Plot
Based on the graphic novel Hellblazer, the story follows supernatural detective/exorcist/crusader John Constantine and his attempts to redeem his soul. He's a man who is tortured, and fights the minons of the Devil, but not for the good of mankind. He took his own life when he was young, and is doomed to go to Hell when his time is up. He fights to possibly redeem his soul, not to better mankind.
After learning he has terminal cancer (the irony of dying from a mortal disease, not a demon is not lost on John) he finds his closest allies in his war being killed by demons. Another surprise, in the form of Angela, a detective whose psychic sister committed suicide. Her twin, psychic sister.
It turns out that the son of the Devil, Manon, is trying to materialize on Earth. He's sick of waiting in the wings, and all he needs is a powerful psychic (in the form of Angela), and the Spear of Destiny which has Christ's blood on it. And all this has been made possible, not by Lucifer, but by God's Archangel Gabriel. She has decided that man needs to earn their redemption instead of having it given to them.
After a Gabriel has pretty much wiped the floor with Constantine, he decides the only person who can help him is Lucifer. He slits his wrists, 'dies' and the boss comes up to collect his soul personally. That's when Constantine tells the man his kid is in the next room. Well, Lucifer does what any good father would do, and punishes the little bastard, along with burning off Gabriel's wings, making her mortal.
He then tries to take John. But, since John did Lucifer a solid, he'll do John a solid. John wants Angela's sister's soul released and sent to Heaven. Done and done, and this selfless act gives him what he wanted: redemption. God starts taking John home, but this kind of pisses of the Devil. He grabs John, and removes the cancer from his lungs. He won't go to Hell, but he won't go to Heaven just yet either.
My Thoughts
I missed this one the first time around, and was sorry I did. I'm not familiar with Hellblazer, but that didn't matter when I sat down and watched it. Reeves is a solid leading man, and played Constantine straight. He's a mean, bad man who just happens to be fighting the good fight. The special effects are top notch, the story is the kind of supernatural, mythological story that's right up my alley. Some of his associates, like Midnight, are interesting, and one his main rivals, Balthazar, was pretty cool. Played by Gavin Rossdale, he plays a part in killing one of John's allies. Of course, John gets his revenge and smokes the bastard.
All in all, this movie had everything I wanted. Ridiculously good action and effects, great performances, and an amazing story. One of the good comic book movies, and I'm hoping for more.
