I'm a bit disappointed. The effect quality was nice though.
I'm not sure if the events are happening before or after the movie. But it appears to me they just run through explanations to give it somewhat sense while it's being a bit dully presented (hey John, I'm an angel, let me explain what I'm doing, since you surely don't know after spending 10+ years under these circumstances as master of dark arts...). It occurs to me it's even unrelated to the movie because he doesn't smoke but is still damned. Is it close to the comics? Haven't read them. But from the info I have gathered it looks like it is.
Matt Ryan as Constantine is quite okay I think. The appearance seem to be closer to the comics though. I am missing the noir style of the story and the main characters' cynicism. The character seems to be completely different and I don't like that. Compared to Reeves' Constantine, Ryan is playing a talker who tries to stay interesting with sarcasm and arrogance (and unnecessary sunglasses). Less is often more and would they have given the main character an a bit less annoying charisma with the nice side effect that the "event with Chas" later on would have had more emotional impact on the viewer. The supporting role "Chas" should have been given more text to be actually supportive/helpful or to put it bluntly, to matter at all.
The first episode had a bit too much of every interesting aspect from the movie, thus it felt a bit like Supernatural (and even for that it felt like too much) with the "quick, let's run over there, then there,..." pace of Charmed. A bit influence from the The Dresden Files would have helped I think, ironic since TDF is seen as being influenced by Hellblazer. The amount of effects and action scenes is hopefully not always that much. However, the second half of the episode was slightly better. I'd wish for a bit more clever writing in the upcoming episodes so that an event has the chance to build up rather then been thrown in my face directly. Star Wars pacing? Suspense? Anyone?
Conclusion: There is much potential and a lot content to cover. But in my opinion they have ignored the strength of the movie: noir, cynicism, self-righteousness with a tightened character that takes the unusual things as natural, annoying stuff that just happens as the usual day in the office. Hopefully they slow down a bit, give the atmosphere time (and us) time to breathe and think about the situation. We don't need another Supernatural. It's already there and successful, give us something new - or rather, something that we know already, liked and would love to see more (movie).
I'm not sure if the events are happening before or after the movie. But it appears to me they just run through explanations to give it somewhat sense while it's being a bit dully presented (hey John, I'm an angel, let me explain what I'm doing, since you surely don't know after spending 10+ years under these circumstances as master of dark arts...). It occurs to me it's even unrelated to the movie because he doesn't smoke but is still damned. Is it close to the comics? Haven't read them. But from the info I have gathered it looks like it is.
Matt Ryan as Constantine is quite okay I think. The appearance seem to be closer to the comics though. I am missing the noir style of the story and the main characters' cynicism. The character seems to be completely different and I don't like that. Compared to Reeves' Constantine, Ryan is playing a talker who tries to stay interesting with sarcasm and arrogance (and unnecessary sunglasses). Less is often more and would they have given the main character an a bit less annoying charisma with the nice side effect that the "event with Chas" later on would have had more emotional impact on the viewer. The supporting role "Chas" should have been given more text to be actually supportive/helpful or to put it bluntly, to matter at all.
The first episode had a bit too much of every interesting aspect from the movie, thus it felt a bit like Supernatural (and even for that it felt like too much) with the "quick, let's run over there, then there,..." pace of Charmed. A bit influence from the The Dresden Files would have helped I think, ironic since TDF is seen as being influenced by Hellblazer. The amount of effects and action scenes is hopefully not always that much. However, the second half of the episode was slightly better. I'd wish for a bit more clever writing in the upcoming episodes so that an event has the chance to build up rather then been thrown in my face directly. Star Wars pacing? Suspense? Anyone?
Conclusion: There is much potential and a lot content to cover. But in my opinion they have ignored the strength of the movie: noir, cynicism, self-righteousness with a tightened character that takes the unusual things as natural, annoying stuff that just happens as the usual day in the office. Hopefully they slow down a bit, give the atmosphere time (and us) time to breathe and think about the situation. We don't need another Supernatural. It's already there and successful, give us something new - or rather, something that we know already, liked and would love to see more (movie).