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Published at:  Jan 21, 2005 6:01:15 PM CST

Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...



I’m just sitting here working on the DVD column today and waiting for the Sundance reviews to start coming in, and this piece of news has shown up in the e-mail box a few times. I’m actually really happy to see who Mark Steven Johnson cast as “Black Heart” in his film, because this guy dropped off the map after making such a promising debut a few years ago. Nice to see him back...



Hi Harry

Another piece of news This time about Wes Bentley signing to play Mephisto in MSJ's Ghost Rider. Here's a report from The Hollywood Reporter:

Wes Bentley has signed on to play the bad guy in Columbia Pictures' upcoming Nicolas Cage starrer, "Ghost Rider." Bentley will play Black Heart in the Marvel Comics adaptation. The film stars Cage in the title role. He plays a former motorcycle stuntman who agrees to let his body become host to a vengeful spirit, Ghost Rider, a bike-riding demon, to secure the safety of his true love. Mark Steven Johnson is directing. Shane Salerno wrote the original draft of the Columbia project. Marvel Entertainment's Avi Arad and Crystal Sky's Steven Paul are producing the project with Johnson's producing partner Gary Foster and Michael De Luca. "Ghost" previously was set up at Dimension Films, with David S. Goyer attached to direct. Matt Tolmach, the studio's co-president of production, is overseeing the project. Bentley, who most recently appeared in "The Four Feathers," is repped by WMA. (Liza Foreman)

Just call me News Ghost

Interesting cast they’re putting together so far. Can’t wait to see the first trailer of Nic Cage with his head on fire. I’m sure his ex-wives will applaud louder than anyone at the image.



... er, that was a joke, by the way. Please don’t unleash the spirit of vengeance on me, Mr. Cage. Please?



"Moriarty" out.








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    Readers Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2005 6:07:34 PM CST

    Nic Cage Blows

    by kwingjr

  • Jan 21, 2005 6:08:27 PM CST

    Huh?!?

    by phimseto

    Wait a sec...

    By most peoples' estimation, Daredevil was at best a wasted opportunity and, at worst, a piece of shit.

    Is Marvel intent on crashing the comic book genre in film for some reason? They are treating their properties with decreasing care. Niche titles like "Ghost Rider" have the potential to be fantastic, handled the right way, but this has garbage written all over it.

    Casting means nothing. Daredevil and Punisher both had good casts. It did not save either film. Actors can only do so much.

    Oh well.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2005 6:08:31 PM CST

    First!

    by mynameisenid

    Johnson is a hack. Maybe he won't mess this one up tho...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2005 6:09:05 PM CST

    Nice that Cage is finally getting his wish

    by gheorghe zamfir

    Been trying to squeeze his way into a comic film for about a decade now. All the better that its a comic I could care less about.

    Reply to Talkback

  • A guy with a flaming skull for a head that rides around on a motorcyle? Yeah, I see major interest in this project...from 10 year old boys that like to set things on fire and huff glue. Everyone else will laugh this one into the oblivion it deserves.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2005 6:16:52 PM CST

    Ghost Rider

    by arcadia33

    This post is intended to save y'all needless energy posting on your own.

    This is going to Suck!

    Hmm. This could be good. I'll wait to see the trailer before I decide.

    I'll wait to see the FILM before I decide.

    No, really, this will SUCK!

    I really think _____ should be Ghost Rider. "Vengeance is mine, Brother!"

    What is wrong with all you people criticizing the movie already? It hasn't even been shot yet.

    BUT DAREDEVIL SUCKED!

    ALL MARVEL MOVIES SUCK!

    Are you nuts? X2? S-M2? Classics, man, classics.

    Superhero movies are dead. Matrix is the best.

    Oh, shut up about Matrix already.

    Matrix is too sophisticated for you to appreciate.

