Ghost Rider

[Vilandra]

This is from ComicsContinuum.com:

Sony Pictures has provided The Continuum with a first look at Wes Bentley as Blackheart from next summer's Ghost Rider movie.

In the image, Bentley is flanked by Mathew Wilkinson (Abigor) and Daniel Frederiksen (Wallow) at the Old Train Station.

During a recent question-and-answer session, writer/director Mark Steven Johnson described his take on the character.

"I did a lot of research on demonology and one of the stories I founded fascinated was the whole rebel angel story, where Lucifer led the charge into Heaven and when he lost, St. Michael cast him down and all the rebel angels became fallen angels," Johnson said.

"One of the mythologies I really liked, some of the fallen angels didn't follow Lucifer into Hell. Some landed in the desert, some fell into the ocean, some kept falling, and they became elemental demons, demons that hide in the elements. I thought that was a really cool idea and so that was kind of the basis for Blackheart coming here.

"Blackheart's tired of waiting for the End of Days, so, like a lot of young people, he says I'm going to give my dad the finger and do it myself. So he comes here and he begins collecting these demons. So Johnny (Blaze) as the Ghost Rider must find them and bring them back."

Here is the image:

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0510/31/blackheart.htm

Source: ComicsContinuum (http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0510/31/index.htm)

[prydain]

Are there already Ghost Rider movies? I don't get it. I looked it up at Amazon but there was some plain motorcycle movie. lol. Sorry, I'm slow today.

[Vilandra]

No, it's a comic.

:)

[prydain]

So I'm assuming from that it's about fallen angels? lol *goes to Google*

EDIT: Well I Googled it. Sounds interesting, but I hope the flaming head isn't in the movie. Cooorrrnnyy.

[Old Master]

How can you have Ghost Rider without the flaming skull? It's part of the look! Lol. That would be like taking away the big "S" on Superman's chest, or Batman without his cowl. :p

[Allycat]

I agree with Quiet Cool on this one... you can't not have the skull. Anyway, it sounds semi-interesting. Since I've seen all of the new batch of comic book movies, I'll probably watch this one too at one point or another, but it doesn't quite have the same appeal to me as the bigger names like X-Men or Spiderman. The villain looks creepy, but not quite supervillain-y.

[Cassie Hughes]

Ghost Rider, the Nicolas Cage supernatural action movie based on the Marvel comic of the same name, has been pushed back to President's Day weekend 2007 from its original July 14, 2006, release date, Variety reported.

Link To Original Article (http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire2005/index.php?id=33700)

[prydain]

no! I was looking forward to it. Ugh.

[Allycat]

What date is President's Day?

[goldenboy]

It'll be monday, Feb 19th, '07. So, I guess friday the 16th...

Never read Ghost Rider growing up, but I had stickers, collector cards 'cause he just looked too cool!

[Cassie Hughes]

Sony has unveiled its first glimpse of the title character of its upcoming Ghost Rider movie in a teaser trailer on the film's updated new Web site.

Link To Original Article (http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire2005/index.php?id=33806)

[prydain]

Sweet...never read the comics but I'm really looking forward to the movie, it sounds promising.

[goldenboy]

The Premise:
A motorcycle stuntman, Johnny Blaze, makes a pact with a dark force, known as Mephisto, selling his soul to save his adopted father. When the bargain goes sour and the man isn't saved, Blaze is transformed into "the spirit of vengeance". The Ghost Rider.

The Trailer:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/ghostrider/

A Ghost Rider Blog
http://www.internapse.com/ghostrider.html

[N4H]

Ghost Rider always reminded me a little bit of Spawn.

[goldenboy]

Yeah, I guess it's a similar subgenre, the satanic avenger or whatever. I do like that the movie is set in the southwest and it's supposed to be sort of a western. That seems like a good place to cruise around on a satanic Harley.

I'm curious if that Garth Ennis version of the comic is actually readable.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0785115927/ref=pd_rvi_gw_2/103-9341792-1011004?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=283155

[goldenboy]

They've expanded the official site quite a bit. It has a production blog and a little online game now (Ghost Rider bashing zombies with his chain).

