forever, but your vid has given me an entirely new way to think about it. I got so caught up on the visuals and acting that I never really thought about the way the story is structured. Absolutely fascinating!
Will always be one of my personal favorite films, and not just in the comic-book-adaptation space. Proof that not everything has to be entirely source-material-accurate to be good/great if you know what you're doing. Underrated AF!
im a huge fan of the source material but something about keanus Constantine just always draws me in. it was such a well done unique take on a character without being too far removed to be enjoyed.
I used to hate this movie as I was a sucker for the Hellblazer comics but once I gave the movie justice by giving it a proper rewatch, I realised how wrong I was. I appreciate this movie so much more now.
@@primenumberbuster404 im generally a stickler when it comes to adaptations of stuff i like but like i said above, this is a good reimagining if you will. i look at it like an elseworlds story. or marvels what if
@@elchunkacabra1450
The movie was my first exposure to constantine,
So to me Everything else is just a goofy copy of it.
Him being depressed fits way more than the mouthy british version.
The movie made the character in such a way that he doesnt need to be constantly talking to take the center stage. Because of that every mention of constantine in shows now gets me excited.
The name itself has presence to me. But i get quickly disapointed because its never followed through.
I can't believe how well you analyzed this film un under 11min. Excellent video about my favorite movie of all time. Keep up the great work
The cinematography in this movie is insanely gorgeous.
Love it when movies makers trust that I have the ability to watch their movie and that I am not an idiot, a movie without an explanation one would expect was indended for a toddler. I like it when the audience is trusted with the concepts and plot. The information is given and we are allowed to think the out meaning.
I always loved this movie, every performance is terrific, the world-building and effects were great, and the cinematography and direction were so eerie and static for most of the film, it added so much. And hearing Keanu say that this character is the one he wants to revisit most just shows how much he loved playing him and how much Is left to tell.
My favorite scene is him explaining the world he lives in to her in the coffe shop
I've also rewatched this movie many times over the years and I agree, it does get better every time. The scene with the Devil at the ending was one of my favorite movie scenes and I Love the actor and the take on the devil. Their interaction is awesome and epic.
Thanks for explaining these things that make the movies special. Definitely one of my favorite movies ever. I like that it treats the audience like they’re smart enough to keep up.
A movie all set in the middle, as he says. Where everyone already knows everyone.
That's your basic film noir and I LOVE when movies do that!
There was always something about this movie that drew me, and I think you put a lot of it into words. Great they didn't do the equivalent of killing uncle Ben or Bruce's parents for the 20th time.
So glad i keep seeing love for this movie. This is one of my favorites, and it left such a big impression on me in highschool, and every time i watch it stays just as good as it ever did the first time. Thanks for the care you put into the video
I've loved this film for a very long time, mostly because I'm a sucker for dark subject matter. The way you describe what makes the dialogue great made me realize I enjoy a movie that doesn't treat me like I'm stupid. You have to be patient and work for it.
Yeah! It’s a remarkable feat for any movie it seems. But all the more surprising and rewarding from a fun movie like this. As it happens, I’ve actually got a follow up video on Constantine coming out this Saturday.
:)
-Danny
Thank you. I watched this movie a couple of times shortly after its release. With your work, I now better understand why I enjoyed it as much as I did, and it explains why this movie felt so different from many others. Your insights and editing keep me coming back for more. I'm going to rewatch Constantine, this time with my college student daughter. I'm sure she's never seen it. I'll give her an outline of your points beforehand to enhance her appreciation. Then, after watching the movie, we'll watch your video.
Yes! Yeah, I recently showed it to a friend of mine who hadn’t seen it, and I mentioned a few things beforehand as well, about the exposition and stuff. And then as we were watching he kept pausing and being like “woooow, that part was really, really well done.”
This and Devil's Advocate are prime examples of Reeves' talent as, not only a physical/stunt type actor but also as a solid dramatic actor.
