Ghost Rider (2007)

November 16, 2024 11:08 PM

In order to save his dying father, young stunt cyclist Johnny Blaze sells his soul to Mephistopheles and sadly parts from the pure-hearted Roxanne Simpson, the love of his life. Years later, Johnny's path crosses again with Roxanne, now a go-getting reporter, and also with Mephistopheles, who offers to release Johnny's soul if Johnny becomes the fabled, fiery 'Ghost Rider'.

This is, of course, the movie adaptation of the Marvel Comics character, dating from the early 1970s and having gone through several different incarnations. Starring Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Wes Bentley, Sam Elliott, Donal Logue, and Peter Fonda, with Rebel Wilson in a small role. Directed and written by Mark Steven Johnson, who'd previously directed Daredevil.

posted by Halloween Jack (5 comments total)

I have to say that, even though superhero movies (even some of the better ones) aren't exactly known for shying away from being cheesy, this may well be the absolute cheesiest, the one that most unabashedly refuses to shy away from the whole thing of being "comic-booky." Every weird-Western, stunt-rider, and Marvel-metaphysical cliche that they could possibly lay hands on gets gathered up and trotted out. There's a scene during Blaze's first transformation into the title character in which the flaming motorcycle roars down the street, and the sheer force and power of its passing makes a car go flying through a pawn shop window, sending a Fender guitar flying off its hook, and it's not just any old Fender, but a Stratocaster, because that's just the kind of movie this is. Cage, a long-time comic book fan, of course fully commits to it, and even though he's relatively restrained for most of it--doing his best mournful-basset look, which, as you probably know, is extremely good--at least a couple of times he lets loose with the crazy eye-rolling laugh that he's also extremely good at. Probably the best of all the cast, though (and everyone else is also committed 100%), is Peter Fonda, who seems to have waited his entire career to play the devil.
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:21 PM on November 16 [4 favorites]

I unironically love this movie, it does exactly what it sets out to do
posted by jordemort at 6:26 AM on November 17 [1 favorite]

I believe this is the film where Cage forced them to dig up extra CGI money to make sure he had abs for his shirtless scene?

Also the one where he watches a monkey do karate on TV while holding a martini glass full of jellybeans.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 8:11 AM on November 17 [5 favorites]

i saw this in theaters and its the last time i can remember just laughing my ass off the whole way through in a packed theater where nobody made a stink. behind me was an older woman who kept yelling out "i have GOT to get me one of these!" every time the motorcycle was on screen. one of the best moviegoing experiences i can recall.
posted by AlbertCalavicci at 8:14 AM on November 17 [3 favorites]

Also the one where he watches a monkey do karate on TV while holding a martini glass full of jellybeans.

And listening to the Carpenters. There's a sequel, and I may take a crack at it, but honestly, what could possibly be left?
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:57 AM on November 17 [1 favorite]