Ghost Rider (Blu Ray) (Essentials Repackage) (2007)

Editor's Note The prophetically named Johnny Blaze and his father perform death-defying stunts in a carnival, but the real danger to his dad's life is the cancer growing within his dying body. To save him, Johnny makes a deal with Mephistopheles (Peter Fonda, EASY RIDER) and sacrifices his soul. When his father is killed mid-stunt, Johnny runs away, leaving behind his grief and a young love named Roxanne. Years later, Johnny (Nicolas Cage, WORLD TRADE CENTER ) is the most famous rider in the country. Despite his daredevil tendencies, Johnny is a different man when he's not riding his bike. Though he wears leather jackets and pants, he prefers jelly beans to Jim Beam while listening to the Carpenters. Years have passed since Johnny has seen the love of his life, but he still carries a torch for Roxanne (Eva Mendes, HITCH). When he sees her after a stunt, he tries to regain her love and trust. But it's time for the devil to take his due as he brings Johnny into an epic battle with Blackheart (Wes Bentley, AMERICAN BEAUTY). In the presence of evil, Johnny transforms into a super-strong skeleton with a flaming skull who has the power to defeat Blackheart and his minions. As Johnny, Cage plays a cross between his Elvis devotee in WILD AT HEART and the sensitive he-man in CON AIR. The evil Mephistopheles is Fonda's most memorable role since his Oscar-nominated turn in ULEE'S GOLD, and this film provides an opportunity for him to return to the spotlight. GHOST RIDER doesn't rank with the best of the comic book adaptations such as SPIDER-MAN and BATMAN BEGINS, but director Mark Steven Johnson (DAREDEVIL) provides a film driven by both humor and action.

	Sam Elliott
	Eva Mendes
	Donal Logue
	Gibson Nolte
	Wes Bentley
	Brett Cullen
	Matt Long
	Nicolas Cage
	Raquel Alessi
	Peter Fonda
	Mark Steven Johnson - Screenwriter
	Russell Boyd - Director of Photography
	Stan Lee - Executive Producer
	Avi Arad - Producer
	Kevin Feige - Executive Producer
	John Wheeler - Director of Photography
	Steven Paul - Producer
	Gary Foster - Producer
	Christopher Young - Composer
	Norman Golighty - Executive Producer
	David S. Goyer - Executive Producer
	Michael De Luca - Producer
	E. Bennett Walsh - Producer
	Mark Steven Johnson - Director

Ultimate DVD
3 stars out of 5 -- "[B]ig, loud and outrageous....When he rides and cars explode in his wake, that's pretty cool." 03/01/2007 p.88

Sight and Sound
"[Cage] gives one of his eccentrically committed performances....There are also two perfect, shivery performances from Sam Elliott...and Peter Fonda..." 05/01/2007 p.62

Uncut
3 stars out of 5 -- "Nic Cage's patented range of doleful stares make him a fine choice to play a doomed hero..." 08/01/2007 p.137