Neither Ghost Rider movie was very good. The villains didn't work for me, the scripts weren't great and the acting was cheesy or over the top. Yet, for some reason, if I stumble on to one if them while flipping channels, I find myself watching for the action scenes. There's something so visually cool about a biker with flaming skull and demonic ride administering justice with his chains and penance stare that makes it just a blast to watch, even if it isn't in service of a great film.
That's probably due to Nicholas Cage, himself, being cheesy and over-the-top! Sometimes that's worked for him (as with the highly similar-but-undeniably-superior "Drive Angry"). But, most times, it hasn't.*
ReplyDelete*I hated "Raising Arizona," still do, and always will.
Johnny Blaze is the Jacob Marley of the Marvel Universe, wrapped in the chains which he forged in life....
ReplyDeleteguess i'm still in a Christmas Carol mood.....
I saw the first one, and thought it was reasonably good. I have yet to see the second, though I'm interested enough and would like to (after rewatching the first one to refresh my memory).
ReplyDelete(But what do I know? Of the superhero movies I've seen, the only ones I actually give an F to are Batman and Robin, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and the rebooted 2015 Fantastic Four. Even Catwoman rates only a D- from me.)
I like to think that it was Nic Cage's Johnny Blaze who turned the mantle of Ghost Rider to Robbie Reyes in the flashbacks on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and I hope that Robbie does make his return to the MCU in some future project.
PS @jack-el: Ghost Rider for Marley? Then let's have a non-Marvel character for our Scrooge figure. I still would want the Ghost of Christmas Present figure to be the Phantom Stranger (alongside Yoda and Caesar), so not DC either. So, a recognizable third-party modern-day figure who would (or might) have a negative view of Christmas, has been in comics (preferably) and/or animation, and hasn't already been given the "Christmas Carol" treatment. I can't really think of any good ones... Biff Tannen? Bloodshot? Shredder?
ReplyDeleteWhat was your thought about the Ghost Rider we got in AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.? I found their approach worked pretty well for me there.
ReplyDeleteBob, how about a miser already bares the name....
ReplyDeleteI suggest Scrooge McDuck (is this right or should it be MacDuck????)....
This is a great part 2 to yesterday's cover. While the other Titans are busy elsewhere Raven is tackling a different problem, Going out in a Blaze of Glory. (Glory was Ghost Rider's main objective before Raven showed.) Fun stories.
ReplyDeleteOoops! Disregard my earlier question. Raven answered it for me.
ReplyDelete@jack-el: Scrooge McDuck was one of my first thoughts, but he already got the Christmas Carol treatment.
ReplyDeleteRe: Scrooge -- how about Simon Stagg, DC's go-to for a unscrupulous, rich, a-hole businessman? He even made it into WW84.
ReplyDeleteStagg, as you said, is DC, whereas I'm looking for someone not connected with those already in my cast.
ReplyDeleteI think I may have it, though: Autolycus, from Xena: Warrior Princess.
Really, I do think it's about time we started seeing some of Xena's supporting cast here. Maybe Joxer could join the Inferior Five or something.
And I have the perfect title suggestion...
ReplyDelete"The Joxer Rebellion!"
Bob, I've looked and cannot find one usable comic image of Joxur.
ReplyDeleteHow about making do with the Silver Age Phantom Zoner...Jax-Ur?
ReplyDelete