Ghost Rider

audiobliss

Who's seen Ghost Rider? I just watched it this afternoon with some friends. When I first heard about it, I thought....'Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes? That's gotta be great!' I mean...even if it totally stinks...Eva's still in it, right?

Well, of course I expected too much. I don't think it even began to live up to what I was expecting (expectations were based namely on Family Man, Con Air, Gone in 60 Seconds, National Treasurer, etc.) Several times throughout the first 15 or so minutes I just laughed out loud at how corny/cheesey alot of it seemed. The first thing is the opening animations during the credits....man, that was as silly as the opening animation for Casino Royale was! A lot of the dialog in the beginning seemed way too scripted and not rehearsed enough...as in, I thought it was too choppy and just said straight from memory as fast as possible in the hope that it wouldn't be forgotten. However, once Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes took over (in the stead of the actors portraying them in their younger years), all of that changed. When they entered the scene you can stop picking apart the acting and focus more on the story line.

When the story about the actual 'ghost riding' started, it got a lot better, imo. It actually grabbed me and brought me into the movie so I soon stopped picking it apart. Note I'm not saying here it was mesmerisingly captivating...it wasn't nearly that good of a movie...however, the story did pick up and become very entertaining. Fearing I still haven't truly said what I mean...it wasn't great...and it wasn't horrible. There, you get it now?

At first I thought it was pretty cheesey how his head and hands turned into a skeleton and how he was on fire...just kinda didn't fit right with me...at first. It didn't take long for it to fit in, though. Just like the girl who was interviewed said...he really pulled off that look...:D

But, like I was saying, when the action kicked in, it got a lot better, and I actually thoroughly enjoyed watching the rest of the movie and so enjoyed the movie overall.

If you go in expecting a lot, you're probably setting yourself up for disappointment. However, if you're into action scenes and can shut off the analyzing mode for about 2 hours, it's worth watching.

At least I'd watch it again.




EDIT - I forgot to mention there was definitely a fair amount of language in this movie. I was really disappointed about that. As I recall nothing really horrible was said, but it all popped up way too often. Didn't add anything to it and would have been much better without it, imo.

audiobliss

Oh, and if my body's in the shape that Nicolas Cage's is in ever, I'll be one happy person! I mean, dang...he's ripped! He's got, what, an 8-pack? Or at least a very well defined 6-pack. And a well-developed chest. And while his arms aren't that amazing, they're not out of place, either.

All that was said in admiration and aspiration...I'm still straight!

wingnut4772

audiobliss wrote:

Oh, and if my body's in the shape that Nicolas Cage's is in ever, I'll be one happy person! I mean, dang...he's ripped! He's got, what, an 8-pack? Or at least a very well defined 6-pack. And a well-developed chest. And while his arms aren't that amazing, they're not out of place, either.

All that was said in admiration and aspiration...I'm still straight!

Really? suddenly I am interested in this movie....:p

audiobliss

Oh, and I feel like I should throw this out there, too...Eva Mendes is in really good shape...as always. However, you don't see much in this movie. Which, really, imo, is a good thing.


But, yes, Nicolas Cage is in great shape! When he stepped out of the shower and looked in the mirror I was like...:eek:...dang! I mean, seriously...I was flabberghasted. Now, he ain't no Arnold or Sylvester...but by any scale he's in phenomenal shape! I was shocked.

wingnut4772

"
Cage should be bitter about his clearly digitally enhanced abs, which only remind the viewer that he's actually almost twice as old as any other actor playing a superhero. That wouldn't matter too much if Cage wasn't currently stuck in a relative career rut. If you've seen any one of Cage's films in the past five years - from "Windtalkers" to "Lord of War" to "The Wicker Man" - you've witnessed the shrinking of his acting range. "Ghost Rider" does nothing to bring him back."

