Back in the good o’l days of the
‘70s and ‘80s, when comic books were actually called comic
books -- not “graphic novels” -- there were certain
characters who never really reached the apex of popularity that, say,
your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man attained. Sure, some of them
might have starred in a “Marvel Team-Up” with more popular
super-heroes like Spidey, for example, but they were strictly on the
“B” scale in terms of notoriety.
Now that Marvel has seemingly launched through their litany of heroes
on the big screen and struck gold with all kinds of fare from the
“Spider-Man” movies to the “X-Men” franchise
(the only real blemishes seem to be “Elektra” and the
weird, offbeat adaptation of “The Punisher”), it stands to
reason some of the “lower-tier” books are now making their
way to the screen.
Case in point is
GHOST RIDER (**, 2007, 123 mins., Unrated; Sony),
a comic I always remember seeing in the rack at the local drug store
growing up -- but usually glanced right past. The tale of a
motorcycle-riding daredevil named Johnny Blaze, who makes a deal with
the devil and promptly becomes a skeleton with “Human
Torch”-esque heat powers, always struck me as cool-looking (who
doesn’t love a skeleton on fire riding around on a Harley?) but
rather silly, even by Marvel Comics standards.
And yet, here we are in 2007, and “Ghost Rider”
hasn’t just made it to the screen: it’s the latest,
$100-million plus budgeted genre blockbuster starring no less than
Nicolas Cage, whose super-hero fetish lead him to nearly star as
Superman in Tim Burton’s aborted project years back (a movie that
sounded horrible...until Bryan Singer made his own version), not to
mention having been rumored to play the Green Goblin in
“Spider-Man” and the title character in “Iron
Man” as well. Cage, though, is apparently a legitimate
“Ghost Rider” fan, which means this overlong but mildly
diverting slice of hokum at least has its heart in the right place.
Written and directed by Mark Steven Johnson, who helmed the under-rated
cinematic adaptation of Marvel’s “Daredevil,”
“Ghost Rider” stars Cage as Johnny Blaze, who opts to sell
his soul to Old Scratch himself (Peter Fonda) in exchange for his
father’s ailing health. Naturally, the devil removes
Blaze’s pop’s sickness, only to claim his life in an
accident the next day...and curse the young Johnny with the designation
of being the “Ghost Rider,” who collects souls for his
master that are destined for hell.
Complicating things is Johnny’s lifelong love Roxanne (the
easy-on-the-eyes Eva Mendes), who re-enters his life just as the Ghost
Rider is set to do battle with Blackheart (Wes Bentley), the
devil’s own adversary, who wants to claim Hell as his own
residence and set up franchises all over Earth, too.
“Ghost
Rider” does not, admittedly, offer much in the way of clever
dialogue or a particularly interesting plot. Johnson populated
“Daredevil” with a colorful gallery of heroes and villains,
but “Ghost Rider” is kind of dreary and one-note all the
way through, from Cage’s disappointingly restrained performance
(I was hoping for an all-out “Wicker Man” kind of part for
the star) to a bland villain in Bentley and an overly protracted
set-up. Perhaps it’s because this 123-minute “Extended
Cut” is some 13 minutes longer than the theatrical edit, or the
result of poor pacing, but whatever the case, the movie seems to take
forever to get going (we don’t even see the “Ghost
Rider” until the 45-minute mark or thereabouts). Mendes and Cage,
meanwhile, seem to have some real chemistry together but the movie
doesn’t take enough advantage of it, while Sam Elliott and
particularly Donal Logue are nearly totally wasted in supporting roles.
Where “Ghost Rider” shines is in its visuals –
particularly on Blu Ray, where the movie’s high-definition
transfer is simply spectacular.
One thing Johnson gets right is the movie’s look and feel: the
animation of character (via Sony Pictures Imageworks FX) is right
on-target, and the sequences of Blaze’s alter-ego zooming up and
down tall buildings with a single push of his mystical
motorcycle’s acceleration are pretty much “awesome”
as kids would say. The final half-hour also boasts a good amount of
action, which both kids and comic book buffs ought to enjoy -- as well
as high-def aficionados looking for some neat demo-worthy sequences to
show off on their HDTVs.
