* Don't bother ** Rent it *** Matinee material **** Worth seeing ***** Exceptional

Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage) is famous among his millions of fans for surviving gruesome mishap after mishap throughout his daring motorcycle-stunting career. He survives the accidents because his soul belongs to the devil.

Mephistopheles (Peter Fonda) wiled a blood-signed contract with a teenaged Blaze years ago as a loyal son wanting to save his father from cancer. In return for his father's cure, Johnny Blaze signs the devil's contract in blood to act when called upon. Years later, the day comes when Mephistopheles commands him to defeat his evil son (Wes Bentley) and his friends — a group of fallen angels set out to overthrow Mephistopheles and bring Hell on Earth.

Blaze remains a straight-edge daredevil icon by day and becomes a flaming, bulbous-headed skeleton Ghost Rider by night — until the police quickly catch on. Obstacles ensue when an old sweetheart (Eva Mendes) saunters back into his life. It's a comedy, light drama, action and light horror film.

If the ticket price doesn't matter that much to you and you walk in with zero expectations, this film is fine. Sometimes, cheesy romance and predictable bad guys can be good.

The film is entertaining and cohesive; it has a clear beginning, middle and end and a point to each scene, which is what a lot of other floppy action-adventure flicks like Van Helsing miss entirely. The CGI seemed a little behind despite the film's large budget, but luckily this movie doesn't spend all of its energy on the action. There is enough fun to make a good two hours, but I don't think this film could really make anyone itch to get out of his or her seat.

— Amanda Ahn