Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3264 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-07-02
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL, Colour
• Original language: Catalan, English, Spanish
• Dubbed in: Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 118 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Once intended as a feature for Johnny Depp, the long-germinating feature film adaptation of Marvel Comics' cult title Ghost Rider stars Nicolas Cage as motorcyclist Johnny Blaze, who transforms into a skull-faced angel of vengeance to battle the forces of evil. Though perhaps a bit too mature for the role, Cage brings a degree of humour to the outrageous proceedings; he's well matched by the Easy Rider himself Peter Fonda, amusingly cast as Mephistopheles, the demon with whom Blaze strikes a bargain to save his father, and in turn, causes his transformation into Ghost Rider. Wes Bentley is also fine as Blackheart, the rebellious offspring of Mephistopheles, and Blazes' chief opponent in the film. They're joined by a solid supporting cast which includes Donal Logue, Eva Mendes, and Sam Elliott, but their participation and a relentless barrage of CGI effects can't hide the fact that the story itself, though largely faithful to its comic origins, is rife with clichéd characterizations and glum B-movie dialogue. Fans of the venerable title may cry foul over this adaptation (as they did over helmer Mark Steven Johnson's previous comic-to-movie feature, Daredevil), but less stringent viewers may enjoy the fiery visuals and Cage's typically quirky performance. --Paul Gaita

Synopsis
The prophetically named Johnny Blaze and his father perform death-defying stunts in a carnival, but the real danger to his dad's life is the cancer growing within his dying body. To save him, Johnny makes a deal with Mephistopheles (Peter Fonda, EASY RIDER) and sacrifices his soul. When his father is killed mid-stunt, Johnny runs away, leaving behind his grief and a young love named Roxanne. Years later, Johnny (Nicolas Cage, WORLD TRADE CENTER) is the most famous rider in the country. Despite his daredevil tendencies, Johnny is a different man when he’s not riding his bike. Though he wears leather jackets and pants, he prefers jelly beans to Jim Beam while listening to the Carpenters. Years have passed since Johnny has seen the love of his life, but he still carries a torch for Roxanne (Eva Mendes, HITCH). When he sees her after a stunt, he tries to regain her love and trust. But it’s time for the devil to take his due as he brings Johnny into an epic battle with Blackheart (Wes Bentley, AMERICAN BEAUTY). In the presence of evil, Johnny transforms into a super-strong skeleton with a flaming skull who has the power to defeat Blackheart and his minions. As Johnny, Cage plays a cross between his Elvis devotee in WILD AT HEART and the sensitive he-man in CON AIR. The evil Mephistopheles is Fonda's most memorable role since his Oscar-nominated turn in ULEE'S GOLD, and this film provides an opportunity for him to return to the spotlight. Director Mark Steven Johnson (DAREDEVIL) provides a film driven by both humour and action. This extended edition of the film has a longer running time than the theatrical version.

Customer Reviews

I liked it
I hated the Ghostrider comics (though I am a Marvel fan) and I had dreaded watching this film after all the bad reviews, but I found I liked it. It's a simple, doesn't require too much thinking, piece of escapism. I would have prefered the great (and very underrated) Sam Elliot - seen here as the gravedigger - as the Ghostrider of the title.

I have to declare now, that I am anything but a Nicholas Cage fan, I've always considered him more wooden than our kitchen table, but that doesn't matter with this film as the love interest is worse and makes him look almost animated (yes, she really is that bad). Fortunately she's not in it that much.

This would have been the perfect opportunity to use a little known or unknown actor, but they went with Francis Ford Coppola's nephew. Well, never mind.

If you're looking for a film that you can sit in front of that doesn't require any deep thought, and you have no preconceived ideas, then this might be for you.

Not quite average joe...
One star is perhaps rather harsh, but rating this as a 5 star film is more unjust and very misleading. I can only imagine that such a high rating is more related to the viewers' personal circumstances when seeing this film - their young, impressionable age (no offence, we've all been there), perhaps a nice cosy night at the flicks with a boy/girlfriend, or maybe a die-hard sentimentality for Marvel comic book heroes??

Also, walking out of a film, not seeing it through and then believing you can give fair comment is rather over indulgent - something about this film must have really irked this particular reviewer!

As a film lover, I've seen thousands of films and, comparatively speaking, this is simply a 2 or 3 star (at best) film - between 4 and 6 out of 10, depending perhaps on your mood. Over 22,000 people have so far rated this film on IMDB and it's averaging 5.5/10 - reasonably accurate, as usual, I would say. However, to an over 25 audience, for example, I'd bet you would knock at least a point off that...

I wouldn't say that this is a DVD worth buying, certainly not before watching it elsewhere. The film left me feeling rather unimpressed and generally devoid of sentiments towards it - it's a rather hollow piece of filmmaking in most respects. Perhaps its strongest attraction is to motorcycle lovers (me), because I very much doubt it will capture the admiration of loyal Marvel comic book fans (not me). The plot is weak and very poorly developed, as are its characters. Just when the film almost generates some viewer empathy with a character, which is rare at that, they're killed off in an uninspiring manner (e.g., Nicholas Cage's Blaze Team compadre). At times, this film is just like a flat tyre that keeps rolling, until another burst of dramatic CG effects pumps a little air back into it. Towards the end it runs virtually empty. Do not watch this film if you are tired - all the pretty flames will surely lull you into a warm sleep.

Certainly one of Cage's weaker films. He must have been offered really good bucks for this one, because I highly doubt the script drew him in (in a similar way to how it will struggle to engage most viewers!)

All in all, some mildly entertaining parts, but interspersed with far too much chaff. Unless you've a budget of tens of thousands to spend on DVDs, your money is surely better spent elsewhere. If you're a N.Cage fan, go and spend your money on "Next" instead - now that is a good film.

[3.5]--Fun. But No Match To Other Marvel Masterpieces
At first, I had little expectations for Nicholas Cage being Ghost Rider like so many others here. The Ghost Rider Comics are famous and just like Spiderman and X-Men; to make an adaptation out of it requires a lot of work. It's not something you can easily slap on the big screen; both longtime fans and newcomers have to find the same power that makes Ghost Rider what it is in the comics, on the big screen. So having seen this I admit that although it had a few sore spots and kinks, I admire the work put into the movie.

Nic Cage is pretty good in being Johnny Blaze and Ghost Rider. He adds much needed charisma to the movie and the emotional romance which was fairly traditional. Some of the superhero battles are neither sophisticated nor fantastic, to the point on making a grade. Eva Mendez was simply stunning and has out-standing beauty, but never had much chance to do anything ground breaking in this movie. The villain in the movie let the side down; Wes and Peter were both below par with their efforts similar to Eva. Sam Elliot was great even though he didn't have much to play with. I felt he was the only person who stayed in character and delivered his role gracefully throughout the entire movie.

Special effects were very good considering the tight budget constraints; the direction was adequate if nothing stunning. Script was awful along with the plot, but to be expected in a comic book movie that tries to be nothing else other than a comic book movie not like the fantastic Batman Begins and Spider-man. This could have been another film in the vein of the Blade series instead of being a PG-13 safe movie viewing. A real shame here as I like the Ghost Rider character (though I've never read the comics). This could have been a great new series for fans missing their Blade style comic movie. Playing it save with a PG-13 script on subject matter that is truly R all the way really hurt this one!! Beside that it's a good effort and is still worth watching on big screen.