    What was this talkback about again?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2005 6:16:57 PM CST

    Nic Cage blows? ,Oscar winner Nic cage?

    by liljuniorbrown

    If Nic Cage sucks then sign me up if he ever teaches suckiness class.Here's a tip genius ,rent Face Off, Leaving Las Vegas,Kiss of Death,Rasing Mother Fucking Arizona..........now i'm getting pissed.H I FUCKING MCDUNNA DOSN'T SUCK MEAT BEATER YOU DO. Sorry but it had to be said.Daredevil and The Punisher could have been alot better they just needed some script reworks, ease up on the hate people.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2005 6:18:12 PM CST

    Mark Steven Johnson makes me entirely too nervous about this.

    by bearison ford

    i have a hard time believing he's learned his lesson from the debacle that was daredevil, solely because he probably thinks it was a resounding success from both a critical and fanboy point of view. yikes. i have high hopes for this, and the casting of Wes Bentley is cool but... i dunno. cross your fingers.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2005 6:20:30 PM CST

    Theater Daredevil sucked...

    by drworm2002

    ...the directors cut was pretty good. I think that if the studio lets MS Johnson do what he wants...we might have a good dark film... I also think Cage can pull off almost any role...lets hope he can do this one.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2005 7:12:47 PM CST

    Daredevil wasn't the only adaptation MSJ dropped

    by gheorghe zamfir

    As any Irving fan can testify with Stuart Birch, a misguided adaptation of A Prayer for Owen Meany.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2005 7:33:32 PM CST

    Mark Steven Johnson slobs on the knob of mediocrity!

    by anlashok

    This craptastic crusader can burn in fucking hades with the rest of the incompetent whoreburgers responsible for casting my DD into the land of theatrical infamy. You...fucker. Really, I'm not mad.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2005 7:37:45 PM CST

    Who cares what Mark Steven Johnson does next?

    by doc_mccoy

    This movie will suck unless they switch to a more approriate filmmaker.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2005 7:52:24 PM CST

    This Director hasn't learned anything

    by justice41

    This Director hasn't learned anything from his time on DD. he's making the same mistakes for exactly the same reasons. He's trying to do too much in this movie just like he did in DD. Too many characters too little individual story. He's using the other characters as filler for a lame ass story. DD had a nothing story which wa stretched too far with silly unneccesary extra characters. Ghost Rider is getting the same treatment.
    Let us say hello to the new Brett Ratner, The new McG, the new Paul Anderson. The newest Hackster out there making lame ass, mediocre movies that had much, much, much, more potential to be wicked than he was capable of doing with his limited storytelling skills.
    I will pass on this movie unless the characters are pared down and the story beefed up.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2005 7:54:02 PM CST

    Has the Talbacks been fixed?

    by justice41

    Kinda looks so. If so now we eed a quoting system so we can make fun of others directly and pointedly.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2005 7:54:58 PM CST

    Mark Steven Johnson is a bitch, Avi Arad is insane

    by dr farragammo


    Seriously, the guy who directed "Simon Birch" and "Grumpier Old Men" has no right doing films about badass superheroes. what the fuck is wrong with Avi Arad? He makes 2 good decisions : Bryan Singer for Xmen, Sam Raimi for SpiderMan, and he pisses the rest of the Marvel dynasty away?
    Mark Steven Johnson got GR & Tim Story for Fan 4?!?
    Who's he gonna get for the next Marvel film,the director of "Are We There Yet?"
    fuckin asshole.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2005 8:36:45 PM CST

    Johnson did a great job with Daredevil -- Director's Cut!

    by harrylarry

    Watch it before you judge. That was as true a translation as I've seen.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2005 8:38:13 PM CST

    Mark Steven Johnson should've directed "ELEKTRA." It would've at

    by screenplaywriter

    I personally am looking forward to Ghost Rider. It's about frigging time he actually gets to be seen on the big screen. I mean don't get me wrong I like the whole good guy superheroes, but I also like the bad-ass superheroes who are bad-ass vigilantes and "just don't give a fuck."

    The kind of guys who battle inner-demons and battle the choices they've made. That's human.

    Nic Cage will be fine as Ghost Rider and I don't know too much about Wes Bentley as Blackheart, but if Colin Farrell suggested him for the part then thank you Colin, because Bullseye, Jennifer Garner, and Michael Clark Duncan were the best parts about "DAREDEVIL."

