Constantine has aged well, with a rich story very much in keeping with the spirit of the comics, even if the 2005 film isn't a perfect adaptation. Keanu Reeves' black hair and American accent aside, he found the core of the character's hard-boiled cynicism, aided by a sterling cast of future Oscar winners. Chief among them was Tilda Swinton, who came close to stealing the show as the archangel Gabriel.

Gabriel is revealed to be the film's central villain, who attempts to engineer the Biblical apocalypse in a twisted effort to bring out the best in humanity. The climactic showdown with Constantine arrives amid a crescendo full of twists and turns. However, Constantine works so well, in part, because it pays as much attention to the throwaway details in those moments as it does the bigger ones. In this case, a small piece of Swinton's costume speaks volumes.

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Why Gabriel Wears Hospital Bracelets in Constantine

Gabriel moves his hand towards Constantine's neck while he lays on the floor

Gabriel wears hospital bracelets during his face-off with Constantine, an overtly modern touch to a costume designed to evoke timelessness and eternity. According to the extras on Constantine's DVD, they're a reminder to Gabriel of his purpose to test mankind, as well as how suffering brings out humanity's noble side. That's in keeping with the scene's dialogue. "It's only in the face of horror that you truly find your nobler selves," Gabriel tells Constantine, "and you can be so noble. So… I will bring you pain. I will bring you horror. So that you may rise above it."

It's horribly misguided, as Constantine promptly points out. However, it carries a twisted logic connected to the costume choice. The hospital bracelets carry words like "Sorrow" and "Passion," presumably as a reminder of what humans go through. On a more direct level, they echo Isabel Dodson (Rachel Weisz), whose suicide while in a hospital prompted John Constantine's investigation. Her act was morally complex -- she was trying to prevent the end of the world -- which Gabriel has trouble understanding. He can't feel pain, at least not yet, but his duties on Earth induce him to witness human suffering through countless generations.

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How the Bracelets Represent Gabriel's Envy

Gabriel appears awe-struck while standing in a room with green lighting

And there lies Gabriel's tragedy and what makes him such a surprisingly complex figure. For all that time spent observing, Gabriel can't empathize with the humanity he's supposed to champion. He doesn't have any idea of what they experience, only that they tend to act more heroically when circumstances are dire. The bracelets are the equivalent of crib notes for an exam. They are Gabriel's only way to connect with the people he's supposed to help. Without that empathy, orchestrating an apocalypse becomes all too easy.

Indeed, Gabriel acts out of envy more than compassion because he has no idea of what pain entails. "It's not fair," he mutters during his confrontation with John, referring to God's professed love for humanity and their innate ability for salvation. Without an understanding of the price mortals pay for God's grace, all Gabriel sees is a free ride for a species that hasn't earned it. For Gabriel, the end of the world will make them earn it. As a bonus, he gets to punish them for being God's favorites.

Gabriel's envy is his downfall, which is part of what makes the climax to Constantine work so well. God abandons Gabriel, leaving him mortal and trapped on Earth. He gets to experience pain firsthand. It's a snappy coda to the film, as John punches Gabriel in the jaw to give him his first taste of what he's in for. Even then, Gabriel fails to understand, playing it off as somehow part of his plan all along.