The 2007 adaptation of Ghost Rider rarely tops anyone’s Best Of list: a forgettable effects-laden placeholder that basically gave the studio something to market in February. Star Nicolas Cage was still a viable A-lister, and director Mark Steven-Johnson — while imperfect — still possessed a deep love and respect for the character. (His big-screen Daredevil is underrated.) Nonetheless, while it turned a mild profit at the box office, it failed to generate much enthusiasm from fans. With Iron Man heralding the arrival of the Marvel Cinematic Universe just one year later, it feels like the last gasp of a passing era in retrospect.And yet the film isn’t without its charms. Cage is tons of fun — especially in the early scenes — and supporting figures like Sam Elliott make for bright spots as well. Ghost Rider’s problems lie elsewhere, not the least of which in its villains. Blackheart, a nebulous but well-established figure in the Marvel canon, has an agreeable incarnation in Wes Bentley and a cool connection to an army of the damned called Legion. It holds a lot of potential, especially in light of the comic story that spawned it. But the film doesn’t know what to do with the idea, reducing and seriously underselling Legion as a concept.Ghost Rider has a number of problems, but its fatal flaw lies in the special effects that bring the title character to life. They haven’t aged well, to say the least, but even in 2007, they rendered the title character more comical than terrifying. Add to that a handful of uninspired catchphrases, and the central hook falls completely apart.RELATED: The Marvels Posters Unite the Main Trio as Tickets for MCU Sequel Go on Sale
The 2007 adaptation of Ghost Rider rarely tops anyone’s Best Of list: a forgettable effects-laden placeholder that basically gave the studio something to market in February. Star Nicolas Cage was still a viable A-lister, and director Mark Steven-Johnson — while imperfect — still possessed a deep love and respect for the character. (His big-screen Daredevil is underrated.) Nonetheless, while it turned a mild profit at the box office, it failed to generate much enthusiasm from fans. With Iron Man heralding the arrival of the Marvel Cinematic Universe just one year later, it feels like the last gasp of a passing era in retrospect.
And yet the film isn’t without its charms. Cage is tons of fun — especially in the early scenes — and supporting figures like Sam Elliott make for bright spots as well. Ghost Rider’s problems lie elsewhere, not the least of which in its villains. Blackheart, a nebulous but well-established figure in the Marvel canon, has an agreeable incarnation in Wes Bentley and a cool connection to an army of the damned called Legion. It holds a lot of potential, especially in light of the comic story that spawned it. But the film doesn’t know what to do with the idea, reducing and seriously underselling Legion as a concept.
Ghost Rider has a number of problems, but its fatal flaw lies in the special effects that bring the title character to life. They haven’t aged well, to say the least, but even in 2007, they rendered the title character more comical than terrifying. Add to that a handful of uninspired catchphrases, and the central hook falls completely apart.
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