In order to save his dying father, young stunt cyclist Johnny Blaze sells his soul to Mephistopheles and sadly parts from the pure-hearted Roxanne Simpson, the love of his life. Years later, Johnny’s path crosses again with Roxanne, now a go-getting reporter, and also with Mephistopheles, who offers to release Johnny’s soul if Johnny becomes the fabled, fiery ‘Ghost Rider’.

Credits: TheMovieDb.

Film Cast:

• Johnny Blaze / Ghost Rider: Nicolas Cage
• Roxanne Simpson: Eva Mendes
• Carter Slade / Phantom Rider: Sam Elliott
• Blackheart / Black King: Wes Bentley
• Mephistopheles / Mephisto: Peter Fonda
• Young Johnny Blaze: Matt Long
• Barton Blaze: Brett Cullen
• Young Roxanne Simpson: Raquel Alessi
• Mack: Donal Logue
• Team Blaze: Tony Ghosthawk
• Team Blaze: Hugh Sexton
• Team Blaze: Marcus Jones
• X Games Announcer: Lawrence Cameron Steele
• Motorcycle Gang Member: Eddie Baroo
• Broken Spoke Waitress: Jessica Napier
• Goth Girl in Alley: Rebel Wilson
• Wallow: Daniel Frederiksen
• Abigor: Mathew Wilkinson
• Captain Dolan: David Roberts
• Team Blaze: Matt Norman
• The Mugger: Peter Barry
• Station Master: Peter Callan
• Skinhead: Duncan Young
• Waiter: Ryan Johnson
• Stuart: Gibson Nolte
• Redneck: Joel Tobeck

Film Crew:

• Casting: Jeanne McCarthy
• Executive Producer: David S. Goyer
• Editor: Richard Francis-Bruce
• Producer: Michael De Luca
• Executive Producer: Stan Lee
• Producer: Avi Arad
• Original Music Composer: Christopher Young
• Art Direction: Peter Russell
• Property Master: Lisa Brennan
• Supervising Sound Editor: Dane A. Davis
• Casting: Juel Bestrop
• Casting: Christine King
• Producer: Gary Foster
• Costume Design: Lizzy Gardiner
• Production Design: Kirk M. Petruccelli
• Director: Mark Steven Johnson
• Producer: Steven Paul
• Makeup Artist: Ilona Herman
• Director of Photography: Russell Boyd
• Executive Producer: E. Bennett Walsh
• Supervising Art Director: Richard Hobbs
• Set Decoration: Suza Maybury
• Prosthetics: Gary Archer
• “B” Camera Operator: Leilani Hannah
• Makeup Effects: Ryan Nicholson
• Sound Effects Editor: John Dunn
• Sound Effects Editor: David A. Whittaker
• Hairstylist: Lesley Vanderwalt
• Second Unit Director of Photography: Brad Shield
• Makeup Effects: Matt Corrigan
• Foley: Gary A. Hecker
• Scenic Artist: Peter Collias
• Assistant Art Director: Margot Ready
• Sound Effects Editor: Donald Flick
• Sound Effects Editor: Eric Lindemann
• Foley: Michael J. Broomberg
• Sculptor: Tony Lees
• Sound Effects Editor: Greg Hedgepath
• Sound Effects Editor: Bill R. Dean
• Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Greg Orloff
• Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Gary C. Bourgeois
• Hairstylist: Jennifer Stanfield
• Hairstylist: Kate Birch
• Visual Effects Supervisor: Kevin Scott Mack
• Dialogue Editor: Stephanie Flack
• Conceptual Design: Miles Teves
• Dialogue Editor: David A. Cohen
• Set Designer: Jenny Hitchcock
• Makeup Effects: Katherine Brown
• Scenic Artist: Ian Richter
• ADR & Dubbing: Bobbi Banks
• Makeup Effects: Dave Elsey
• Hairstylist: Ferdinando Merolla
• Makeup Artist: Liz Harper
• Makeup Artist: Louise Coulston
• Makeup Effects: Ayma Letang
• Makeup Effects: Jason Ward
• Art Department Coordinator: Tim Lyall
• Construction Coordinator: Peta Ross
• Construction Coordinator: Marcus Smith
• Sculptor: Matthew Cotter
• Sound Effects Editor: Simon Coke
• Special Effects Coordinator: Caroline Kelly
• “A” Camera Operator: Mark Goellnicht
• First Assistant “A” Camera: David Elmes
• First Assistant “B” Camera: Brett Matthews
• Aerial Director of Photography: Warwick Field

Movie Reviews:

• TopKek: Can be considered one of the best Nicholas Cage movies ever, Ghost Rider Tells us the Story of a Motorbike Stunt Racer Johnny Blaze who sold his soul to the devil to heal his father from Cancer but alas the devil cheats him by giving his father a bad Death. Johnny after many years is provoked by devil again to kill Blackheart, Devil’s own son and turns him into Ghost Rider. And the story goes on from punishing evil souls till the punishing of the Biggest Evil itself. The movie turned out to be a Decent Hit even though it did not perform well at the box office but still the way the character was portrayed and the way the graphics turned out jaw dropping is something we cant miss.
  Well to be True Ghost Rider is one of the most coolest Marvel Character ever portrayed by one of the Biggest Hollywood Star.
• tmdb44006625: The problem is Ghost Rider isn’t bad enough to be up there with the Nicolas Cage “classics”, and it’s not good enough to be seen as a fun time at the movies. It kind of just exists in this rather bland netherrealm where mildly entertaining meets instantly forgettable. Eva Mendes is terrible and Sam Elliot is great, so the acting in this movie is all over the place.

  Sure, I love any scene where Nicolas Cage starts freaking out as he changes into the Rider. Or the scene where he tries to scare him self by going “booga booga” in front of the mirror. It’s especially great when the half rendered fire skull shows up (seriously, how did the studio approve this effect?). But they’re few and far between. Better just watch the You Tube clips then.

• Wuchak: _**”You can’t live in fear”**_

  Johnny Blaze and his father make a living as Evel Knieval-like stunt riders in a carnival. When dad is diagnosed with cancer Johnny is misled into making a foolish deal with the devil, which results in his being cursed to become the Ghost Rider – a supernatural flaming skeleton.

  Mark Steven Johnson’s “Ghost Rider” (2007) combines Faust and Spider-Man and mixes in elements of all the variations of the Ghost Rider comics up to the present, including the 50’s Western hero, but its main inspiration is the 70s-80s comic featuring Johnny Blaze as the protagonist.

  What makes Ghost Rider appealing? Well, the only thing cooler than a guy in black leather and chains driving a Harley is a flaming skeleton in black leather and chains driving a supernatural flaming Harley. That pretty much explains it.

  Some criticize Nicholas Cage as Johnny Blaze because Blaze is supposed to be about 30 years old, while Cage was around 41. I suppose someone like James Franco would have been better for the role, especially since Franco looks exactly like Mike Ploog’s version of Blaze, but Cage does a fine job. Besides, Cage is in great shape and I know guys 25 years old who look older than him. As for Eva Mendes, who plays Johnny’s girlfriend, she’s ten years younger than Cage and is both voluptuous and adequate in the role.

  Some criticize the film as too serious, others as too goofy, but the fact is that “Ghost Rider” has the same general tone as all the other superhero flicks released since 2000. It’s a serious story for the most part, although completely unbelievable due to the subject matter, with bits of humor thrown in for good measure. In other words, it’s neither deathly serious nor a campy goof-fest; it rides the line between these two extremes.

  If all you want out of “Ghost Rider” is an entertaining supernatural superhero flick “Ghost Rider” delivers and is worth viewing for this purpose. But the film delivers on a deeper level. Here is a smattering of noteworthy elements:

  Note that Johnny is misled into “selling his soul” to the devil and has to face the negative consequences of his decision. Few people will literally “sell their soul” to Satan but we can all relate to the struggle with the evil that exists within our own hearts. If we decide to live according to the inclinations of our lower, destructive, selfish nature are we not, in a sense, “selling our soul” to the devil; that is, giving over our lives to evil? (regardless of whether you view the devil as a literal spiritual being or merely as a symbol of potential human evil). Whenever we choose to live according to this lower nature will we not automatically perform evil and, in that sense, fulfill the devil’s will?

  Peter Fonda as Satan is perfect and entertaining, as is Sam Elliott as the old Westerner.

  Love is an important theme in the story. Johnny “sells his soul” for love of his father. He didn’t do it for greed or some other carnal purpose. This is agape love, self-sacrificial love, love in its highest and purest form, which puts Johnny on God’s side (as Elliott’s character observes) and makes him a serious threat to the devil’s purposes on earth.

  We also witness Blaze’s great love for Roxanne and vice versa, as well as Mack’s love for Johnny, etc.

  This is contrasted by the total absence of love in Satan’s kingdom. The devil hates his son and vice versa. This is a fitting depiction because God is described as love in the Bible; and since Satan has chosen to separate from God and be an enemy, he has naturally separated himself from love and become love’s enemy. Hate in all its ugly manifestations is therefore the essence of the devil’s kingdom and relationships.