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/ghostrider/

[goldenboy]

A new, longer trailer. This may be just a dumb popcorn flick, but it looks pretty cool.

http://movies.aol.com/movie-trailer-clip/ghost-rider-nicolas-cage?ncid=AOLMOV00050000000009

[prydain]

I just saw the trailer for this during Grudge 2 and it looks AWESOME! I mean, really good. Maybe not a very intelligent movie but definitely a great action superhero film.

If only Nicholas Cage wasn't in it...I don't like him much. But everything else about it looks fantastic.

[goldenboy]

I so hope this doesn't completely suck and/or tank. It's gotta be fun eye candy at least. Here's a "review" from superherohype...

Superhero Hype! Reviews Ghost Rider!
Source:Superhero Hype!

What do you get when you hire a director who really understands and loves the material? A faithful adaptation of a comic. In recent years it happened with Bryan Singer and X-Men, Sam Raimi and Spider-Man, as well as Christopher Nolan and Batman. It is now safe to put writer/director Mark Steven Johnson in that class as well for Ghost Rider.

Superhero Hype! got a chance to watch the anticipated Ghost Rider movie, opening February 16 and starring Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Wes Bentley, Sam Elliott, Donal Logue and Peter Fonda.

In the Columbia Pictures release, superstar motorcycle stunt rider Johnny Blaze (Cage) makes a deal with the devil (Mephistopheles, played by Fonda) to keep his father from dying. But Mephistopheles tricks Blaze, who leaves childhood sweetheart, Roxanne (Mendes), in order to protect her. Years later, the son of the devil, Blackheart, wants to take control over the world with the help of three fallen angels, called the Hidden. It is then that Mephistopheles comes to Blaze, who must now hunt down the rogue demons as the Ghost Rider.

There's quite a bit of comics history for Johnson to cover in the film (just look at Wikipedia's rundown of the Ghost Rider comics to get some kind of idea), which makes the beginning of the film seem forced. The backstory is about your typical father/son who jump motorcycles for a living (!), but it's this relationship that forces Johnny to sign his soul to the devil and we never really see that overwhelming love between father and son. There's not a lot of time to tell the origins either, so you're moved quickly to the point where Nicolas Cage and Blackheart & Co. take over the story.

It's probably a good thing, because that is also where the movie starts getting good. We need a bit more setup until Johnny Blaze (Cage) is called upon by Memistopheles. But when he does, we get the treat we've been expecting. Soon after, you get to see Blaze transform into Ghost Rider for the first time, which looks extremely painful for Blaze but enjoyable to the Ghost Rider.

When Ghost Rider does battle with Blackheart and the Hidden (or the elements, so to speak) it's an all-out slugfest with no holds barred. Their powers give the Ghost Rider a challenge in having to figure out how to defeat them. The scenes feature impressive special effects that'll have you say many times, "cool!" We won't spoil them here, but many of the best visual effects, including the full transformation, you haven't seen yet in trailers or clips. For example, the riding up the building scene from the trailers is quite long and is definitely a highlight of the film, with much more happening before and after.

Nicolas Cage really hits one out of the park here. We noticed a similar southern accent to how he talked in "Con-Air" (hey, the movie takes place in Texas after all), but Cage has created both a tragic yet fun character on-screen. It's entertaining to watch him play Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider. Fonda and Elliott are great as always, while Bentley was good casting for Blackheart and Logue adds comic relief to the dark story. Eva Mendes is definitely nice to look at, but she doesn't add much as Roxanne. We didn't really feel to close to her as we probably should have.

Those who were afraid that the film's initial release was moved from summer 2006 to February 2007 should be assured that the FX team has pulled out all the stops. CGI flames can be tricky and Ghost Rider's flaming skull, body and hellcycle are awesome and well worth the delay. The special effects for Blackheart and the Hidden were also very well done.

Naturally, since this is the story of Ghost Rider, parents should heed the rating for this film, which is PG-13 for horror violence and disturbing images.

Ghost Rider is a fun ride and definitely worth checking out!
http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=5185

[Vilandra]

See I feel like this is going to be just another superhero film that doesn't take the subject seriously. :( Or maybe they just cut the trailer that way.

