Movie Review: 'Ghost Rider, Spirit of Vengeance' not very ghostly
The action-Satanic film "Ghost Rider, Spirit of Vengeance," currently booming away at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City, stars Nicholas Gage as Johnny Blaze, motorcycle stunt rider with a hangup that puts him in seclusion until summoned again to ride his motorcycle blazing with fire and to don his alter ego at Ghost Rider, with the burning skull.
Right off, this is a lousy movie from the making sense point of view and it is the latest in Gage's series of flops. But he keeps trying and his grimaces are standard stock from the past.
I'm not going to go into detail of the back story (an earlier film also used Gage as the Ghost Rider, presumably it was a better outing than this melange). This is all about the Devil in the person of Ciaran Hinds/Rourke (boy, does he overdo it all to a successful caricature of acting, subbing a leering look for meaning).
Toss in the usual Hollywood kid star Fergus Riordan as the Devil's son by Nadya (Violante Placido, the freshest of the parade of no-names to grace such films, and grace it she does with a naturalist beauty if not the best acting chops).
Seems Devil wants to reincarnate himself through the boy and gathers one and all in a Turkish ruin (I think I've been there as a journalist back when, but you seen one Turkish/Roman ruin and you've seen 'em all).
Some of the computer generated images are nicely weird, especially the Ghost Rider himself, a body topped by a skull that spouts flames like a Roman candle. And motorcycle fans will appreciate a cycle that runs on tires of fire.
This is a silly movie and Gage slides further into the once-was category with a string of loser films behind him. And this one didn't even take winner's laurels at the box office, coming in third behind other inane ventures.
But never mind all the carping. This is a movie aimed at the popcorn, soft-drink crowd. Many will enjoy the CGI visuals, even if the acting is below Carson High levels. Direction and editing are sloppy; catch Placido going from low-cut blouse to proper neck-high in a closing scene.
If you go, don't say I didn't warn you.
---Sam Bauman
Cast
• Nicolas Cage as Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider
• Johnny Whitworth as Ray Carrigan/Blackout, the antagonist who, at the beginning, is human. He is turned into Blackout by the Devil to complete his job. This transformation gives him the fortitude and supernatural abilities to compete with Ghost Rider.
• Fergus Riordan as Danny, a young child caught up in a demonic conspiracy who ends up in the care of Johnny Blaze during his travels.
• Ciarán Hinds as The Devil/Roarke, a being trying to take over the body of his son on the boy's birthday.
• Violante Placido as Nadya
• Idris Elba as Moreau
• Christopher Lambert as Methodius, a monk.He was required to undergo three months of sword training and shaved his head for the role.
Directed by Neveldine/Taylor
Produced by Ashok Amritraj
Avi Arad
Michael De Luca
Steven Paul
Screenplay by Scott Gimple
Seth Hoffman
David S. Goyer
Story by David S. Goyer
Based on Ghost Rider by
Marvel Comics
Music by David Sardy
Cinematography Brandon Trost
Editing by Brian Berdan
Running time 95 minutes, rated PG`3;