CONSTANTINE: THE OFFICIAL MOVIE ADAPTATION REVIEW

[Walt Kneeland]

Review by: Walt Kneeland (walt_kneeland@yahoo.com )
Quick Rating: Decent
Tagline: Hell wants him. Heaven won't take him. Earth needs him.

Summary: Meet "John Constantine," Keanu Reeves-style.

<a href="http://www.comixtreme.com/gallery/data/media/23/Constantine_Movie_Adaptation.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixtreme.com/gallery/data/thumbnails/23/Constantine_Movie_Adaptation.jpg" align="left" border="0"> </a>Writer: Steven T. Seagle
Penciller: Ron Randall
Inker: Jimmy Palmiotti
Breakdowns: Peter Gross
Letterer: Jared K. Fletcher
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Assistant Editor: Pornsak Pichetshote
Editor: Jonathan Vankin
Cover Art: Warner Bros.
Publisher: Vertigo (DC Comics)

Review: I'll be honest. I was prepared to outright hate this. I've been reading <b>Hellblazer</b> for over 40 months now (since Summer, 2001) and have gone back and picked up & read all the TPBs as well as having read an extensive run that my boss that summer had--which is what he used to get me interested in the character in the first place. I think it's probably safe to say that I've read at least 3/4 of the 200+ issue series in one form or another.

In short, to me, "John Constantine" is a blonde, trenchcoat-wearing, chain-smoking, womanizing, egotistical, manipulative, self-righteous English bastard.

As such, to see him as a black-haired, suitcoat-and-tie-wearing, smoking, not-so-nice Americanized ...something-or-other was not something I was prepared to like. After all, I am well-aware of the fact that there are plenty of changes and modifications that must often be made to translate a character from book-to-film and vice-versa (and all the more to go from book-to-film and then for this adaptation, right back film-to-book). But when there's enough change to essentially create an entirely new, but similar character, I am among those who are very skeptical of such an interpretation.

<b>Constantine: The Official Movie Adaptation</b> has me looking forward to the movie more than I have since hearing both that Keanu Reeves was starring in the film, and no hair-dye was being used.

The trick is to step back, and realize that this is <b>Constantine</b>, and not <b>Hellblazer</b>. This John Constantine bears enough resemblence to the original that, you could almost have the two meet in some off-continuity "meeting" story, in which each is a counterpart to the other--one from England, one from the United States. In the end though, <b>Constantine</b> seems to have more of a <i>similarity</i> to its source than to be a direct <i>adaptation from</i> its source.

In this, we find a man who apparently has some history with the occult; there is death, and suspicious happenings. John is not appreciated by the police when he sticks his nose into their business. As the story progresses, we get a look at the supernatural forces that pull Constantine into the conflict that is the core of this story. Along the way, we are introduced to "Angela," who gets pulled into things by her sister's circumstances. As the story moves along, some moments crop up that seem familiar--obviously taken directly from classic <B>Hellblazer</B> issues. Toward the end, there is a moment that I hope makes it into the final theatrical version of the film, as--though the moment is re-arranged somewhat--, it is (for me, at least) a defining characteristic of John Constantine.

This adaptation carries a hefty price--$6.95. It is in DC's "Prestige Format" (aka "squarebound"), though, and has no ads. However, this same adaptation is included in the <B>Constantine: The Hellblazer Collection</B> TPB. The TPB also includes several other classic <B>Hellblazer</B> issues--at least a couple which I don't believe had ever been reprinted before. As such, I would recommend that volume over the single adaptation.

In the end...if you are looking for another "traditional" <B>Hellblazer</B> story, you're definitely going to be disappointed. If you go in with an open mind and recognize that this is more of a story <I>loosely based on</I> the <B>Hellblazer</B> character we all know than a direct adaptation/interpretation, I daresay you'll find yourself with a rather enjoyable story. Not perfect--but rather enjoyable.


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[Ryan Broussard]

i know nothing of this character but i am looking foward to the movie, and if you, walt, a long time reader finds that the movie adaptation is acceptable i am sure i will think it was great

[Walt Kneeland]

In terms of the comic, not so wonderful. But taken in and of itself, pretty good.

~Walt (Says the guy who tries to see the good in stuff)

[Ryan Broussard]

well i guess it will be good for me, this will be the first comic book movie adaptaion i have seen without reading the comic book first, i am usually screaming at the screen, so maybe i can relax during this one