Sep 4 2008 'Ghost Rider 2' Will Be Exciting, European
Speaking with MTV, Nicolas Cage revealed that, in complete disregarding the common good, a second Ghost Rider movie will most likely happen, and that "there have been talks and good ones with where to go with the character." Oh, like discussing going in a more gritty, realistic, Dark Knight-like direction with the character, or something like that? Nope. More like discussing literally where on the planet Earth Ghost Rider should be located. The consensus: Europe!
“It looks like it will take place in Europe and the character will work with the [Catholic] Church. It’ll be a completely new experience. It’s exciting.”
Skeptical? Yeah, I was too. Until I saw this BRAND NEW, NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN EXCLUSIVE CLIP from Ghost Rider II: Europe! It looks really good:
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Feb 23 2007 Talks of More National Treasures, Prince of Persia
Nicolas Cage spreads himself silently and without warning.
To me, Nicolas Cage is the acting equivalent of herpes. He's not as deadly as an AIDS (Kevin Costner) or as brain damaging as a syphilis (Rob Schneider), but he's still a definite nuisance to say the least, and just when you think maybe he's gone, there's another breakout. Clearly our current medication isn't working, because now, after tolerating Wicker Man, Ghost Rider, and the soon-to-be-released Next, there are talks of two additional National Treasure sequels after the upcoming Book of Secrets. Cage hasn't officially been linked to the pictures, but I have to assume he would keep his role. He is, unofficially, the national treasure being referred to. So until someone invents a once-daily Valtrex for Nic Cage, we're just going to have to be careful when we go to the theater.
The story also notes that video game Prince of Persia could soon find its way to screens, but it remains unclear whether or not Nicolas Cage will ruin that.
Feb 7 2007 No Faith in Ghost Rider
From the department of inevitability at the New York Post comes news that Mark Steven Johnson's upcoming comic book epic, Ghost Rider, will not be screened in advance for critics. When asked why they made this decision, studio officials at Sony just played the climactic scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Jan 25 2007 Become Ghost Rider (in the loosest sense possible)
While typing random ambitions of mine into my browser address bar and discovering that there is no ArmWrestleJesus.com, I found that there is a BecomeGhostRider.com. The site is an ill-conceived promotional tool for Ghost Rider wherein those with webcams can make it look like they used a Photoshop tutorial to add flames to themselves. I didn't do it myself, but I did appreciate the efforts of others, such as the man above, who felt it necessary and acceptable to take his shirt off.
Honorary mentions go out to guy who bothered putting on a rubber skull mask and clearly-stoned-guy who's mellow but kind of freaking out about being on fire.
Dec 6 2006 Ghost Rider Lenticular Poster
Holy technology! The new poster for Ghost Rider changes from the face of Nicolas Cage to a flaming skull as you walk past it to see a better movie!
Oct 5 2006 "Ghost Rider" Trailer Burns During Urination
Attention, fans of skeletons, motorcycles, flames: your movie has arrived. With his latest comic book adaptation, Ghost Rider writer/director Mark Steven Johnson hopes to beat his last film, Daredevil, for the title of Worst Movie Since Daredevil. And judging from the trailer, adding bad effects and bad hairpieces to his solid mix of bad everything else may have just done it.
With a premise as solid as a stunt motorcyclist selling his soul to the devil, forcing him to become a flaming skeleton on a motorcycle and fight the devil's son with a length of chain, we may never know exactly how this one went wrong.
Oct 3 2006 Ghost Rider Poster Rides Into Our Hearts
REMOVED AT THE REQUEST OF SONY
This new poster for Ghost Rider is good if only because it will provide a valuable artifact when future generations wonder why our civilization failed. Actually, that is the only good thing about it.
Jul 28 2006 Ghost Rider Has Cute Idiosyncrasies
Have you been a little worried about the quality of the Ghost Rider movie after seeing the footage, or even just by knowing that Mark Steven Johnson and Nicolas Cage were involved? Well, don't be. Cage cleared everything up by mentioning some clever quirks he's added to the film's main character:
For one thing, Cage and Johnson gave Blaze a fetish for jellybeans. For another, they made him a fan of soft-pop singer Karen Carpenter. "And he reads a lot, but he's something of a cowboy," Cage added.
I was just thinking that Ghost Rider should have some kind of sexual thing for candy and like the music of someone who sang "Rainy Days and Mondays," but I couldn't quite flesh it all out. I guess that's why I'm not writing it.
Jul 26 2006 Nicolas Cage As Liberace
Add a pompadour to Nicolas Cage's collection of hairpieces: he's playing Liberace. According to TMZ, Ghost Rider is going to tickle the ivories in the role of gay icon Liberace.