Of course the film is ridiculous and could likely have used some humor
-- it seems as if it’s a given in the genre that most adaptations
take themselves overly seriously these days.
Yet at the same time, I can’t get too worked up about
“Ghost Rider” departing from its source origins or being
too silly. It is, after all, a comic book that’s never really
been a best-seller, popping up in various Marvel revivals over the
years but never breaking through to the “big time” of
renowned super-heroes. As a film, it’s likely better than it
probably had any right to be in the first place (apologies extended to
life-long “Ghost Rider” fans, wherever you may be), and its
success has already ensured a sequel...proving the character’s
worth even if Johnny Blaze never reached #1 in his time on the Marvel
circuit.
Sony’s Blu Ray disc offers Johnson’s extended version of
the movie in a glorious 1080p transfer that’s just about perfect
at every turn. The Dolby TrueHD and uncompressed 5.1 PCM soundtracks
are certain to give your home theater a work-out, while special
features include three fairly good “Making Of”
documentaries along with a pair of commentary tracks. (The disc seems
to feature the complete contents from the Extended Edition 2-disc
standard DVD set, with the exception of a history of “Ghost
Rider” comics).
Coming Soon on Blu Ray
Roland Emmerich’s Revolutionary War adventure
THE PATRIOT (***½, 175 mins., 2000, R; Sony) is due out next week from Sony on Blu Ray, and viewers can chalk it up as yet another winner for the format.
Beautifully
shot by the great Caleb Deschanel ("The Black Stallion," "The Right
Stuff") and spectacularly scored by John Williams (in what ranks as one
of the maestro's most satisfying works of recent years), “The
Patriot” is an old-fashioned, enormously satisfying film that was
written off by many at the time of its release as being an Americanized
“Braveheart,” right down to the presence of star Mel Gibson.
Yet “The Patriot” is far more than that, anchored by
Gibson’s terrific performance (no, he doesn't go around shouting
"freedom!") as a family man reluctantly thrust into the conflict
between American colonists and the British army, overseen by the stuffy
but far from cartoonish General Cornwallis (the terrific Tom
Wilkinson), whose one particular general -- the truly dastardly Jason
Isaacs -- does enough damage to Gibson's clan to lure the former
solider back into the military fray.
With equal parts intensity and sympathy, Gibson reminds us how
effective and wide-ranging his performances can be, and grounds
“The Patriot” with a personal touch amongst the epic
backdrop. In that category, director Emmerich succeeds in telling a
historical drama with just enough actual people and events that will
lure curious viewers to seek out more information on the subject matter
("read more about it", as they used to say on CBS Saturday morning TV).
The real heroes of the movie, in addition to Gibson, are Deschanel,
whose vivid photography paints a picture in nearly every scene, and
Williams, who contributes a winning, rousing score perfectly
complimenting the emotion and expansiveness of the drama. It’s
sweeping Americana, uplifting "Liberty Fanfare," and "Born on the
Fourth of July" all at once, with a sumptuous love motif and stirring
main theme. Since the film’s release some seven years ago,
Williams’ almost criminally-unheralded work on “The
Patriot” seems to only improve with time.
While could argue that Robert Rodat's screenplay never quite dives into
the intricate reasons as to why anyone other than Mel was fighting this
war, at almost three hours in length, it's unlikely that the movie's
pacing wouldn't have been slowed down further by drawing-room
histrionics.
With sterling support turned in by Heath Ledger (as Gibson's eldest
son), Chris Cooper (as an American war general) and Tcheky Karyo as a
French soldier, “The Patriot” provides rousing
entertainment with a marvelous visual gloss, ranking as one of the more
intelligent Independence Day “blockbusters” released in
recent history.
Sony’s Blu Ray disc is derived from the Expanded, 174-minute cut
of the film, which restores nearly 10 minutes of footage cut from the
theatrical version. Like the Superbit release of the film, extras have
been dropped from previous DVD editions (including a commentary track),
though two Making Of featurettes remain (“The Art of War”
and “The True Patriots,” totaling nearly 20 minutes).