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2005 8:39:14 PM CST

    Good News

    by emma peel

    I always though Wes Bentley was one of the most promising young actors out there but he disappeared after American Beauty. He will make a great villain.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2005 8:44:39 PM CST

    Daredevil Director's Cut Surprised Me

    by kraven jones

    usually they add an extra scene or two or some promo bullshit but this one was really a superior version. Whether you like it or not, that movie made a lot of money much more than Hellboy or Blade or Punisher or that shit.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2005 8:49:33 PM CST

    Who is playing Mephisto?

    by harrylarry

    that's the question. you can't have Blackheart without Mephisto.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2005 9:35:45 PM CST

    Hollywood continues to rape the comic book genre up the ass with

    by iamjacksuserid

  • Jan 21, 2005 9:46:13 PM CST

    Isn't Ghost Rider supposed to be a little kid or something?

    by gilderoy

    That's what I remember, anyway. If it has a great script and a competent director, any piece of shit has the potential to be watchable.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2005 9:57:55 PM CST

    I had high hopes for this one...

    by lonesomerhodes

    But its been in developement so long and my opinion of Nic Cage has changed so I don't much care anymore. :(

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2005 10:23:09 PM CST

    They're just casting Wes Bentley 'cause he's a dead ringer for T

    by osmosis jones

    You know it to be true!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2005 10:44:50 PM CST

    To Kill a Mockingbird

    by prozacmorris

    I just wanted to see how that would look.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2005 10:56:18 PM CST

    This movie is going to kick ass and here's why...

    by billy bob 2

    The Ghost Rider is the coolest looking character in the history of comics. Nuff said, bitches.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2005 11:11:34 PM CST

    ???

    by caerlas

    Are they saying this guys is playing both Blackheart and Mephisto? Or did they for some reason think that they were the same person?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Ratner is (arguably) a better director, but Mark Steven Johnson -- when not writing spec scripts -- at least *tries* to wedge some substance into his stories, which is more than I can say for either of those two hacks. The closest thing to subtext that McG approaches is Charlie's Angels dressed as nuns. I actually think that his script for 'Daredevil' could have been worked into something special (it was no worse than either of the first two Blade movies, certainly not 'Blade II,' IMO), but a combo of his own lack of directorial skills (due either to inexperience or just fecklessness) and Fox coming down on the project with cuts and a shitty soundtrack seriously hamstrung the film. Hopefully he'll be able to make something special with 'Ghost Rider.' I like the character, I like Nic Cage, I like Wes Bentley, so I'll keep my fingers crossed and take it one step at a time.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2005 1:15:24 AM CST

    Hmm, might be excited...

    by oh_riginal

    ... if I had ever read Ghost Rider, but I haven't, so how this all turns out is really up in the air for me.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2005 1:19:01 AM CST

    Pet Peeve #4352:

    by ribbons

  • I've never quite been able to wrap my head around fanboys's boners for "dark, gritty, etc." movies. In a lot of ways, 'Daredevil' was extremely juvenile. Perhaps the reason that Avi Arad and the Mark Steven Johnsons that he supports seem to be unlearning how to make a good movie is because we're collectively pretty foolish about what we expect a comic book movie to be. While I could have done without the metaphysical nonsense, I'd contend that 'Hulk' is much a much "darker" movie than 'Daredevil' for the ideas it presents (although I guess it all depends on what your defintion of dark is), or at least, how it gets its ideas across. But then again, Hulk didn't smash enough tanks for most people's liking, which brings us back to the whole juvenile aspect of 'Daredevil' and its so-called grit. There was some stuff about adolescence, father figures and religion in 'Daredevil' that could have been mined for some pretty rich (and not necessarily..."heaven forbid!"....self-indulgent) material, but that's not what the movie accomplished. Munching vicodin (seems to me celebrities take it to prepare for awards galas) and killing a man with a paper clip is not "dark," unless you mean to say darkly humorous.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2005 1:34:21 AM CST

    no subject

    by joeypogi

    can't wait.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2005 3:41:37 AM CST

    wow

    by chris21

    You'd think I'd be happy to see my favorite comic of all time come to the big screen, but I'm NOT, especially with Nic Cage in the starring role. That's just horrible! Ghost Rider is a FUGLY mofo with a muscular build. Snipes should be the one playing him, not Cage. Cage would be better cast as Mephisto, he's not perfect for that either and I don't even agree that Mephisto should be in this movie--it should be GR vs man. See, the major villians that we're used to just don't usually work in movies. Two of the rare times it's worked well was in Batman and Spiderman 2. I'm not really a comic nut as it's been 15 years since I've read one, but I know enough about them to be embarrassed by bad villian choices and casting.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2005 3:43:50 AM CST

    wes bentley

    by chris21

    wtf is a pretty boy doing playing mephisto? ugh..

