A waste of 90 minutes of my life

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Ghost Rider is the second Marvel Movie written and directed by Mark Steven Johnson, after Daredevil (2003). This movie is just awesome! My favorite actor plays my favorite hero! The special effects are what I expected for the movie! The story tries to respect well the comics (Johnny Blaze signs a pact with the Devil to heal his father and his girlfriend is Roxanne Simpson), but takes liberties (Johnny Blaze doesn't live with Crash Simpson, but his real father Barron Blaze, not in New York, but in a circus, then he owns a house with a garage in a city in Texas. The only bad points I have is Blackheart, played by Wes Bentley. In the comics, he's a demon, but he looks like an animal, he's blue, he's got a tail, he's got red eyes, no mouth (but he talks), dreadlocks (blue). I don't know why everyone hates this movie. It was released in the period when the Marvel movies like Daredevil, Hulk, the Punisher and Elektra were bashed (Elektra deserved it). If you haven't seen the movie, own it on DVD or Blu-Ray and watch it!!!

If only Columbia Pictures and it's associated studios could have waited and made this film after Deadpool (2016) and Logan (2017). This movie should of been rated "R", with all the blood, gore, violence, sex and filled with every curse word under the sun and blessed with a solid storyline and exceptional director. Nevertheless, whilst it is cheesy, with poor dialogue, a God awful script and the plot is pretty basic, it is actually an enjoyable film.The Good: (1) The Special Effects for the Ghost Rider. Whenever he is on screen, blazing on his motor cycle with his flaming skull, the film picks 10 fold. The part where he jumps of the skyscraper or when Cage morphs to the ghost rider is fantastic. But those parts are far and few between in the film. (2) The A-grade actors in a (essentially) B-grade film. What this means is, there are a number of surprisingly good actors ( Nicholas Cage as Johnny Blaze and Eva Mendes as Roxanne, Sam Elliot as the Caretaker) which bring their all to a poor script. Yes the dialogue is laughable when it is delivered, but that is what makes it so enjoyable. Raquel Alessi could easily have been a Eva Mendes younger twin sister. (3) The Western tones interwoven in the film is great. The Bad: (1) The villains are so weak. Peter Fonda as the Devil gets a pass. Only because it's really good to see him on screen. BUT Wes Bentley, as main nemesis Blackhearts should of walked when he read the script. He has some of the movies worst dialogue. Sadly, unlike Cage and Mendes, he simply does not have the "knack" for delivery and his lines are dreadfully executed. (2) People who put a lot of themselves in film usually indicate they love the source material, so it is very difficult to understand if Mark Steven Johnson was either a writer/director with no balls to stand up to the studios or it was simply a job to him, (3) The plot is a no brainer. Boy loves girl. Boy mets Devil. Boy makes a deal with the Devil. Boy loses Girl. Boy becomes a flaming skull. Boy meets girl again. Thankfully the Ghost Rider, is a marginally better written script, then most Hollywood blockbusters such as Star Wars:The Clone Wars.The Ugly: (1) The biggest problem is Nicholas Cage as Johnny Blaze. In a nutshell....he was cast wrong. Look a the actor Matt Long who played an 18 year old Johnny Blaze to then 42 year old Johnny Blaze played by Nicholas Cage. The film really is asking a lot for the audience to believe they are the same person.Don't over analyse the film too much, because it create lofty expectations. Films like the Ghost Rider is a guilty pleasure, with great action, a uncomplicated plot and exceptional special effects. Hopefully this franchise gets a robot in the future and upgraded to "R" rating. PS: was going to grade the film at 7 BUT that awesome soundtrack song at the end credits by Spiderbait reworking the song "Ghost Riders in the Sky" pushed it to 8

I watch a lot of B-movies and have seen a lot of bad films. The two go hand in hand and I'm pretty used to the latter; bad films can usually be entertaining as long as they don't ever become boring – the cardinal sin of movie-making in my book. Unfortunately, this latest comic book extravaganza is exactly that, one long, bloated and boring mess that has virtually no redeeming features whatsoever to recommend it. I'm getting pretty tired with the new spate of comic book adaptations; sure the likes of SPIDER-MAN and even DAREDEVIL were fun to begin with, and I'll always enjoy Frank Miller's work, but even the 'good' new ones still feel bloated and soulless. GHOST RIDER must be the very nadir, a film that ties with FANTASTIC FOUR for sheer godawful-ness, and the only interest that can come from watching it is seeing Nicolas Cage's career in free-fall after his once promising days as a Hollywood hero.The plot is some ineffectual bit of fluff about Cage acting as the devil's hired hand, taking care of bad guys and sending up their souls to hell. Inevitably he ends up going against the devil's son, played here by Wes Bentley, who has to deal with his character's face keep breaking out into bad CGI effects. Peter Fonda, with absolutely awful hair, makes zero impression as the devil – Gabriel Byrne in END OF DAYS did it better – but the worst actor by far is Cage. His awful mannerisms I used to laugh at – until now I realise that they're his gimmick, his only acting ability. The silly faces he pulls, the rubbery expressions, all of it is diabolical – he's just completely laughable and I now have zero respect for him. Even worse, Cage is regularly doubled by a stunt guy, and most of his motorbike scenes are obviously done with that dated effect of having the vehicle stationary while the background moves behind him.So what else is there to say about GHOST RIDER? Sure, some of the special effects are good – what with the flaming skull and flaking skin – nice 3D work even if it does look a bit cartoonish in places. Eva Mendes also seems to be another special effect, a long line of actresses chosen for their 'beauty' rather than any discernible acting ability. The plot drags out for two hours but boils down to simply 'defeat the bad guy' stuff yet again and the silly baddies reminded me of the equally bad VAN HELSING. GHOST RIDER sure is pretty, but it's also pretty awful.

Ghost Rider (2007): Dir: Mark Steven Johnson / Cast: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Peter Fonda, Sam Elliott, Wes Bentley: Blazing adaptation of the popular comic superhero. It seems to suggest struggling with the past. Nicolas Cage plays motorcycle stunt driver Johnny Blaze who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for his father's health. Years later he wishes for a second chance but by night he transforms into an inhuman being with a flamed skull. Third act is mainly action violence but the screenplay wisely centres on Blaze dealing with his powers. Director Mark Steven Johnson is backed with tremendous special effects. This is a vast improvement over the ridiculous Daredevil, which is also about a superhero aiding a power unrequested. Cage brings out regret and anguish as someone who will use his super powers for the good of others. Eva Mendes plays a reporter formerly his childhood friend. She will predictably accept his powered handicap but not without reflections of the past. Peter Fonda plays a Satan like figure who issues the contract to Blaze. The role is fairly standard but finds defeat by the powers he essentially issued. Sam Elliott is flat as a mysterious figure called Caretaker. Wes Bentley is another casting of a demented being of little interest. The comic book theme is highlighted within the film regarding second chances that we all chase after. Score: 7 / 10