Kakaku：1099 saved$10.99
Universal Studios
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Fear of the Other) 『Bryan Bertino's debut film "The Strangers" is among the most frightening American horror movies I have seen released since 2000.
Starting with a serious disappointment in "love", young almost newlywed Kristen McKay (Liv Tyler) and her amazingly stoic would-be fiancee Scott Speedman (James Hoyt) retreat to their vacation home in a remote wooded area to get it together. After a close friend's wedding, Scott proposed to Kristen and was rejected.
The symbolism is appropriate for the events to come--rose petals scattered around champagne bottles, the now humiliating box in which a marriage ring is held--beauty and security rejected and destroyed. And me oh my, is it.
The only time the viewer gets a close shot at one of the "Stranger" when both characters are home: a nondescript blond woman pounds on the door and asks: "Is Tamra home?" When Scott answers no, she smirks a bit in the darkness and replies "Are you sure?" Using the eerie backdrop of vinyl records skipping and ceaseless pounding at the door, the nameless killers (who wear childlike Halloween masks) launch an all out assault on the senses, souls, and physical safety of the two. I was convinced that at some point Bertino would make a mistake and reveal the identity of the family? doing this: he never drops the ball once. Even with the predictably stupid decisions made by the two protagonists, this is a great horror movie.
』
(SCARY in a Real Way.... Excellent movie!) 『QUICK PLOT - Young couple is terrorized "By Strangers" in remote summer cabin.
Extremely well made movie about a young couple that is staying in a remote summer home, when suddenly there is a "LOUD" bang on the door at 4 AM. A mysterious creepy girl is at the door asking for an unknown person - and everything for this couple goes downhill from there!
Much of the thrill of this movie is the INCREDIBLE tension it creates through the effective use of darkness, music, creepy sounds, and the "unknown" of what's next.....
This movie will stick with you - and will make you think about being careful when being in places that are too dark or remote.』
(Boooooring) 『If you thought The Happening was slow, this one moves at a glacial pace.
One big question - where do these people live, with no neighbors who call police after hearing screams, shotgun blasts, splintering wood, and exploding car windows? If they live in the middle of nowhere, it would have been nice to tell us that. Instead, any city-dweller viewer is going to wonder when the police are going to show up.
Behold the stupidest human being on the face of planet - the friend of the lead actor. If you arrived at a friend's house, and a second after shutting off your car, your rear window explodes accompanied by a shotgun blast, would you: a) Start your car and hightail it out of there b) Duck under the dashboard and phone 911 on your cell c) Get out of your car and walk cautiously walk toward your friend's house asking "is anyone there?". If you answered C, then it's only a matter of time before the Darwin Theory does what it's supposed to do and removes you from the food chain.
Note to horror film makers - if you want to make people empathize with characters that are going to die, make them likeable and interesting. We get to know little or nothing about the two leads in this film, and therefore we don't care what happens to them. 』
(Great horror movie!) 『I went to the theatre to see this movie, and I found myself constantly jumping. The acting is great. The lighting and music are scary. The pace is perfect. The "strangers" are terrifying. I bought this dvd as soon as it came out. It was definitely worth the $20 I spent for it.』
(Scary but copying VACANCY) 『The Strangers started off terrifying throughout the beginning and the middle, with the elements of being stalked at night with 3 killers. That's scary, but trust me towards the end, the film lost it's horror element. Don't see this film if you loved VACANCY, because this was supposed to be absolutely terrifying.』 『Inspired by true events, this heart pounding, nail-biting frightener mercilessly explores our most universal fears, where simply opening the door to a stranger leads to a grueling night of terror one could never imagine. Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman star in this relentless suspense thriller that will keep you up at night and make you never want to answer the door again!』 『A lean, briskly paced and exceptionally creepy thriller,The Strangersearns its scares the old-fashioned way: through atmosphere, sound design, and a simple yet undeniably upsetting central premise that allows for maximum tension throughout its running time. Attractive young lovers Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman are already having a bad day--she's turned down his marriage proposal--before a knock on the door in the middle of the night announces a full-fledged siege on their remote vacation home by a trio of masked assailants. The film's first third delivers the most consistent shivers as the visitors make their presence and intentions known to Tyler; the second half grows more frantic and bloody before a gruesome finale that may leave viewers either rattled to their core or bothered by its empty nihilism. Speedman is fine as the downtrodden male lead (who's seen tucking into a carton of ice cream after being rejected), but it's Tyler who impresses the most by shouldering the lion's share of the terror. First-time writer/director Bryan Bertino impresses by forsaking the current passion for over-the-top violence (save for the finale) in favor of more traditional means of generating fear, and if his project borrows heavily from other films, most notably the French chillerThem(which shares its "inspired by a true story" origin) and Michael Haneke'sFunny Games, at least he's taking from the best. The sound design is among the many technical standouts, and the unsettling score by tomandandy (The Hills Have Eyes) pleasantly evokes Ennio Morricone's fuzztone-heavy work for Dario Argento in the early '70s. On a completely unrelated note, LP fanatics should appreciate how both the film's heroes and villains share an affinity for folk and country music on vinyl. --Paul Gaita』
Kakaku：9999 saved$99.99
YA Entertainment
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (BIG TIME BLOOPER INCLUDED.....) 『Other reviewers have written all kinds of good things about this great historical korean drama. The series was well made and almost excellent in every aspect. I bought all three volumes almost two years ago and really enjoyed watching them time and again. Of course, it deserves more than one star but who would read my review if I give it five like most of the others.
