Beyond the Burning Rubber

[The Kid]

I'm always interested in discovering the meaning behind certain things in film. For example, I never knew Robocop's torture and death was meant to parallel christ or that when that guy said "whoooooaaaa he stole that guy's pizza!" it was meant to show how Spidey supported a more healthy diet...

Here's what I noticed beyond the burning rubber in GR.

As someone pointed out days ago, the "I am Legion" line is a quote from the bible; this was fascinating to me and I'd like to learn more about it if someone's willing to share. The only thing I know about legions is that there was a Legion of doom on superfriends...

Here's another theme, undercurrent, whatever, I found interesting. Later Carter Slade tells Blaze he made the deal for the right reason. And earlier in the film we see Ghost Rider collapse by a cemetary, tranform back into blaze and crawl in agony to his father's tombstone. This of course signifies that ghost rider still loves his dad and is not just the devil's puppet but a "spirit of vengence."

Johnny wanted to save his father from death, but inadvertently caused it by selling his own soul . One could possibly think that since Ghost rider returned to his father's grave after transforming, that he was being callled to it by the spirit of Barton Blaze.

If that's true, then that'd mean Barton was helping his son find Carter Slade.

"You can't live in fear." Heres something Johnny tells himself before becoming ghost rider and later tells mephisto after choosing to own the ghost rider curse. What I think this means, and is probably why he likes watching monkeys do karate, is that he's constantly searching and hoping for a reason to believe he's not forever under the control of the devil. What's interesting to remember for me is that his only successful stunt in the film after being cursed was the one with the helicopters in which he was thinking of Roxy. Thinking of Roxy caused him not to crash like he usually does.

Any other thoughts?

 

[Canadian Rider]

The Story of Legion from the NIV ...

1They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.[a] 2When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil[b] spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. 4For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

6When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!" 8For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!"
9Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"
"My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." 10And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
11A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." 13He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. 14Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

 

[Canadian Rider]

I'm always interested in discovering the meaning behind certain things in film. For example, I never knew Robocop's torture and death was meant to parallel christ or that when that guy said "whoooooaaaa he stole that guy's pizza!" it was meant to show how Spidey supported a more healthy diet...

Here's what I noticed beyond the burning rubber in GR.

As someone pointed out days ago, the "I am Legion" line is a quote from the bible; this was fascinating to me and I'd like to learn more about it if someone's willing to share. The only thing I know about legions is that there was a Legion of doom on superfriends...

Here's another theme, undercurrent, whatever, I found interesting. Later Carter Slade tells Blaze he made the deal for the right reason. And earlier in the film we see Ghost Rider collapse by a cemetary, tranform back into blaze and crawl in agony to his father's tombstone. This of course signifies that ghost rider still loves his dad and is not just the devil's puppet but a "spirit of vengence."

Johnny wanted to save his father from death, but inadvertently caused it by selling his own soul . One could possibly think that since Ghost rider returned to his father's grave after transforming, that he was being callled to it by the spirit of Barton Blaze.

If that's true, then that'd mean Barton was helping his son find Carter Slade.

"You can't live in fear." Heres something Johnny tells himself before becoming ghost rider and later tells mephisto after choosing to own the ghost rider curse. What I think this means, and is probably why he likes watching monkeys do karate, is that he's constantly searching and hoping for a reason to believe he's not forever under the control of the devil. What's interesting to remember for me is that his only successful stunt in the film after being cursed was the one with the helicopters in which he was thinking of Roxy. Thinking of Roxy caused him not to crash like he usually does.

Any other thoughts?

Roxanne in the comics was a representative of Purity and love. She was the reason the Devil couldn't claim Johnny and take him into hell in the beginning.

"You can't live in fear ..." I took this line to mean that he couldn't worry about the deal and that "it was me" on the bike meaning he was achieving the success on the bike not the devil keeping him alive.

"Everyone Deserves a second chance ..." was his way of coming to grips with the fact that he had made a deal which was a mistake and could/would be interpreted as his Father's death being his fault.

IMO.

 

[Kasady]

Cool name for the topic "Beyond the Burning Rubber". That should be the name of a special feature on the dvd.

 

[The Kid]

Thanks, took me a minute to think of it. That'd be cool if it was used for the dvd.

And thanks for the info about Legion. One of those pigs must have become Miss Piggy from the muppets.

 

[The Kid]

Roxanne in the comics was a representative of Purity and love. She was the reason the Devil couldn't claim Johnny and take him into hell in the beginning.

"You can't live in fear ..." I took this line to mean that he couldn't worry about the deal and that "it was me" on the bike meaning he was achieving the success on the bike not the devil keeping him alive.

"Everyone Deserves a second chance ..." was his way of coming to grips with the fact that he had made a deal which was a mistake and could/would be interpreted as his Father's death being his fault.

IMO.

Your opinion works fine for me and is very informative...

 

[FlameHead]

I really have to see it again too. I'm sure there's lots of stuff I missed during the first outing...

Great thread too, by the way.

 

[Kasady]

I'll probably see it again on the 3rd or 4th befor 300 comes out the next week. I got a free ticket when I saw it the first time, but you have to wait for the movie to be out 3 weeks befor you can use it. I hope I like it more each time I see it. That's what happened ever time I saw DD.

 

[The Kid]

I really have to see it again too. I'm sure there's lots of stuff I missed during the first outing...

Great thread too, by the way.

ME MAKING A GREAT THREAD? wow, that's... I'm literally overwhelmed... I've never made a great thread at this board. Thank you for the honor. I just strive to be honest, respectful and above all try to have fun at this place where I always visited for spidey news since every where else sucked.

I saw it again today and I started listening to the dialogue more closely and caught some bits of cleverness such as: 'Hey Dirtbag' which is usually a crappy cliche line in action movies, but actually makes sense since the demon ghost rider punches is the earth demon.

And the line about raising too many devils than you can lay down of course to me means that blackheart is the only son of the devil (he's smugly saying he's one too many for his father to handle).

Ohh and Blaze also reads Faust, I noticed. Interesting...

And I have to say the entire origin story played to me like a modern fairy tale. That was cool because I think of superhero comics as fairy tales trans-morphed with science fiction.