[goldenboy]

See I feel like this is going to be just another superhero film that doesn't take the subject seriously. :( Or maybe they just cut the trailer that way.

It's interesting. I've read that the marketers emphasized the few jokes and quips that are in the movie, put them in the trailers. They were thinking it's gonna seem too heavy, horror movie-like for the casually interested? I dunno. I read that somewhere...

Nic Cage may have mucked it up a little too. He apparently had tons of creative input, improvised somewhat. That probably sounds horrible if you're not a Nic Cage fan, lol. I like a lot of what he does.

[Vilandra]

He's like executive producing or something the Dresden Files I noticed.

[goldenboy]

Cage and Mendes on Ghost Rider
Source:Heather Newgen
February 12, 2007

ComingSoon.net/Superhero Hype! talked to Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes about starring in writer/director Mark Steven Johnson's Ghost Rider, the adaptation of the Marvel comic. In the film, Cage plays superstar motorcycle stunt rider Johnny Blaze, who made a deal with the devil to protect the ones he loved most: his father and his childhood sweetheart, Roxanne (Mendes). Now, the devil has come for his due. By day, Johnny is a die-hard stunt rider... but at night, in the presence of evil, he becomes the Ghost Rider, a bounty hunter of rogue demons. Forced to do the devil's bidding, Johnny is determined to confront his fate and use his curse and powers to defend the innocent.

This interview includes minor spoilers about the film's plot:

CS/SHH!: What did Entertainment Weekly do to you?
Nicolas Cage: Entertainment Weekly hasn't done anything to me. Somebody asked me a question about "Do you think comic book movies get a bad rap?" And someone mentioned to me that there was a blurb in Entertainment Weekly -- very condescendingly -- "We get a kick out of watching Academy Award winners being in movies they have no business being seen in." And I thought, "Well, that's really shallow thinking, because they can't get outside their own box." They don't understand the concept of what I would say is art. You have different styles and you can choose to be photo realistic like "World Trade Center" or you can be pop art illustrative. Why limit yourself to one style of acting? And especially when you look at "Ghost Rider" you see a comic book story structure that digs a little deeper. It doesn't take itself too seriously, of course, it's funny, but it's coming from Classic themes like Faust with Gerta or Thomas Mann or then "Beauty and the Beast" and it's fascinating to take those story structures and reintroduce people to it in a pop art, contemporary manner. In a comic book especially, no less, which is fun and reaches a lot of people. Entertainment Weekly is the kind of magazine that is very condescending and they think in a very narrow box and they always have. So, that's why I would recommend that if you really want to really get your information and know what movies to go see, I wouldn't resort to that particular publication, because they are pretty shallow.

CS/SHH!: There used to be a time when "Star Wars" would get an Oscar nod. Do you think we'll go back to a time like that?
Cage: They deserve to, but the problem is you have people like Entertainment Weekly who don't want to take the beret off their head and stop being so self important and pretentious about the little art film, which I love to, but open your mind. Some very creative people put a lot of hard movie into this movie. Kevin Mack, he drew those visual effects brilliantly with his team. And it's just a fun ride. It's a spooky ride. And I hope to see these movies get a little more attention at some point.

CS/SHH!: Eva and Nick, the intimate moment when you touch his head on fire – how hard was that?
Eva Mendes: Well I'm a five-year-old at heart. I still think that there is a monster under my bed. And I'm not joking. It's pathetic, it's really not cute. So, my imagination, I can go there in a second. Actually, I have the reverse problem. It's hard for me to control my imagination from not going there.
Cage: Yeah, it's all about imagination. And that's what the comic books did for me as a boy. I read "Ghost Rider" and I read the "Hulk." I liked the monsters. I liked them because I couldn't understand how something so scary could also be so good. It got me thinking as a very early age. And I had a lot of rehearsal. I was Ghost Rider in my backyard at 8 years old. Nothing has changed.
Mendes: Funny, I was Pippi Longstocking in my backyard.
Cage: You're a nicer girl.
Mendes: Yeah, I was.