OK. Now I am more interested in Eva.:D

audiobliss

Hahahaha. Well, shoot. I wish you hadn't posted that! lol

Wait a minute....you're, umm....interested in Eva? You sure you're happy in your current relationship??

wingnut4772

audiobliss wrote:

Hahahaha. Well, shoot. I wish you hadn't posted that! lol

Wait a minute....you're, umm....interested in Eva? You sure you're happy in your current relationship??

Actually no..but that's another story...

audiobliss

Ok, I think I've derailed my own thread enough here...:p

venomclan

wingnut4772 wrote:

"
That wouldn't matter too much if Cage wasn't currently stuck in a relative career rut. If you've seen any one of Cage's films in the past five years - from "Windtalkers" to "Lord of War" to "The Wicker Man" - you've witnessed the shrinking of his acting range.

I agree. I did like Adaptation a lot though. Cage gained a lot of weight for the movie and plays 2 roles. It was a very good performance. However the real star of that movie was Chris Cooper, his best acting yet imho.
Venom

Ron-P

Too bad Cage has zero acting talent. This one looks so bad I doubt I'll even rent it. The guy is the most mono-toned boring actor I think I've ever seen on screen.

Ron Temple

Nah...David Caruso in CSI Miami is the poster child for 'tard' acting ability. NC is Olivier compared to DC.

BaggedLancer

Hopefully I will see this movie this weekend, gotta see Eva.

Dean guitar pla

I am really looking forward to seeing it, that bike is BAD

brettw22

I don't see the appeal for this movie at all.......comic book or not..........

audiobliss

I actually had no idea it came from a comic book until I was told so walking into the theater...

MrNightly

I just got done watching it... not half bad actually... not worthy of an Oscar by any stretch, but I truly enjoyed myself.

The acting was sub par, as to be expected with some of the actors, but the dts soundtrack was rocking! And the eye candy wasn't half bad either. I wouldn't blow this off from renting, it is good mindless fun.

Not for little kids though, as there were a few parts with some demons and stuff that would scare a little one... but I enjoyed the visuals... I thought it was well done in that sense.

Overall, worth the popcorn we ate and the 2 hours as well.

6 outta 10 here.

Ron-P

I'm going to eat my words.

On a whim, I bought the BRD and I really enjoyed this. Typical boring Cage but the movie overall was pretty good. Much better then I thought and the BRD with the UPCM track is impressive.

dudeinaroom

I thought the special effects blew. They could have done A LOT better in that department, either that or my friends dvd player really blows(we have the same TV). I mean look at Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, Van Helsing, the Matrix Trilogy all of these have heavy computer animation and were released before Ghost Rider, and most of the time you can not tell they were computer generated, Where as in Ghost Rider, It wasjust a sore thumb to me, the story line was kinda cool. But The special effects just made me not want to watch it.

MrNightly

Quit following me around dude... it's really starting to freak me out.

BaggedLancer

Watched it this weekend. Not a bad movie at all. Nothing spectacular but it was a decent movie and kept me entertained.

I'd love to be able to turn my head into a flaming skull at night......talk about fun.

dudeinaroom

MrNightly wrote: »

Quit following me around dude... it's really starting to freak me out.

...cool he still hasn't found that tracking device....

Systems

This was the first movie I bought for my Blue Ray collection.

I’m the type of person who enjoys most movies, especially action. I go into them with very little expectation and come out usually happy. Ghost rider was a bit different. I went into it with low expectations and walked out of it with less. It just wasn’t good. The animation was horrible. The actors were lame and the plot.. oh God... the plot.

When Cage sat in front of the mirror flex'ing I just about turned it off.

Maybe I’m just getting picky as I got older but I felt the same way about FF4 Silver surfer.

Maybe Im just out of their target range now.

I cant wait for Transformers!

Ron-P

I cant wait for Transformers!

I can't wait (for it on Blu-ray). I'm half tempted to wait it out and skip a crapy theatrical showing. After all, commerical theaters have nothing on a good HT rig.

BaggedLancer

Ron-P wrote: »

I can't wait (for it on Blu-ray). I'm half tempted to wait it out and skip a crapy theatrical showing. After all, commerical theaters have nothing on a good HT rig.

