Ghost Rider

Comic-book fan Nicolas Cage (whose personal collection sold for a seven-figure amount not very long ago) no doubt relished the idea of playing a Marvel Comics superhero from the 1970s. In Mark Steven Johnson's Ghost Rider, Cage brings just the right amount of self-aware campiness to his portrayal of motorcycle daredevil Johnny Blaze, whose serious-injury-free career is due to a deal with the devil. Yes, ol' Mephistopheles himself (Peter Fonda, looking good with a graying pompadour and long leather coat) has blessed Johnny with the ability to cheat death—and given him magical powers—in return for his help in combating the ambitiously evil Blackheart (Wes Bentley) and his monstrous minions. As Ghost Rider, Johnny sports a blazing death's-head visage and leaves fiery tracks from a bike tricked out with flame-retardant tires. Here, his one-time girlfriend Roxanne Simpson (Eva Mendes)—now a hotshot reporter—inadvertently becomes a pawn in Johnny's war against Blackheart (a battle that, naturally, finds Earth's fate hanging in the balance). Even adopting the lax standards by which comic-book movies are judged, Ghost Rider is pretty cornball, but the action is basically nonstop and the special effects are spectacular, making this a strong optional purchase. [Note: DVD extras on this two-disc set include two audio commentaries (one with producer Gary Foster; the other with writer-director Mark Steven Johnson and visual effects supervisor Kevin Mack), the “making-of” documentaries “Spirit of Vengeance,” “Spirit of Adventure,” and “Spirit of Execution” (83 min. total), 46 minutes of “Sin & Salvation” featurettes covering 40 years of Ghost Rider history, animatics (4 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a so-so popcorn flick.] (E. Hulse)