...but just for this entry I'm lifting my self-imposed embargo of AICN to point out that the site's regular contributor "Moriarty" has some good things to say about the Constantine trailer.
-via Reeves Drive
constantine | from inside the mind of krix at June 05, 2004 10:48 AM .Of course, there's the usual bitchfest in the talkback comments, but I thought this little insight was amusing:
"Constantine is how Harry Potter would end up as with a serious drug habit."
Posted by: krix on June 5, 2004 12:23 PMSince all I can think of for this is Python references, I'll be quiet. I'll be a good girl.
Posted by: Tabitha on June 5, 2004 12:47 PMI am not very happy with Greg over at Yahoo Movies - one whose opinion I have respected in the past. He must have been having a bad day. He wrote of the Constantine trailer "Of course, maybe there's more going on than what the little we see in the teaser, but the benefit of the doubt I was willing to give the movie is starting to dwindle. This movie needs to impress me soon, or I'm sadly going to write it off the way I've basically given up hope about WB's other big non-Batman comics-based movie for the next 12 months, Catwoman.
All from a 60 second trailer? As long as you've given it a fair shake... Geez.
Posted by: Chianti on June 5, 2004 02:57 PMThis Greg chap seems like our cup of tea... :)
Moriarty's opinions i mostly respect, but since he's not famiiar with the source material (unlike the Greg chap), i think his opinion is unbiased, still, i don't thnk his review of it will be too positive. Call it a hunch.
Posted by: Rogan on June 5, 2004 06:02 PMI think Greg is disillusioned with Catwoman so he's taking it out on the trailer...um, IMHO
...but I agree with Rogan, not likely to be a good review from this one...he's obviously biased. Hopefully he will actually SEE the movie before he decides.
Posted by: shelz on June 5, 2004 09:20 PMIn case these Constantine fans haven't heard the news: Movies based off comic books are never true to the comic book story.
Look at Spiderman. It was a great film (at least I thought). I read nearly every Spidey comic there was before I heard about the film, and I loved it, EVEN THOUGH the Spidey in the movie was almost COMPLETELY different than the Spidey in the comics (small example: in the comics, he made the webbing and stuffed it into canisters on his wrists to be shot out whenever he needed it...he often ran out "just at the wrong time").
These people need to just chill the fuck out and hold their bitter, naysaying tongues until AFTER the movie comes out. If it sucks, THEN they can rail against it (not that anyone gives a damn). If it doesn't, hey! Bonus.
Fanatics drive me nuts, sometimes. They really do.
Posted by: Mikey2 on June 5, 2004 10:29 PMWell said, Mikey. When is a movie ever like a book? I love the LOTR films, but NEWSFLASH as a 35+ year veteran of reading the books I can say they are not like the books. The first two Harry Potter films are prime examples of what happens if you put fidelity to a book before making a good film.
Posted by: Nudel on June 6, 2004 03:00 AM@Mikey2 - in the movie, spiderman isn't british, doesn't wear a yellow/purple costume, and he actually does retain some of his character - geeky kid becomes superhero, "great power, great responsibility"...
I know you probably can't fathom it, but there *is* a huge difference between these adaptations.
Posted by: Rogan on June 6, 2004 05:45 AMWay to miss the point, Rogan. But thanks for inadvertently proving it, all the same.
Of course there are "huge differences between these adaptations". They are two completely different characters. Actually, four, because both comic-book personae have little in common with their "big screen" incarnations. If you think Spiderman was any less changed in the leap (ahem) to the big screen than Constantine, then you don't know the comics as well as you may think.
If you're talking about physical change in the character (as it seems you are since you appear hung up on the "British and blonde-haired" aspects), then I direct you to X-men. Two very successful movies (the second, perhaps, better than the first), but with some MAJOR character changes between comic and film. Costumes, accents, origins, etc.
Lastly, I "fathom" quite a bit more than you suggest, thank you very much. I've had several of my past heroes ruined by "Hollywood", but if I had the attitude many of these people posting in the 'Tine forums had each time, I also would have missed out on some pretty damned good films. I do not judge until I have seen for myself. I urge many of your more rabid numbers to do the same.
Posted by: Mikey2 on June 6, 2004 03:42 PMOne thing more...
I am not telling you (and them) NOT to have misgivings. I've been in the same spot myself many times, and the lip-biting and worry-lines didn't stop until release. What I AM saying is I think it deserves a fair shake before it is so grossly lambasted.
First impressions may be the most important, but often deceiving (note the hype and eagerness by the comic-reading public preceding 'Hulk', followed by crushing (haha) disappointment).
Posted by: Mikey2 on June 6, 2004 03:55 PMHere, freakin', here, Mikey.
It's never the same. And I'm especially suspicious when they say "true to the original story/article/novel". I've given up on Hollyweird being true to anything when it comes to any kind of literature.
And think how thick/heavy a script would be if they took every. single. detail. into account. You'd need a forklift.
Posted by: Tabitha on June 7, 2004 07:55 AMMikey, mikey, mikey...
I've read a lot of Spidermans in my day. Please elaborate on the oh-so important changes done to the character.
Also - sometimes, someone's nationality (leaving the hair aside) IS defining for the character. Would a Serbian Superman (http://top10.serbiancafe.ws/public/supersrbin2.gif) do justice to the character? An American Sherlock Holmes?
I wouldn't mind changuing the nationality of some other Vertigo characters that are universal in their portrayal (V for Vendetta, King Mob from The Invisibles...), but John's unique "Britishness" has made him the appealing character that he is today.
oh, and to use your own words back at you : "If you think Constantine stayed remotely true to the character from the comic books, then you don't know the comics as well as you may think."
Oh, and even with all the changes, i liked The Hulk. So i'm not saying Constantine wioll suck totally. heck, Keanu might even be more than good in it. But we're bitching because all the news we've been hearing is bad.
Tabitha - we don't want word for weord translation to the screen, and there are waaaaay too many Hellblazer isues for them to fit in a single movie (or in 10 seasons of a tv show for that matter), but basic plotlines, and some essential dialogue SHOULDN'T be too hard to preserve from the original material.
Alright boys, I know both of you well enough to know that this is going to end up being a "last word" pissing match if I let it continue, and I just had the rugs cleaned. You can have it out in email (Rogan's is right there, Mikey's can be found at his site, I'm sure), or if you must puff and strut for us girls I suggest a little oil wrestling on webcam.
Mikey, the Hellblazer fans are my friends and while some of them are extremely closed-minded about giving the film a chance, most of them have been pretty good about it even though it's been changed so drastically, and it really, really has. That's not to say that the movie will suck, but it won't be Hellblazer as they know it.
Rogan, while I really do think that most of the comic fans' complaints are founded, sometimes it does get a little bit old when every little thing tends to get pounced on and chewed up, regurgitated and then chewed on some more. The movie's in the can, there's nothing to be done about it.
If Hollywood hadn't gotten its hooks into the property and twisted it to its own vision for wide appeal, Keanu probably wouldn't have the role. So while I mind the changes on principle, it all goes out the window since Keanu's involved and I'm first and foremost a Keanu fan.
And that's the last word.
Posted by: krix on June 12, 2004 10:32 AMRemember, this is a fan site.
Keanu Reeves is in no way connnected to this website.
Please do not make a comment thinking he will read it.
Comments are for discussion with other fans.
Thank you.