A bit lightweight for a film about "Hell's Bounty Hunter"...but enjoyable

Rating: 7/10 (5 May 2007)

I saw "Ghost Rider" for $1.50 in a 2nd run movie theater matinée on a weekend afternoon, and found it a pleasant escape and diversion. Your mileage may vary.
My feelings about "Ghost Rider" may be somewhat influenced by the fact that I remember the original comic from the 70's. It featured a cool character design, a moving (if vaguely ridiculous) origin story...and a monthly series that ranged somewhere between awful and mediocre. (Nothing against the series writers and artists who had to work against that era's soul killing production deadlines and editorial constraints). Later revivals of the title and the character improved greatly in production quality and the ambition of the stories, but GR was always really nothing more than a 3rd tier character who only real asset was his striking design. (Seriously - a guy with a flaming skull, leather jacket and chains and a motorcycle made of fire - you can't get much cooler than that.)
So I feel that, unlike "Catwoman", "FF", or "Daredevil", the movie adaptation of "Ghost Rider" was actually better in its conception and execution than the character enjoyed in the comics. It makes good use about what's most interesting and exciting about the character and tosses aside most of the dross that accumulated over 3 decades of well intentioned efforts to fill up pages and make money off the concept. The result is 90+ minutes of lightweight summer entertainment that works as long as you aren't feeling too harsh or critical. (Obviously, some of the reviewers here WERE feeling harsh and critical).
No, it's not a great movie. Nicolas Cage is pretty much operating on autopilot here and there are plot holes and inconsistencies you could drive a flaming motorcycle through. But the movie is fairly funny where it means to be funny - the audience I saw it with laughed at the one-liners and so did I. Best of all, the special effects are appropriate to the storyline; they are exciting and dynamic and provide most of the entertainment value. Especially good (and the real reason to see the movie) is the live depiction of GR himself, which is 100% more convincing and better integrated into the film than was the depiction of the Hulk several years back. For me, watching GR ride a flaming motorcycle down the side of a skyscraper was just plain fun.
I also thought that some of the supporting actors added a lot to the watch-ability of the film with spot on performances that suited the material perfectly. Especially good was the agent/friend "Mack"; this actor was so good and so natural most people won't realize how good he really was. Also great was the actor who played Roxanne's driver; he handled several of the movie's lighter moments in a deft, pleasant way that significantly enhanced the scenes in which he appeared. Both these actors will probably go far in the next decade. Plus: Sam Elliot played Sam Elliot, as always, but I haven't ever tired of his macho cowboy schtick, and I probably won't.
For uncritical superhero devotees, people looking for brainless diversion and fans of Cage and /or Eva Mendes. (I personally can't see a reason for all the fuss about this actress, but she isn't bad at all.)