I absolutely love the movie Constantine. It was great the first few watches, then hearing the commentary track completely opened my mind to the movie's subtleties. Please do more video essays on Constantine, I'd watch a whole series of them! It's such an underappreciated gem imo, I never hear other people talk about it. Subscribing in the hopes it'll help encourage more on this subject!
I’ve always loved this film, and have found it endlessly rewatchable. I never understood why it was so critically savaged, and so overlooked by the very fan base that cries out for exactly this type of film. Thanks for putting what previously was the film’s ineffable appeal for me into words.
episode 203829 of a guy talking about a film I have never seen and now I inexplicably need to watch
Thank you for telling this to us, we already was wondering what the main character in this world need to do.
You won't regret it, love this one.
@@Zodroo_Tint”but stan why are you so mad?”
I never thought I’d enjoy watching a deep dive on a movies I already watched. The way you edited this is amazing. Great job.
I just watched this movie for the first time because of your channel. Loved it. Thank you!
Whoo! I’ve got another video on it actually coming out tomorrow :) So great timing.
-Danny
Constantine was an awesome movie. I found it by accident. A mom and pop video rental store had what I assume were bootleg DVDs for $5. It was a disc in a generic plastic case that I bought on a whim.
Constantine is one of my favourite movies, and it’s great to revisit every now and then. So happy to see it getting some love and appreciation.
Additionally, the film doesn’t treat you like a child and allows you to put things together without holding your hand constantly.
Not only do you have some very cool insights, but your delivery is perfect. You’re helping to ignite my interest in revisiting films that I wasn’t necessarily sold on the first time around back in its day. I appreciate it. Cheers!
That he doesn't care that he's in a movie is a great insight. Great video and a great topic, I'd really appreciate more on the movie.
MASTERPIECE of a movie im so glad it caught on in later years because people used to talk down on it so much when it first hit the box office.
Constantine is so underrated, BEST Keanu character, even better than Neo.
I have always said that this is one of the most underrated movies. As time goes on I find myself pleased to see others agree more and more.
One of my favorite movies, flawed, but the highs are so good they tend to plaster over the imperfections.
Possible video idea, I think this movie contains one of the best portrayals of Lucifer in cinema. From entrance to exit, Peter Stormare's performance along with dialogue and imagery...chef's kiss.
Busybusybusybusy
Agreed. Peter's performance was perfect.
The costume is the best part for me. Apparently they planned for a more "badass" leather look, but Peter Stormare pushed for the simple white suit and tarred feet.
Totally agree! Stormare is a great mix of creepy and a little silly. His presence on screen is fantastic!
It's a fascinating story with a very convincing ideology
Great actors in "Constantine", too.
An original idea, good director and producer and great actors.
e.g. Tilda Swinton was *perfect" for the role of Gabriel.
Peter Stormair's performance as Satan was so great, all I could think was, "Why haven't I ever heard of him, before?"
You hadn't seen Big Lebowski, Chocolat, or Fargo?
He’s in Jurassic park II, Armageddon, prison break… he has a IMDb the length of my arm.
0:56 blending the SFX techniques in a sequence is so effective at making it seem real when compared to using just one technique. Stand outs being Constantine and Jurassic Park
Such an underrated film.
I had the same kind of feeling after watching Constantine that I did when I watched Prometheus and Alien Covenant. I was younger, maybe looking for fun flashy sci fi, didn’t really get it.
But these movies somehow snuck under my skin… I found myself thinking about each film a great deal in the days after seeing them, until I had to go watch them again.
Then all the references were clearer. The plot more accessible. The breadcrumbs became sweeter. And then I loved the films I had previously dismissed.
That’s what makes these films so re watchable, the unanswered questions that give you something to think about after the credits roll.
Like is there water in hell or not?! 😆
Love how your videos cultivate a very relaxed but wondrous feel. Always quality and succinct too. Keep it up
:D
I really like the idea of media you have to reach for. I feel like that describes so much of the media that I really love, and there's nothing more satisfying then that second or third watch through when all the puzzle pieces slide into place.