After almost two years of waiting nobody has written anything about the big time blooper that they made in making this series. Let me point it out to anybody who is interested. Go and watch the last few episodes in Volume 3 where Jang Geum's raising her young daughter. Look at the daughter's face carefully and try to remember it.....Then you have to go back to Volume 1 and watch Episodes 2 through 4 when the child Jang Geum (7-10 years old) first entered the palace as a new young bride. Look at all her classmates/roommates in many scenes and you will find her future daughter among them. In some scenes she is actually almost next to her future mother.
My point is....with all the seemingly attention to details that the director/producer and other crew members put into the making of a very good series....why did they have to use the same child actress as her young classmate and then later on as her daughter? Did they run out of a qualified child to play the part of her daughter? Or is she related to the director or producer? Maybe they all gambled that nobody will notice such 'trivial' but embarrassing public blunder.
Well, if nothing else, I just hope I added an extra incentive for anybody who loves the series to watch it again....Have fun and enjoy the whole thing all over again...BIG TIME BLOOPER included.
And if you don't have the three volumes yet, I recommend getting them to enjoy every moment of watching a future classic.』
(Min Jung-Ho is a perfect man.) 『After I finished watching the DVD,I thought how excellent Min Jung-Ho was.My heart filled with Min Jung-Ho.
The best scene of Min Jung-Ho for me is that in Episode 46, Jang-Geum meets Min Jung-Ho,who gets out of the jail.Jang-Geum tells him,"You trusted me with your own life." When I saw this scene, I shed my tears. I love the scene.
And I also love the scene that in Episode 49, Jang-Geum tells Min Jung-Ho,"Why don't you run away with me? Don't ask the reason." and he says,"I don't want to hear anything." I was impressed by that Min Jung-Ho respected Jang-Geum's heart.
I like the scene that in Episode 53,Min Jung-Ho tells his Majesty that he loves Jang-Geum and Jang-Geum should be his personal physician.Min Jung-HO's words is for about 4 minutes. I was impressed by his these words.
