Great Marvel-Fueled Fun With Just A Little Cheesy Aftertaste

Rating: 8/10 (20 February 2007)

First off, let me preface this review by saying that I was never huge fan or aficionado of Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider. I liked the character somewhat, but found myself more attuned with Marvel's other heroes, like Spider-Man, the Avengers, and the Hulk. Now, going into the cinematic version of the Spirit of Vengeance, I really had no preconceived notions. I enjoyed the very first theatrical trailer for the film that I saw with last year's disastrous X-Men: The Last Stand, but was sort of wary of the film after seeing the corny, humorous television commercials that were run endlessly before the movie's release on 16 February 2007.
However, after actually seeing Ghost Rider, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the end product and had a great time watching it. Yet, the film is not without its problems. The story of a young motorcycle daredevil's bargain with the Devil for the life of his cancer-stricken father, Ghost Rider has a pretty good foundation to stand on. Then, of course, in the Marvel way, the story goes on a completely different, un-Faustian course, as that young daredevil, Johnny Blaze, now a grown up, world famous stunt cyclist, is forced to relive his horrible curse as the Ghost Rider, a flame-skulled demonic entity charged by Mephistopheles (not Mephisto as in the comics) to hunt down wayward demons, including Satan's own son, Blackheart, played with devilish, yet pale and gaunt, glee by Wes Bentley.
The film boasts incredible special effects. Ghost Rider was another one of those fictional characters I thought could never be pulled off on screen without looking cheap or silly, but in this movie, it totally works. Ghost Rider is fully realized and is one scary dude. And that demonic chopper of his is totally indescribable. As for the rest of the characters, including the Rider's own alter ego, this where the film stops short.
Peter Fonda is Mephistopheles, but not the red-skinned demonic creature from the comics. He is a leather-jacketed snake-oil salesman. Fonda is fine in the role, but what bothers me is that they pass this version of Mephisto off as the actual, biblical Satan, which was never the comics' intention. This could be a controversial point for some religious viewers, but I just felt that it betrayed the Marvel version somewhat. Eva Mendes portrays Johnny Blaze's lamented love, Roxanne Simpson, but she is given very little to do, but stand around in skin-tight, cleavage-magnifying outfits. Now, don't get me wrong, in that aspect, Ms. Mendes is incredible. She is incredibly beautiful and a treat to both stare at and watch move around, but her character really does little else, and she has little to no chemistry with Nicolas Cage's Johnny Blaze.
And as for Cage's Johnny Blaze, I think the film ultimately does suffer from the wrong casting here. I don't really believe Cage as the daredevil Blaze or as Ms. Mendes' love interest and his motion-captured movements as Ghost Rider do not really seem heroic or larger than life. It seems that Cage was sort of phoning in this role, even though he is a huge fan of both comic books and Ghost Rider himself. I found myself just wishing someone else were playing this role.
The story of Ghost Rider's hunt for Blackheart and his elemental minions is pedestrian and has be done time and time again, but it is still fun to watch and just cool to see on screen. Sam Elliot is, as always, terrific as the mysterious Caretaker, who guides Johnny on his journey as the latest incarnation of Ghost Rider. The big reveal at the end of Caretaker, as Carter Slade, the 19th Century Ghost Rider, is not all that shocking or surprising but does make for an interesting twist. And the scene of the two Ghost Riders, one astride a skeletal, fiery horse, and one traveling on a demon-fueled chopper, is just really amazing to see.
I think that Ghost Rider could have been a great movie, maybe with another actor in the title role, or perhaps with the original R-rated screenplay of David Goyer, but in the end it was simply a good film that gave me a great ride, and that's really saying and accomplishing a lot.
Recommended.