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Ghost Rider By David DiCerto Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) -- "Ghost Rider" (Columbia) is a lightweight supernatural action adventure based on the Marvel Comics' character about a motorcycle daredevil, Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage), who makes a deal with the devil (Peter Fonda) and is cursed with having to serve as his "bounty hunter" -- transforming into a flaming skeletal biker astride a fiery chopper by night -- to escape damnation by stopping a renegade fallen angel, Blackheart (Wes Bentley) from unleashing hell on earth. Eva Mendes is window dressing as love interest Roxanne and Sam Elliot plays a mysterious cemetery caretaker who becomes Blaze's Ghost Riding guru. Despite a dumb script and risible theology, the film never takes itself too seriously, and Cage's campy but committed performance is laced with enough humor to make the hokey ride sufficiently diverting B-movie fare. Some parents may find the demonic elements problematic, but it's little more than a comic book retelling of "Faust," and, while of greater concern that vengeance, not justice, is meted out by Blaze, love is ultimately shown to be stronger than evil, with a recurring theme of redemption and second chances. The film contains stylized violence, some horror images, a vulgar gesture, scattered crude language and a couple of instances of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. - - - DiCerto is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies. END Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed. CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250 |
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