What will spur viewers to the Blu Ray disc is quite obviously its
marvelous transfer. Deschanel’s richly textured cinematography
seems to have been tailor-made for high-definition, and “The
Patriot” does not disappoint in HD, with only a few sequences
exhibiting a hazy grain in the image. For most of its duration the
transfer is crystal clear, razor sharp and gorgeous. The sound is
offered in both 5.1 Dolby Digital and uncompressed PCM, and packs a
potent punch as well.
Highly recommended, particularly as patriots nationwide celebrate July 4th next week.
WILD THINGS: Blu Ray (***, 1998, 115 mins., Unrated; Sony):
John McNaughton’s nasty little thriller has remained a cult
favorite since its original release. One would anticipate that, as time
passes, its mix of young stars (Neve Campbell, Denise Richards), '80s
leading men (Matt Dillon, Kevin Bacon), and veterans like Bill Murray
and Robert Wagner will continue to make the movie a particular favorite
among viewers, not to mention the movie's quirky humor and widescreen
cinematography.
Sony’s standard-definition DVD of "Wild Things" boasted a group
commentary track and a few deleted scenes, several of which have been
incorporated into the studio's unrated Blu Ray edition. This expanded
cut runs nearly seven minutes longer than the theatrical version, and
while it restores a bit of fleeting nudity and sexual content, it's not
quite as racy as you might have anticipated it being.
Nevertheless,
fans will appreciate the Blu Ray disc’s new high-definition
transfer, which easily surpasses any prior presentation of the film on
DVD. Some issues that have always been inherent in the source material
remain here and there (a few curiously drab sequences early on, some
“shaking” in the image), but for the most part the new HD
transfer is eye-popping and makes the film’s abundant visual
assets even more appealing. An uncompressed 5.1 PCM track and a
standard 5.1 Dolby Digital track are included on the audio side, while,
disappointingly, no extras are provided of any kind.
FLATLINERS: Blu Ray (*½, 1990, 114 mins., R; Sony): Tepid,
typically over-directed, music-video styled thriller from Joel
Schumacher wastes an attractive, of-the-moment cast (Kiefer Sutherland,
Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon) as med student Kiefer convinces his buddies
to participate in an experiment to find out what happens when you die.
The answers aren’t worth the journey in this box-office bust from
the summer of ‘90, packed with over-reaching performances
(Roberts in particular is less than convincing) and a Peter Filardi
script that ends up being trite and repetitive. Sony’s Blu Ray
presentation offers a slick new 1080p presentation and uncompressed 5.1
PCM audio, but like the movie, it’s all style and no substance.
No extras are included.
PREMONITION: Blu Ray (**½, 2007, 96 mins., PG-13; Sony):
Not-bad thriller (which became a surprising, modest success at the
box-office) stars Sandra Bullock as a devoted wife and mother whose
husband dies in a car accident. The next day, she wakes up to find him
(Julian McMahon) alive and her perspective of time completely amiss.
Writer Bill Kelly’s “Twilight Zone” styled story
isn’t hugely surprising or suspenseful, but with Bullock’s
credible, nicely modulated performance carrying the action,
“Premonition” fits the bill for escapist fare, while
director Mennan Yapo presses all the requisite buttons on the visual
end. Sony’s Blu Ray disc offers a nifty 1080p HD transfer with
uncompressed 5.1 PCM audio and a good amount of extras including an
alternate ending, deleted scenes, several featurettes, commentary with
Yapo and Bullock, and a gag reel. (Available July 17th)
Also New On DVD
THE MANY ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH: The Friendship Edition (***, 1977, 74 mins., G; Disney):
Though best known for being Disney’s first feature foray into the
world of A.A. Milne’s beloved characters, “The Many
Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” is actually an anthology film
compiling three of the studio’s prior, self-contained short
segments starring Pooh and the Hundred Acre Wood gang: “Winnie
the Pooh and the Honey Tree,” “Winnie the Pooh and the
Blustery Day,” and “Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too!,”
which were produced and released independently from 1966-74.
