Ghost Rider Preview

[LincM]

What about Saddam? He was pretty evil, though not technically a "world" war, but it has been a major event spanning over 30 years since he was appointed president.

And what about Machiavelli? That was one messed up Italian (or whatever he was).

[joerules]

This movie is riddled with problems. The most distracting issue is the acting, if that's what you can call it. It's as if everyone thought they were getting a free pass not to act just because it was a comic book movie. And when no one is taking the acting seriously its no surprise that the performances of the younger versions of the main characters are more impressive than the marquee Oscar winners.

I love a good one liner and can respect it for what it is in a movie like this, but Ghostrider takes things way to far. In a movie that requires a nice balance of horror and humor we've got jokes being tossed at us on every turn. A few work great ("Steralize this for me.") but it was way too much.

The result of non-acting and no true moments of seriousness results in characters you don't care about, even if you actually believed they cared for each other.

The only character that found a comfortable balance between humor and actual acting was Sam Elliot as the caretaker. He makes scenes of exposition actually worth watching and the back and forth between him and Cage is what Ghostrider should be filled with. Thos scenes are the only time Cage looks at home as Johnny Blaze. I guess because those scenes are the only ones he's acting in.

On the plus side... Ghostrider looks absolutly fantastic. Some of the other effects are hit or miss but they knew what to throw their money at, and it stuck. Every time he showed up I got chills. Imposzing, awe inspiring, and perfect in every way. He really is the comic book Ghostrider come to life. If only he didn't transform into a jelly bean eating, monkey obsessed, brain dead bundle of potential. The onlty downside to his character is that he doesn't fight enough. He shows up only 4 or 5 times and when he does he never cuts loose the way he should.

DVD Worthy - oh, you bet your ass. I was unimpressed for the most part but I think it will replay really well on DVD. The little problems will be easier to forgive and I'll be able to focus more on what's working well. A directors cut might be worth holding out for though because MS Johnson's director's cut of DD was much stronger than what was vomited on to movie screens a few valentine's ago.

[Kast]

nice exposition joe. expand a bit more and you have your review.

Like you I was really impressed with how the GR looked. When he was actually in charecter the movie was much more forgivable.

[gerbo321]

What about Saddam? He was pretty evil, though not technically a "world" war, but it has been a major event spanning over 30 years since he was appointed president.

And what about Machiavelli? That was one messed up Italian (or whatever he was).

I actually kind of like Machiavelli. "The Prince" is a brilliant work, and perfectly lays out what a leader needs to do....to say in power. Might not be a nice guy if he does it, but he should be powerful.

What cow, I remember no cow.

The cow mooed when Roxanne and Johnny kiss on the freeway.

[LincM]

nice exposition joe. expand a bit more and you have your review.

I have a feeling that might have been the tease.

I think I'd see this movie simply because of Sam Elliot. He makes any movie he's in, really, and it seems this film will be no exception to that rule that I made up.

[Kast]

The follow up movie should be sam elliot killing demons in hell......

I'd watch it.

[gerbo321]

Was anyone else kind of freaked out by Sam Elliot's abundant facial hair? It quite literally went up to within half of an inch of his eyes.

[PrivateJoker]

Again, I think I might've been misunderstood here. My arguement isn't against putting comedy into the movie or the trailer...but did you ever see the elevator scene from Spider-Man 2 in the trailer?

Yes, yes I did. It was funny

[LincM]

My friend Scott (who actually taught me to drive about 8 years back) grew a beard working on a farm once and he looked just like that. His then fiance/now wife said he looked like Bigfoot (it doesn't help that he's 6'8", though he's not that stocky). I never saw it, but I can just imagine. It doesn't seem an appealing sight. I'm sure Sam grew it just as any guy would (though i haven't seen it, so i don't know just how long the beard he's grown actually is).

[joerules]

Was anyone else kind of freaked out by Sam Elliot's abundant facial hair? It quite literally went up to within half of an inch of his eyes.

Oh my god it was freaking me out. If the man had longer eye lashes I think he would officially qualify as a warewolf.

[Dugray]

Ghost Rider was #1 on the Box Office with 44.5 Million if I recall properly, the highest grossing 1st Weekend in Nicholas Cage's career.

[gerbo321]

I dont know if that is good or bad for him.

[chamber715]

Ghost Rider was #1 on the Box Office with 44.5 Million if I recall properly, the highest grossing 1st Weekend in Nicholas Cage's career.

I guessed that it would make 35 million... and I thought that was going to be kinda high... I guess not.

[Schuyler]

I liked the movie. I have picked up the comic over the last few months, and I like it and the character. I always want to see a dark comic book movie. That is why I read The Punisher and a few others. I saw it with nine people, including Pogues. I was the only one that seemed to care at all for it. Nick Cage? I didn't care for him. I went to see The Ghost Rider. That is what I saw, and I was pleased. I do agree that I would have liked to see him kick more ass, or have even longer battles, but I got what I wanted, even though I had to put up with Cage. I loved Sam Elliot though. Mendes... eye candy. Story, dialogue, crap acting, whatever. I weathered the storm to see what it is what I wanted. GR is a bad ass character, and I loved seeing him brought to life.

[joerules]

I didn't hate the movie but I think it would have been infinetly bettewr if it was slightly more dark.

The box office is huge. I was guessing somewhere around 20 million but this movie scored big time. Hopefully this will fast track a sequel but will Cage actually come back?