Ghost Rider

 

 

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Even way back during my comic-collecting days, I never really crossed paths with Ghost Rider (I've read exactly one issue), and I only decided that I like Nicolas Cage after all about a year ago -- so I wasn't exactly waiting for this film (and what a lengthy wait it turned out to be) with baited breath. You know what, though? I really enjoyed this movie. OK, the first half hour is a little slow and boring, but once the actual Ghost Riding starts, the action makes up for the deficiencies in the storyline. I can't say the whole flaming skull thing looks like it could even possibly be real, but it's still a flaming skull, and that is, by definition, pretty darn cool. And we all know that you can't really go wrong with demon fighting.

If you know nothing about Ghost Rider, here's all you really need to know. As a teenager, Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage) sold his soul to the devil (but not for greedy or selfish reasons) -- only to be totally screwed over by the evil-doer. Knowing that old Mephistopheles (Peter Fonda) could show up at any time to enforce his end of the deal, Blaze leaves the love of his life behind and heads out to lead a life of relative isolation. Following in his father's footsteps, he becomes a famous motorcycle daredevil, continually upping the danger ante in an effort to prove to himself that he, not Mephistopheles, is responsible for his success. Life goes on until the day he jumps the length of a football field (goalpost to goalpost, which would actually be 20 yards further than the 100 yards described in the film). As fate would have it, Blaze's death-defying jump actually pales in importance to two other things that happen: this is the day that Blaze's young sweetheart, Roxanne (Eva Mendes), suddenly comes back into his life, and it is also the day that Mephistopheles decides to show up and put his reluctant bounty hunter to work for the first time. Turning into a flaming skeleton consumed with the overwhelming need to punish evil-doers doesn't do much for romance, especially when it happens every night. Ghost Rider's targets aren't exactly easy to kill, either, because they are a group of demons led by Mephistopheles' rebellious son Blackheart (Wes Bentley). Father and son are both after the old contract for a thousand exceedingly corrupt souls a former Ghost Rider hid away from the devil's evil clutches.

Once Blaze transforms into Ghost Rider, some heavy CGI work is used to tell most of the rest of the story. None of the special effects will make your jaw drop open, but it's all pretty effective for the most part. That whole romance thing butts in from time to time to take away from all of the demonic action, but even the plot's predictability in this regard does little to take away from the overall entertainment factor. You especially have to love Ghost Rider's trademark finishing move, the Penance Stare.

I know the reaction to Ghost Rider has been a little on the mixed side, but I for one am glad to hear that there are plans for a sequel in the works. In terms of plot and characterization, this film does leave itself open to various levels of criticism, but Ghost Rider is a great character that could easily sustain a franchise of films.

