On the DVD
Though largely reviled by critics, Ghost Rider
performed well enough during its theatrical run to warrant this deluxe
edition DVD, which adds nine more minutes to the feature and includes a
wealth of extras that cover its production, as well as the Marvel
Comics character's history. The deleted footage is a mix of throwaway
detail (reporter/love interest Eva Mendes' investigation into the Ghost
Rider's identity gets more screen time) and interesting character
wrinkles (the reason behind Johnny Blaze's deal with Mephistopheles has
a less-than-honorable side) that help in part to give the film some
dramatic heft. But these will have less cache with viewers and fans of
the film than the supplemental features, which cover the making of the
film in broad but interesting detail. Two commentaries are provided,
one from director Mark Steven Johnson and visual effects supervision
Kevin Mack, and the other by producer Gary Foster; both are
informative, but those with a taste for the technical side of
moviemaking will find the former more valuable, as both men cover the
production intricacies at length. The making-of featurette "Spirit of
Vengeance" is actually three 30-minute documentaries which include
interviews with the cast, production tidbits, and a eyebrow-raising bit
of Nicolas Cage working through his own process of "becoming" the Ghost
Rider (those that consider Cage an amusing eccentric will find these
clips most enjoyable). A gallery of animatics show how certain scenes
evolved from production sketch to finished special effect, but the most
intriguing extra is "Sin and Salvation," a four-part documentary that
traces Ghost Rider's comic book incarnation from his origin in the
1970s to the revivals and revisions of the '90s and 2000s. For longtime
GR fans, this may be the most valuable extra, as it gives an
excellent overview of the character, and serves as a reminder of what
made him such a cult hit to those who may have been disappointed by
this big-screen version. -- Paul Gaita
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