CS/SHH!: What was your barometer in how far you could go?
Cage: Well, that was what I was really excited about. I like the old grand Werewolf movies. And I always wanted to find a way to apply my acting in a big mad monster movie where I was transforming into this scary entity. And I worked with Kevin about where I thought I might go in terms of the physical expressions and he would take snapshots of them. So, I thought there'd be pain because the skin was melting off my face, but then maybe ecstasy the power of the Ghost Rider was surging through me and he was starting to get off on that a little bit. And then also sadness about what is happening. So, then he would download all these different facial expressions into the computer. And I would work with Mark on the day with the DP as to where the camera was going to go and match my moves with the camera. So, then it became like a dance and then wherever I had to go in that private place to come up with imaginary belief that I was transforming into this monster. I wanted it to be like an aria. I wanted even the screams to be like music, like an operatic aria.

CS/SHH!: Eva, your wardrobe in this film is very cleavage friendly. Is that your idea?
Mendes: It's obviously not my personal style, because I am as bundled up as you can get today. But, yes, that was a choice that the director and I made, as far as like my character in the comic book, Roxanne, is very voluptuous, blonde hair, blue eyes, Caucasian and I'm not Caucasian, I'm a terrible blonde and I don't have blue eyes, so I figure, "Hey, let's play up my voluptuous nature," let's say. So, we did and in that way were honest to the real comic book heroine.

CS/SHH!: How frustrating is it that some people think your shirtless scene isn't real?
Cage: Well, I guess on one hand it's a compliment, but on the other hand that's a lot of hard work and it's just getting written off that somebody just did it digitally. It's a little frustrating.

CS/SHH!: What was something you really wanted in this character considering how involved you were in the production?
Cage: It's a deeply personal character and I was trying to find a new way of presenting how he would keep dark spirits at bay. I didn't want him being a heavy drinker or a chain smoker. I wanted him eating jellybeans so he wouldn't invite the devils in. And I wanted him listening to Karen Carpenter to help him relax so he wouldn't allow the devil with satanic Goth rock or something. Or, he's watching chimpanzees do karate instead of 'The Exorcist." And all three of those things I was doing in my own life. I was eating jellybeans out of a martini glass and listening to Karen Carpenter and on the Internet watching chimps do karate. And I thought, "Well this is funny, let's put it in the movie." But it's also true.

CS/SHH!: Can you talk about the skull x-rays?
Cage: Yeah, we did all that. They grafted my skull so I guess it is me, which is kind of wild. But what I really love about this character is that we're all him. We all have human skulls, right? You've got one, I've got one and we've all got one and yet we look at it and we go, "That's scary." And then after a little while you go, "Wait a minute. That's beautiful. He's human and he's a total bad ass." He's fighting the dark forces, but he's human. It's pretty neat.

CS/SHH!: Eva, were you happy your character got to kick some butt there at the end?
Mendes: Yes, I was very happy.

CS/SHH!: Was that in the script when you read it?
Mendes: No, it wasn't. Mark added that for me, he probably just felt bad since I had major superhero envy the entire shoot. I was like, "I want my head to be on fire." Y'know?
Cage: Well, I have plans for her.
Mendes: Oh, that's right. I'm gonna hold you to that.
Cage: I'm working on it.
Mendes: (Laughs.) Anyway.
Cage: I want her to be the She-Hulk.
Mendes: Wouldn't that be cool?
Cage: That is what I'm working on. I have to talk to Avi about that.

CS/SHH!: Did you read the David Goyer script? It was much darker.
Cage: Yeah, that was a good script. It was really good. Steve Norrington of "Blade" was directing and David wrote that script and I was on board for that. But, whatever happened the studio didn't want to make it.

CS/SHH!: Because it was more R-rated?
Cage: Yeah, that would have also been a good movie. But that movie dissolved and then Avi brought Mark in and I talked to Mark…and Mark found a way to make it more palatable to larger audiences. It became more of a spooky ride. You know you go to the amusement park and you have a rollercoaster and then you have the Haunted Mansion. This is just the right amount of scares to get your adrenaline up, but not so much that you can't finish the ride. It's something for the family.

