GHOST RIDER Movie Review: GHOST RIDER Author: Lawrence Burgess Sunday, February 18, 2007, 9:40 AM U.S. Release Date: February 18, 2007 Distributor: Columbia/Sony Pictures Director: Mark Steven Johnson Writing Credits: Mark Steven Johnson Cast: Nicholas Cage, Eva Mendes, Peter Fonda, et al. Genre: Comic Book Adaptation MPAA Rating: PG-13 OFFICIAL WEBSITE: SONY PICTURES TRAILERS: www.apple.com/trailers © 2007 ON-FILM.NET. All rights reserved. Ghost Rider was the first movie I've seen this year in theatres. As you know, Marvel is a "movie whore." Yet this is better than most of its ventures. Does it have problems? Yes. Keep in mind I review this from a purely cinematical avenue, as I have not read a Ghost Rider comic. Got it? Good. Direction: Mark Steven Johnson's third outing as director (2nd for Marvel) is a bit better than his second film (Daredevil). He seems to have found his niche in the comic world. Some of the casting decisions seem sloppy, while some of the scenes are a bit ridiculous. He does, however, get a very good performance from his lead actors. Score: 7. Production: Though this film was shoved back from a Summer 2006 release, it at times feels rushed (especially the beginning). Some of the sets have a very studio-lot feel, which takes away from the atmosphere. However, for a Marvel movie, it is good. Score: 6.5. Cinematography: Good and bad. Good in capturing establishment shots, bad at close-ups. I haven't seen any of their previous work. Score: 5.5. Script: Some of the characters feel out of place (Caretaker). Some of the dialogue is flat-out ridiculous (Wes Bentley, in particular). The beginning is rushed. Yet Ghost Rider is actually a Marvel character with depth and substance, a feat rarely seen. Score: 6. Editing: Richard Francis-Bruce disappoints me. Much of the low scores in this film go to him. His edits scream "wink at the camera," and his pacing is inappropriate. It almost seems lazy. He allows the special effects to dominate the picture, without any input to the storytelling. Mind you: this comes from the editor of Seven, The Green Mile, and Instinct. Shame on you, Richard. Score: 2. Costumes/Art Direction: Creative. Refreshing. Yeah, it's a comic movie, but it works well. The costumes also evolve, a step which many filmmakers refuse to do. Well done. Score: 8.5. Special Effects: WOW. If you're a slap-jaw monkey man who goes to movies to get blown away, then this is the perfect erection for you. No expense has been wasted by the whoring Marvel in drawing in the popcorn crowd. The Ghost Rider transformation and the hellfire are especially impressive. They were astonishing... in the veins of Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. I loved it. Score: 10. Score/Soundtrack: Again, good and bad. Some of this is the editor's fault, while some is the score itself. At times, it's weak. Then again, the special effects dominate the entire picture. Score: 5. Primary Cast: Nicholas Cage has found his role. It's not rushed or forced like his roles in Con Air and National Treasure. Cage balances humor, action, emotion, and performance. Eva Mendes? Mostly eye candy, with a few notable scenes. Score: 7.5 (for Cage). Supporting Cast: I'm focusing on Wes Bentley and Peter Fonda. Wes Bentley is difficult to watch, in a really bad way. He and the editor seem to have slept in the same bed. Blackheart isn't frightening and seems to fall into the weak parts of the editing and the cliché lines. He is Marvel's wet dream: a somewhat accomplished actor who will spill out silly dialogue and ruin a possibly effective character. Peter Fonda, however, is very good. If the script were better, he could have some consideration for some sort of award. Score: 5. I know I offend Marvel lovers, but your company, well, is a whore. You get at least two to three films a year, and are making some of the dumbest properties to hit the screen, and they'll all get sequels -- due to the moron factor. However, Ghost Rider is a fun movie. It's better than Daredevil, Elektra, and Spider-Man 2 (don't get me started). It's not as good as the X-Men franchise. With better editing and dialogue, it could be. See it for special effects and Nicholas Cage. Know it's a Marvel movie, and you'll be fine. Overall: 7/C Lawrence Burgess graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History from West Virginia State University in December 2006. He currently is employed with the WV Tax Department and is studying for entrance to law school. He is the founder/C.E.O. of Old Black Hat Films, a non-profit organization which specializes in historical, educational, and local WV films. O.B.H. also has locally released a free DVD for educational purposes. Lawrence is a rabid Batman fanatic, football and film afficionado, and a left-wing weirdo. He also has coined the moniker "THE CHIN" for Aaron Eckhart, the newly-announced Harvey Dent... and is initiating "The Chin Revolution," for no apparent reason. Lawrence resides in Dunbar, West Virginia, with his beloved fiancee, Kristen, and three cats.