Constantine teaser
Richmond
I would be able to handle making JC American, if they at least kept the
essence of the character. Where's the sense of humor? Where's the cheeky
look and the "all right, squire?" Where's the carefully-crafted mystique,
and trenchcoat and the cigarettes designed to convey that
mystique?Where's...fuck, where's John Constantine?
A Tart's Handkerchief
Good Lord -- that trailer was HORRENDOUS!
Justin Garrett Blum
news:dY5pc.7068$j6.443@edtnps84...
> So, right off the bat, they pronounce it "constanTEEN." Oy.
Well, for one thing I would contend that both the first and last syllable
have the emphasis, but I'm curious what the so-called "correct" way is to
pronounce this name. But furthermore, who gives a fuck? It's an American
movie. Of course it's going to be pronounced this way. I can't even think of
another way to say it. Unless it's like Constantinople. Con-STAN-tine?
That's retarded. heh. No offense to the Brits out there.
> I would be able to handle making JC American, if they at least kept the
> essence of the character. Where's the sense of humor? Where's the cheeky
> look and the "all right, squire?" Where's the carefully-crafted mystique,
> and trenchcoat and the cigarettes designed to convey that
> mystique?Where's...fuck, where's John Constantine?
>
I didn't actually have any issues with the trailer. I thought it looked sort
of interesting as far as horror movies go. And I'm all about Rachel Weisz
so...we'll see. One thing I will say is that I've never read a Hellblazer
comic book in my life, so obviously stuff like John Constantine not being
quote unquote funny enough (which we can't be very sure of right now)
doesn't bother me at all. This is just my opinion, of course, but I think
that people need to get over film characters not always being exactly like
their comic book counterparts. I can understand better the complaint in the
case of, say, Catwoman, since it is an entirely different character. Even
this I have trouble understanding since, if it is an entirely different
character, what difference does it make to you as a Selina Kyle fan or
otherwise? I have a far larger problem with a film like, say, I, Robot,
which claims to be basing itself upon Asimov's brilliant novel and the three
laws of robotics, and then, apparently, does something with the story that
is completely contrary to the whole point of the source material (i.e. that
robots don't go bad, they just have interesting and sometimes odd ways of
adhering to the three laws--hence the need for robot psychologists).
Sorry. Digression. But back to the point, something like harping on a lack
of cheeky humor seems peevish to me, as though you're looking to find faults
with the film. As to the cigarette and trench coat thing, I think you just
weren't watching close enough since the very *first* shot of the trailer is
Keanu wearing a trenchcoat putting a cigarette in his mouth. As to the
carefully crafted mystique, you're getting ahead of yourself here. Damn,
people, get a grip. Not to sound rude, but if you claim to be able to review
this movie based on the scant tidbits available in this teaser, you've got
to calm down, take a deep breath, and wait until you actually find out
enough to know what you're talking about.
Regards,
Justin
http://www.uatu.net
Justin Garrett Blum
"Justin Garrett Blum" <uatuthe...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:NoydneeKU5o...@comcast.com...
> "Richmond" <rsb...@telus.net> wrote in message
> news:dY5pc.7068$j6.443@edtnps84...
> > So, right off the bat, they pronounce it "constanTEEN." Oy.
>
> Well, for one thing I would contend that both the first and last syllable
> have the emphasis, but I'm curious what the so-called "correct" way is to
> pronounce this name. But furthermore, who gives a fuck? It's an American
> movie. Of course it's going to be pronounced this way. I can't even think
of
> another way to say it. Unless it's like Constantinople. Con-STAN-tine?
> That's retarded. heh. No offense to the Brits out there.
>
I thought you were latching on to some sort of probablem with the emphasis
from the way you wrote it. I get it. My point still stands, however. I
honestly don't think that will matter to probably 95% of people who might
see this film. It certainly doesn't matter to me. It seems like a nit pick,
but I can understand to at lease some extent why you might care. I don't
think you *should*--at least to the extent that it would completely color
your opinion about a film--but of course it's your prerogative.
