Constantine (R)

Visuals and attitude -- not for kids.

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About Our Ratings
Common Sense rates it
3
Seen the movie? Review it
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Movie details
  • Studio: Warner Bros., Warner Bros.
  • Directed By: Francis Lawrence
  • Cast: Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz
  • Running Time: 117 minutes
  • Release Date: 02/17/2005
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 07/19/2005
  • Genre: Action/adventure
  • MPAA Rating: R
  • MPAA Explanation: violence and demonic images

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie has extensive, intense, and graphic peril and violence, disturbing images, and suicides. Characters are injured and killed. There is some strong language, though less than in many R-rated movies. Characters drink, and a character is a chain smoker and is dying of lung cancer. Some viewers may be concerned about the portrayal of theological concepts, clergy members, angels, and demons.

Families can talk about their own notions of heaven and hell and free will. What matters most to John? To Angela? To Midnite?

Message

Social Behavior:

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Character has lung cancer from constant smoking, drinking.

Violence

Intense and graphic violence and disturbing images, suicides.

Sex

Some sexual references.

Language

Some strong language.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Nell Minow

John Constantine (Keanu Reeves) has an unusual ability: He is able to see demons that have crossed their plane into ours. Demons that take over human bodies and exert control. At one time overhwhelmed by his ability, Constantine had tried to kill himself. As punishment for that crime, Constantine is tasked with tracking down demons that cross into our plane and returning them to their own. When police detective Angela Dodson's (Rachel Weisz) sister kills herself in a mental ward, Angela's investigation leads her to Constantine. Together they must work to save earth from evil.

Is it any good?

3

Take a 1930's movie detective, a guy who shoots straight and talks tough. You know, the kind of guy who may have a soft spot for a dame in a jam but that doesn't necessarily mean he believes what she tells him. The kind of who always seems to be walking down a rain-soaked street on a moonless night, smoking a cigarette. Put him in today's Los Angeles. So he has lung cancer from all that smoking and a bit of a punk-ish edge. And this detective has been to hell and back -- literally.

CONSTANTINE is all about the visuals and the attitude, and both are cool and striking, reflecting its comic book origins and music video sensibilities. Highlights include a battle with a rock star-like demon (played by real-life rock star Gavin Rossdale) in a sleek corporate boardroom, a sort of elevator to hell through immersion in water, and swarming CGI creatures and insects. The film plays with some fundamental philosophical and theological puzzles, but the concepts and the language are all sizzle, no steak. That's more that can be said for the relationship between Reeves and Weisz. He achieves a nicely cool vibe somewhere between zen and exhaustion, but that never connects with Weisz's earnestness and sense of loss.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 12 reviews.

3


Posted on 04/17/07 by demon destroyer Kid contributor, age 14

if this is violent then rate van helsing the same

if you have never seen the movie van helsing the don't read my review. this movie shouldn't have been reeated r on here or by the raters the worst violence there is is that a priest uses a corkscrew to send constantine a type of message in his own blood because he is going to die. van helsing is way moire violent than this movie. if this is r then v for vendetta should have been rated x! probably the creepiest part in the whole mobie is when a fly appears out of a guys eyelide and there are flies coming out of his mouth because of a demon. if you see this movie don't expect there to be a whole lot of accuracy about the christian religion. for people who have seen it though if someone you care about or someone somebody else cares about does go to hell then don't offer your soul to the devil you can't trust him. you can try and tell God if you ever meet thim in heaven
4


Posted on 03/22/07 by me23 Kid contributor, age 12

It has that creepy exorcist theme.

violance-some, just spoonky, not rough. oh and the main charecter is ding from cancer, he also drinks and curses, a lot. If your child can handle scary stuff, and has been exxposed to bad language, there is nothing to fear!
3


Posted on 07/05/06 by WayTooDramatic Kid contributor, age 14

Visually awesome, but not much in the way of plot here.

I'm suprised this movie is rated R. The biggest issue here is violence, and I have seen other movies that were PG-13, and way more violent. However, my mom and a few of my friends were grossed out and had to look away in a few parts. The language is limited to one f-word (said by an angel, no less), some s-words, and a few milder curses. There is virtually no sexual content except for some joking between John and Angela when she has to get into a bathtub (she keeps her clothes on). Many people (including me) may be disturbed by an exorcism and demonic themes, and suicides of some characters.
Age 17+
4


Posted on 11/18/05 by Jtspeakman Adult contributor

Age 17+
0


Posted on 11/13/05 by ThatDanGuy Adult contributor

Nauseating

Everything about this movie is terrible. I don't know what I was thinking or expecting from Keaneu Reeves. The guy can't hold his on as a supporting actor, much less as the leading man. Don't waste your money and don't let your kids watch it. You can find something better to spend you money on, like treating the family to snail races. And you shouldn't expose your kids to such filth as Mr. Reeves attempts to act.
3


Posted on 10/12/05 by TnMovieFan2 Kid contributor, age 13

4


Posted on 08/31/05 by LovinLaBeouf13 Kid contributor, age 13

Interesting

This movie was great! I liked it! Shia LaBeouf was in it!!!! It was really good, I was at the egde of my seat!
Age 17+
3


Posted on 07/29/05 by sagira Adult contributor

Age 17+
3


Posted on 03/04/05 by BritMom Adult contributor

Age 17+
5


Posted on 02/27/05 by johnyaya137 Adult contributor

intense pseudo-intellectual wierdness

This movie earns its R, with a lot of supernatural creepiness and violence. The main character is not somebody you want your kids to watch and learn from. The amount of occult teachings and paraphenalia depicted will also bother many viewers. More disturbing to me the internally contradictory theological nonsense: the screenwriters just had no idea what they were talking about, and could not keep their story straight. But the performance by Keanu Reeves and some amazingly convincing special effects saved the movie by keeping the fun meter on high readings for adults who knew what it was talking about (even in its incoherent moments).

