So, I'm finally getting a chance to talk about how I felt about the movie. Now, before I do, I realize that my opinion is somewhat biased due to how closely I feel I've been involved with the movie, not with making any decisions or anything but just feeling a little more on the inside than most. Having said that, I still huge fan of movies. I'm guy who not only watches lots of them but, as an actor, has an deep understanding of how they work. Regardless, this is just my opinion. Take it as you will.
Because I'm posting this in this particular thread, it's kinda obvious that I'm a fan of the movie. A huge fan. It still baffles me that the critics were so hard on it, though I don't think I would have expected anything less... because frankley, what do they know. I mean, this film is already a classic case of the critics being way out of tune with the movie goer. To me (and apparently many others), the creators of this film succeeded very well in creating a extremely fun movie that audiences obviously enjoy. There's a reason why it's making money and it's because (in the audience I was part of anyway) people are finding this to be a a wonderfully fun movie.
Me, I like fun movies. I like movies that take me on a ride and this one certainly does that. It's funny, it's kinda disturbing, it's exciting, it's lovable... it's everything you could really want in a movie going experience. I (and my date) had a great time and I can't wait to do it again.
To get a little more specific, what I really think is best about this flick, as a fan of the character, is that Mark (and his film making posse) have successfully created a movie that honored 3 completely different versions of the character. That's a tough thing to do and I think he/they succeeded admirably. The Johnny Blaze story with Dan Ketch imagery told in a Carter Slade kinda way really worked. Bravo.
What I also really enjoyed was the choice to make this a gothic western. There were a lot of great shots that where throw backs to old westerns; close ups on the eyes, show downs in the park, the ever awesome cowboy mentor (of course I'm talking about the always amazing Sam Elliot). It really made for some incredible scenes and sequences.
The tone of the film was great and while I was a little worried about the amount of humor that was going to be there, I found myself really liking it. I thought there was a perfect mix and personally believe that the humor worked so well because the darkness was so intense at times. The mix of humor and darkness was great, again creating that wonderful ride that I enjoyed so much. To me, when an audience reacts this much and so vocally while watching, it's a success. Sure, some people wanted a fully dark intense movie but, the comic was never that way and having the mix of light and dark was exactly what I would have wanted.... and got.
Now, Ghost Rider himself, a character I've seen animated only in my own head for over a decade, how did I like him? Well, simply, he was amazing. Many hats should go off for the digital effects team on this one who obviously spent an enormous amount of time doing this. They really pulled it off. His skull was perfect, they flames incredible and the combination of that and the human actor/stunt person worked brilliantly. To me, this is Oscar worthy stuff... not that I really hold a lot of high regard to their choices. What I really mean is that they should get some sort of high recognition for these achievements because it was some of the most amazing digital work I've ever seen.
As for the character aspects of, well, the character, I also found these perfect (well, almost). I loved that he was a juggernaut/terminator and his pursuit for vengeance unstoppable. I loved the amount of destruction he left in his path. I loved his voice. I loved the amount of powers they had him use as he does have quite an arsenal. Ghost Rider himself, in this movie, was absolutely perfect and to me, that's A OK because that's what I was going to this movie for. Ghost Rider is what I love in the comics. It's not so much the human that he inhabits for me. My love of the character is the demon inside and they nailed it.
The only negative thing I can say, and it's minor because I understand why they did it that way in the movie is that there was a little too much Blaze in Ghost Rider. There wasn't so much a sense of two different beings most of the time. That's okay though because it really works in this film and they did explain/develop Blaze being able to take control. Instead of Blaze fighting it like he did in the comics, he accepted it, much like Ketch did in his run. It all works and again shows how impressive the mix of Ghost Rider's worked.
As for the other characters, I gotta say, everybody was great. Though the Johnny Blaze character was altered a little by Nic (and Bravo to him for not wanting to do the same ol' drinkin' to remove pain thing), he really pulled it off. He was so lovable and fun in this film and I personally really enjoyed watching him... and this is coming from a guy who's not the biggest fan of Cage. His character was so fun (again, fun is the key) and as different as Blaze was from the comics, it worked. It really worked.
Fonda was amazing as Meph; so sleezy, so sly. Wes, to me, was absolutely perfect. His intense stare was brilliant and his delivery perfect. This boy is gonna be a franchise villain, no doubt about that...
Oh, and speaking of the main demons, a lot of folks are upset that we didn't get to see the full demon forms and while I thought I would be as well if we didn't get it, I really don't think it was necessary for this film. The hint of Meph in the shadows was perfect and sometimes not seeing something is better than seeing it. BlackHeart, well, sure it would have been lovely to see his demon form but, to me, it wasn't needed to further the story... and now it's something we can hope for in the sequel (which I have no doubt we'll get).
So, I think I'll clue this up now. I'm sure there's lots more to talk about and I known I will in the coming days, weeks and months. I'm gonna go see the film a few more times yet and I'm sure there are things I'll pick up on as I do. All in all though, as a general movie goer, I'm very very pleased with the movie. It was (again) really fun and that's what I want in a movie going experience. As a fan of the character, I'm equally impressed. Sure, there were some liberties taken but, do we really expect anything less? Look at the facts folks; it was fun, it was true to the character and it is successful. What more could we ask for?
Bring on GR2!!
.