This and Watchmen are THE best movie adaptations I've ever seen. Really loved every second of them.
How?
Scott Pilgrim.
@@idontevenlikemoney ew
@@shadowofbosstownby not being picky and jaded
so true! i would also throw hellboy in there! they aren’t 100% faithful, but i think it’s impossible to be 100% faithful to a comic! the best form for the story is a comic book, so things have to change to make sense in film
So many scenes can be screenshoted at nearly anytime and are so artistic
I love this movie to bits and any sort of discussion in regards to it I WILL WATCH THEM ALLLLLL
"...but one that can also create a more profound love between film and viewer when that connection is achieved."
You've put into words exactly how I feel about this movie. Because the audience is allowed to figure out the world through observation rather than explanation, there's a feeling of being "in on it" that most films just don't have. I think it helps us connect to Angela as well. Rather than being an audience proxy from the beginning and learning at the same time, we get to see her go through the discovery process after us. It's almost like showing a favorite movie to a friend, a feeling of excitement to see how she'll react to the information we just learned and reacted to ourselves. Like gentle hazing almost, it endears her to us in a way that learning with her wouldn't have.
It's criminally underrated. They needed to do more of these.
never been so early on a CinemaStix video... Constantine is one of the best movies ever!
It is like setup, reminder, payoff, but you do the reminder first. Brilliant.
At this point we need another Constantin with Keanu
I had to stop watching this video because I seem to have forgotten how great the pacing and cinematography "Constantine" had (but I was a teenager when I've last seen it) ... so time for a rewatch!
I love that Shia's character Chaz does know how to get into the club, but he lacks the confidence to actually pull it off. His remark about it being a bear on the way up the club hints at this (imo), while still played for a bit of a chuckle.
I love Constantine. I used to watch it almost weekly with a buddy back in college. I never really put together what you brought forth, but it makes sense. I love the world for what it doesn't explain, but makes you figure out. That way you see each nuance through every different time you watch. Well done.
This was my first literally me movie. It's such an entertaining film.
Great movie, I show it to everyone I know that say they've never watched it. This is one of the handful of must watch movies in my life.
Just fantastic. You sir have a gift for story telling.
My favorite part of this movie is how understated the world building is done. It's not in-your-face or overbearing.
2:19 - the movie respected the intelligence of the audience by not explaining every little thing
I'd love to see Keanu's constantine and Christian Bale's Dark knight together.
Wow! Love watching your analysis and examinations of film and this was another BRILLIANT video ✨ Well done, would love to see more on Constantine absolutely
Thank you! And fantastic :)
Man I always love the commentary in these RUclips videos. Thanks again for what you do!
I like that form of story telling WAY better, show first and subtly explain later.
If that happened more often it'll train the audience to think and guess more on what they see.
I squealed when seeing this video pop up on my feed. This movie was so underrated when it first came out, but it is actually amazing and fantastic and I'm so glad you're covering it. Just at the start of the video...but I already support a follow up.
Love your essays amigo. Appreciate you
Right back at you!
:)
I have a number of those tarot cards given to me by the lead prop man from when I visited the set as lead artist on the video game, I was there on set for a few scene in the hospital too. Great movie and certainly got better with age.
This film is so underrated. Let keanu have his sequel!!!
I'd never seen this movie before running into this video. About halfway through, I decided to go watch it on Tubi. Damn, I was surprised by how much I actually enjoyed it. I was a kid when this movie came out, and for some reason I didn't see it. Glad I finally did.
Thank you so much for THIS!
This movie has and always will be a classic
As a hypothetical writer (I have thought about writing much, much more than I have written), your analysis here of how the story and presentation of Constantine were crafted makes me want to both watch it again, and try more at getting my own stories written.
Fabulous video. 💖