Constantine: 2 - Disc Deluxe Edition DVD Set Review

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Title: Constantine: 2 – Disc Deluxe Edition

Region: One

Genre: Comic Book Hero Adaptation Supernatural Action Thriller

Stars: Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Shia LaBeouf, Tilda Swinton, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Djimon Hounsou, Gavin Rossdale, and Peter Stormare

Writers: Kevin Broobin and Frank Cappello

Based On A Story By: Kevin Broobin

Based On Characters From The DC Comics/Vertigo Hellblazer Graphic Novels

Director: Francis Lawrence

Feature length: 121 minutes

Extras: Commentary By Director Francis Lawrence, Producer Akiva Goldsman and Screenwriters Kevin Broobin and Frank Cappello, A Perfect Circle Passive Music Video, Theatrical Trailers, Previews, Deleted Scenes, Conjuring Constantine Documentary, Production From Hell Documentary Gallery, Imagining The Underworld Documentary Gallery, Constantine Cosmology Featurette, Foresight: The Power Of Previsualization Demonstrations, Exclusive Collectible Hellblazer Comic Featuring A Reprint Of Issuue #41 Dangerous Habits And A Hellblazer Short Story, DVD-ROM Content

Languages: English and French Language (Dubbed In Quebec) Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

Subtitles: English Closed Captions and English, French, and Spanish Language Subtitles

Packaging: Single Size Two-Disc Keep Case Within A Cardboard Slipcase

Chapter Stops: 34

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

Year of Theatrical Release: 2005/DVD Release: 2005

Theatrical Distributor: Warner Brothers Pictures

Home Video Distributor: Warner Home Video

MPAA Rating: R

Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera

Keanu Reeves stars as John Constantine, a man born with a gift to see the hidden forces of good and evil in select individuals and the knowledge to keep the balance from tilting toward evil’s favor. However Constantine is damned for committing suicide when he was a young teenager. He was dead for two minutes, but in that time he saw hell and since then he has sent so many demons back there since that Satan himself would pick up his soul personally in due time of his death. To make things worse Constantine has lung cancer and it’s terminal. After witnessing events where demons have either attempted to or have crossed over to the world, as we know it, Constantine becomes embroiled in the mystery surrounding the suicide of a woman with the same gift he has. Her twin sister is a cop that has managed to repress her abilities. Realizing there is a connection between the demons and the death of the woman’s twin sister, Constantine takes on the son of the Devil and a wayward angel with the Spear of Destiny, the spear that pierced Jesus on the cross during the crucifixion.

There were a lot of changes made to bring Constantine from the pages of the Vertigo-DC Comics graphic novel series to the big screen. If you are a fan of the “Hellblazer” comic series, odds are you will be disappointed with this big screen adaptation. However if you are willing to take the film at face value and accept it for what it is, “Constantine” is one of the better DC Comics characters to hit the big screen recently pre “Batman Begins.” The plot is a little muddled at times. I had to watch the film three times to be sure I understood what was going on. It’s not rocket science, but this is definitely a movie you will have to pause if for any reason you become distracted. I wish I could be more specific, but to do so would be to reveal spoilers so I’ll have to leave it to you all to see what I mean for yourselves.

Warner Home Video is releasing “Constantine” to DVD in both a single disc and a two-disc Deluxe Edition with exclusive bonus features not found on the single disc version. The picture quality is quite sharp with an anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio presentation that is approximately (2.35:1). This is a film with lots of blacks, sickly greens, stark whites, and sepia tones. The clarity achieved on the disc is a testament to the excellent work Warner Brothers has done in perfecting the standard DVD-Video format to deliver a true cinema like experience. The English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack is quite dynamic and well mixed though not as aggressive as I might normally prefer. I would love to hear how this film would sound on DTS. A French Language (Dubbed in Quebec) Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack is also encoded on to the first dual layered DVD along with English Closed Captions for the hearing impaired and English, French and Spanish Language Subtitles. French Language Subtitles are also provided as an option on the second disc of bonus features.

Director Francis Lawrence, Producer Akiva Goldsman and Screenwriters Kevin Broobin and Frank Cappello provide an interesting feature length audio commentary track that tries to take into consideration some of the reasons elements from the comic book were changed for the movie. Director Francis Lawrence also provides optional audio commentary for a reel of 14 deleted scenes (17:41) that include an alternate ending and a reel of previsualization animatics with a completed scene comparison where applicable (12:18). The animatics feature a few unproduced sequences as well as some early effects sequences. While the animatics can only be viewed in succession, the deleted scenes can be viewed individually.

There are many featurettes that add up to one long, but quite interesting and detailed documentary about the making of the film. Unfortunately one can only view these elements individually because there is no “Play All” feature for them. The featurettes include a look at how and why “Constantine” was changed for the big screen in “Conjuring Constantine – From Comic Book To Film” (15:44), “Constantine “Cosmology – The Mythology Behind The Movie” (5:18), which uses the Jungian archetype theories the late mythologist Joseph Campbell brought into the mainstream to analyze how the character of Constantine follows the traits and traditions of “The Hero’s Journey” in various ways. Under the heading “The Production From Hell” are three more featurettes that include Francis Lawrence’s learning experiences from moving into a directing a feature film after making a career in music videos in “Director’s Confessional” (5:35), a look at one of the stunt special effects sequences from early in the film entitled “Collision With Evil” (4:39), and an up close examination of the many gadgets and props developed for the film in “Holy Relics” (8:22). Under the heading “Imagining The Underworld” are four detailed special effects and creature design featurettes that are detailed as “Hellscape” (11:59), “Visualizing Vermin” (9:18), “Warrior Wings” (3:15), and “Unholy Abduction” (5:44). There are also various Easter eggs hidden within the various menus on disc two.

Windows based DVD-ROM users will gain access to Interactual enhanced features that include web links, Windows Media Player 10 skins, text notes, a photo gallery, and trailers. On the first disc the theatrical teaser (: 55) and trailer (2:22) are both presented in anamorphic video with Dolby Pro Logic Surround Sound. A Perfect Circle’s music video for their song “Passive” (4:16) is also included among the bonus features on the first disc. Prior to the opening menu on disc one there are a reel of previews (4:45) that include “A Scanner Darkly”, “Alexander”, “Blade Trinity” and “Seinfeld: Season Four,” which surprised me since it is a DVD title distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and not Warner Home Video. The menus on both discs feature animated transitions to standard interactive still frames and all are easy to navigate.

The two discs come housed within a single size two-disc keep case with a cardboard sleeve over them. Within the sleeve is an exclusive comic with a reprint of issue #41 “Dangerous Habits,” which served as the inspiration at least in part for the movie as well as a short story, background character notes and more. On the back of the comic is an advertisement for the November 5, 2005 theatrical release of “V For Vendetta” from the filmmakers behind The Matrix Trilogy. The comic fits perfectly within the keep case in the area where an insert would normally be for those who might prefer to store it there.

Overall this is a very nice comprehensive DVD set that gave me a better appreciation for the film afterwards. “Constantine: 2-Disc Deluxe Edition” will debut on DVD-Video on Tuesday, July 19, 2005 at retailers on and offline courtesy of Warner Home Video.

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