True and not true. One of the theaters near me just switched to DLP projectors.......it's not bad at all I must say if you are impatient like me on some movies and HAVE to see them.


Otherwise, you're right. commercial theaters have nothing on a good HT rig.

bobman1235

BaggedLancer wrote: »

True and not true. One of the theaters near me just switched to DLP projectors.......it's not bad at all I must say if you are impatient like me on some movies and HAVE to see them.


Otherwise, you're right. commercial theaters have nothing on a good HT rig.

They could have the best PQ and SQ in the world, and I still wouldn't subject myself to a theater. The first time someone takes a cell phone call during hte movie and my experience is ruined, and it always happens several times.


On topic - I didn't mind Ghost Rider. It was silly, but watchable and fun for what it was (a silly comic book movie). Wouldn't buy it, but worth a rental.

mantis

You know how I know most of you are ****??? You where checking out Mr. Cages cage...

On a side note the Family and I watched it tonight. It was ok at best. Not horrible but the ending could have been stronger. It felt alittle weak.

Eva is Eva. Hot. enough said. I never was a fan of the comic book but it was enjoyable nonetheless. Glad I didn't buy it. Ok transfer on Blu ray. Looked like a good DVD.

shadowofnight

I think the only time I ever even noticed a mans shape in a movie was in Spiderman 2...Doc Oc needed a damn BRA

I thought Ghost Rider was a decent flick.....

Jstas

Saw this the other day and I quite enjoyed it. Yes, Cage's acting was a bit dull but part of the whole Ghost Rider comic was that Johnny Blaze was the troubled hero who did the stunt riding to escape his past. Cage's lackluster acting actually played well into that character development. I think though that they should have used a body double for the Ghost Rider when his head was on fire. Cage was kinda wishy-washy in his body language as the Ghost Rider.

I was quite surprised to see the likes of Peter Fonda as Mephistopheles and Sam Elliot as the Caretaker. I was wondering where they found that old dude to play da debil 'cause I didn't even recognize him. But Sam Elliot is awesome at playing cowboy parts and wise old coot parts. One of my favorite actors for sure and even though he had a part in Roadhouse, he's still a quintessential bad-****! Like he could take Chuck Norris in a fight but he'll never fight Chuck Norris. He'd just ask him "Whadaya think I got ta prove, boy?" and then spit tobacco juice while puttin' his hat on. Yeah, Sam Elliot is awesome!

But Eva Mendes, she's been good in everything I have seen with her. She's drop dead gorgeous but she doesn't have those super model looks that you see in other women. She's real. She has some weight on her bones and she has that "girl next door look" with a smile 10 miles wide. But those deep brown eyes are what does it. You can talk about **** and butts and figures and anything you want but if those eyes gave me a side glance or a "come hither" look, I'd melt like butter! She's a classic beauty and she has talent on top of it.


Now, back to the movie. It followed the comic well enough I guess. There wasn't much more of a story in the comic and it was kind of campy but they didn't get past the first few issues of Ghost Rider in the movie. Alot of the Ghost Rider story was in the vigilante stuff and it got much more interesting in that. I was kind of disappointed in the battles with the Horsemen though. I was also disappointed that the horsemen did not have horses. But hey, creative license in the movie theater. Besides, how many of the slobbering masses would actually realize that Ghost Rider is based on stories from The Book of Revelations and about the apocalypse? Not many. I'll bet that barely anyone that has seen the movie doesn't even know that Mephistopheles is the devil and the name comes from The Faust Legend which is essentially where the story in the Ghost Rider comics came from. Granted it is modified heavily but The Faust Legend was written in like 1597 I think it was? It's pretty much the basis behind most modern stories of pacts with the devil.

hockeyboy

Okay so now I will have to watch this. I own it but it is unopened. BTW Cage was great in another movie recently released called NEXT. That was a killer flick all in all.