The 2007 film Ghost Rider is about a motorcycle stuntman named Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage) who sells his soul to the devil, Mephistopheles (Peter Fonda), in order to save his father's life. As a result, Johnny is transformed into the Ghost Rider, a fiery, avenging agent of justice who punishes the wicked.
The film follows Johnny as he struggles to come to terms with his new identity and his newfound powers. He is also hunted by Mephistopheles' son, Blackheart (Wes Bentley), who wants to overthrow his father and claim Johnny's soul for himself.
With the help of Roxanne Simpson (Eva Mendes), his childhood love interest, and Carter Slade (Sam Elliott), a former Ghost Rider, Johnny must learn to harness his powers and stop Blackheart from unleashing hell on Earth.
Ghost Rider is a visually stunning film with exciting action sequences and good performances from the cast. However, it is also a flawed film with a convoluted plot and underdeveloped characters.
Overall, Ghost Rider is a fun and entertaining action film that is worth watching for fans of the genre. However, it is far from a perfect film, and it is not likely to appeal to everyone.
This is was the first in a two-film installment.
The second film, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, was released in 2012 and was directed by Neveldine/Taylor. The film stars Nicolas Cage as Johnny Blaze once again, this time teaming up with a young boy named Danny Reyes (Gabriel Luna) to protect his mother from a demonic cult. The film also stars Idris Elba, Violante Placido, Ciarán Hinds, Johnny Whitworth, and Christopher Lambert.
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Cast
- Nicolas Cage as Johnny Blaze / Ghost Rider: A motorcycle stuntman, who is tricked into making a deal with the demon lord Mephisto thinking that it will save his father from dying, and is subsequently bound to an ancient demon, transformed into a supernatural, fiery, skeletal, monstrous soul hunter, the Ghost Rider. As his work for Mephisto continues, he hunts down the demons which have escaped from Hell (a.k.a. Hate or Hades).
- Matt Long as young Johnny Blaze
- Eva Mendes as Roxanne Simpson: Johnny's childhood love-interest, and current girlfriend who is a news reporter.
- Raquel Alessi as young Roxanne Simpson
- Wes Bentley as Blackheart / Legion: A demon who is the son of Mephisto, and wants to use the Contract of San Venganza in order to unleash Hell on Earth.
Sam Elliott as Carter Slade: A former Ghost Rider or Phantom Rider, and an ally and mentor to Blaze. Elliott previously worked with Marvel as General Thunderbolt Ross in Hulk (2003). - Donal Logue as Mack: A member of Johnny's team and his own impresario.
- Peter Fonda as Mephistopheles "Mephisto": The demon lord with whom Blaze makes a contractual deal in order to save the latter's father from cancer. Deceivingly, Mephisto causes Blaze's father to die the next day in a motorcycling accident. Mephisto is in search for his illegitimate son, Blackheart, who seeks to overthrow him. The two race in search of the Contract of San Venganza, a binding note of 1,000 evil souls.
- Brett Cullen as Barton Blaze: Johnny Blaze's deceased father, and former motorcycle stuntman.
- David Roberts as Captain Jack Dolan: A police captain.
- Laurence Breuls as Gressil: A Fallen Angel with earth-based powers, and one of Blackheart's minions.
- Daniel Frederiksen as Wallow: A Fallen Angel with water-based powers, and one of Blackheart's minions.
- Mathew Wilkinson as Abigor: A Fallen Angel with wind-based powers, and one of Blackheart's minions.
- Rebel Wilson as a girl in the alley.
- Jessica Napier as a Broken Spoke waitress.
Director: Mark Steven Johnson
Writers: Mark Steven Johnson
Box Office Gross: $228,738,393
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE)
Genre: Action Thriller Fantasy
Release Date: February 14, 2007