"Dae Jang-Geum" is the best Korean drama for me.I was obsessed by Korean Dramas with the beginning of this drama.Thank you.』
(THE BEST!!!!) 『I OWN ALL 3 SETS. I LOVE IT! IT IS A GREAT STORY, EXCELLENT IN EVERY WAY. YOU JUST DONT WANT TO MISS.』
(A Rewarding Conclusion) 『The third volume introduces yet more trials for the brave and brilliant Jang Geum, but it also serves up a satisfying, but just, comeuppance for the villains. Yet the quality of this drama is such that even Jang Geum's enemies have complex motivations and even tug a bit of sympathy out of us at the end. What indeed would you have done if you'd been born a Choi? By volume three, you understand why all of Asia was hooked on this series...but then I can't imagine how someone could stop watching without seeing this through to the finish. Unlike the weaker seasons of Desperate Housewives or Sex and the City, you can't miss a disc of this one. Do yourself a favor and buy all three volumes at once!』
(Simply spectacular!) 『Beautiful, exciting, informative, historical, thrilling and heart-breaking drama not to be missed. Need to get all three volumes to get the full story. It's truly quality entertainment to cherish and revisit.』 『The saga of "The Great Jang Geum" concludes in Dae Jang Geum 3 (Episodes 37-54)! Jang-Geum (Lee Young-Ae of Joint Security Area) finally returns to the palace as a full-fledged physician, only to face her longtime rival Keum-Young (Hong Lina) once more. Keum-Young has long resented Jang-Geum for being a better chef, but the man Keum-Young desires, Min Jung-Ho (Ji Jin Hee of Love Letter), is in love with Jang-Geum!』
Kakaku：196 saved$1.96
Screen Edge
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Deep Roots Music 3: Money in my Pocket&Ghetto Riddims) 『This is part five&six of of Six Part Series of Jamaican Reggae Music. It is a good historic overview and insight for Reggaeholics all over.』 『The ultimate word on the history of reggae, this six part series, shot on film by an Oscar nominated cameraman, was produced in the early 1980s, just after the premature death of Bob Marley. This DVD contains Part 5 'Money In My Pocket' and Part 6 'Ghett』
Kakaku：2995 saved$29.95
Homespun Video
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Very helpful) 『I agree. It obviously was not intended to be your first and only banjo instruction but it is exactly what the title says it is, essential practice techniques. The publisher was also very helpful when I lost the tablature shortly after receiving the DVD and they replaced it for no cost.』
(Excellent Practice Material !!) 『This DVD is great. The reviewer above is correct in that it has many practice execises. That is what the entire DVD is about. This DVD is absolutely essential if you want to improve your rolls, timing, and technique. This is like sitting down for a good serious lesson. You can work for a good long time with this excellent DVD. Tony gives many personal tips as well. Highly recommended for real progress!』
(Not very useful) 『I bought and didn't like this much at all. I am a beginning banjo player and found it just gave exercise after exercise without any songs that were fun. I would not recommend it.』
Kakaku：999 saved$9.99
KOCH LORBER FILMS
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Ballad of Bering Strait) 『The documentary shows that there is no such thing as an overnight success. There are years of dreams, heartache and confusion before the fans hears the first song on the radio. (Providing the music has an opportunity to play on the radio)』
(Great documentary!!!) 『I saw this on CMT. I had no idea what it was about when it first came on, but it was so good, that I sat and watched the whole thing without ever changing the channel. It is really good. You would never put Bluegrass and Russia together, but in the documentary they are melded together seamlessly. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in either bluegrass, country music or just likes to watch documentaries.』
(Glued To The Screen) 『I thought this documentary was riveting from the first moment it started to the last shot. Fantastic story about these kids from Russia and their struggles and hopes. They are so incredibly talented and charming that you just can't help but care for them - this is also a compliment to the filmmakers who crafted this story with care and great talent. The band members all give such insight into their lives and their dreams, especially Lydia Salnikova (pianist and vocals). A scene where she has dinner with her family in Russia is so poignant - I felt it was the center of this story. Natasha (guitar and vocals) and Ilya (guitar virtuoso and vocals) also provide amazing stories, but as the problems get bigger and bigger Lydia talks about the fear of the struggle so eloquently I felt like it was happening to me. These kids are beautiful and intelligent and incredibly talented - I know there's great things to come from them and I suspect their individual talents will break through too - Ilya's guitar, Lydia's piano and vocals, Sasha's dobro (yes dobro!), Natasha's vocals... you will love this movie and their music!』
