A review of "Ghost Rider"

Rating: 6/10 (16 February 2007)

In the Marvel Comics pantheon of superheroes, Ghost Rider stands out as one of the more unique personalities in the fact that he is not a mutant (i.e., Spider-Man, X-Men, Daredevil), or a human being at the peak of his physical stature (i.e., The Punisher). No, Ghost Rider receives his unique qualities in the fact that he's a demon, manipulated by the forces of both good and evil for their respective purposes.
Created by writers Roy Thomas, Gary Friedrich and artist Mike Ploog for Marvel Comics in 1972, the title features stunt motorcyclist Johnny Blaze, who finds himself at the disposal of the forces of Hell after selling his soul to the Devil. By day (I love that "by day" line), Blaze is pretty much himself: a reckless daredevil motorcyclist who loves to risk his life for the sake of his fans. At night, however, he hops on a revved-up motorcycle, possessed by the demon Zarathos, as the mystical Ghost Rider, to collect souls as a hot-rodding bounty hunter for his boss, Satan. But ultimately, circumstances in the world force the Ghost Rider into acting on the side of good, and trying to find a way to regain his soul.
This would all make for some pretty intense entertainment with philosophical discussions dealing with the matter of choice, but it seems that with this latest comic book adaptation, writer/director Mark Steven Johnson's "Ghost Rider," such themes take a backseat in what is essentially a Hollywood-ized, special effects-laden spectacle that goes many places and savors stylish craftsmanship, but lacks any real substance. I'm not a huge "Ghost Rider" fan, but what I do like about him is the fact that he's a demon and not a mutant (like so many others), and that makes him so much different from the rest.
Johnson made a name for himself four years ago when he wrote and directed "Daredevil" (2003). The film was initially a box office and critical disappointment, but has found a new afterlife on DVD with a highly praised director's cut that made the Man Without Fear shine in a whole new light. But the problem is ultimately with Johnson's writing, which has imagination and ideas, but lacks substance. I guess this is why "Ghost Rider" gets off to a slow start, even with some rather stirring scenes of a young Johnny Blaze working with his dad in a carnival motorcycle stunt show.
When his father is diagnosed with cancer, a stranger offers young Johnny a deal: sell his soul, and in the process spare his father's life. Blaze does so and his father recovers. But an accident takes his father's life, and now Blaze is at the mercy of the stranger, later revealed to be the demon Mephistopheles (Peter Fonda). Mephistopheles states that Blaze is now the mythological Ghost Rider, and will allow Johnny to lead a normal life until he needs him. So Blaze grows up, leaves behind his true love Roxanne Simpson, and goes about on a lifelong journey of waiting for his second chance at redemption.
Now an adult, played by the oddly appealing Nicolas Cage (who is a die-hard Ghost Rider fan and had to have his tattoo covered up for the film), Blaze is continuing his life's mission of stunning the masses. On the side, however, he is still haunted by his father's tragic accident and his deal with Mephistopheles, which as an aside, he reads up on books that could offer clues as to how to break his contract with him.
The main plot of the film gets under way when Mephistopheles's son, Blackheart (Wes Bentley), arrives on Earth seeking to bring about Armageddon. It seems that Blackheart has grown too powerful for his father and wants the Ghost Rider to help him find a hundred-year-old contract that contains the souls of the residents of a condemned desert town. Meanwhile, Blaze's heart goes bing-bing-bing by the sudden arrival of his old flame Roxanne (Eva Mendes), and she has a hard time accepting his life's choices. But Blackheart proves to be a big problem, and Blaze must now assume the identity of the Ghost Rider, flaming skull, chain, hot rod and all, and save the world.
Stan Lee, who frequently pops up in Marvel adaptations, doesn't here (just so you know). As Johnny Blaze, Cage is sufficient, in a role that he obvious loves and sinks his teeth into. You have to admire his attempts at attracting Roxanne by revealing his true identity as the Ghost Rider and having her look at him cross-eyed and recommending psychiatric help. Also, Mendes generates a sense of warmth and provides a nice love interest. Peter Fonda and Wes Bentley both make for decent villains, and even Sam Elliott appears as a former Ghost Rider. But the problem, again, is with Johnson. I just wish that with his next film he leaves the writing to someone else and remains a director.
"Ghost Rider" may not have shared the potential of something on the magnitude of say a "Spider-Man" movie (the preview trailer for "Spider-Man 3" was simply excellent, BTW), but it could have been really good on its own accord. I suspect that like Johnson's earlier "Daredevil," a director's cut is probably in the works, with much of the really good stuff that was left on the cutting room floor inserted back into the film. We'll just have to wait and see.
6/10