Ghost Rider

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for horror violence and disturbing images
Release Date: Feb. 16, 2007

Talk about fighting your demons! What if you WERE the demon?! Such is the case for Ghost Rider, the newest Marvel character to hit the big screen.

Nicolas Cage stars as Johnny Blaze, a motorcycle stuntman who seems to be fearless when it comes to the wildest stunts including jumping the length of an entire football stadium.

But Johnny’s got a dark side. As a young man, he traded his soul to the dark lord Mephisto in a deal to save his dying father. And years later, he and Mephisto cross paths again. It seems that Mephisto’s son and nemesis, Blackheart, has sworn to overthrow his father so he can mold a new and more horrifying hell in his own vision.

Mephisto offers to return Blaze’s soul if he’ll defeat Blackheart. So, nourished with Mephisto’s power, Blaze becomes Ghost Rider, a demonic hunter destined to ride night after night, exacting vigilante justice on the wicked.

And what a transformation! Cage becomes Ghost Rider with a maniacal laughter, his skin searing as his skull bursts into flames. Likewise, his motorcycle turns into a fiery Hell Cycle. If you’re not familiar with the comic, or if supernatural stuff freaks you out, you might want to skip this movie. It gets pretty intense.

Ghost Rider is an entertaining movie with good special FX. It also remains true to the original Marvel character. Cage is one of the few actors who could walk the fine line between campy and comedy, all the while battling dark forces.