Rated: “PG”

Trust Your Instincts with “Ghost Rider”

If you think you are likely to be offended by people selling their soul to the devil, etc. then don't go see this film. If you just want a couple hours entertainment it's worth the money. Their really isn't anything in this film that you can't live with out. There are only two great lines, “He may own my soul but he doesn't have my Spirit,” and “You can't live in fear.”

The thing is, the plot of a genre movie should come from the genre. Sometimes it works to have romance set against the backdrop of well known events but the best fiction is always that which could only happen in that place at that time. You couldn't really move the plot of “Saving Private Ryan” to the French revolution, or “Les Miserable” to LA circa 1985.

Then again some genres are particularly elastic and have become known for breaking the above rule. Spaghetti Westerns and Space Operas have barrowed their plots from everyone from Shakespeare to Samurai.

All that being said so many movies these days result from just enough research to figure out some bad guy names, but the plot isn't really driven by the scenario. The movie never adequately describes why this particular contract would be so beneficial to the enemy or why a ghost rider is needed to reap souls that should be in hell.

This movie has great special effects and a cool style to it but there is nothing plot-wise to set it apart. The son of Satan strikes out on his own and super-natural humans try to stop it. Wasn't that the plot of “Constantine?” Worst of all there isn't really any legend of Satan having a son, beyond Hollywood's fascination with the idea. Conversly the name legion does have legend to it but it needed to have ground work laid, and mean something to the plot so it actually detracted for me. That's what I mean when I say only enough research for a backdrop.

I'm not against using Satan as the ultimate source of evil in a story but there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. An example of the right way is, “Hell boy.” The idea of a creature created for evil but redeemed by love, having to conquer the evil side of his nature and live from the good. That's the kind of plot we want. Examples of wrong ways to use Satan as a bad guy would be Constantine, Spawn, and Ghost Rider.

About Comic Book Adaptations

In this day and age when Hollywood is afraid to do anything original, by and large comic books have saved the day. For the most part comic books are more creative and take more chances. They also tend to deal with larger story issues since that's what is on the heart of young readers. Teen boys want to read about the conflict between good and evil. Where do you draw the line between being unique and being a freak? Do you hide what is different about you or celebrate it? When is it ok to exert power? What is the cost of heroism? That's the kinds of issues comic books have tapped into and Hollywood forgot about.

Then there are exceptions. Marvel Comic did Ghost Rider and it's whitty, but it doesn't tap into these large themes very well.

Larger Story

The only larger story theme I find in Ghost Rider is you can't live in fear. I actually don't like the idea that he kept the curse so he could turn it against Mephistopheles. Anyone who would stay cursed and give up the love of his life in order fight evil is dumb.

All and all though it's not that Satanic though.

It’s all truly a case of perspective and subjective opinion. Latter-day romantic comedies may be the most sugary cereal of all categories of movie, but for me, taken together, they are as valid a genre as any other that may officially go under another name, but for these purposes (which are fleeting) can be well recognized as the bloody thriller genre. Of course, compared with each other, they’re polar opposites, even when examined from a great distance, of course, but equally worth acknowledging in terms of “viewability” for a whole sector of the population (which would be largely female) as is “The Hitcher” or “Grudge.” I think both sexes are perhaps not equally represented in terms of preference for the gauged-out eyes and screaming horror film but have a more well-balanced gender-rendered fan base.

But I definitely digress…with Valentine’s Day only weeks away, I was thinking that a single (or a basket of several DVDs) of great romantic comedies would make a decidedly wonderful PG/R Valentine’s Day gift, especially for a new romance ( a breather from chocolate panties, if you will, or an “on-the-side” present to go with the more sensual offering…) and to that Cupid-shot end, I’m going to try to come up with a long list of cheery cinematic options and at least return to this site with a list, if not reviews, of several others. “Hitch,” among others, such as “Sleepless in Seattle,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” could be the basket’s centerpiece, both literally and figuratively.

So Will Smith and Eva Mendes may not be the new millennium equivalent of Clark and Colbert, but Smith is an actor of great range and versatility (consider his stretch from“I, Robot” to “Six Degrees of Separation,” his turn as “Ali” to his sweet, surreal muse in “The Legend of Bagger Vance” to his latest brainy everyman in “The Pursuit of Happyness,” and much in between…)moving from his Princedom in BelAir through so many other zip codes with serious acting chops as well as his well known precision comic timing.

If you never saw it in theatres back in 2005, rent “Hitch” to witness Smith’s sexy/cute and convincing moves as “an urban myth” who really exists…as a Manhattan “date doctor” with earnest motives (he believes his own press, and works diligently to spread the gospel according to Hitch, with imagination, humor, of course, deep pockets and a classy sense of values. His timing is perfect, making the movie a very likable, well-paced “textbook” for “how any guy can get any girl,” in which the Fresh Prince of BelAir drives this lightweight but endearing vehicle that makes room for Eva Mendes’s beauty and charm as a comedic actress as well as Kevin James’s incredible ability as a physical

actor as well as one who is much more multi-layered and multi-dimensional than the character he plays as the “King of Queens;” here he’s a klutzy but well-meaning, lovestruck CPA whose far-fetched affection for heiress Allegra Cole (played by Amber Valetta) is portrayed to perfection.

As “Hitch,” Smith polishes his romantic comedy abilities in a warm comedy directed by Andy Tennant with a script by Kevin Bisch which received lukewarm critical reviews but did more than respectably at the box office and ever since as a very strong rental DVD for rental and sale.

What’s great about the film? It’s funny, lightweight, greatly distracting (its best virtue) trendy, New Yorkish, not at all filled with sex (which makes it so perfect for new relationship gifts) as well as not at all “Lost in Translation”… but that’s what makes it so great; it doesn’t try to be any more than it is. Romantic without being overly mushy or cloying – a definite chick flick that men can bear to watch, since Hitch’s philosophies – which come at a high price – about how “any man has a shot with any girl” will make men feel at ease and reinforce women’s not-so-secret beliefs about which actually is the “weaker” sex without screaming it. Mendes, who usually had been cast in “S.W.A.T.”-type movies, gets to put on heels and strut her stuff; Adam Arkin does a great job as her boss at the New York City paper at which he is the gossip columnist; former model Amber Valetta is terrific as an heiress who is ultimately as unpredictably awkward as Albert Brenneman.

What did the critics poke fun at? I’m guessing it’s the fact that the film, though full of laughs and some clever one-liners, is fairly formulaic…but “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” probably followed its genre’s rules. There’s also the “Coach Carter”-genre film, which is “Freedom Writers” without the basketball. Does that make either movie less important or valuable? I don’t think so. How about the “Stand by Me/Lean on Me” genre—that’s the official genre for “Freedom Writers.” “Step Up?” Is that more “Save The Last Dance I and II?” or more “You Got Served”/”Honey?”

I don’t think it matters. We all have guilty pleasures when it comes to movies and “Hitch” definitely fills that niche.

I can’t help it; these movies are like comfort food for some girls. And I guess, I confess,I’m one of them. And I think after a new Range Rover, a Cartier Tank Watch or a 2 carat diamond ring (possibly not in that order) this might make a great Valentine’s Day gift.

With or without the chocolate lingerie.