("Strait" Talk) 『THE BALLAD OF BERING STRAIT documents the struggles of an enterprising group of young country musicians from Russia to break through with American audiences, leading up to the release of their self-titled debut album. Director Nina Gilden Seavey gives us a solid look at the rise of this hard-working band and gives a particular emphasis on the abilities of lead vocalist/guitarist Natasha Borzilova and instrumental virtuoso Ilya Toshinsky. The band's self-titled debut album was one of the best albums to be released in 2003, with "Bearing Straight", a track from that album, coming very close to winning a Grammy for Best Country Instrumental Performance. And after you see THE BALLAD OF BERING STRAIT, you too will see the reason why these young musicians are worth rooting for.』
(From Russia With Love!!!!) 『I love this new DVD documentary about Bering Strait. You guys are such an inspiration too us all! All though im a (Metal&Progressive Rock Music Student) I still love your music. Keep the music flowing. Its nice for a change that good music can come from other countries and not only USA. I hope too see them in Japan! "Advice For Buyers" Buy this today and you won't be dissapointed!!!!』 『Emmy award-winning director Nina Gilden Seavey follows the unique and remarkable course of the young band, capturing an insider’s view of the journey from their homes in Obninsk Russia to an uncertain future in Nashville Tennessee. This critically acclaimed documentary debunks the myth of the overnight sensation and engrosses audiences in what it means to cross boundaries and fuse cultures while never losing sight of your passion.』 『The Ballad of Bering Straitis a sharp and sensitive documentary about the emotionally perilous journey of several classically trained Moscow musicians who dream of breaking into Nashville's seemingly impenetrable country scene. Superb in technique and soulful in performance, these gifted veterans of Russia's famously rigorous musical training comprise Bering Strait, a hard-charging, rootsy band with solid bluegrass credentials and country-pop flavoring. Their blend is perfect for the era of the Dixie Chicks, but the film captures a near-debilitating flow of problems for Bering Strait, including industry perception (a Russian novelty act?), elusive record deals, homesickness, low morale, deficit spending.... Director Nina Gilden Seavey spends years patiently capturing the ups and downs of this ever-hopeful band of outsiders, in the process clarifying anew the face of the American Dream as most non-superstars--whether resident or immigrant--realistically understand it.--Tom Keogh』
Kakaku：196 saved$1.96
Rykodisc
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Absolute Riot!) 『This is one of the funniest videos I've ever seen...masterfully performed by the Python I now consider the best (difficult choice!). A must have comedy.』
(Skiing In A Wretched Wooden Gondola And Other Dangerous Sports) 『Graham Chapman was, I believe, the most deranged and probably funniest of all the Pythons, and this DVD, though occasionally marred by technical shortcomings, showcases his amazing sense of humor perfectly. These presentations were taken from various live speaking events at US college campuses in 1988. The first two thirds of the DVD is material that is largely a series of recollections and reminiscences some of which involve Monty Python, and some of which do not.
The breadth of the material is staggering, but my favorite recollections involve his participation in a group called the "Dangerous Sports Club" which sponsored insane activities like hang gliding above active volcanoes, catapult-related events, and downhill skiing whilst attached to inappropriate objects, in Graham's case a "wretched" wooden Italian gondola appropriated from a local restaurant and containing Graham, a dubious member of the aristocracy, and an inappropriate club mascot in boxer shorts. This event gave rise to the DVD title, as it apparently was a real "brown trouser job."
The last third of the DVD is devoted to questions and answers, and Graham really delivers with outstanding spontaneity and wit. The audience asked interesting questions, and the answers were both funny and insightful.
Any fan of Graham Chapman, Monty Python, or humor in general will love this DVD. I give it five stars for some of the funniest comedy material ever released on DVD. 』
(Superb!) 『As a historial document this DVD is all we have of Chapman's legendary 'US college tours' in the 1980s and for that reason alone this is worth every penny. As a piece of entertainment, this DVD also delivers. If you only know him from the Python TV series or their movies then it will be a revelation to you. He's warm and funny and a superb storyteller who will have you laughing from the opening salvo of "give me 30 seconds of abuse' to the final goodnight. Chock-a-block with some rare bonus features and a cooler-than-it-had-to-be package and you have a wonderful evening's entertainment as well as a historical record. Obviously, a must for the fan but also a good one for folks who just enjoy some great storytelling. Money, and time, well-spent.』
(Hilarious! A Rare Find!) 『Man, what a rare find this is! I came to Python late, after they had broken up and so never got to see Graham Chapman live. This amazing DVD makes me feel as if he's still alive and spinning stories! Okay okay, so the video quality is so-so, but it didn't matter really after the first minute, I went with the stories and laughed my bum off! This DVD is so special I can't suggest any stronger that you buy it. LONG LIVE GRAHAM! Hey--ya got anything else in the vaults???』
(Where's the subtitles?) 『Great stuff! Yeah, it's basically "home video" quality, but so what? There's probably no other extant footage of this that's any better, unless someone in the audience shot it with a better camera!
