Ghost Rider

Most comic-book movies strive to recreate that exaggerated graphic dynamic of the comic page in cinematic action spectacle. Mark Steven Johnson's adaptation of the Faustian biker series "Ghost Rider" is the first to do it with cycle gang tattoo art. Nicolas Cage plays the human incarnation of the character, a motorcycle stunt legend whose every public jump seems geared to spectacular public suicide. Is it guilt over his father's death, or a subconscious drive to test his deal with the devil? That ambiguity remains little more than a sketch in the shadows of a conventional tale of a man whose contract is called in by the Devil (Peter Fonda, underplaying to a fault) and is transformed into "the Devil's bounty hunter," a demon rider with a flaming skull for a head sent to stop Satan's renegade son (Wes Bentley, about as menacing as a kid in a Halloween costume). Little of Cage's sardonic Johnny Blaze (yes, that's really his name) remains after the fiery transformation, where visual effects and the kind of bad pulp dialogue that gives comic books a bad name completely take over the film, but Sam Elliott's drawling narration helps frame the story in a kind of Old West myth recreated on a two-wheel steed. Eva Mendes and Donal Logue co-star. Despite all the bad reviews, the film was a hit. Available in widescreen and full-screen single disc editions, plus a two-disc extended edition with bonus supplements. Also available in Blu-ray and PSP formats.

All DVD formats feature two commentary tracks (one by director/writer Mark Steven Johnson and visual effects supervisor Kevin Mack, the other by producer Gary Foster) and the feature-length documentary "Spirit of Vengeance: The Making of Ghost Rider," a detailed look at the production from art direction and costume design to stunt effects, digital effects and sound effects, through to the final touches of the release print. The "2-Disc Extended Cut" runs 9 minutes longer and features animatics (animated storyboards) and the four-part featurette "Sin and Salvation: 40 Years of Ghost Rider Comic Book History," which traces the comic book's run from its origins as a Western character on horseback to its supernatural cycle comic rebirth and four decades of developments and changes. Comic-book fans will appreciate rare interviews with original artist Mike Ploog and the Kubert family comic dynasty: legend Joe Kubert and sons Adam and Andy.