Ghost Rider (Full Screen Edition)
by Mark Steven Johnson
Our Price: $44.74
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $1.55 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Eva Mendes, Matt Long, Nicolas Cage, Raquel Alessi, Sam ElliottDirector: Mark Steven Johnson
Brand: CAGE,NICOLAS
Cinematographer: Russell Boyd
Editor: Richard Francis-Bruce
DVD: Region Code 99
Audio: English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; French (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 114 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-06-12
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Movie Reviews of Ghost Rider (Full Screen Edition)
Movie Review: The EXTENDED CUT, 2-Disc DVD is the Best Way to See This Movie!
Summary: 5 Stars
I really enjoyed the FULL SCREEN version of this movie on DVD, so I decided to get the WIDESCREEN, EXTENDED CUT DVD version. I am very happy that I did, it is worth the extra cost!
The basic story of GHOST RIDER is that a young man gets cheated in a deal with the devil and must become the devil's bounty hunter, (while trying to figure out how to beat the devil at his own game).
There are 13 extra minutes of movie time on this DVD, and at least half of it takes place during the origin scenes involving the teenaged Johnny Blaze (not the adult Johnny Blaze played by Nicolas Cage). This extra footage is just as enjoyable as any other portion of the teen scenes, and it really helps a lot to develop the characters more!
I especially like the new scene when the young Johnny Blaze asks to ride his dad's favored motorcycle named "Grace." "Do you think you're man enough to ride Grace?" "Hell, yes!" "Well, I don't think so..." Later his dad gives him the keys to Grace, to runaway with Roxanne, saying if he rides Grace he'll have a head start on his new life.
Most of the other added minutes are short additions to already existing scenes, usually an extra line of dialog during conversations.
I can only think of one scene where the new footage actually REPLACES original footage, (but still makes it better). In the saloon scene when Blackheart rounds up his spirit henchmen, originally one henchman asks, "What about Mephistopheles?," and the scene ends with Blackheart replying that nobody may ever mention that name to him. In this improved EXTENDED CUT, instead of the question being asked, Mephistopheles himself shouts out for Blackheart to come outside the saloon to talk with him, and then there is the added scene of their discussion, which also helps to develop both characters better.
I haven't really noticed any extra footage of the special effects Ghost Rider character himself, but the improved character development in all the other (mostly non-special effects) scenes is well worth the purchase of this EXTENDED CUT DVD, if you already know that you like this film, and even if you are seeing it for the first time with the EXTENDED CUT, you will have a better chance of liking it more.
The Director's Commentary is excellent and informative. There is also a separate Producer's Commentary track, which is pretty good, too. One annoying story by the Producer is how he met actor Sam Elliott as a kid on a movie set, and is now "paying him back" for being so nice to him by giving Sam Elliott a role in GHOST RIDER. I think Sam Elliott could have gotten this gig all on his own, since he already had a major role in a Marvel Comics film, as General Ross in THE HULK movie, a few years back! Hulk (Widescreen 2-Disc Special Edition)
The EXTENDED CUT doesn't add much in the way of "Making Of" material. It adds about 20 minutes of poorly edited video touring the computer facilities where the computer effects are worked on, though the EXTENDED CUT DVD has a very enjoyable series of interview footage with comic book creators of the Ghost Rider character, that is very interesting and informative if you are into comic book history, like I am. This extra comic book interview material is separated by which decades are being discussed (mostly), 1970s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s; each decade getting about 10+ minutes, totaling about 40 minutes. Writer/editor Roy Thomas starts the 1970s section with a brief history of the character dating back to the early 1950s, inspired by the original song, and as a cowboy ghost rider. This section could have been made better by having a PLAY ALL function, so you do have to hit play after viewing each decade, but if you like comics history then it will be worth it.
I really enjoy this GHOST RIDER EXTENDED CUT DVD, and I think it is the best movie/DVD of 2007, in my opinion. GHOST RIDER is not as good as SPIDER-MAN 2, the best comic book movie ever, but I like this GHOST RIDER film better than 2007's overstuffed, underdeveloped SPIDER-MAN 3 film! Spider-Man 2 (Widescreen Special Edition)
Perhaps this GHOST RIDER movie's biggest weakness is that sometimes the main character, as a special effect, looks a little stiff, but this improves as the film progresses. But this movie version is better than the comics version, especially since the movie's Johnny Blaze is tempted and tricked by the devil but does not seek the devil out, as opposed to the original Marvel Comics story where Johnny Blaze turns to his Satanic past history of studying devil worship and summons the devil to cut a deal, as can be seen in the Marvel Comics collection called THE ESSENTIAL GHOST RIDER, VOLUME 1. Essential Ghost Rider, Vol. 1 (Marvel Essentials)
The best things about this movie are that the story is fun, funny, and interesting, and also that most of the characters and actors are very likable. I also really like the somewhat Biblical imagery and references, some more overtly obvious than others, (like when one character speaks the Bible verse, "I am Legion, for we are many!," or when Johnny's dad tells him to ride Grace, being a writer's metaphor for the Grace of God, which the Bible says is mandatory for Christians to live by); and with my own past, I feel like I can relate to the Johnny Blaze character trying to beat the devil who dogs his every step, and trying to beat your own foolish deals with the devil in your past, to try to fight against the devil and look out for other people to not get hurt by the devil.