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2005 3:57:16 AM CST

    Well Ribbons, The Daredevil I remember was a boy scout...

    by anlashok

    He had high if not naive ideals about humanity and what it was capable of. Yet at the same time he was a realist in that some individuals would never see the light but should be shown compassion nonetheless. He was a humanitarian, he did not kill, did not consider that an option in his quest for justice. The beautiful irony was that he, a man dressed as a devil was one the most angelic beings in Hell's kitchen. Of course, if asked, he would pass that title on to the homeless woman on the corner who tried to sell aged flowers each morning. Or the single mother of three, working two jobs desperately trying to raise her children to be productive members of society. He was a man of the people. for the people. In striking contrast were his enemies, who were ruthless, merciless, dangerous. They would kill, and did kill, without hesitation. They would cheat, connive, do whatever they felt they needed to do to serve their ends. When Daredevil battled these foes it was ever so much a battle of ideals, than skill. Daredevil would fight them with a righteousness of a paladin, a purity of purpose that had no equal. And without denigrating to their level he would win. And they would despise him all the more for it. They represented the cynical forces of society. Those who believe the domination of the weak is the true and only face of humanity. He represented the light, and the endless mercy and compassion that could ONLY come from a human being. A Dark Daredevil? The Daredevil I knew and loved was one of the brightest beings around.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2005 4:54:31 AM CST

    "Ghost Rider is a FUGLY mofo with a muscular build"

    by gheorghe zamfir

    I dunno, that describes Cage bunches more than it describes Wesley Snipes, and at 6'1" Cage is a more physically imposing actor than Snipes as well.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2005 8:36:05 AM CST

    Cage = Blaze

    by evil chicken

    I'm jazzed about the project. It strums the nostalgic chords of my fan-boy heart. When but a wee lad in the seventies, I had Ghost Rider # 1 - it was one of the first comic books that my parents made me throw away. Of course this served to turn me on to the title. Nick Cage as Johnny Blaze? I can't wait. He'll make an exceptional host for the Spirit of Vengeance.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2005 9:36:33 AM CST

    Another bad movie choice for Nick Cage

    by bart of darkness

    He really should fire his agent.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2005 9:41:25 AM CST

    Yes, this movie is doomed . . .

    by nice marmot

    . . . but I might change my mind if they add a Fu Manchu soundtrack.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2005 10:36:34 AM CST

    Casting

    by torbot

    For everything they're doing right with the new Batman, and for as great an actor as Christian Bale is, and for as good of a choice as he is, they still should've cast Bentley. He woulda been perfect. But close enough. Cage is capable of great work, but I don't know that he's Ghost Rider. Ah, who cares? When are they gonna make ROM? Meanwhile, poor Elektra. My girlfriend said, Let's just go see it, we know it'll be bad so our expectations will be real low, and maybe we'll actually enjoy it. But no amount of low expectations could prepare anyone for what is probably one of the worst movies ever made. I didn't see Catwoman -- could it have been worse than Elektra?!!? The mind reels. What's tragic is that Elektra was a great character -- the Miller DD stuff and Assassin are excellent. Why the hell did they cast Garner?! I'm sure she's a nice lady, but she's completely wrong.... with someone appropriate in there -- like Emmanuelle Vaugier -- it would have at least been fun to watch. But even with our beloved EV, Elektra still would've boasted one of the worst scripts -- and some of the worst direction -- of all time. Some review I read likened it to a Lifetime Movie of the Week. Just horrible. Wretched, wretched, wretched. I wouldn't feel compelled to bitch about it -- what's one more shitty movie? what's one more bad comic adaptation? -- save for the fact that it coulda been really great, but more importantly because I made the mistake of seeing it. I knew better. I should have done something else. Blaaagghhhh.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2005 10:48:39 AM CST

