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Ps, i also heard that he loves The Matrix

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Yep, it's his favourite movie, apparently!

But I think he also insulted Keanu's Constantine at one point.

Oh - did you ever do GISHWHES? I took part in 2011 when it first started. :D

I haven't taken part in that, i do want to, atleast next year. I missed the announcement cause of health issues. Wasn't as tuned. Guess it got over on the 9th of last month. It's such a cute attempt isn't it? How did it go for you?

I remember seeing him in Charmed first! One of the reruns here. God! He was so sweet!

It is great that what started as some PR stunt transformed into this, thanks to Misha and it is also lovely that they attached RAOK with it. What I am hoping though is for it to not lose focus on the fundamental objective and become more about, trips to places and grand gifts. RAOK is a sweet attempt and I am just hoping that this would be a crazy yet beneficial extension of that

disclaimer: I'm not actually preaching and don't mean to offend anybody. I respect and embrace all belief systems that are based on what HH Dalai Lama calls "the good heart"

As a follower of Christ's teachings - note that I did not say "Christian" because I'm so pissed off at what that means way too frigging often - I LOVE that Francis Lawrence, Keanu, and apparently everyone involved in the film took the spiritual aspect quite literally. To build a whole film around the understanding that evil is quite real, and that the denial of evil as a force is evil's greatest tool, is extremely profound and wise in my opinion (also not at all unlike The Devil's Advocate, which has the same premise).

It is not hard and perhaps not inaccurate to see addiction as "possession." It is not hard and perhaps not inaccurate to see the forces at work in rapacious capitalism and global politics as forces of evil.

All of that also posits the existence of good as a force, one to which all of us, like Constantine , can contribute every single day, in ways that are often small and sometimes bigger. Keanu reminds us, even almost nagging at times for those of us who see it (Man Of Tai Chi), that art can illuminate and has that responsibility.

More Constantine! Keanu! Francis Lawrence! yes!!!

I'm with Angela on this. 'People are evil, Mr. Constantine. People.'.
We're all responsible for our acts, deeds and decisions.

And it's Warner who produces and releases the tv series, so I really doubt they are interested in making a second movie....

We are absolutely responsible for our acts, deeds and decisions. But to the extent that we are unaware or uncaring about the consequences of those, we are not working for good. "The problem is choice."

All of this is VERY personal and I certainly wouldn't expect anyone to agree with me, but it's how I see it. I do think the filmmakers took this worldview seriously, whether or not it's their own belief system. I like seeing this subject matter taken seriously.

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It really doesn't have anything to do with being a "heaven lackey"

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oh, but it does... remember the first conversation between Constantine and Gabriel, in the church? He was trying to buy his way into heaven. Buy, not earn.

And he earns it only when he makes an altruistic sacrifice 'for the girl'. When he chooses to save Isabel's soul, not his own. And no, it wasn't a con. (Another difference from the comics; movie Constantine is a much nobler soul than comics Constantine). This is the movie character's development arch; much subtler and understated than Angela's. The problem - and salvation- was choice, indeed. In all three movies ;) (Matrix, Constantine, MOTC).

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And no, it wasn't a con.

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I really had to spend some time working this out for myself, wondering if John engineered the whole thing because he knew he'd be able to flip ol' Lou the bird on his way up. But on multiple rewatches I came to the same conclusion you did. Not that you don't know any of this, but I'm writing it anyway because I love analyzing this movie. :)

I think he saw a last shot for his life to mean something, to save one soul from torment and ease the pain of someone else he was coming to care about and knew he wouldn't have a future with. After the trade is done, Keanu gives every indication by look, voice, and posture that John is now completely without hope and has accepted the coming reality of his eternal torment. Stubbing out his cig in his own blood really sealed the deal for me on his motivations. That's one of the most strikingly bleak visuals I've ever seen, and I think it says John was just done on every level.

I'm curious about this, though:

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This is the movie character's development arch; much subtler and understated than Angela's.

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I thought John's arc was pretty clear from start to finish. What did you think Angela's was, or was meant to be? Simply the idea of her embracing her gift after ignoring it for so long?

In terms of the movie's general morality, I get frustrated with the overly literalistic interpretation of the Church's teachings. I believe it's been the case for some time in the Catholic church that patients adjudicated mentally ill, as we know Isabel was from the fact of her involuntary confinement, cannot be considered to have committed suicide because they lacked the capacity to make a rational decision and therefore didn't sin. Then again, I never understood why Izzy's death was considered suicide by anyone - she did the noble thing and jumped to stop the demon from taking possession of her, correct? So even if the Church thought she was condemned to hell, God should've had something else to say in the matter.

I hate to see anyone else playing Constantine, as I think it's far and away Keanu's finest work and a new guy in the role is a sad reminder that Keanu never got the credit he deserved. However, on a strictly shallow note, I don't know that I'd want him to reprise the role since he's aged enough that the Constantine I know from 2005 would look noticeably different, which I do not want.

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The problem - and salvation- was choice, indeed. In all three movies ;)

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What a great insight. Very well spotted.

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What did you think Angela's was, or was meant to be? Simply the idea of her embracing her gift after ignoring it for so long?

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Mostly that, but not 'simply' that. She's not only embracing her gift; she's also making peace with her sister. (Tell them, Angie. Tell them that you see them too. But I lied. I said " I don't see anything" ) Angela has to accept responsibility for her past choices, too, and to seek her own redemption. And when she finally does, bam! That scene of the exploding bathtub is not there just for Rachel to look pretty when wet. ;)

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I think he saw a last shot for his life to mean something, to save one soul from torment and ease the pain of someone else he was coming to care about and knew he wouldn't have a future with. After the trade is done, Keanu gives every indication by look, voice, and posture that John is now completely without hope and has accepted the coming reality of his eternal torment. Stubbing out his cig in his own blood really sealed the deal for me on his motivations. That's one of the most strikingly bleak visuals I've ever seen, and I think it says John was just done on every level.

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THAT. Thank you for putting it into words :)

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the New 52 series are having the character written in his early 30s.

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Alternate universe.

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Angela has to accept responsibility for her past choices, too, and to seek her own redemption. And when she finally does, bam! That scene of the exploding bathtub is not there just for Rachel to look pretty when wet. ;)

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You mean like a baptism...a rebirth.

Wow, I just...wow.

Damn, woman, you are good.

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Uh huh. Baptism. Because that almost never happens in Keanu's films.

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Ouch. I guess I was slow on the uptake there, but still...that one's gonna leave a mark.

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So even if the Church thought she was condemned to hell, God should've had something else to say in the matter.

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Oh, but you see, if Isabel wouldn't have truly been in hell - as Constantine confirmed to Angela- Angela wouldn't have felt guilty and pursued the matter till the very end, and the second half of the movie wouldn't have happened...
Mysterious ways, remember ? ;)

*notices thread is days old*