Based on the Marvel character, stunt motorcyclist Johnny Blaze gives up his soul to become a hell blazing vigilante to fight against power hungry Blackheart, the son of the devil himself.
A young Johnny Blaze lives an innocent life with his father, Barton Blaze, as a stunt bike rider until the day he finds a letter from his dad’s doctor’s office informing him of the severity of his cancer. That night Johnny is visited by the devil (aka Mephistopheles) and given a once in a lifetime opportunity – cure his dad. Johnny makes the deal but loses his dad. Distraught over the lose, Johnny leaves everything and everyone he cares about (including his girlfriend Roxanne.)
Years later, Johnny is a world famous stunt bike rider out to prove that he’s the one riding the bike and not because of some special mystic force that occurred years earlier.
One the eve of his big jump, which is also the anniversary of his father’s death, Johnny runs into his long-lost love, Roxanne Simpson. It’s also the night that Mephistopheles pays him a visit.
Mephistopheles has a very important assignment for his young victim…err bff. It seemsBlackheart, Mephistopheles’s son, is determined to topple his father, seizing control and creating hell on earth…literally.
Mephistopheles sends his rider, Ghost Rider, out to destroy his son. Johnny has to figure out how to save the girl of his dreams, stop Blackheart, and regain his soul. It’s all in a day’s work.
Another blockbuster makes it onto my list of horror comics made into movies. And with any blockbuster movie, you need blockbuster actors. There are plenty in this flick…Nick Cage, Eva Mendes, Peter Fonda and Sam Elliott. It’s quite the star-studded cast.
Once again, there’s little I dislike about this movie. Well, I take that back. I really didn’t care for the first 5-15 minutes. Granted this is all background or exposition stuff, but I found it a little dull. I didn’t really get into the movie until Nick showed up. I’m not saying he gave an Oscar winning performance, but he certainly kept me entertained and sold the part as Johnny Blaze.
I think what I enjoyed most about Ghost Rider was Peter Fonda. What few scenes he is in, he seems to fill up the screen. Besides that, there’s just something nostalgic about seeing Peter Fonda on the silver screen again.
While this is not a true horror movie, it’s derived from a horror comic book. I’m giving Ghost Rider 5 out of 5 non-bloody stumps up. It is one hell of ride.
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