So, I now I've seen Constantine. It wasn't as bad as I feared, but it's got some problems. The biggest problem as always is Keanu Reeves. I've only read a few issues of Hellblazer, the comic Constantine is based on, so I don't know how accurate the movie is to the comic. However, I am aware of one major departure from the comic, Constantine's nationality. This of course is due to Keanu's complete and total inability to do an English accent.
The other major problem is that the writer's don't know what they are talking about. I like a nice piece of Christian mythology as well as the next guy. By Christian mythology I mean legends that are associated with Christianity but don't actually have to do with the religion itself in any realistic way. The Holy Grail, Spear of Longinus, the Wandering Jew- things like that.
But I really hate it when people who write these things presume to deal with matters of doctrine, when they don't know what they are talking about. SPOILER WARNING! An important premise in the movie is that someone who commits suicide is damned to hell. The movie further states that someone who attempts suicide is damned as well. Now the reason suicides are presumed to be damned is a) suicide is a sin and b) due to the nature of the sin there is no oportunity to ask for forgiveness. However, the church understands that that there may be mitigating circumstances. The Catechism has this to say on the matter-
"Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide.
We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives."
Both characters who commit suicide in the movie are suffering from grave psychological disturbances and anguish. Furthermore, one of the characters is revived and therefore has plenty of oportunities to repent of his sin. In fact he seems to have done so.
The Church's views on suicide are relevant to the movie because a number of the characters are Catholic, and main elements seem to be based on a Catholic viewpoint or rather a misunderstanding of the Catholic viewpont.
There was some cool effects and Rachel Wiess does a good job. She, at least, is capable of putting on an accent when needed.
The other major problem is that the writer's don't know what they are talking about. I like a nice piece of Christian mythology as well as the next guy. By Christian mythology I mean legends that are associated with Christianity but don't actually have to do with the religion itself in any realistic way. The Holy Grail, Spear of Longinus, the Wandering Jew- things like that.
But I really hate it when people who write these things presume to deal with matters of doctrine, when they don't know what they are talking about. SPOILER WARNING! An important premise in the movie is that someone who commits suicide is damned to hell. The movie further states that someone who attempts suicide is damned as well. Now the reason suicides are presumed to be damned is a) suicide is a sin and b) due to the nature of the sin there is no oportunity to ask for forgiveness. However, the church understands that that there may be mitigating circumstances. The Catechism has this to say on the matter-
"Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide.
We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives."
Both characters who commit suicide in the movie are suffering from grave psychological disturbances and anguish. Furthermore, one of the characters is revived and therefore has plenty of oportunities to repent of his sin. In fact he seems to have done so.
The Church's views on suicide are relevant to the movie because a number of the characters are Catholic, and main elements seem to be based on a Catholic viewpoint or rather a misunderstanding of the Catholic viewpont.
There was some cool effects and Rachel Wiess does a good job. She, at least, is capable of putting on an accent when needed.
posted by Dominic at 4:13 PM
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