Johnny Blaze and his father earn a living performing stunts similar to Evel Knievel’s at a carnival. After his father is diagnosed with cancer, Johnny makes a misguided bargain with the devil, which results in him being cursed to become the Ghost Rider – a supernatural flaming skeleton. Mark Steven Johnson's "Ghost Rider" (2007) combines elements of Faust and Spider-Man, drawing from various iterations of the comic book character, including the 1950s Western hero and primarily inspired by the 1970s-80s series featuring Johnny Blaze. What makes Ghost Rider appealing? Simply put, a guy in black leather and chains driving a Harley is cool, but a flaming skeleton in black leather and chains driving a supernatural flaming Harley is even cooler. That's really what it comes down to. Some have criticized Nicholas Cage’s casting as Johnny Blaze because the character is supposed to be around 30 years old, while Cage was roughly 41. It’s been suggested that someone like James Franco might have been a better choice, especially considering his resemblance to Mike Ploog's depiction of Blaze; however, Cage delivers an acceptable performance. He’s in good shape, and there are plenty of men younger than him who look older. Eva Mendes, playing Johnny's girlfriend, is ten years younger than Cage and provides both visual appeal and a competent portrayal. The film has been criticized for being too serious or too silly, but it largely adopts the same tone as other superhero films released since 2000. It’s primarily a serious story—though unbelievable due to its subject matter—with occasional moments of humor. Essentially, it balances between these two extremes rather than leaning heavily into either one. If you're looking for an entertaining supernatural superhero movie, "Ghost Rider" delivers and is worth watching. However, the film offers more than just surface-level entertainment. The story shows Johnny being tricked into “selling his soul” to the devil and facing the consequences of that decision. While few people literally sell their souls to Satan, everyone can relate to struggling with inner demons. Choosing to live according to one’s selfish nature is, in a sense, selling your soul and giving over your life to evil—regardless of whether you view the devil as a literal being or just a symbol of human potential for wrongdoing. Peter Fonda's portrayal of Satan is both entertaining and fitting, as is Sam Elliott’s role as the old Westerner. Love is a significant theme in the story; Johnny "sold his soul" out of love for his father—not greed. This selfless act puts him on God’s side (as Elliott's character observes) and makes him a formidable threat to the devil’s plans. This contrasts sharply with the complete absence of love within Satan’s realm, where he hates his son and vice versa. This is appropriate because the Bible describes God as love; therefore, since Satan rejected God and became His enemy, he has also rejected love and become its adversary. Hate in all forms defines the devil's kingdom and relationships. When Johnny first transforms into the Ghost Rider, his initial lack of control over the supernatural hellfire and “spirit of vengeance” leads to widespread chaos. This is toned down as he gains more experience. It may seem odd, but Johnny’s choice of The Carpenters music during his downtime makes sense. His daredevil lifestyle and the burden of the Ghost Rider curse would undoubtedly cause him a great deal of stress, so listening to Karen Carpenter's soothing voice would be a welcome relief. There’s a memorable scene where the Ghost Rider rides off the top of a skyscraper, whips his chain in fury, then crashes down onto the pavement below, much to the astonishment of onlookers and police. While Blackheart was a particularly chilling villain in the comics (in Ann Nocenti's Daredevil), Wes Bentley’s portrayal doesn’t quite capture that same feeling, although there are hints of it. Nevertheless, he does a commendable job. Blackheart's wickedness is certainly evident throughout the film. A notable musical sequence features the Ghost Rider and the Caretaker (Elliott) riding through the desert night for hundreds of miles to San Vengaza, accompanied by a modern hard rock version of "Ghost Riders in the Sky." The visual effects used to create the Ghost Rider himself are impressive; it’s enjoyable just to watch the film. "Ghost Rider" has a running time of 1 hour and 50 minutes, with the Extended Cut adding an extra 13 minutes. The movie was filmed in Melbourne, Australia, and other areas of Victoria. GRADE: B+

Source on TMDB