CS/SHH!: What was it like working with Sam Elliott?
Cage: Sam Elliott is an elegant cowboy. I used to be his neighbor in Malibu canyon. It's funny, we are from the same place, but he has a much more pronounced drawl then I do. And he comes off screen beautifully as this cowboy icon. And I think his performance is very poetic. Every word, every movement is precise and nothing is wasted.

CS/SHH!: What was it like working with Peter Fonda?
Cage: That was a trip. And he made a movie called "The Trip." (Laughs.)
Mendes: And he was on a lot of acid trips during his days. (Laughs.)
Cage: Peter is the reason why I ride motorcycles. I saw "Easy Rider" and the next day I bought a Harley Davidson and went from L.A. to San Francisco and back to L.A. and became Captain America in my mind. So, when they decided to make this movie and we thought about who was going to play Mephistopheles, originally I wanted Tom Waits. And that was the whole lamp, wig, Pinocchio thing, y'know? But the studio decided with Mark with Peter and I thought about it and I said, 'That makes sense because who better to seduce a stunt man to sell his soul, but Captain America, 'Easy Rider' himself." And we were there play acting together and there is this bike there and this is Peter there and he's talking. And I stepped out of myself and looked at the two of us and thought "This is really cool."

CS/SHH!: Doesn't he say, "Nice bike"?
Cage: He does say, "Nice bike."
Mendes: I have to tell you my little Peter Fonda story because I love this story so, so much. So, we're hanging out on set and there is me and Peter and a couple of people and they are talking about "Easy Rider." And I'm like, "Shoot, I didn't see it, I haven't seen it. I can't be part of this conversation. Ugh! I hate this." So, I finally confess and say, "Peter I'm so sorry. I never saw 'Easy Rider.' I know it's a huge deal for American cinema." And he's like, "You never saw 'Easy Rider'?" And I go, "No." So, he got a group of like ten people together and we all met up at my director's apartment in Melbourne and he played the movie for me and he sat next to me. And I had a personal commentary by Peter Fonda. And he'd sit there and pause it and be like, "Now, on this scene, it was my 27th birthday and Jack and I were up for two days.." and that's as far as I can go with that. (Laughs.) So, you know what I mean? It was awesome because he was right there with me and it's one of those moments when you are going, you're so thankful 'cause it's one of the coolest moments. It was very awesome. He's so generous too. He's so eager to share. He's a lovely man.

CS/SHH!: Nic, when we talked to you last, you said you weren't sure you wanted to continue on with this series. Mark said there have been some talks since then. Can you see yourself now in "Ghost Rider 2"?
Cage: Well, it depends upon the reaction from the movie going audiences if they are enthusiastic about it and if there is a good script. I would say of all the characters I've played, my interests coincide with where this particular character could go. I am interested in the metaphysical nature of Ghost Rider and his world. I am a man with an open mind. I really don't know anything, but I'm very interested in the spiritual and the material. And this is the one superhero who walks between both worlds. I think it's pretty exciting because he's new and there is a lot of room for adventure with this guy.

CS/SHH!: What about "National Treasure 2"? Jerry says you're very involved with the development of that one.
Cage: I think "National Treasure" is a good one, because there are worse things to do than stimulate young people to look in their history books. There is no gunfire, there is no body count. It's really good entertainment for everybody and I enjoy that. I like the idea of playing a historical detective. This one is going to involve Abraham Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth and the Booth diary and Confederate gold and it has the potential to be more interesting than the first. And then "Ghost Rider" for me is probably closer to my heart, because of what I said earlier of my interests in the possibilities of the spiritual and the material with this part. I think we are living in pretty scary times and people are looking for inspiration and are also more open to the spiritual possibilities.

CS/SHH!: What is the first comic you are going to read to the little one?
Cage: Oh, wow. Probably "Superman."

CS/SHH!: What comic do you think should be made into a movie that hasn't? Maybe there is a rights problem?
Cage: Well, I'm really done. I think Ghost Rider is my guy and I'm going to stick with that, but if I had to pay my $7 bucks or $8 bucks…
Mendes: It's like $9.50. (Laughs.)
Cage: Oh, wow. I would go to see the Sub-Mariner come to life. I want to see the water and all the animal life.
Mendes: And She-Hulk.
Cage: Oh, yeah, well that I'm working on.