    Yer Mom

    by phat_elvis

    I just got interested in this flick! WB gave one of the coolest performances Ive ever seen in American Beauty. THAT GUY shoulda been cast as Anakin.
    As For MSJ directing, Im not really worried about it. DD the Directors Cut was pretty good, with some BIG flaws (mildly attractive white chick for ELEKTRA...WTF? Sorry but that chick SUCKED. She's too skinny and doesnt look even VAGUELY greek) but it also had its serious Cool points...I actually BOUGHT BA as DD,I fucking LOVED whats his face as Kingpin! That was the COOLEST idea! Joe Pantoliano as Ben Urich? Thats AWESOME! CF was great as Bullseye, did a bang up job, etc. There were a LOT of reasons to dig DD, ESPECIALLY the Directors Cut. If they dont do any dumbass played out wire fu (i cant IMAGINE how they would pack it in to a GR film, anyway) I think they should be okay.
    I think so far my FAVORITE comic movie, aside from maybe SpiderMan 2, was the Hulk. I fucking LOVED that flick. Because it took the CHARACTERS seriously. I could have done without some of the changes to the storyline, but even the things that were changed were cool in their own way. I guess I just miss a little slower form of filmmaking, like the OG Alien...slow and fucking CREEPY. Hulk really developed an empathy for Bruce Banner, REALLY well played by EB, btw.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2005 10:54:10 AM CST

    Re: torbot

    by phat_elvis

    Actually, ROM would be fucking BAD, now that you mention it...dire-wraiths, FireFall, the whole first like 10 issues...that shit would be TIGHT. But then I REALLY liked ROM as a kid...and Im a geek.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2005 11:21:27 AM CST

    Anla'shok

    by ribbons

    Okay? I'm not trying to imply Daredevil should be "dark." But I'd certainly argue with you that the film tried to capture a certain aesthetic that was different from what you described. Maybe it would have been better the other way, I don't know.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2005 12:40:23 PM CST

    Cage is wrong for this.

    by darksider

    Bentley should hold out for a better Marvel property.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2005 12:43:26 PM CST

    ROM

    by evil chicken

    I'd buy a ticket for ROM Spaceknight in a heartbeat.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2005 12:43:54 PM CST

    Why is MSJ still directing, let alone Ghost Rider?

    by darksider

    Is it because he tried to make everyone in Daredevil look like bikers? Bullseye even had a bike. This makes him qualified? Daredevil sucked ass. I was embarrassed for making my non-comic reading friends to see Daredevil. I won't make the same mistake with Ghost Rider. Affleck was wrong for DD too.

    Reply to Talkback

  • that would really make it -totaly forgetable.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2005 1:35:23 PM CST

    Love for Lee's HULK

    by immortal_fish

    I'll hold back commenting on GR, except to say that I'm more jazzed up to see Man-Thing. And I'm never interested in seeing any Man-Things (not even Giant-Sized). At any rate, I have to write a hearty and sincere THANK YOU to fellow TB'ers that express their appreciation for Ang Lee's HULK. I'm not just a comic fan, I'm a MARVEL fan, and I have to say that this title holds the most replay value out of any MARVEL films. There's something new to see with every viewing, always something new to find in the subtext. With the exception of Talbot, each character was spot-on. Andthe flick successfully walked the line in respecting both its comic and television roots -- something few comic inspired films have to face.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2005 2:27:15 PM CST

    This could work...

    by cmdrviimes

    Wes Bentley is one of those guys I'm always like "Who?" before I remember. Only tolerable thing about the Four Feathers that I recall. I agree that Blackheart (and Mephisto, If he does show up) need to have a human presence, or else it juist gets silly. But honestly, I want a throwdown between GR and a full demoned-out-Marvel Vs. Capcom-walkin'-shadow Blackheart - that be one hell of a finale, if ya ask me.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2005 2:36:36 PM CST

    "Nic Cage blows" Is that a slam or wishful thinking?

    by lettersoftransit

    Methinks someone protests too much. Every time Cage's name comes up for a comic adaptation, there seem to be a few guys on this site who go into a panic and attack him, so much so that I can't help wondering if they're trying to hide feelings they would rather not face. You would think comic fans would appreciate having A list actor who appreciated comics even before it became fashionable. Yet Cage is jumped on every time and methinks it may be some fanboys protesting too much.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Your right, a lot these whippersnappers do have a hard-on for "badass" heroes who paint the room red with blood. Well, in and of itself that's fine. It's when film-makers in their infinite laziness try to take short cuts by hybridizing already established characters with said traits, that the subtle differences easily recognized by the serious reader are washed away in a sea of shit brown sewage.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2005 5:11:07 PM CST