After reading the joke sticker on the package saying (amongst other humorous things) that the disc had Latin, Sanskrit,&Aramaic subtitles, I was just a little disappointed to find out that the disc has no actual subtitles. I know it was just a joke, but it would've been a great joke if there were actual Latin, Sanskrit,&Aramaic subtitles supplied -- not necessarily actual translations (which wouldn't be worth the effort for the joke, in my opinion!), but just any ol' text, like how, on _Monty Python and the Holy Grail_, they supplied subtitles "for people who don't like the movie" taken from Shakespeare's _Henry IV_!』 『In the early 1980s, Monty Python’s Graham Chapman embarked upon a second career as a public speaker. Throughout the decade he toured hundreds of North American colleges delivering "comedy lectures" which consisted of tales from his life, adventures with an ad hoc group of adrenaline junkies called the Dangerous Sports Club, equally dangerous friends like the Who’s Keith Moon and, of course, his fellow Pythons. In the spring of 1988 he launched his final college tour before his death in 1989, the best of which is presented here, videotaped under Graham’s supervision and taken from his personal archives. It’s a historical – and hysterical - document, capturing Graham at the peak of his comedic powers, at ease and at home before a crowd of Chapmaniacs.』 『In what is surely the most laconic comedy concert film ever made, Graham Chapman of theMonty Pythontroupe entertains worshipful audiences of college students during a 1988 tour of the United States. Chapman proves a warm and delightfulraconteuras he recalls skiing down a Swiss mountainside in a wooden gondola, Keith Moon (drummer for rock band the Who) using explosives to chastize a hotel manager, and appeaing naked during the filming ofMonty Python's Life of Brian. Be warned: As the packaging is quick to note, the film and audio quality are not professional; this is virtually a home movie. Nonetheless, Chapman's relaxed poise and impeccable deadpan delivery give his stories a dry wit that any Python fan will enjoy. The extras, in addition to having further samples from the question-and-answer sessions with the audience, includes footage of Chapman being hurled into the air by industrial elastic and an Iron Maiden video in which he appears as a stern schoolmaster.--Bret Fetzer』
Kakaku：4299 saved$42.99
Universal Studios
Usually ships in 9 to 12 days IPhone 3G used's review (Love this show) 『Ha! I love this show! All of the Monk seasons are availible at amazon and at a very surprisingly affordable price, So I always buy my mom her Monk's here. :).』
(Charming as Ever) 『I've seen season 1,2,3,4,....6. Season 5 is as imaginative and charming as any I have seen and I have seen 1/2 of season 5 so far. Each episode, while each has the same theme of cracking an impossible case by a challenged ex-policeman, is fresh. For the most part, the evidence is there for all of us to figure out if we could put it together. Mr. Monk is an endearing character. The chemistry is just right among the characters to weave a fabric of entertainment from beginning to end. There are few loose ends. Over the years I have caught a few minutes of an episode on free TV and when the commercial came on, I switched channels. It was not until I purchased the DVD that I found out how wonderful this series is. I found this true of a number of TV series like "NYPD Blue" "Picket Fences" etc. What have I been watching for the last 10 years.......Commercials. Free TV and now cable and satellite TV are nothing more than advertisements for TV shows to be purchased. I go to the library and get the DVD free for the first season to find if I like it. Since libraries do not carry the latests TV DVDs, I buy the rest on Amazon or eBay. 1/2 the time Amazon is less expensive than eBay. I buy used as much as possible and then sell them on eBay so the cost to me is very close to the auction cost. Sure beats paying a cable bill.』
(This Show Has Passed It's Prime) 『My good ness, look at all the glowing reviews. I gave this one star just to offset the rating a little. Honestly I would have given 2 stars. I have been a fan of Monk since the beginning. I loved seasons 1&2. Season 3 was pretty good as well, but not as good as the previous two. Season 4 started to fall off. My wife and I though there were at least 6 or 7 throw away episodes. Also the show got considerably sillier. Season 5 has done it for me. I just tinished the last episode and I am officially over "Monk". The writing on this show has gone so downhill it's not even funny. It has become a silly almost farcical satire. It was not this silly in the first two seasons I'm sorry. It had humor, yes but it was fresh and the storylines took center stage and Monk was an interesting Character. Season five consisted of recycled plots, recycled jokes and every character has become more of a caricature. Stottlemeyer and Disher have become especially absurd when they could have been explored more as charaters. Really sad. Monk was a nice gimmick for a while and great writing could have kept it afloat. However this has not been the case whatsoever. The writing has become abysmal. By Monk』
