Jack of All Trades, Master of None

~EXPECTATIONS~

DC meets Marvel in this Hellblazer vs. Ghost Rider mock up. Based on the Marvel comic character, stunt motorcyclist Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage) makes a deal with the devil (Peter Fonda) in a soul-exchanging effort to save his dying father. Following years of abandonment from his soul and the love of his life, Roxanne Simpson (Eva Mendez), Blaze reunites with the Father of Lies in another twisted pact to reclaim his soul. This pact – to become a super undead vigilante in a war against satan and his son, the power-hungry Blackheart (Wes Bentley).

I made the reference toward Constantine (the DC/Hellblazer comment) because I find the situations for both films to be similar. DC and Marvel both feature a conflict between earth and the son of satan, albeit in different ways. In ways that John Constantine fights to win favor back with God for committing suicide, Johnny Blaze fights to win back his soul from the devil (which is essentially the same thing in religious theology). Heck, they both have the same first names! Ha! I personally adore the supernatural plotlines for comics… or anything really, so I’m really looking forward to this one.

Who better to play Mephistopheles (satan) than Peter Fonda? He just has that fiendish look about him, eh? Actually, I can think of someone better – Christopher Walken. Definately. Most folks would say that casting Nick Cage as the Ghost Rider was a huge mistake, but these same people forget what a badass he can really be in these types of roles. Remember The Rock? Con Air? … Raising Arizona? Heh. Anyway, as the role of satan’s son, Blackheart, Wes Bentley is aptly cast. You might remember him as the strange kid with the camera in American Beauty. Handsome, charming, strange… all characteristics well suited for the spawn of all that is evil and deceitful. Not trying to type cast Bentley or anything, but in my opinion, he’s proven favor with this type of role.

I expect a great deal of reality suspension (duh) and special effects. Eye candy always wins me over, and I am ever so easily entertained by movies based on comics. Except for The Hulk. That sucked a lot. I am a fan of Nick Cage, easily being able to visualize him as a motorcycle stunt man.

The grades I expect from this movie:

• The plot: A (for supernatural goodness)
• The cast: A- (the main ones are good, but again, Walken all the way)
• The visuals: A (can’t have a flaming ghost without superb FX)
• The director: B+ (he did Daredevil, which was moderately entertaining)
• The wait: A (this means I’m not going insane with impatience to see it)

If you have no clue what I’m talking about, or have even heard of this movie, CLICK HERE for information, or view the TRAILER

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~REVIEW~

Okay, so I saw the flick in the most comfy theatre known to man. This theatre has, get this– leather couches. Anyway…

The movie progressed just as described in the first paragraph of my expectations. The plot was exactly that. The movie was entertaining. In keeping consistency with comparitive analysis to Constantine, I’d have to say that Constantine’s story was better, but Ghost Rider’s effects were more fun. I’m a sucker for eye candy, what can I say? I read an article in Yahoo news about how this movie was a top seller this weekend. Anticipation must have been intense. There is a kick-ass trailer for 300 before the movie, too which is my next victim. Hahahaaaa!!!

I do have to say though that I was disappointed in the acting abilities of Peter Fonda and Wes Bentley. They didn’t really convince me. I mean, Bentley had the FX to make him look scary, but he never really struck me as pulling off being “evil”. The same can be said for Fonda. Cage has this awesome way of showing someone on the brink of insanity, and Mendez, well, I would have to say that her restaurant scene was the best. She did well to show how childishly distraught she was at being stood up by the firey vigilante.

Here is my conclusion of what I saw:

• The plot: C+
• The cast: B (mainly for Fonda and Bentley)
• The visuals: A+
• The director: B+ (some scenes seemed “sloppy”)
• Overall: B