BASED
ON THE MARVEL COMIC CREATED BY GARY FRIEDRICH,MIKE PLOOG &
ROY THOMAS
SCREEN
STORY BY MARK STEVEN JOHNSON
PRODUCED
BY MARK STEVEN JOHNSON
DIRECTED
BY MARK STEVEN JOHNSON
GENRE:ACTION/SUPERNATURAL
RATED:AUSTRALIA:M/UK:12A/USA:PG-13
RUNNING
TIME:114 MIN
The
Ghost Rider character is a dark, supernatural alternative to the likes
of Spider Man and Captain America, a demon hunter who rides a chopper
made of steel and hell fire, battling ghouls and goblins from the
depths of Hell. Yet on screen, the iconic cult comic book character
known as the "Spirit of Vengeance" comes across as nothing
more than a pale impersonation of his printed self, thanks to this
slick, over the top adaptation by writer/director Mark Steven Johnson.
The movie follows Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage), a highly successful
daredevil who, as a young man, sold his soul to the Lord of the Underworld,
Mephistopheles (Peter Fonda). In exchange Johnny's father is cured
of his cancer and - when the time comes - Johnny must do Mephistopheles
bidding. Cross to the present day and Mephistopheles comes a calling
transforming Johnny into his new Ghost Rider, a bounty hunter whose
first mission is to stop the evil Blackheart (Wes Bentley) from locating
a mysterious contract which will give Blackheart the power to over
throw Mephistopheles and unleash hell on Earth. It is up to Johnny
to make sure that neither Blackheart nor Mephistopheles gets the contract
while he struggles with his new power and tries to sustain a relationship
with long lost love Roxanne (Eva Mendes).
Much like The Punisher and Daredevil (which
was also written and directed by Mark Steven Johnson), Ghost Rider
proves that Marvel Comics' more darker characters just cannot catch
a break on the silver screen. What should have been a dark, scary
tale of vengeful demons and redemptive souls comes across more like
a live cartoon that doesn't even come close to reaching the tone found
within the comic book.
The script is chock-a-block full of corny dialogue, the direction
is uninspired and a number of dreadful performances - especially Wes
Bentley who is scaring no one in his Eddie Munster get up - drag's
the movie down. The films saving grace belongs to the performances
of Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes, as well as the excellent special effects
with special mention to the awesome transformation sequence. Cage
- a controversial choice - stands tall with a wonderfully funny and
eccentric performance, giving Johnny Blaze many quirks such as a love
for the Carpenters and anything to do with monkeys.
As a whole Ghost Rider fails no matter how it is presented
whether it be a comic book movie, a supernatural thriller or an action
adventure.