See all 12 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 7 reviews.

Age 17+
4


Posted on 11/18/05 by Jtspeakman Adult contributor

Age 17+
0


Posted on 11/13/05 by ThatDanGuy Adult contributor

Nauseating

Everything about this movie is terrible. I don't know what I was thinking or expecting from Keaneu Reeves. The guy can't hold his on as a supporting actor, much less as the leading man. Don't waste your money and don't let your kids watch it. You can find something better to spend you money on, like treating the family to snail races. And you shouldn't expose your kids to such filth as Mr. Reeves attempts to act.
Age 17+
3


Posted on 07/29/05 by sagira Adult contributor

Age 17+
3


Posted on 03/04/05 by BritMom Adult contributor

Age 17+
5


Posted on 02/27/05 by johnyaya137 Adult contributor

intense pseudo-intellectual wierdness

This movie earns its R, with a lot of supernatural creepiness and violence. The main character is not somebody you want your kids to watch and learn from. The amount of occult teachings and paraphenalia depicted will also bother many viewers. More disturbing to me the internally contradictory theological nonsense: the screenwriters just had no idea what they were talking about, and could not keep their story straight. But the performance by Keanu Reeves and some amazingly convincing special effects saved the movie by keeping the fun meter on high readings for adults who knew what it was talking about (even in its incoherent moments).
Age 13+
4


Posted on 02/24/05 by nycstew Adult contributor

Superior Comic Book Adaptation

Well, I've never read the bible, never been to church & don't believe in your god or anyone else's, but still managed to follow the movie. It's based on a comic book after all, albeit a superior, intelligent one. It is dark & disturbing but shouldn't be seen as anything other than the entertainment it sets out to be. Keanu is Keanu & still couldn't act his way out of a wet paper bag. This is miscasting of the first degree & he's just too nice to play Constantine (who should be British by the way... & blonde). Ms Weisz is excellent as usual. The film is a sylish noir with a violent storyline & themes... suicide, demons etc. I'd rather my kid not see it yet but I'd rather him see this than The Waltons. It's not a Shiny Haapy movie so don't take the kiddies unless you want sleepless nights but if you want a dumb night out with friends you can do a lot worse!
Age 17+
4


Posted on 02/20/05 by yami0204 Adult contributor

Wow, they carded me... O.o;

Wow, they carded me before seeing this movie. They carded me! >D Erm, anyway, what to say? Lots of violence. Lots of Biblical truth. Lots of demonology. It helps to understand the "mythology" before going into the theater. I'm not sure why they rated it "R." I think the majority of people going into the theater were hoping for a horror flick, and it's not. It's really heavy. Especially when the Lance of Longinus (AKA "Spear of Destiny") is involved. Is it common knowledge that Hitler was rumored to have it? Not sure, but they mentioned it as if everyone knew about it. They didn't even explain the Lance. And why Gabriel was a manly woman? Angels have no gender, people. The thing is, if you wanna see this movie, study either the Bible or a book on angels and demons or something. This movie is not for those clueless on the nature of religion.
See all 7 adult reviews>

Kids Reviews

There are 5 reviews.

3


Posted on 04/17/07 by demon destroyer Kid contributor, age 14

if this is violent then rate van helsing the same

if you have never seen the movie van helsing the don't read my review. this movie shouldn't have been reeated r on here or by the raters the worst violence there is is that a priest uses a corkscrew to send constantine a type of message in his own blood because he is going to die. van helsing is way moire violent than this movie. if this is r then v for vendetta should have been rated x! probably the creepiest part in the whole mobie is when a fly appears out of a guys eyelide and there are flies coming out of his mouth because of a demon. if you see this movie don't expect there to be a whole lot of accuracy about the christian religion. for people who have seen it though if someone you care about or someone somebody else cares about does go to hell then don't offer your soul to the devil you can't trust him. you can try and tell God if you ever meet thim in heaven
4


Posted on 03/22/07 by me23 Kid contributor, age 12

It has that creepy exorcist theme.

violance-some, just spoonky, not rough. oh and the main charecter is ding from cancer, he also drinks and curses, a lot. If your child can handle scary stuff, and has been exxposed to bad language, there is nothing to fear!
3


Posted on 07/05/06 by WayTooDramatic Kid contributor, age 14

Visually awesome, but not much in the way of plot here.

I'm suprised this movie is rated R. The biggest issue here is violence, and I have seen other movies that were PG-13, and way more violent. However, my mom and a few of my friends were grossed out and had to look away in a few parts. The language is limited to one f-word (said by an angel, no less), some s-words, and a few milder curses. There is virtually no sexual content except for some joking between John and Angela when she has to get into a bathtub (she keeps her clothes on). Many people (including me) may be disturbed by an exorcism and demonic themes, and suicides of some characters.
3


Posted on 10/12/05 by TnMovieFan2 Kid contributor, age 13

4


Posted on 08/31/05 by LovinLaBeouf13 Kid contributor, age 13

Interesting

This movie was great! I liked it! Shia LaBeouf was in it!!!! It was really good, I was at the egde of my seat!
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