Regards,
Justin
http://www.uatu.net
Richmond
> news:dY5pc.7068$j6.443@edtnps84...
> > So, right off the bat, they pronounce it "constanTEEN." Oy.
>
> Well, for one thing I would contend that both the first and last syllable
> have the emphasis, but I'm curious what the so-called "correct" way is to
> pronounce this name.
It was established as ConstanTINE (to rhyme with wine) back in Swamp Thing.
Minor Point.
I never claimed to be reviewing the movie. That's why the subject line was
"Constantine teaser" and not, say "THIS MOVIE SUX0R!!!!!!."
I'm not one of those to complain that, say, Hugh Jackman is too tall to play
Wolverine (a common complaint I've heard from Marvel zombies), but there are
certain elements to any character that DEFINE that character. I could
handle any one change, such as playing down the smoking, or making him
American, or whatever, but there comes a point where you've changed so much
that you might as well not bother calling him John Constantine, because it
just plain isn't him. Could you picture Harry Potter as a 53-year-old
Korean Lesbian?
It might very well be a good horror movie. And I'm realistic enough to
understand that they're making it for a wide audience, and not just us sad
prats in comic-land. But if they're going to change so much, why not just
create their own character, acknowledge the JC influence, and everybody's
happy?
Ian Salsbury
> It might very well be a good horror movie. And I'm realistic enough to
> understand that they're making it for a wide audience, and not just us sad
> prats in comic-land. But if they're going to change so much, why not just
> create their own character, acknowledge the JC influence, and everybody's
> happy?
>
>
This sums up what most fans feel IMO. Whilst the movie may be entertainting,
what`s the point of basing it upon a comic character if the story has
nothing in common with that character? The trailer didn`t give me the
impression at all that I was seing something based on the comic I`ve read,
Certainly most film goers won`t care as 99% of them would never have read
the comic ( or indeed heard of it ) but why buy the rights to something and
then release something that`s nothing like it?
I`m not going to make any rash judgements on the film from a 40 second
trailer, but changing the character from a wise cracking sardonic Englishman
to a grim faced hard nosed American destroys any connection with the
original comic IMO. Again, I`ve only seen the trailer so I`m making
prejudgements based on that but I`m not convinced. In fairness alot of the
original stories wouldn`t be allowed to pass through the censors anyway (
Royal family inbreeding for example ) so what`s the point? For the same
reason I`m hoping a Preacher film never gets made. If filmed literally it
would be banned outright! Therefore it would need to be watered down so much
as to make it no more than a passing nod to the original comic.
-Ian-
A Tart's Handkerchief
>One thing I will say is that I've never read a Hellblazer
>comic book in my life, so obviously stuff like John Constantine not being
>quote unquote funny enough (which we can't be very sure of right now)
>doesn't bother me at all. This is just my opinion, of course, but I think
>that people need to get over film characters not always being exactly like
>their comic book counterparts.
That's easy to say since you've never read the comic. Unfortunately,
absolutely everything we know about the film so far contradicts what
happens in the comic. His character, as it appears in the script (which a
lot of us have read and as per comments from Keanu and others) is not even
REMOTELY close to how it's supposed to be. This film will suck for all
people who know the comic, as it just doesn't jive... at all.
>I have a far larger problem with a film like, say, I, Robot,
>which claims to be basing itself upon Asimov's brilliant novel and the three
>laws of robotics, and then, apparently, does something with the story that
>is completely contrary to the whole point of the source material (i.e. that
>robots don't go bad, they just have interesting and sometimes odd ways of
>adhering to the three laws--hence the need for robot psychologists).
Well, just understand, then, that fans of Hellblazer have a similar problem
with the Constantine film, as it violates the very premise of his
character.
>Not to sound rude, but if you claim to be able to review
>this movie based on the scant tidbits available in this teaser, you've got
>to calm down, take a deep breath, and wait until you actually find out
>enough to know what you're talking about.
