Ghost Rider (2007)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Mark Steven Johnson

Writers (WGA):

Mark Steven Johnson (screenplay)
Mark Steven Johnson (screen story)

Release Date:

16 February 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Fantasy | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Long ago he made a deal to save someone he loved.

Plot:

Based on the Marvel character, stunt motorcyclist Johnny Blaze gives up his soul to become a hellblazing vigilante, to fight against power hungry Blackheart, the son of the devil himself.

Plot Keywords:

Mephistopheles | Blackheart | Devil | Motorcycle Accident | Contract

Awards:

5 nominations

Cast

Matt Long	...	Young Johnny Blaze
Raquel Alessi	...	Young Roxanne Simpson
Brett Cullen	...	Barton Blaze
Peter Fonda	...	Mephistopheles
Nicolas Cage	...	Johnny Blaze / Ghost Rider
Donal Logue	...	Mack
Tony Ghosthawk	...	Team Blaze
Hugh Sexton	...	Team Blaze
Marcus Jones	...	Team Blaze
Matt Norman	...	Team Blaze
Kenneth Ransom	...	T.V. Reporter
Lawrence Cameron Steele	...	X Games Announcer (as Cameron Steele)
Wes Bentley	...	Blackheart
Eddie Baroo	...	Motorcycle Gang Member
Jessica Napier	...	Broken Spoke Waitress

Also Known As:

Spirited Racer (Philippines: English title) (review title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for horror violence and disturbing images.

Runtime:

114 min | 123 min (extended cut)

Country:

USA | Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Cinevex)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS (8 channels) | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Finland:K-13 | Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Netherlands:12 | UK:12A | Ireland:12A | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Hong Kong:IIA | Norway:11 | Germany:12 (f) | Brazil:14 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | South Korea:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Argentina:13 | Italy:VM14 | Malaysia:U | Sweden:15 | Ireland:12 (UMD rating) | UK:12 (UMD rating) | Ireland:15 (DVD rating) | UK:15 (DVD rating) | Peru:14 | Japan:U | New Zealand:M | Iceland:12 | Iceland:16 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Director Mark Steven Johnson actually put forward his own money so that an action sequence where Ghost Rider battles a helicopter could be made.

Goofs:

Factual errors: During one of the stunts a character is knocked out hitting the fence. The crew immediately remove his helmet. You should *never* remove the helmet of an unconscious biker unless there are problems with their airway.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Caretaker: [voiceover] It's said that the West was built on legends. Tall tales that help us make sense of things too great or too terrifying to believe. This is the legend of the Ghost Rider.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Troldspejlet: (#37.1)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Race Against Time

Somewhere Between X-Men and Spiderman

There won't be any Academy Awards for "Ghost Rider," and deservedly so. Great cinema it ain't. It is fun stuff, though, and very much in the spirit of the Marvel comic book of the same name. Nicolas Cage works well in the role; his dead-pan humor is well suited to the role of motorcycle stuntman Johnny Blaze, and the scene in which he attempts to explain himself to his long-lost girlfriend is classic stuff, full of awkward pauses and an eyebrow put to good use.

Granted, things get a little melodramatic from time to time, but that's as it should be. This is, after all, a movie based on a comic book hero, and what superhero worth his heat-vision doesn't indulge in a dose of the melodramatic every so often? It comes with the territory. Still, there's a sense of humor at work here, something that didn't play out well in the "X-Men" franchise and led to that abysmal third installation. There are a good number of laughs in "Ghost Rider." This isn't a movie that takes itself too seriously, which is a nice benefit considering how heavy the subject matter could become. It's rough around the edges, no doubt, and isn't quite up to the same level as the Spiderman movies to date.

I saw an early (11:45 AM) show and the theater was still nearly full. The audience laughed at points that were intended as humorous and even jumped at a couple of scenes. All in all, everyone looked like they were having a good time, from the six year olds with their parents to the older folks like me who were fans of this comic as kids. If you're looking for something fun, "Ghost Rider" isn't a bad bet at all.