Nicolas Cage is not leaving Las Vegas; indeed, he's coming back to it, starring in a new biopic about the life of that gold lame luminary, Liberace. What's more, Cage is producing the project as well, via his Saturn Films production company, based on a script by Aaron Seltzer and Jason Friedberg.
Are actors really this desperate to play a gay roles now that it's finally acceptable? Because, Nic, this is really kind of overkill. Actors love playing mentally challenged roles, too, but you don't see them looking for the biggest, most ridiculous retarded guy they can find. There's a subtlety to Brokeback Mountain. This is like playing Emperor Gay, and making it a musical. I think a Bruce Vilanch story would have more subtlety. I mean, if nothing else, Vilanch doesn't wear a cape.
NOTE: Here's something you'll find when looking for a picture of Liberace: lots of Liberace impersonators. What occasions are calling for this?
UPDATE: Okay, I looked to see what occasions were calling for Liberace impersonators. According to one, "Liberace impersonator is excellent for corporate & private events, company picnics, trade shows, clubs, fundraisers, & advertising. Provide your audience with photos taken with 'Liberace' as souvenirs." Now realizing what a boon Liberace impersonators are, I'm forced to wonder why we need the movie. If you can already hire one for your corporate or private event, isn't that much better? I'd say so.
May 30 2006 Ghost Rider Effects Update
In response* to my complaints about the effects in the Ghost Rider trailer, Marvel has put up some stills of more skeletons and motorcycles on fire. They look a little better than what was in the teaser trailer, but we'll see how that actually pans out once it's put in motion. If you ask me, the only way we're going to get a realistic flaming skull is to set a real one on fire, then have a couple little dwarves or something in the suit and set it on them. I know a guy who can get the skulls, and for an extra $20 he won't tell you their name or what he did to them. It's usually worth it.
*Not a direct response. I'm largely ignored.
May 24 2006 Ghost Rider Teaser Trailers
After watching the teaser trailers (there's both a domestic and international) to Ghost Rider, I've had a few thoughts as to why this looks like it will be as bad as director Mark Steven Johnson's previous films, Daredevil and Simon Birch.
1. Ghost Rider is stupid. The coolness of a skeleton on fire, riding a motorcycle with flaming wheels, peaks around the sixth grade, when a skeleton on fire with breasts, riding a motorcycle with flaming wheels, takes over as "coolest idea."
2. The effects are terrible. I've seen a more realistic flaming skull tattooed on the forearm of a biker. Granted, the phrase "I'll Stab Your Mom With My Cock" written above it in gothic lettering made it somewhat less realistic, but you get the idea.
3. Nicolas Cage has given up as an actor. His willingness to make National Treasure 2 is probably the best indicator of this. The man has no interest in making decent films. And with the ridiculous mustache he's got in World Trade Center and the youthful, messy coiffure he sports here, it seems like the only idea they've come up with to make him better is gluing hair to him.
The only saving grace might be that, unlike Johnson's previous efforts, this movie isn't about cripples.
Mar 15 2006 Ghost Rider Production Artwork
Superhero Hype has posted some new painted artwork from Mark Steven Johnson's sure-to-be-awful Ghost Rider. The paintings aren't labeled as specific scenes, but they may give us a peek into what awaits in the film. Such as standard Ghost Rider having a land race with Zorro Ghost Rider. And I think we all know who wins that battle. The American public.
More after the jump.
Jan 12 2006 Ghost Rider teaser poster
If the quality of a movie were based entirely on its poster, I'm sure Ghost Rider would get four out of four stars. Unfortunately, things don't quite work out that way and, judging by the preview teaser, Ghost Rider isn't going to be nearly as fantastic as the poster makes it seem. I've said it before and I'll say it again: the only way for Ghost Rider to be a gauranteed box office hit is if they eliminate all the CGI effects and actually light Nicholas Cage's head on fire. And then if they want, they can have him ride a motorcycle around and maybe swing a chain. It doesn't really matter, as long as his head is actually on fire.
Some more pics of Nicholas Case as Ghost Rider after the jump.
Dec 20 2005 Ghost Rider sneak peek
The official Ghost Rider site has a preview teaser of some Ghost Rider footage. I don't want to imply that it looks like crap, but it sort of looks like crap. The effects are nowhere near where they should be, and it actually looks like the cheesy effects of Spawn. Unless something really amazing happens between now and its release, I don't see this thing having any real promise. Maybe they should give up on the CGI and actually light Nicholas Cage on fire. Sure it might hurt, but I bet the audience response would be downright spectacular.
Ghost Rider sneak peak [Official Site]