Actually, as I've said, the script has been available for some time now
online, so many of us have already ready it and are basing our opinion on
much more than just the trailer.
A Tart's Handkerchief
>I thought you were latching on to some sort of probablem with the emphasis
>from the way you wrote it. I get it. My point still stands, however. I
>honestly don't think that will matter to probably 95% of people who might
>see this film. It certainly doesn't matter to me. It seems like a nit pick,
>but I can understand to at lease some extent why you might care. I don't
>think you *should*--at least to the extent that it would completely color
>your opinion about a film--but of course it's your prerogative.
So the way a person's name is pronounced is minor and can be changed
without changing our enjoyment of the film, you're saying? Great, than I
look forward to the following films:
"Batman Begins," in which Bryce Ween is portrayed in his first days as the
Bat, fighting Ross El'Gil and the Scarecrew.
"Spider-Man 2," in which Petter Porker fights Doctor Ectopus.
"Hulk 2," featuring Dr. Briss Benner smashing more things in rage.
"Hoary Portier 3," featuring the further adventures of Hoary and his
friends, Harmony Grunger and Reynold Woozy.
"Swump Thang," recounting the transformation of Dr. Alox Helland into the
muck-encrusted mockery of a man known as the Swump Thang.
"Shreik 2," in which Shreik and Dankey visit the family of Shriek's new
wife, Princess Ferina.
John Adcox
John
Who didn't, and isn't even a fan of the comic
___
John Adcox
Click below for Mythology, Philosophy, Literature, Writing References and more.
http://jadcox.home.mindspring.com
Luke Hodgson
That annoyed me, too. Why call the character John Constantine if you're not
even going to pronounce it correctly?
> It was established as ConstanTINE (to rhyme with wine) back in Swamp
Thing.
> Minor Point.
John even corrected an American (Chester) who mispronouced it.
To me, it points to a dreadful lack of reading of the source material on the
part of the movie makers. Who makes a movie of a novel after reading the
first chapter and saying "I get the gist of it now - let's go"?
Oh, wait, they've been doing that with James Bond novels for years...
If the pronouciation is just part of the Americanisation (zation) of the
character - can anyone confirm if this is likely. DO Americans ALWAYS
pronounce Constantine as "Constanteen"?
>Where's the carefully-crafted
> mystique,
> > > and trenchcoat and the cigarettes designed to convey that
> > > mystique?Where's...fuck, where's John Constantine?
No idea. Probably laughing his arse off at this movie.
Can you imagine what John's reaction to this movie would be? He'd either
knock himself out laughing, or be REALLY pissed off.
And both Alan Moore and Jamie Delano reckon they really saw John once... so
he might actually exist...
Look out Keanu.
Heh. I'm just picturing a blonde, brown trenchoated Englishman with a
Liverpool accent turning up at the end of the film and just... lighting a
cigarette... "Evening, squire. Having a good old time then are we?"
> > I didn't actually have any issues with the trailer. I thought it looked
> sort
> > of interesting as far as horror movies go.
Sure. It DOES look interesting. It could be quite a good movie. Certainly
the concept is something I've never seen in a movie before. Maybe a bit like
the later "Evil Dead" movies without the humour or Bruce Campbell?
But why call it "Constantine"?
A far creepier movie could be made with that name - 'cause isn't London
creepier than California?
> It might very well be a good horror movie. And I'm realistic enough to
> understand that they're making it for a wide audience, and not just us sad
> prats in comic-land. But if they're going to change so much, why not just
> create their own character, acknowledge the JC influence, and everybody's
> happy?
I think that sums it up for me, too.
Most Hellblazer fans would probably be delighted if this was an original
movie that acknowledged Constantine as an influence, but was called
something else. They'd certainly have no second thoughts about wanting to
check it out and indeed would probably support it.
