How much exposition do you need in a movie? This is the question I asked myself while rewatching Constantine. It's an interesting time capsule to the mid 2000s, having aged well in some areas, and not so well in others. One area that stuck out was how it adapted its source material. You might not know it, but Johnny Constantine comes from the comic Hellblazer. You might not know it, but this film seems to think you do. A lot happens in this movie that goes over-explained, or not explained at all. So much occult stuff gets glazed over, it feels like you're getting half the story. This isn't to say there isn't stuff to enjoy here. There definitely is. I like the way it plays with the lore of angels and demons, making a world that's similar to ours, but different at the same time. The characters/actors aren't too bad either. They serve the story well enough. All in all, Constantine is a middle-of-the-road 2000s flick. It's a Good, and I'd recommen...

A quick hit for you on this Friday morn, popular DC Comics character John Constantine will once again leap off the comic page, this time as a TV series for NBC .  Episodes will follow the exploits of a reformed criminal trying to buy his way back into heaven by sending meddling demons straight to hell. No word yet on who will play Constantine , but the series will be navigated by screenwriter David S. Goyer ( Batman Begins ) and The Mentalist showrunner Daniel Cerone . I never read the comics, but am a big fan of the 2005 flick starring Keanu Reeves and Rachel Weisz (above). And I gotta admit, the subject matter is ripe for a series, although I'd of preferred Constantine found a home at HBO or AMC. Source: Deadline Related articles NBC and David Goyer Conjure "Constantine" DC Comics' John Constantine to Get Television Treatment on NBC BLADE/GHOST RIDER/MAN OF STEEL Writer David Goyer Developing CONSTANTINE: THE SERIES For NBC!! Constantine coming...

We've been pretty critical of Universal's attempt to continue its action franchise without star Matt Damon and the character for which the series is named. Then previews appeared showing The Bourne Legacy to fit nicely into the Bourne universe while expanding on it at the same time. But how does it all hold up? In the wake of Jason Bourne's dismemberment of Operation Blackbriar, the CIA decides to dispose of their other black-ops programs, which includes the termination of field agents. However, Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner), an agent from Operation Outcome, escapes and, with the help of an Outcome scientist (Rachel Weisz), sets out to get even with those who tried to kill him. I'm going to start with the obvious: The Bourne Legacy isn't as good as the other Bourne films. It comes close at times, mostly during the action scenes, but it takes too long to warm up and doesn't come to a satisfying conclusion. The door is left wide open for more, which jus...

OK, Charlie Brown has nothing to do with this post. I just took a line from A Charlie Brown Christmas and cleverly worked it into a headline for a story about an action movie. Charlie Brown fans will likely want to navigate somewhere else, but thanks for visiting. So to, might fans of the Bourne films if they want to go into the upcoming sequel, The Bourne Legacy, completely cold. The below featurette isn't a complete tell-all, but it does spill quite a few beans about what to expect when the film opens next month. If you're like me and hate surprises, view on, brother! The Bourne Legacy is an expansion of the universe from Robert Ludlum's novels, centered on a new hero (Jeremy Renner) whose stakes have been triggered by the events of the previous three films.

August 10 isn't that far away, which means the hype machine is in full swing for The Bourne Legacy, the latest installment in the decade-old action/spy series. We've made no bones about how dumb an idea it was four Universal Pictures to proceed with another Bourne film without star Matt Damon. But the trailers and below clip are looking good so . . . who knows. At this point, I'm willing to at least see the film and give it a chance. Jeremy Renner takes over for Damon, playing another agent/assassin caught in the fallout from the events at the end of The Bourne Ultimatum. Rachel Weisz is a science type caught up in the action. The clip has them on the run from the law. And Shawn and I have a treat for you Basement Dwellers and Bourne fans -- we've interviewed the only Bourne in The Bourne Legacy. You'll be able to hear our talk with stunt pilot Chuck Bourne when our August Special arrives Aug. 4.

Well, not really. But the beautiful and talented actress is considering the female lead in The Bourne Legacy opposite Jeremy Renner. As we've discussed before, Renner has been cast in Tony Gilroy's spinoff from the popular Bourne films. The writer/director hasn't concocted a direct sequel to Matt Damon's action trilogy, instead casting Renner as an operative from a secret government agency supposedly more dangerous than the Treadstone branch Damon's Jason Bourne sprang from. What part Weisz will play is not yet known. She could be the new film's equivalent to Joan Allen's Pamela Landy, or not. Neither Shawn or I are very excited about The Bourne Legacy because it strikes us as nothing more than a cash in. But, if Weisz does join the production, then at least the cast will be first rate.