“Constantine” is a movie where lots of special effects are used while religion battles against unspeakable evil. This premise sometimes works because I also enjoyed the first “Ghost Rider” and the 1999 version of “The Mummy” but “End Of Days” and “Van Helsing” were most certainly underwhelming. I’ve been trying to work out what makes them good and what makes them bad and to be honest I don’t know.

In “Constantine”, Keanu Reeves (“The Matrix”, “Point Break”) stars as John Constantine. From his apartment above a bowling alley, he uses his knowledge of demonology and his ‘special gifts’ to send rule-breaking demons back down to hell whilst smoking an endless supply of cigarettes in a cross between “The Exorcist” and “Ghost Rider”.

Keanu Reeves just works brilliantly here but what’s odd about Mr. Reeves and his work is that I usually don’t enjoy his films appreciated by the masses (e.g. “The Matrix”) but rather prefer the ones that get bashed (e.g. “Johnny Mnemonic”). Rachel Weisz, who was in the version of “The Mummy” I mentioned, and Shia LaBeouf (“Transformers”) play dull supporting characters. I like Satan in this film played by Peter Stormare (“Fargo”), who gives the character a kind of Hannibal Lecter feel.

Despite the fact it has some interesting ideas about God, Satan and the world around us (such as an alternate version of the Bible), the film is nothing more than a fun and entertaining display of special effects (Hell looks incredible). “Constantine” is in its own bizarre, sick and bad way, really good. Sure it gets overly biblical to the point where it becomes nonsense at times but that’s sort-of what you want to see in these movies. Maybe I’m totally wrong, like I seem to be with most of the Keanu Reeves filmography but I think this is a silly yet intriguing film.