  When Blaze first turns into the Ghost Rider and goes for a ride in his flame cycle he causes great havoc wherever he goes. You’ll note that this is toned down in his later excursions as Ghost Rider. The explanation? Johnny simply didn’t know how to control the supernatural hellfire and “spirit of vengeance” during his initial conversion.

  Although it’s supposed to be amusing, it makes sense that Johnny would listen to The Carpenters in his down time. Blaze’s daredevil lifestyle and his problems with the Ghost Rider curse would understandably cause him a great deal of stress. Listening to Karen’s ultra-soothing voice would be a great pacifier.

  There’s a great scene of Ghost Rider riding off the top of a skyscraper, whipping his chain in exulting fury, and then riding full blast down the building smashing into the pavement below as police and onlookers observe in total disbelief.

  In the comics Blackheart was the only comic character that ever sent chills down my spine (in Ann Nocenti’s Daredevil). I didn’t get this feeling from Wes Bentley’s portrayal in the film, although there’s a hint of that. Regardless, Bentley does a fine job in the role. And Blackheart’s ugly wickedness is certainly revealed or demonstrated here and there.

  There’s a great musical interlude featuring the Ghost Rider and the Caretaker (Elliott) riding through the night desert for hundreds of miles to San Vengaza. Fittingly, the song is a modern hard rock version of “Ghost Riders in the Sky.” (I love that song! Who doesn’t?)

  The Ghost Rider himself (itself?) is a triumph of special effects. Needless to say, the film is enjoyable just to look at.

  The film runs 1 hour, 50 minutes, with the Extended Cut running 13 minutes longer. It was shot in Melbourne, Australia, and other areas of Victoria.

  GRADE: B+

• Filipe Manuel Dias Neto: **It entertains very well, but that’s all it is, and may be forgotten in a few years.**

  If it weren’t for this movie, I wouldn’t know the Ghost Rider character, who is perhaps one of the darkest and most little-known characters in the Marvel universe. I’m not a comic expert, I just know some characters (the most famous ones) and I’ve seen some movies. So I’m going to ignore the source material and focus on what this film brings us, assuming I’m not the best person to say if this is a good adaptation or not.

  The script has some notes of interest, especially for those who appreciate a more adult and denser universe: Johnny Blaze was a young acrobat who performed impressive circus acts with motorcycles, along with his father. However, upon learning that his father is about to die of cancer, Blaze decides to accept a pact with the Devil in hopes of saving him, which he is unable to do. Forever bound by the pact made, he becomes a monster that seeks out and punishes violent and cruel men… until the day he has to recover a contract of hundreds of souls that would doom an entire village, which would give whoever had it enormous evil power.

  If we consider the film as a piece of entertainment, I think we’ll leave reasonably satisfied. The film is not an example of art, and I don’t think anyone involved will miss it very much, except perhaps Nicolas Cage, for whom the film was a good financial bet, despite not being particularly successful with the critics, and have been heavily criticized by the public. Directed and written by Mark Steven Johnson, it’s a film with less action than many would expect, although I didn’t have any problem with that. I found it more difficult to deal with the uneven pacing of the film, which wastes time in certain scenes in a way that is difficult to justify.

  Despite being undoubtedly popular and charismatic, Nicolas Cage is not at his best here and gives us an interpretation that is, to say the least, unsatisfactory. However, Cage has revealed over time that he is not a steady, balanced actor either. He’s very good, he’s capable of doing great work, but he can also be disappointing. Peter Fonda is quite good here, but his participation is relatively paltry, appearing only in a few scenes. I have doubts about Eva Mendes’ talent for acting, I still haven’t seen her play a character that doesn’t depend on her sex appeal, and what I saw here didn’t convince me. However, what she did is enough for the character, who is just a hot girlfriend. Sam Elliot does well and gives his character an old-time “rough tough” scent, which I liked.

  The film consistently and intelligently bets on strong and impactful special effects and quality CGI. Obviously, not everything works well and those fire effects, on the character’s face and motorcycle, are so obviously fake that they don’t convince anyone, even though the result is aesthetically beautiful and matches the character and the environment. After all, burning skulls are still a classic of tattoos and prints for biker jackets. The film makes good use of the chosen filming locations, it has good sets, good costumes, a dark environment that is not overly dense and does not frighten. Anyone who considers this film a horror should avoid films like “The Exorcist” and others, so as not to end up dying of a heart attack, because this film, as it stands, does not scare a fifteen-year-old teenager.