Sunday, August 26, 2007

Ghost Rider

I think my excitement yesterday over super hero cartoons influenced my movie choice later in the evening. For a couple hours just before dinner I found myself alone in the house, remote control in hand. Although I had lots on my To-Do List--and when I say "lots," I mean it--I couldn't resist sneaking a quick peek through the Video On Demand choices to see if a new release might fit a time frame that would let me enjoy a movie and still accomplish some things.

Without Mrs. Film Geek knowing...


I paused on Ghost Rider, and marveled at how perfect the choice seemed. With a running time of under two hours, I could watch the flick while The Film Geek family was out, and still have time to work up a fresh sweat by the time they arrived home. The Marvel Super Hero genre is not really to Mrs. Film Geek's liking, so there was no need to worry about the "I wish you had waited to watch that with me!" factor. The film's star, Nic Cage, is a favorite actor of mine. I'll watch the guy in anything, despite recent movie choices that I think have not been good for his career.




Add another one to the list.





The movie pays some poorly designed homage to several characters that have appeared in Marvel Comics since the 1960s. The screenwriters did a decent job developing a Ghost Rider character that is a composite of several of the anti-heroes that have been featured in the comic. And Peter Fonda does a nice turn as Mephistopheles. Other than that, though, the film is a complete bust.

Cage, who plays Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider, seems to be using Depressed And Stoned Elvis as the inspiration for the character, as some of his physical movements are so awkwardly choreographed. The movie's special effects are poorly done, too. Near the end of the flick, when Ghost Rider uses his Penance Stare on his arch-nemesis in what should have been a moment of high drama, I put on my Lawn-Duty boots so I could begin cutting the grass.

And I was looking forward to it.

7 comments:

Stanton said...

Peter Fonda, not Henry.

And the irony seems to be lost on you that Fonda's first major screen role was that of Captain America (not the superhero) in "Easy Riders."

The Film Geek said...

Thanks for the catch, Stanton. I corrected the mistake. It's interesting: I rewound several times the first scene that Peter Fonda was in, and watched it because I was astounded at how much he looked and sounded like his dad these days. I had not seen him in a film for at least three or four years.

I also was reminded of Easy Rider during those rewinds, but instead was focused on how much he has aged (and how much time has passed) since that time. So you are correct, the ironic connection escaped me.

larryosaurus said...

As a Ghost Rider fan I can easily say I'll never watch this movie.

That being said, Peter Fonda was freaking incredible in Ulee's Gold. Check it out!

Also, there's only one thing I watch when the family's gone. It starts with P and ends with N. 'Nuff said :D

The Film Geek said...

Yep, I saw Ulee's Gold a few years ago, and agree he was terrific in it.

A game of Hangman, eh!?! Let's see...

P__ __ N.

I'll have to get back to ya. :)

primalscreamx said...

yup, it's crap. Very disappointing. Nic Cage should've been cast as the back tire of the bike for all the charm he exuded. He was too old and they gave in far too much about who controls the ghost rider. I was very disappointed.

the laughing gypsy said...

thanks for the heads up. Ghost Rider has been on my list since it came out (you can tell I don't get out often!) You just saved me a couple hours of frustration....

Anonymous said...

It's an ok flick for a Saturday afternoon.

I did find the storyline disjointed.

But I'm also a Sam Elliot fan.