CS/SHH!: Nick, would you produce that one?
Cage: I'm trying to put that together. As we speak.
Mendes: You guys got to keep bugging him.
Cage: I was talking to Avi. Do you guys get it? Can't you see it? That would be a fun movie wouldn't it? Just you in a bikini just kicking a bunch of ass. Throwing cars…
Mendes: Why would I have to be in a bikini?
Cage: Because that's how she's dressed. (Laughs.)

CS/SHH!: Mark said there could be an extended version. Can either of you remember scenes you shot that didn't make it into the current version?
Cage: No, I hope they don't do that. Because I think the movie is really right as is it is right now. Like I didn't like it when they came out with "Apocalypse Redux." It's better just to keep it, I think, the way it was made to be. So, I'm not going to add to that.
Mendes: I haven't seen the movie. It's the first time I'm waiting until the premiere actually. I've never done this before, waited for the premiere. I will definitely have some wine before I go in, but it will be exciting.

CS/SHH!: Do you have problems watching yourself?
Mendes: The first run? Yeah. I hate everything the first run. I'm like, "That's awful." I just think I'm terrible. And then I'm more forgiving the second time. So, I always see something for sure one time and then I make myself see it a second time. Because second time is like, "OK, I'm not that bad. I'm not that horrible." But the first time I just think I'm god-awful.

CS/SHH!: Nick, going back to She-Hulk? Is this something you would direct?
Cage: No, no it's just something I came up with.

CS/SHH!: Do we know who the villain is going to be in "National Treasure 2"?
Cage: I don't know a thing. I don't know what they are doing. That's a whole separate kind of machine at this point. They are over there putting things together and when they are ready they will give me a call and let me know what's happening.

CS/SHH!: Are you also doing a cameo in "Grindhouse"?
Cage: My friend Rob Zombie, I know him only socially. I like him. He's a nice man. We have good memories together over the years. He said would I do this part of Fu Man Chu and I said sure. One day, two lines, I mean it was just completely ridiculous. I haven't seen it. I'm not in any of the movies. Two seconds -- that's it.

CS/SHH!: What if Entertainment Weekly ends up giving "Ghost Rider" a very good review?
Cage: It doesn't really matter. I don't have any faith in anything they say. So they can say something good or something bad, I don't really care. I'm just saying that I think it's a mistake if you refer to that magazine religiously as your guide as to whether or not you're going to see a movie or not. You're shooting yourself in the foot, because they don't get it. They can't think outside the box. They are very narrow-minded. So it doesn't really matter if they say anything nice or bad, I really can't take it seriously.

CS/SHH!: You talked about "National Treasure 2," can you talk about any other upcoming projects?
Cage: Yeah, "National Treasure 2" is all I have up next. And you?
Mendes: I did my first real like dramatic role last year with Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Wahlberg and Robert Duvall and it's called "We Own The Night," directed by James Gray, which I'm really excited about. And then I produced my first independent film, it's a small film, but we got it done and it's called "Live." And it just got accepted to the Tribeca Film Festival. And I'm really proud, because it's a real indie, indie, indie. I mean, the budget was nothing. And we scrambled and we got it together and we did it. Right now I'm working on a film called "Cleaner" with Ed Harris, it's so cute, and Samuel Jackson. That's another drama. I kind of got hooked being directed by James Gray, I kind of love the torture of dramas and I'm kind of in that place right now. I play this widow and it's very dramatic.
Cage: But Entertainment Weekly is more like a tabloid. So, if you are going to get a tabloid get the National Inquirer, because at least they have a horoscope. Why the extra dollar getting Entertainment Weekly when you can get a horoscope with the National Inquirer? (Laughs.)
Mendes: Did you just make that up? That's very funny.
Cage: I was thinking about it the whole time [you were speaking].
Mendes: That's right you were! (Laughs.)

CS/SHH!: What comic books did you read as a girl?
Mendes: The Barbie comic book? I dunno. I was a Barbie girl. I just recently got into comic books because of Mr. Cage.
Cage: It's so great to be honest, isn't it? It's so liberating.

