Mark Steven Johnson is the new Joel Schumacher

Rating: 3/10 (15 February 2007)

Mark Steven Johnson is the new Joel Schumacher and what Schmacher did with Batman Johnson did with Daredevil and now, Ghost Rider, namely give a bad name to comic book adaptations. Ghost Rider is the epitome of what turns people off about comic books and the movies made from them: all special effects, little logic, characterization or drama.
Admittedly, the movie starts out fine by telling the story behind Johnny Blaze's deal with the devil. But once Ghost Rider is introduced, Johnson eschews coherent narrative for a series of "cool" scenes cribbed from the comics, with little logic or coherent dramatic context.
Among the actors, the movie's saving grace seems to be Wes Bently, who aptly plays the role of Blackheart. Nicholas Cage is entertaining to watch, particularly when he tries to explain his "situation" to childhood sweetheart Roxanne (Eva Mendes) but his flippancy otherwise undercuts his character's should-be mythic status.
Overall, the film is a big disappointment, although it shouldn't have been given Johnson's track record with Daredevil. He is losing whatever goodwill audiences developed for 'comicbook'movies in the wake of Batman Begins and the Spider-man and X-Men films.