Ghost Rider(released Feb/07) is yet another comic book incarnation of a character brought to the big screen.This one stars Peter Fonda,Nicholas Cage and Sam Elliot,and the results are a mixed bag.The plot and back story can be a little too stop and go for my tastes,while the movie itself only comes to life when the action starts in and the S/FX range free.
The movie opens as Sam Elliot narrates the legend of the Ghost Rider.It seems one Carter Slade(Elliot),once a cowboy now doing the Devil's bidding(Fonda),was under orders to retrieve and deliver a contract which contained about 1000 souls.Slade,figuring this was too much power even for the Devil himself,fled with the contract and hid it.Fast forward a hundred or so years and a young 17 year old Johnny Blaze is in a motorcycle show with his dad.However when he finds out his dad is dying of cancer,the Devil steps in to offer a cure for his dad,in exchange for Johnny's soul.Tricked,Johnny inadvertently signs the pact and his father is cured.However the following day just as Johnny is about to elope with his girlfriend his father is killed during his show.The Devil reappears telling Johnny to forget his life as he knows it and that he now owns him,and will return for him when he so wishes.
Fast forward once more and Johnny is now an older professional motorcycle thrill rider,doing the most spectacular stunts the world has ever seen.He has a team of workers that travel the country with his show,but he has been alone since his dad's demise and remains a solitary figure.Johnny continues not only to push his limits but looks for a sign that one day may turn his life around for the better.That sign comes one day in the form of the girl he stood up the day his father died.She is now a reporter who asks and gets an interview with the reclusive motorcyclist.
From this time on his attitude starts to change but as things would have it the Devil comes a-calling,and he is in need of his property.It seems the Devil's own son is bent on finding the lost soul pact and kicking his father off the evil throne.The Devil recruits Johnny to stop him and enhances his abilities by turning him into a Ghost Rider,replete with jacked up bike and leather accessories,all to go with the flaming skull Johnny sports whenever evil is present.
In a lonely cemetery after his first nights ride,he meets the caretaker there.He seems to know more about Johnny and his alter ego than he should.Several nights pass and Johnny encounters the Devil's son and his minions.One by one he slowly takes them out.One day the caretaker reveals that he is THE Carter Slade and he gives Johnny the pact the Devil is searching for.Together they ride to the original town where the souls were collected.Slade leaves Johnny,telling him to keep to the shadows,as he disappears.Johnny indeed confronts the Devil's son,known as Blackheart and after obtaining the pact,unleashes the 1000 souls which pour relentlessly into his body.What might have been an advantage for Blackheart turns out,in the end,to work in Johnny's favour.Johnny had a Pennance Stare with which he neutralized enemies previously.He tried it once on Blackheart previously to no avail,as he did not have a soul.Now filled with 1000 of them Johnny tries it again and it succeeds.
Johnny is reunited with his love and the Devil reappears.He tells Johnny that there is no longer any need to keep his powers as he has fulfilled his contract with him.Johnny however decides to keep his powers,telling the Devil that anywhere there are injustices to be righted and innocent blood spilled,in his fathers name he will be there to right it.The Devil is beyond mad and disappears.
Peter Fonda makes a good Devil here but I don't think it was quite good enough.He just didn't have that extra oomph,like Peter Stormare had in Constantine,playing the same part.Cage is,well Cage,and does a good job in his role as J.Blaze.Sam Elliot does a very good job as Carter Slade and it is easy to see why he has played so many cowboys in films in recent years;he is just a natural at it.That easy going drawl goes down like a good swig of southern iced tea on a sweltering day!
Technically speaking the film is clear and crisp in its' original a/r of 2:40:1.This is a two disc edition.The first contains some rare footage and numerous commentaries.The second disc contains three features on the making of the film,the animatics of the film and a featurette on 40 years of comic Ghost Rider.More than enough to satisfy your curiosity about the film and its roots.
In conclusion an entertaining romp with a generally good cast and excellent special effects.It could have garnered more stars from me,but the movie only really gets going once the action starts and can be slightly slow going between times.3 1/2-4 stars.

At first, I had little expectations for Nicholas Cage being Ghost Rider like so many others here. The Ghost Rider Comics are famous and just like Spiderman and X-Men; to make an adaptation out of it requires a lot of work. It's not something you can easily slap on the big screen; both longtime fans and newcomers have to find the same power that makes Ghost Rider what it is in the comics, on the big screen. So having seen this I admit that although it had a few sore spots and kinks, I admire the work put into the movie.

Nic Cage is pretty good in being Johnny Blaze and Ghost Rider. He adds much needed charisma to the movie and the emotional romance which was fairly traditional. Some of the superhero battles are neither sophisticated nor fantastic, to the point on making a grade. Eva Mendez was simply stunning and has out-standing beauty, but never had much chance to do anything ground breaking in this movie. The villain in the movie let the side down; Wes and Peter were both below par with their efforts similar to Eva. Sam Elliot was great even though he didn't have much to play with. I felt he was the only person who stayed in character and delivered his role gracefully throughout the entire movie.

Special effects were very good considering the tight budget constraints; the direction was adequate if nothing stunning. Script was awful along with the plot, but to be expected in a comic book movie that tries to be nothing else other than a comic book movie not like the fantastic Batman Begins and Spider-man. This could have been another film in the vein of the Blade series instead of being a PG-13 safe movie viewing. A real shame here as I like the Ghost Rider character (though I've never read the comics). This could have been a great new series for fans missing their Blade style comic movie. Playing it save with a PG-13 script on subject matter that is truly R all the way really hurt this one!! Beside that it's a good effort and is still worth watching.

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