This 1977 feature does add brief live-action segments to bridge the
segments together, but uses them only to link the three separate tales,
which remain arguably the most satisfying of all of Disney’s Pooh
adventures.
Disney’s new “Friendship Edition” DVD of “The
Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” supplants the studio’s
prior disc offering, sporting a new, remastered transfer (in its
intended 1.33 ratio) that does seem brighter and sharper than its
predecessor. The 5.1 remastered sound is also just fine, and superb
extras (mostly carried over from the prior disc) sweeten the pot for
kids and fans alike. The latter include a 25-minute Making Of
featurette, “The Story Behind The Masterpiece,” the 1983
short “A Day For Eeyore,” the debut episode from the Disney
Channel series “My Friends Tigger & Pooh,” an art
gallery, and numerous interactive games for the little ones.
In all, the improved transfer makes this a recommended upgrade for
“Pooh” fans, preserving a poignant, wonderful trio of Milne
tales with Pooh, Eeyore and the gang for viewers both young and old to
savor.
New From Fox
STEPHEN KING COLLECTION: 4-DVD Box Set (MGM/Fox):
Special packaging of four Stephen King features (released to coincide
with the recent debut of the new King adaptation, “1408") offers
MGM’s previously-available versions of “Misery”
(***½), “The Dark Half” (**), “Needful
Things” (**½), and “Carrie” (***), all bound
in their original, standard DVD packaging. The low price for the set
makes it a worthwhile pick-up for King aficionados who’ve never
owned the respective discs previously.
THANK YOU, JEEVES!/STEP LIVELY, JEEVES! Double Feature (Fox):
Single-disc “Cinema Classics Collection” Fox presentation
pairs together Arthur Treacher’s two performances as P.G.
Wodehouse’s servant, which make for dated but amusing
“Golden Age” drawing room comedy. The set offers the 1936
“Thank You, Jeeves!” (co-starring David Niven and Virginia
Field) along with its 1937 follow-up “Step Lively,
Jeeves!”, finding the butler coming to America. Solid studio
production values and a few laughs populate these short (57 and 69
minutes, respectively) features which are fun for what they are, but
also illustrate why the series didn’t continue on past them.
Special features on Fox’s set include a pair of featurettes on
Wodehouse and restoration comparisons; the black-and-white transfers
look just fine and 2.0 mono soundtracks are included on the audio side.
HOME RUN DERBY, Volume 1 (MGM/Fox):
Old-time baseball fans will love this compilation of segments from the
“Golden Age” TV series “Home Run Derby,” which
pitted stars of the day against one another in footage here filmed in
1959 at Los Angeles’ Wrigley Field. Mickey Mantle carries most of
the action as he battles Willie Mays, Ernie Banks, Jackie Jensen,
Harmon Killebrew, plus Rocky Colavito, Ken Boyer, Jim Lemon and Hank
Aaron are on-hand as well. Great fun for MLB enthusiasts --
here’s hoping more volumes follow from MGM in the near future.
(available July 10)
Also New On DVD
BATFINK: The Complete Series (1966-67, 8 hours, Shout! Factory): Produced
as a parody of the “Batman” live-action series,
“Batfink” aired as a collection of some 100 five-minute
shorts from the ‘60s through the ‘80s. Growing up in the
‘80s, I fondly remember seeing these hilarious shorts in a
compilation show with other cartoons of the era, and Shout! Factory is
sure to reignite warm feelings of nostalgia among viewers with their
four-disc DVD box set.
Compiling the entire collection of “Batfink” shorts,
Shout’s package (available this week) sports the complete
adventures of Batfink -- the almost Dark Knight -- who com-bats (sorry)
a collection of nutty villains with sidekick Karate in tow. Loads of
slapstick and amusing dialogue permeate these silly, entertaining
shorts, which ought to please both nostalgic viewers and kids new to
the material alike.
Packaging is colorful with the discs housed in two slim line cases, and
while extras aren’t on-hand, the solid presentation ought to be
enough to make this a must-have for all “Batfink” fans
– even those who might’ve forgotten all about his famous
exploits. Highly recommended!
NEXT TIME: A Fourth of July special with THE BIG LEBOWSKI in HD! Until
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