This is a character that is NOT John Constantine. Why call him that?
Do they think that doing a "Blade Runner" is something that will help the
movie?
I guess so - worked for Ridley Scott. Call a completely different character
that same name as some source material that you own the rights to and maybe
the punters will flock to it.
Except I'm thinking that "Constantine" somehow might not enjoy the same sort
of respect as "Blade Runner". (And no-one actually flocked to Blade Runner
when it came out)
One thing we must acknowledge - at least if Keanu's playing the character,
he's not trying to do an English accent.
I submit for your consideration the words - "I kneow whare the bawstard
sleeps!"
Ahem!
Let's compare them!
John Constantine
-Blonde hair.
-Brown trenchcoat.
-Wears a necktie.
-Tattoo of a Christmas tree on buttock.
-Over 50.
-Knows Swamp Thing.
-English
-Liverpool accent.
-Did an advertisement about AIDS awareness with Death once.
-Cheats demons, but mainly tries to avoid them.
-Doesn't like guns, but was briefly in possession of a holy shotgun that
looked like an antique rifle.
-Doesn't drive.
-Best mate Chas is the same age as he is. Chas does the driving.
-Smokes Silk Cut cigarettes.
-God doesn't care. The Devil gets the finger.
-Says "Guv'ner" a bit, sometimes. Usually when an American is writing him.
-Owes a lot to Sting.
-Owned by Warner Brothers.
John Keanu Constanteen
-Black hair.
-Black trenchcoat.
-Wears a necktie.
-Has some weird triangle within a circle tattoo on his right arm (Also,
followed a tattoo of a white rabbit... "Follow the Christmas tree bum"
wouldn't have quite sounded right coming from Morpheus).
-Over 40.
-Knows Joel Silver.
-American.
-Californian accent.
-Played Battleship, Clue and Twister with Death once.
-Fights demons, amongst other things (Including out of control computer
programs).
-Uses a holy shotgun that looks like a religious gattling gun.
-Has his own "Constantinemobile" if production sketches are to be believed.
-His mate Chas is much younger than he is, almost a kid sidekick. Not old
enough to drive?
-No idea what he smokes, can't see the packet label in the photo.
-God and the Devil sit around making bets on souls. (Agent Smith gets the
finger).
-Says "Whoa!' a lot. Not so much these days.
-Owes a lot to Sean Penn in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High".
-Owned by Warner Brothers.
Luke Hodgson
they wear neckties and they are owned by Warner Brothers.
Now... not that I'm saying he would have been the best choice... but
wouldn't Hugo Weaving have made a great Constantine? NO! Do not start a
discussion about possible casting!
"One of us smells like a tart's handkerchief. <sniff> It's me. Sorry old
chap."
"Luke Hodgson" <lukeho...@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:3Lnrc.940$L....@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
A Tart's Handkerchief
>"One of us smells like a tart's handkerchief. <sniff> It's me. Sorry old
>chap."
Should I take that personally?
Luke Hodgson
"A Tart's Handkerchief" <tunne...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:t15ta0177fs60e1tp...@4ax.com...
Ash
known enough got that to be necessary. They could just as easily have
called it "Wayne" and claimed it was based on Batman
jrk
anymore: he's not British, not cynical, not a heavy smoker, etc. I hate
Hollywood.
From P.O.L.A.N.D. with L.O.V.E.
jrk(at)aster.pl
Damien R. Sullivan
>If the pronouciation is just part of the Americanisation (zation) of the
>character - can anyone confirm if this is likely. DO Americans ALWAYS
>pronounce Constantine as "Constanteen"?
I think I do, not that I have much occasion to say it aloud. John
CONstanteen. Lady Johanna CONstanteen. "There is something which crawls its
away around the CONstanteen line."
I submit that James Marsters, given his performance as Spike on "Buffy", could
probably do Constantine fairly well. A lot of surface similarity between the
characters. (Some differences, too, of course.)
-xx- Damien X-)