Eye Candy #84 - "Ghost Rider"

Ghost Rider: In defense of this film, it's not like the original "Ghost Rider" comic book stories weren't mostly lousy and silly, with a few rare gems in a pile of mostly manure. Unfortunately, it's also one of those books that's grown in reflection and nostalgia like much of Marvel's 70's output to be much better than it ever really was. Let me tell you straight: "Ghost Rider" wasn't and isn't the strongest title Marvel ever put together. He's a demonic take on Evel Knievel (seriously). But it does have a visually dynamic title character that looks cool. A "cool-looking hero" shouldn't be the only facet for making a movie script. Nicholas Cage's love affair with comics extends all the way to his stage name, so you just kind of knew he'd be all over this, regardless of the quality of script. And lo and behold he is: stunt motorcyclist Johnny Blaze (Cage) sells his soul to the Devil (Peter Fonda) to save his father, and then finds himself used as the "Ghost Rider" by the Devil to fight his son Blackheart (Wes Bentley), all while trying to reconnect with his childhood sweetheart Roxanne (Eva Mendes). Blaze is now a "spirit of vengeance". The script for this film is lousy - it lacks the necessary exposition to help this entire plot make sense. The filming is fine, but it's no great shakes. But the film is completely devoid of suspense, replacing character development and tension with stunts. It insults the intelligence of the audience at almost every turn. Woodchuck sez, "Skip it."