Ghost Rider opens in theaters on Friday, February 16.
http://superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=5208

Yes, Nic Cage is a little nutty. But I like what he's doing, in theory...the jellybeans, the Carpenters, lol.

[teentitan]

I too noticed he was executive producer of the Dresden Files Vil.
I am a little skeptical about this movie because the commercials are being ramped up. During the last week to 10 days I have seen the commercial at least 8 times from the 8 to 11 hours. And I'm betting even more this week.
This many commercials usually means crappy movie. I think it's Cage. For some reason he just doesn't cut it as a action type character.

[Vilandra]

He can do action I think, just not superhero action lol

[goldenboy]

Here's a video interview (http://superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=5219). Nic Cage always sounds like a total superserious BS artist when he's talking, it's funny.

I was listening to a gossip guy on the radio this morning, gave Ghost Rider 3 out of 4 stars. Said it was smartly funny at times, had great effects (he mentioned that the script had been rewritten about 30 times). He loved Van Helsing too, BTW. Wasn't that just mindless eye candy? Didn't see it myself...

[prydain]

Van Helsing was a fun action movie, it wasn't trying to be an intelligent masterpiece. Critics judge movies unfairly, I think. And I think too many people wanted too many different things from the movie, since it uses monsters from classic Universal movies. But it's a fun movie, funny at times, excellent special effects, and interesting. It's one of those movies I could watch over and over again.

[goldenboy]

Yeah, that's how I feel about The Mummy. And most of the comic book movies really...just time to veg out a bit and have fun (unless something's so stupid it actually makes you mad, lol). Maybe I'll check out Van Helsing.

[edit]

Ooh, I just looked up Ghost Rider on Rottentomatoes. I shouldn't have done that, heh.

[prydain]

If you look up any horror movie, or supernatural movie, that I like on Rotten Tomatoes, you'd see that like 90% of them have terrible reviews...critics just don't like good, FUN movies, they think everything should be like "The Queen" or something. Critics can shove it you-know-where.

Although I do like some of them. :) And TV critics are generally nicer.

[Vilandra]

It's much easier to write a negative review than a positive one, because there's more to talk about lol

[prydain]

I saw this earlier tonight. I kinda liked it. It was a cool little action flick, definitely "comic book" stuff. Tons of cheesy stuff in it, but cheesy in a likeable way, lots of funny stuff, lots of awesome effects and action scenes, interesting story...I usually don't like Nick Cage but he was actually pretty good in this. And I love the whole religious aspect to the story, I dig that sort of stuff.

But Vil, even though there were lots of funny things in it, it wasn't like a farce about Ghost Rider or anything, the humor came from things people said and did and stuff. But it wasn't as completely cheesy as um, Hellboy.

This is definitely a type of movie I'd like to see several more times (well, after it comes out on DVD).

[goldenboy]

Saw it. I thought it was fun. Nothing great, but fun for everyone (if you're a genre fan). Definitely cheesy, in a classic Marvel way - so in that sense, it was probably really authentic Ghost Rider, I'd bet.

About half of the goofy stuff Nic Cage worked in was funny. It could have been even funnier and smarter, but what the hell. Mark Steven Johnson is an average, serviceable director, nothing more.

The effects were very cool. I was hoping for more physical action, more fisticuffs - that's just how Ghost Rider gets the job done I guess.

A fairly good 2nd tier Marvel movie I'd say. I'd check out a sequel for sure. Hopefully it won't get panned into oblivion and die at the box office.

[prydain]

My theater was packed FULL at the 11 o'clock showing, which is pretty rare. So if that's any indication, this movie should at least have a huge opening weekend. I'm hoping for a sequel, but actually I'd rather it be less cheesy, even if it does mean it's not "true" to form.

[goldenboy]

Yeah, hope so. This sounds like a good start:

$15.9 Million Opening for Ghost Rider!
Source: ShowBIZ Data
February 17, 2007
Sony Pictures and Mark Steven Johnson's adaptation of Marvel Comics Ghost Rider, starring Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes, rode home with an estimated $15.9 million its opening Friday, about $600,000 more than Johnson's Daredevil opened with over President's Day weekend four years ago. With that impressive an opening, Ghost Rider is looking likely to set a new record for a President's Day weekend opener if it hold up well enough to make over $45.1 million over the four-day weekend. Either way, it's likely to become Nicolas Cage's biggest opening movie to date by topping his 2004 hit National Treasure.
http://superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=5228

[prydain]

Wow, almost $16 million on your first day sounds very impressive. How much did this movie cost to make? If this could earn its budget over the whole weekend a sequel would be definite.

