Far From Perfect but Entertaining

Rating: Null/10 (17 February 2012)

Ghost Rider (2007)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Based on the Marvel comic character, Nicholas Cage plays Johnny Blaze, a motorcycle stunt driver who escapes death countless times because he sold his soul to the Devil (Peter Fonda) years earlier in exchange that his father would beat cancer. The Devil doesn't totally keep his end of the bargain so Johnny escapes to fame but soon the Devil shows up wanting him to become the Ghost Rider and destroy his son who is trying to take over his power. I'll admit right up front that I'm not a comic fan and I've certainly never read anything this film is based on so I can't compare it to anything. I went into the movie hoping to at least get a popcorn entertainment and for the most part I think the film delivers, although it's certainly far from perfect and it's not even a good film. I viewed the Extended Cut, which I think was a mistake because there are certain scenes that just dragged on for no reason and sure enough, after watching the movie I looked up the differences in the two versions and these scenes were what was extended. There's way too much build-up and talk leading up to what the film is really about and I'd say that the ending goes on way too long as well. With that said, I thought the film was somewhat fun. I found the special effects to be quite good and after it grows on you I found the skull-on-fire character to be fun as well. Cage is such a terrific actor that it's really amazing to see how bad he can be at times but it really does seem like he's turning into the John Carradine of his time. The talent to give amazing performances but he also appears in some rather cheap stuff, goes over the top but at least makes it fun. I'm really not sure what Cage was trying to do here performance wise but it doesn't work in terms of being a "good performance" but it is a fun one. The supporting cast includes a fun turn by Fonda playing the Devil and we get Sam Elliott in the renegade role. I've never been a huge fan of Eva Mendes but she's good here as the love interest/sex symbol. GHOST RIDER is certainly far from a masterpiece but I think it works well enough for a rental if you enjoy this type of thing.