I was sorry that I missed Ghost Rider when it was in the theaters. The Rider is obviously a B or C level character in the Marvel Universe, but, as with Blade, his true potential I figured would become evident on the big screen. I knew Nicolas Cage had always had a strong desire to play a superhero, and, while I couldn’t stomach the idea of him as Superman, I could really see him in the role of the Ghost Rider.
I’m of mixed feelings about this movie. Let’s get the negative feelings out of the way, first. Most of the dialogue delivered in this movie seemed too strident, as if they were trying to match the feel of a comic book. Indeed, the same dialogue, transported into a comic, would have worked great. But, it never flowed, and came out as blurted bits of exposition. The only actor who pulled it off, and handled his delivery with a more ‘realistic’ edge, was Nic Cage himself. Cage’s Johnny Blaze was a relatively nuanced character, which set him aside from everyone else in the movie. Even Sam Elliott’s lines suffered, and Eva Mendes’ lines seemed almost parody. I have to put the blame on the director here, because I’ve seen numerous Sam Elliott movies, and at least one Eva Mendes movie, and they are capable actors.
The plot had holes in it. Most movies have plot holes—it’s the nature of cramming X amount of story into X amount of screen time, when all the good bits are left on the cutting room floor (or digital equivalent thereof). But, this movie had plot holes big enough to ride a hell-borne chopper through. The Ghost Rider was so powerful, for example, that he takes out three fallen angels, each with minimal effort, one after the other. In the end of the movie, when the Devil comes to release Johnny Blaze from his contract and return his soul, Johnny Blaze refuses and keeps the Ghost Rider powers (and still keeps his soul in jeopardy, one would assume), and the Devil can’t do anything about it! That’s insane on multiple levels! The Devil should have the best attorneys in history working for him, so there should be no way someone can cheat him on a contract!
Well, it’s easy being negative, so it would behoove me to share what I liked. First, Peter Fonda as the Devil in a biker movie is too cool: If you can’t place the reference, well… Nic Cage I believe brought more to the role than he usually does in his action movies. The special effects were pretty decent, if not great. Sam Elliott just looks and sounds great, and, while you saw the twist on his character coming from four miles off, it was still so cool to see it played out.
I’ve been going back and forth between B- and C+ on this movie. In the end, since the movie was fun to watch, and I felt that it delivered for the most part, I’m going with B- with “reservations” appended to it.
Scott
