Constantine (the movie)

[Aidensmom]

Who has seen this? I just watched it on DVD. Was it as confusing to you as it was to me?

I love this genre of movies, the heaven/hell, good/evil, God/Devil type of stuff. But this one I think tried to bring in too much symbolism from too many sources, and it just lost me.

There were Catholic ideas, Protestant ideas, and just plain old made up stuff, and it was a lot to follow, even for a former Catholic, now-Protestant, horror/suspense movie buff like me.

Can someone tell me exactly what the 'half breeds' were? Why were the twin women (Isabel/Angela) so important? Why was the angel Gabriel, first a female, and second evil? Where was God in all this? We saw Lucifer, but was God on vacation?

Can anyone explain?

 

[cynsaun]

Holy crap, I'm such a blonde. I thought you were talking about Constantine the singer from American Idol in the other thread.

Back to your original thread question.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

First of all Gabriel was NOT a woman he/she was androgenous(sp?) because according to the story angels are of neither sex. Gabriel was not evil he/she was ticked off because he/she felt that it was too easy for people to get into heaven. All they had to do was just say that they were in effect sorry for their sins and they were forgiven.
Next the the twins IMHO were I am sure symbolic of good and evil even though it was never said in the movie. I am guessing that this was the intent. I mean aren't twins kind of the universal symbol in movies for good and evil. Constantine says, "what if I told you God and the Devil were engaged in a game for your soul" or something close to that.
My son loves the movie and I have watched it a few times with him. If you watch the extra stuff as well as the directors cut you get a lot more info.
Do not feel bad my husband had to explain the whole thing to me.
I know it was kind of confusing.

 

[Jsme]

It was a very confusing movie.

I think the movie portrayed Gabriel as a woman who was a very jealous Angel. The twins was the main part of the movie....this portrayed how twins can communicate and the choices they both made in life. One chose to embrace their gifts and was punished by the parents while the other chose to hide the same gift. The one twin did not kill herself the demons did it and the other twin was trying to figure it all out. This is where Keanu came into the movie. He and the live twin had similar gifts. But he used his for gain and selfish reasons until the end. Oh the half breeds were half human and angel....or that is the way I took it.

God was there as he always is just silent allowing us humans to make our own decisions and mistakes but there to forgive us with open arms.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

It was a very confusing movie.

I think the movie portrayed Gabriel as a woman who was a very jealous Angel. Can't remember about the twins or the half breeds...oh the half brees were half human and angel....or that is the way I took it.

God was there as he always is just silent allowing us humans to make our own decisions and mistakes but there to forgive us with open arms.

It was confusing but Gabriel was not supposed to be a woman but in effect sexless. Check out the bonus material. I could not figure it at first also but it is explained in the extra material.

 

[Aidensmom]

Ok, so far you all have actually cleared up a few things for me.

Apparantly written from a Catholic perspective, if Gabriel was mad about people being able to go to Heaven for asking for forgiveness for their sins, as that is the Protestant perspective. Now I get that part.

And I get the part of God letting us make our own decisions, as that would be free will, though I personally believe that He intervenes a little. (But, I know, as DH kept telling me, "It is a MOVIE!")

I also completely understand that cynsaun was having a blonde moment and was confused. No news there.

If the twins were good and evil, was Isabel the evil one? Why, what did she do evil (besides kill herself, something had to have led to that )

And my biggest question, if half breeds are half human and half demon or angel, which is kinda what I figured, how in the name of Constantine did they get that way?

I told DH I was gonna have to watch 1. all the extras on the DVD and 2. the movie a second time to understand everything. I guess that is tomorrows plans.

 

[cynsaun]

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Well I am still trying to figure some of it out and I do not know for sure that the twins are good and evil but maybe they represent the struggle between good and evil in one person. Maybe they represent a dualtiy (jeeze I feel like I am in a college English class).

I am a little unclear on the half breeds.But this might help, Constantine was based on a comic. See I got a little confused when he tried to commit suicide at the end but he went to heaven becasue he had preformed a selfless act.

I am glad I am not the only to obsess over it as well as not understand it. I love this type of movie also.

Did you ever watch Devil's Advocate. I liked that one better it was much more clear.

 

[Aidensmom]

Well I am still trying to figure some of it out and I do not know for sure that the twins are good and evil but maybe they represent the struggle between good and evil in one person. Maybe they represent a dualtiy (jeeze I feel like I am in a college English class).

I am a little unclear on the half breeds.But this might help, Constantine was based on a comic. See I got a little confused when he tried to commit suicide at the end but he went to heaven becasue he had preformed a selfless act.

I am glad I am not the only to obsess over it as well as not understand it. I love this type of movie also.

Did you ever watch Devil's Advocate. I liked that one better it was much more clear.

Devil's Advocate is one of my favorites!!! I am also glad to know I am not the only one obsessing over this movie. I asked DH at the end if he understood, he said 'yes', so I asked him to explain. He was speechless. He didn't know anymore than me. I told him I would just post my questions on the DIS!

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Devil's Advocate is one of my favorites!!! I am also glad to know I am not the only one obsessing over this movie. I asked DH at the end if he understood, he said 'yes', so I asked him to explain. He was speechless. He didn't know anymore than me. I told him I would just post my questions on the DIS!

WEll my husband understood most of it and he explained it (or should I say lorded it over my head) and when I kept asking more and more questions like about the half breeds etc he said, "IT is just a movie forget about it". Translation: I did not understand the whole of it.

Stigmata was pretty good too.

 

[Aidensmom]

Stigmata was pretty good too.

I agree.

 

[CourtasanSatine]

I happen to love this movie and was still confused at times(Yes I also had a "Was this the AI guy" moment?")

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I had to jump on this thread because I love this movie too!!!! I am a sucker for Good VS Evil..in fact so much I miss that show..."Good VS Evil". Pretty bad huh?

I don't think the twins were half good/evil....I think that "the influences" had Isabel committ suicide to get to her sister because they needed a "powerful" person so the son of the devil could come forth.

Half breeds? Not sure about that....have to look that one up.

 

[megan4777]

I was hoping to rent this. I will make sure DH is watching it with me to explain the whole thing. Thanks for the heads up!!!!