I also like the way that this film takes it for granted that Hell and the devil exist, as opposed to most of our secular western culture that wants to pretend that there is no devil, no Hell, and no eternal punishment. Sure, this film gets it wrong that one must CHOOSE to sell your soul to the devil, (like most of our western culture also believes), despite that the Bible teaches that all are condemned to Hell unless they CHOOSE to follow Jesus! But GHOST RIDER's depictions of the devil, Hell, and evil spirits are a lot closer to Bible teachings than many popular heretics of today who claim to be Christians while denying the existence of Hell, the devil, and that the Bible teaches of the existence of these things!
Summary of Ghost Rider (Full Screen Edition)
A young motorcyclist sells his soul to the Devil to save his father, and then to release himself from his obligation years later, he becomes the Ghost Rider to defeat the Devil's much more evil son, Blackheart.Genre: Feature Film-Action/Adventure
Rating: PG13
Release Date: 12-JUN-2007
Media Type: DVD
Once intended as a feature for Johnny Depp, the long-germinating feature film adaptation of Marvel Comics' cult title Ghost Rider stars Nicolas Cage as motorcyclist Johnny Blaze, who transforms into a skull-faced angel of vengeance to battle the forces of evil. Though perhaps a bit too mature for the role, Cage brings a degree of humor to the outrageous proceedings; he's well matched by the Easy Rider himself Peter Fonda, amusingly cast as Mephistopheles, the demon with whom Blaze strikes a bargain to save his father, and in turn, causes his transformation into Ghost Rider. Wes Bentley is also fine as Blackheart, the rebellious offspring of Mephistopheles, and Blazes' chief opponent in the film. They're joined by a solid supporting cast which includes Donal Logue, Eva Mendes, and Sam Elliott, but their participation and a relentless barrage of CGI effects can't hide the fact that the story itself, though largely faithful to its comic origins, is rife with clichéd characterizations and glum B-movie dialogue. Fans of the venerable title may cry foul over this adaptation (as they did over helmer Mark Steven Johnson's previous comic-to-movie feature, Daredevil), but less stringent viewers may enjoy the fiery visuals and Cage's typically quirky performance. --Paul Gaita
Extras from Ghost Rider
 Visit our Exclusive Ghost Rider Microsite Visit the Site |
 On Blu-ray |  CD Soundtrack |  Ghost Rider: Road To Damnation |
Stills from Ghost Rider (click for larger image)
 | 
|  |
|  |  |
Similar DVD Movies
Spider-Man 2 (Widescreen Special Edition)Marvel Kids; Release date: 2004-11-30; DVD
Best price: $0.99
Price in other shops:
Hulk (Widescreen 2-Disc Special Edition)Universal; Release date: 2007-01-11; DVD
Best price: $4.00
Price in other shops:
Hellboy II: The Golden Army (Widescreen)Uni; Release date: 2008-11-11; Published: 2008-11-01; DVD
Best price: $4.96
Price in other shops:
Van Helsing (Widescreen Edition)Universal; Release date: 2004-10-19; DVD
Best price: $5.97
Price in other shops:
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver SurferFox; Release date: 2007-10-02; DVD
Best price: $2.64
Price in other shops:
The PunisherJANE,TOM; Release date: 2004-09-07; DVD
Best price: $1.98
Price in other shops:
HellBoy (Two-Disc Special Edition)Sony; Release date: 2004-06-21; Published: 2004-06-01; DVD
Best price: $2.81
Price in other shops:
Elektra (Widescreen Edition)Marvel Kids; Release date: 2005-04-05; DVD
Best price: $4.23
Price in other shops:
Daredevil (Director's Cut)Fox; Release date: 2004-11-30; Published: 2004-11-01; DVD
Best price: $6.78
Price in other shops:
The Incredible Hulk (Widescreen Edition)Uni; Release date: 2008-10-21; DVD
Best price: $5.00
Price in other shops: