Fantasy Movie Reviews: Ghost Rider (Widescreen Edition)

Ghost Rider (Widescreen Edition) Review

If you follow the Ghost Rider comic book series, you will probably like this movie; if you've never been exposed to GR before, it might be a better idea to rent this one first.

Nick Cage does a good job of portraying the title characters complete detatchment from, and disreguard for, his own life, trying to come to grips with what he's been suckered into. The special effects are very well done, and overall this is a very good 'port' of a comic book story to the big screen.

Ghost Rider (Widescreen Edition) Overview

A young motorcyclist sells his soul to the Devil to save his father, and then to release himself from his obligation years later, he becomes the Ghost Rider to defeat the Devil's much more evil son, Blackheart.
Genre: Feature Film-Action/Adventure
Rating: PG13
Release Date: 12-JUN-2007
Media Type: DVD

Ghost Rider (Widescreen Edition) Specifications

Once intended as a feature for Johnny Depp, the long-germinating feature film adaptation of Marvel Comics' cult title Ghost Rider stars Nicolas Cage as motorcyclist Johnny Blaze, who transforms into a skull-faced angel of vengeance to battle the forces of evil. Though perhaps a bit too mature for the role, Cage brings a degree of humor to the outrageous proceedings; he's well matched by the Easy Rider himself Peter Fonda, amusingly cast as Mephistopheles, the demon with whom Blaze strikes a bargain to save his father, and in turn, causes his transformation into Ghost Rider. Wes Bentley is also fine as Blackheart, the rebellious offspring of Mephistopheles, and Blazes' chief opponent in the film. They're joined by a solid supporting cast which includes Donal Logue, Eva Mendes, and Sam Elliott, but their participation and a relentless barrage of CGI effects can't hide the fact that the story itself, though largely faithful to its comic origins, is rife with clichéd characterizations and glum B-movie dialogue. Fans of the venerable title may cry foul over this adaptation (as they did over helmer Mark Steven Johnson's previous comic-to-movie feature, Daredevil), but less stringent viewers may enjoy the fiery visuals and Cage's typically quirky performance. --Paul Gaita

Stills from Ghost Rider (click for larger image)