Ghost Rider. Let me start with a confession. I have read maybe 6 Ghost Rider comic books in my entire life. And only one of those would be considered a definitive issue. It was a reprint of the first Ghost Rider story. The stories that I read weren't bad but there was something missing that stopped me from becoming a big fan. I was left with a positive impression of the character nonetheless. I just think it's absolutely wicked to have a guy with a flaming skull for a head riding a badass chopper that leaves behind a trail of flame. And if I have any praise for this movie, it's that these guys didn't miss that one important element.

Ghost Rider (the movie) at its best is an amazing visual treat that thrills that part of my inner being that gets jumpy around stuff like fast cars, cool motorcycles, massive robot monsters, alien death rays, hot chicks, mindless heavy metal, jet skis, and really great barbeque ribs. His head bursts into flames as it tunrs into a grimacing skull. He whips around a serpentine chain on fire. His motorcycle transforms into a hog from hell that all the bikers in the world would fight to the death to own (which would make a cool short story, by the way). He leaves a trail of flame everywhere he goes. Even when he drives up from the bottom of a river. He's got leather and spikes and boots and creepy skeleton fingers. Everything that was ever cool about Ghost Rider in the comics is included in this movie incarnation.

And becasue it is such a visual feast, do yourself a favor and watch it in a movie theater where the images of flaming death on a bike loom larger than life... or, I guess death, as the case may be. But don't go expecting to see a great movie or a great story. I don't know if it should be blamed on the comic book becasue I can't tell how consistent the story being told lines up with the stories from Ghost Rider comic book continuity. But I assume that's the case. And as much as everyone wants these movies to be true to their comic book origins, this is another example of the movie suffering becasue it tries to meet fan expectations instead meeting the criteria for great storytelling.

Becasue, basically I think the problem with this movie and with this comic book is the story. Now nobody asked me but if they did, I would write the Ghost Rider completely differently. I would eliminate the origin story and keep his origin a mystery from everyone that is always hinted at but never revealed. Much more like Wolverine instead of like Superman. And I would get rid of the alternate identity. Forget about this guy turning into the Ghost Rider to go out and fight bad guys.

The one thing that I read about the Ghost Rider movie before it came out that I thought was real good idea was the filmmakers' plan to have the movie be a Texas ghost story. I love that idea. I don't think that came through in the movie so much. Mainly because it was so occupied with defining good versus evil and making sure Ghost Rider was seen as a good guy even though he's making a pact with the devil. You can see how the origin of the character gets in the way of the story.

I think a Texas ghost story is a great idea. If you can imagine a town, probably close to the border, and probably situated advantageously for drug dealers, kidnappers, slave traders, gun running, and immigrant running that is being haunted by a guy on a motorcycle with a flaming head that keeps tearing up the place, that's a cool setting. You could have all sorts of people trying to stop this guy and discover his secret from criminal bosses and local law enforcement to fraternity boys and supernatural thrill seekers. It sould feel like High Plains Drifter meets Twin Peaks meets Nightstalker meets Sleepy Hollow.

Never reveal the origin of the Ghost Rider. Never know for sure who he was before he became the Ghost Rider. Have him terrorizing everbody in his path, not just the apparent bad guys. Scare the shit out of the audience/readers every second of the story. Ghost Rider has the potential to be scarier and cooler than Jason, Freddie, Michael Myers, and Leatherface. All of those guys wish they had a flaming skull for a head and a badass bike to run over their victims. But like I said, nobody asked me.

What about Nic Cage? I still like Nic Cage. I think I know why he did this movie. And I don't think he did anything that hurt the character that hasn't already been done by the writers of Ghost Rider. Unfortunately, Nic Cage is still cooler than Ghost Rider and that's the real problem. Ghost Rider should be winning the cool contest. Look at that flaming noggin! But alas, Cage is too cool for old flamehead. Oh, and where was Stan Lee?