“Ghost Rider” is a fiery collision of comic book camp—a flawed but spirited ride through the underworld with a committed Nic Cage.
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INTRO:
This week has been a tribute to Comic Book Cage. First, the random number generator gave us Kick-Ass, a polarizing pick that left Kelly and Steph on opposing sides of the ring. Then, in our social media poll, we put Ghost Rider up against Jiu-Jitsu, and the people selected Cage as Johnny Blaze by an overwhelming majority. Was this a sizzling pick, or did it crash and burn? Read on to find out!
IN THIS CORNER: KELLY MINTZER
The Lowdown
Anyone who’s ever felt that I ramble on too long in our Cage Match episodes, I’ve got such good news for you. I do not have a lot to say about Ghost Rider. Boy, oh boy, it’s dumb.
Look, this is a movie with a guy with a flaming skull riding a motorcycle and collecting souls (I think? I will readily admit that I dipped in and out of this one a little). I mean… there’s stuff to like here. Nicolas Cage plays a character named Johnny Blaze! A name he had BEFORE he became a flaming skulled demon thingy. That’s pretty funny!
It’s all kind of silly and not quite as fun as it should be, but you know what, we’ve watched SO MUCH worse for this column. It was kind of fun, and it had a budget and good actors. This is faint praise, perhaps, but take what you can get.
I’m going to air one of my personal pet peeves here, not because it is unique in any way to this movie, but because I feel compelled to call it out when I get the chance. Eva Mendes plays Nic Cage’s childhood love interest. There is an 11-year age gap between them! While I don’t actually think that’s a prohibitive age gap, I do think it is very silly to pretend that they could be childhood sweethearts. Why not cast a contemporary?
But honestly, overall, it’s fine! I’m not excited about the sequel, though.
The Cage Factor:
Cautious Cage. This is missable, as may be evident from my lackluster review. But it’s also perfectly fine. It’s not a bad way to pass an evening. Nic seems like he’s at least kind of having a good time, and that is good enough for me.
AND IN THIS CORNER: STEPHANIE MALONE
The Lowdown
My man has made a career out of fearless, sometimes bonkers performances that range from genius to unhinged to “Why is this so good despite everything?”. Enter 2007’s Ghost Rider, a Marvel Comics adaptation so drenched in B-movie flair that it feels like it might spontaneously combust in a burst of flaming skull energy. And, spoiler alert: that’s kind of its charm.
Ghost Rider introduces us to Johnny Blaze, a stunt motorcyclist who makes a Faustian bargain with the devil to save his father’s life, only to end up cursed as the titular Ghost Rider—a flaming-skulled, chain-wielding bounty hunter for the forces of Hell. Directed by Mark Steven Johnson (Daredevil), the film was a commercial success but took a critical beating, with a Rotten Tomatoes score that suggests many critics wanted to douse it in holy water.
Visually, Ghost Rider gets some things right. The transformation sequences are delightfully over-the-top, and the Ghost Rider himself—fiery skull, leather jacket, and all—looks like he was ripped straight from a 2000s metal album cover.
The film is dripping in a kind of cheesy, gothic atmosphere that feels like an homage to the character’s comic book roots.
But then there’s the script, which often feels like it’s actively trying to sabotage itself. The dialogue is clunky, the villains (led by a woefully underused Wes Bentley as Blackheart) are cartoonishly one-dimensional, and the pacing drags. Eva Mendes does her best as Roxanne, Johnny’s love interest, but she’s given little to work with beyond playing the damsel in distress.
Compared to its 2011 sequel, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, the original feels downright restrained. Directed by the team behind Crank, the sequel is more chaotic, more absurd, and arguably more entertaining in a “what am I even watching?” way. Cage dials his performance up to 11, delivering a film that’s objectively worse but far more fun for fans of his gonzo sensibilities.
Cage himself has expressed his disappointment with the Ghost Rider films, bemoaning that the studio wouldn’t let them lean into the grittier, R-rated aspects of the source material.
With that said, does he give it his all? Hell yeah, he does. And is it a mindless good time for the right audience? Hell yeah, it is.
The Cage Factor:
Here’s the thing about Nicolas Cage: he approaches every role like he’s starring in Hamlet. That same intensity is on full display here.
His Johnny Blaze is equal parts brooding anti-hero and quirky oddball who eats jelly beans out of a martini glass while listening to The Carpenters and watching chimp videos. Cage infuses Blaze with his signature eccentricity—his wide eyes and jittery energy give the sense that this man is constantly teetering on the edge of something big, whether it’s existential dread or spontaneous combustion. He’s earnest, bizarre, and fully committed to the bit.
If you’re not a Cage fan, this movie might test your patience with its uneven tone and hokey writing. However, if you love him as much as you should, as much as god and nature intended, then grab some popcorn and lean into the absurdity. Or, skip it and go straight to Spirit of Vengeance, where directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor really let him get wacky.
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