Ghost Rider

Directed by: Mark Steven Johnson
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Peter Fonda, Wes Bentley, Donal Logue
Running Time: 1h 54min

This is throwaway adaptation delivered as a truly silly bit of comic book nonsense, which undermines the desired darkness of the 70s superhero, Ghost Rider. Don't get me wrong, but there's a lot of diehards out there who love their Ghost Rider, along with their Steely Dan, Ministry, and Friday the 13th in Port Dover. Strangely, this film does little to satisfy those types, with Cage's Carpenters listening stunt man really messing with the take no prisoners attitude that comes with the flaming two wheeler.

So, it's a quirky take on an oddball super hero? Not quite. The story still tries to shove a bunch of the supernatural and theological mumbo jumbo that's at the centre of the comic book, which causes the whole project to go up in flames. It's a trick balancing act, fire and brimstone, stunt circuses and soul sucking purgatory. A juggling act that the source comic book itself didn't do too well.

Yet the time was right to make the film, as a superhero boom (thanks to advances in computer FX) is generating as many hits as misses in the past decade. Chalk one up for the misses, as this one succeeds only at producing some eye popping visuals, which was the key strength of the comic. When it gets down to it, the comic itself was really just an excuse for some talented artists to draw a cool looking dude with a flaming skull for a head all clad in leather and sporting some chains and a chopper. They could have abandoned the script and just digitally altered Evil Knievel footage and most fans would have been happy.

All in all, it's worth a watch for comic book/biker fans, but not many more. It's great to see Peter Fonda turn up as an Easy Rider, and Cage is his usual self, whether you love him or hate him. In fact, the cast gives of themselves wholeheartedly. As expected, Mendes is almost as smoking and blazing as Johnny Blaze himself. Let's just be thankful that there's no chance for a sequel, and this ghost can ride off into the sunset.

Grade: C+