(disappointing) 『this series was is appointing in many ways. I bought it because it was so many minutes of my favorite series but it was not worth the money. It had a repeated episode (Monk meets the Lepord). It was not even that good of a story. They wanted to show it in black and white and color what a waste. There was not that many episodes. The only saving factor was the Psyco bonus episode. In conclusion it is not worth the effort to buy or watch. I hope season 6 is better.』
(Very satisfied. Excellent purchase) 『I like "Monk" a lot and I enjoyed watching this season. Good purchase. ARrived as described.』 『It's time to tidy up for another season with Primetime Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner Tony Shalhoub in all 16 Season Five episodes of Monk, television's most fresh and funny series. Gumshoe Adrian Monk would never actually have gum on his well-polished shoes: in addition to intellect and instinct, he also has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Though his eccentric traits bewilder his colleagues Natalie Teeger (Traylor Howard), Captain Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine) and Lieutenant Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford), Monk's attention to detail keeps crime—and grime—off the streets. Included in this highly collectible, 4-disc set are both the black&white and color versions of the noir-style episode "Mr. Monk and the Leper," obsessively good bonus features and the pilot episode of the hit comedy-drama Psych. Follow the clues to Season Five of Monk, the quirky and original show TV Guide hails as "alternatively hilarious and touching."』
Kakaku：799 saved$7.99
Warner Home Video
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Startling vision with some surprises) 『I am a person that is not at all familiar with the source material that Constantine is drawn from. I also read some other reviews here and found them mostly not helpful as they are dominated by fans of the graphic novels(?) picking at details that most people won't ever notice (like me).
Constantine is what I call a great versus movie. One guy against big odds trying to find a way to win. In this case, it's one man versus Hell and Heaven (Hell mostly) trying to stop the end of the world. Doesn't get much bigger than that odds-wise. The main character has all kinds of flaws to overcome, and that makes you pull for him even more. The story is well told, but can be a little heavy on the obscure biblical dialogue. I found myself rewinding here and there to hear some of the more obscure points revealed in the story. This is a small complaint because the monologues do fit with the vibe of the story, so just think of them as added atmosphere. The effects are all excellently done, and the visual style is both creepy and beautiful in equal measure. This is a better film than many gave it credit for when it was released. If you enjoy an atmospheric action thriller, with a bit of horror and fantasy thrown in, then this is the flick for you.』
(amazing film - amazing transfer) 『this is a good blu ray transfer, if you want to see Constantine as you saw in the theater - get this blu ray』
(Great movie, great graphics!) 『This is a great movie, for the type of movie (angels and demons) it has extremely good graphics and lead story. Plus, not to mention Keanu Reeves ;D Definitely recommended for those of you who like the angels and demons kind of thing, and it truly makes you wonder whats out there.』
(John Constantine: Hellblazer) 『Loosely based upon the dark comic book and graphic novel series published by DC Comics/Vertigo, Constantine is a supernatural thriller with amazing visual effects, thrilling action, and a great cast. Unfortunately, the film's screenplay, which was written by Kevin Brodbin and Frank Cappello, fails to capture the spirit of the books. Rather than keeping the characters as they are in the books, the writers have taken liberties that minimalize the effect of the story. In the books, John Constantine is a blond-haired British anti-hero. Here he's played by Keanu Reeves, with black hair and an American accent. Normally I wouldn't complain about such trivial details, but the character of Constantine is further changed from his comic book counterpart. This brings me to one of the film's greatest strengths; it's original and unafraid to make changes. Breaking away from many of the conventions found in the "superhero" genre, Constantine dares to be somber and politically incorrect. Can you name any other "comic book" film where the hero has cancer, is suicidal, and generally disliked by everyone that he associates with? Nope, I didn't think so.