Oh and did you cringe at all at the very end, when Blaze is riding towards the camera and lifts his eyebrow? That was so ridiculous, lol.

[goldenboy]

I think it went waaay over its original budget, they were reworking and fine tuning the effects forever. And they advertised this thing to death.

I remember seeing maybe 3 TV spots for Serenity. I must've seen 35 for Ghost Rider.

boxoffice mojo says $120 mil production budget.

[Vilandra]

But Vil, even though there were lots of funny things in it, it wasn't like a farce about Ghost Rider or anything, the humor came from things people said and did and stuff. But it wasn't as completely cheesy as um, Hellboy.


Good to know. I might have to go see it. Is it worth my $10.75?

[prydain]

Oh, well I doubt it will make that much money then, lol.

Good to know. I might have to go see it. Is it worth my $10.75?

It's that much to see a movie in NY? DAMN. The most expensive it gets around here is $8.

But anyway, personally *I* would have payed $10 for it, even though that's a ridiculous ticket price. Maybe goldenboy can offer his opinion. But if you like other comic book movies, esp. Hellboy, I'd say see it.

[goldenboy]

Maybe it'll make its budget back eventually, with world-wide box office. Then, most superhero flicks do really well on DVD...

Vil, I can promise you it's better than a Uwe Boll flick, lol. Maybe not $10.75. I caught a matinee, $5.25. Worked for me, heh.

You'd be groaning at the stupidity of certain parts I bet. And it's not quite as action packed as I'd hoped, but...I liked it more than Hellboy. I dunno...

[Vilandra]

We don't have matinee prices here. It's $10.75 whenever you go :)

[goldenboy]

Must've had a seizure when I was reppin you there Vil, heh. No matinees. What kind of a crazy mixed up world is this...



"Ghost Rider" Sequel

Nicolas Cage has decided that he's now eager to do a sequel to "Ghost Rider."

Only a few months ago, Cage reflected on the possibility of a sequel and said, "I feel like I laid it down in this one, and I don't know where else to go with it, so it would really have to be script dependent."

That was before Cage and writer/director Mark Steven Johnson talked privately while on a promotional tour through Europe. Johnson said that he discussed where the character could go in the film franchise. "This is not a slam-dunk character; it's not as well known as the others," Johnson said. "But if people want it, then we will do it."

Cage said that a sequel is more of a possibility. "It depends upon the reaction from the movie-going audiences," he said. "If they are enthusiastic about it and if there is a good script. I would say of all the characters I've played, my interests coincide with where this particular character could go."

Co-star Eva Mendes, meanwhile, said that she isn't sure if she has signed an agreement to be in a sequel yet, but added that she's on board if it happens.
http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=2587&count=44

[prydain]

I like matinees, they're $6 here, but I *never* have the time to go to those, I always have to go past 6pm, which is when it's $8. :(

[goldenboy]

Dayum! (damn the critics anyway.) I don't know if this will get many second viewings though. Hard to say.

Ghost Rider Day 2 -- $17.7 million!
Source: ShowbizData
February 18, 2007
ShowbizData reports that Sony's Ghost Rider, based on the Marvel Comics character, has grossed an estimated $17.7 million, a 12% increase from its opening day. With an estimated $33.6 million earned in just two days, Ghost Rider is less than a million dollars away from being the biggest opening movie of the year so far.
http://superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=5230

[prydain]

Big opening of the year so far isn't saying much, lol. January doesn't do well for movies and it's only February. But $33 million is pretty good for two days. I just hope there's not a 50% dropoff next weekend. lol

[goldenboy]

Yeah, Hulk was something outrageous like 65% dropoff...we'll see.

[Vilandra]

They did a huge advertising push so it looks like they're trying to make everything the first weekend or something.