Demon hunter and exorcist, John Constantine has never been a popular guy, but his talents are in high demand. Constantine has the ability to see damned spirits and the knowledge necessary to send them back to Hell. The only problem is that he's a chain-smoking, cynical, selfish S.O.B. and he's just been diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. When Constantine is contacted by detective Angela Dodson to investigate the apparent suicide of her twin sister, Constantine discovers a demonic conspiracy to bring about the apocalypse. Relying on a small group of demon hunters, occultists, and half-breeds (a term for Earth-bound angels and demons), Constantine wages a war against the Devil. But it's only a matter of time before his cancer overpowers him and the sins of his past decide his fate in the afterlife. Will John Constantine be sent to Hell for his misdeeds, or will the gates of Heaven part for this proud and defiant sinner? In the battle between two worlds, between Heaven and Hell, between all that's good and all that's evil, between the holy and the profane... John Constantine fights for the middle ground.
The big budget action/thriller features an atypical cast, which with the exception of odd man out Keanu Reeves, fits the film's anarchic atmosphere perfectly. Though Keanu gives a fine performance, his looks and his mannerisms never seem right for the character, who was supposedly modeled after Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry and Sting, the lead singer of the Police. The cast includes Rachel Weisz as Angela and Isabel Dodson, Shia LaBeouf as Chas, Tilda Swinton as Gabriel, Djimon Honsou as Papa Midnite, Gavin Rossdale as Balthazar, and Peter Stormare as Satan. Each member of the diverse cast gives a worthy performance, but the standout here is indie film star Tilda Swinton, who plays the beatific and androgynous angel Gabriel with a delicious irony. As has often been the case with films based upon characters created by Alan Moore, Constantine became a showcase for the latest computer effects rather than focusing on the deeply flawed characters that made the books so successful. With the film's blasphemous overtones, it's no wonder that many religious groups were up in arms about the portrayal of Biblical figures. Still the film serves up about as much theological discussion as similarly ironic film RoboCop did for discussions about law enforcement, which is fine by me. Not every film needs to take itself so seriously and Constantine doesn't. Another flaw of the film is the direction, which feels both forced and mechanical in its execution. Directed by music video auteur Francis Lawrence, who focuses on creating a visually stunning but emotionally devoid alternate reality populated by all manner of miscreants and lost souls. If you're looking for a thought provoking film about redemption through spirituality, then Constantine will likely disappoint. But if what you seek is a fast-paced thriller with lots of action and witty dialogue, then Constantine is for you.
Also recommended: Swamp Thing: The Curse Hellblazer: Original Sins John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dangerous Habits War Lord John Constantine The Exorcist - The Complete Anthology Kolchak: The Night Stalker The Ninth Gate』
(Real good..not great...but entertaining) 『This is a good movie...I bought it to watch parts of it from time to time. Some neat little "speeches" and great visual moments. I especially like Tilda Swinton (in anything) as the Angel Gabriel. The speech she gives near the end of the film is chilling in its simplicity and attack on the mystery of Faith.... And if you like Rachel Wiess looking doe-eyed and vulnerable...well there is a lot of that.』 『Based on the DC Comics/Vertigo Hellblazer graphic novels and written by Kevin Brodbin and Frank Cappello, Constantine tells the story of John Constantine (Keanu Reeves), a man who has literally been to hell and back. When he teams up with skeptical policewoman Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz) to solve the mysterious suicide of her twin sister, their investigation takes them through the world of demons and angels that exists just beneath the landscape of contemporary Los Angeles. Caught in a catastrophic series of otherworldly events, the two become inextricably involved and seek to find their own peace at whatever cost.
DVD Features: Additional Scenes:18 minutes of additional scenes Alternate endings
』 『In the grand scheme of theological thrillers,Constantineaspires for the greatness ofThe Exorcistbut ranks more closely withThe Order. Based on the popularHellblazercomic book series, and directed with nary a shred of intelligence by music video veteran Francis Lawrence, it's basicallyThe Matrixwith swarming demons instead of swarming machines. Keanu Reeves slightly modifies hisMatrixpersona as John Constantine, who roams the dark-spots of Los Angeles looking for good-evil, angel-devil half-breeds to ensure that "the balance" between God and Satan is properly maintained. An ancient artifact and the detective twin of a woman who committed evil-induced suicide (Rachel Weisz) factor into the plot, which is taken so seriously that you'll want to stand up and cheer when Tilda Swinton swoops down as the cross-dressing angel Gabriel and turns this silliness into the camp-fest it really is. The digital effects are way cool (dig those hellspawn with the tops of their heads lopped off!), so if you don't mind a juvenile lesson in pseudo-Catholic salvation,Constantineis just the movie for you!--Jeff Shannon』