    The fact that anyone ahs anything positive to say about MSJ is f

    by industrykiller

    Daredevil is widely known as on of the worst comic book films of all time, and thats in a genre where most of the best still misses the mark. If you liked Daredevil you have shaky taste in cinema at best. This guy is a fucking hack. Anyone who would write that scene where Affleck and Garner fight on the playground will probably never make a good film, including this one.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2005 5:49:37 PM CST

    IndustryKiller!

    by ribbons

    Glad you got that out of your system. Now....who said that I liked that playground meet cute with Jen and Ben? 'Cause I sure didn't. In fact, who said I liked 'Daredevil' at all ("In a lot of ways, 'Daredevil' is extremely juvenile." Sound familiar?)? I raised a shitstorm when I heard that Johnson would be directing 'Ghost Rider.' Now that it's an inevitability though, it seems like my wishing they would have gone with someone else is a moot point. The script itself for 'Daredevil' was interesting, and it could have been at least on par with 'Blade' (which, granted, wasn't *that* good) had it a better director and a little more development. Granted, there'll always be the intrinsic problem of a blind guy who fights crime ("WITH STYLE!"), but it's called making lemonade out of lemons. That's my two cents, and if that makes my opinion shaky, so be it. Hooray that you have the authority to decide these sorts of things. By the way, An'lashok, you're right: I should've said *some* fanboys have a "dark" fetish.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2005 5:56:31 PM CST

    By the way...

    by ribbons

    ...I realize how pathetic it is that I just said that "I raised a shitstorm" in protest of 'Ghost Rider,' but, c'est la vie.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2005 11:25:15 PM CST

    Cage's new wife is a hottie! Hope they do more with his hair in

    by monkey_king

    otherwise, the true villian of this film would be the casting director and makeup person. I think the image of a pony-tailed Cage in sunglasses and navy blue dyed leather and a chopper would be visually cool, then even cooler when he transforms to Zarathos.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 23, 2005 1:23:13 AM CST

    Why Daredevil Was Unappreciated

    by kraven jones

    Affleck. Seriously, has any actor gone down in flames more than Affleck did? Look, I'm not saying it was a perfect film. But it was one hell of a lot more interesting than a lot of the comic flicks. And as far as that playground fight -- get your facts straight. It's literally taken out of the Daredevil vs. Echo fight in one of the better stories to come out in years. The Director did his homework. He knew his shit.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 23, 2005 1:53:30 AM CST

    Should I get into this?

    by ribbons

    Alright, fine. Probably a waste of energy and the equivalent of trying to hold back a flood, but here goes: the playground fight/flirt scene SUCKED. It absolutely sucked. Every time I hear someone say "[insert lame crap here] didn't suck because"....wait for it...."[insert pronoun for lame crap here] was from the comics, dummy," I want to run into the forest and scream. Think about what that means. Think! Think, dammit! It didn't suck because it was from the comic book?! Does that make any sense? I'm also familiar with the Echo arc that you're talking about, and while it wasn't bad, it wasn't perfect either, and in the context of the movie the scene was probably one of the biggest possible mistakes. Not only did it require the use of some pretty distracting wire-fu, it would have (I know, "it's not the real world!" A little internal logic doesn't seem like that much to ask for) made every witness to the spectacle suspicious of this "blind lawyer." When people outside of Clinton know who he is, when Ben fricking Urich knows who he is, when he lives in a relatively small neighborood where he interacts with people on a daily basis, it's probably safe to assume that someone would have recognized him doing the nasty with Elektra, or at least, it would have been a big enough risk that he'd have to be hopped up on crazy pills to try it in the first place (so in love was he with this woman who he'd never seen, barely talked to, but smelled oh-so-loverly). The fight itself was poorly shot and offered no thrills of its own, so besides for jeopardizing the integrity of the world you'd worked so hard to establish, what's the point besides for being cheeky? Yes, it was awful, "homage" to David Mack or no.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 23, 2005 2:07:23 AM CST

    I agree. Wes Bently should be Ghost Rider

    by rant breath

    and Nic Cage should play Mephisto. c'mon its obvious.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 23, 2005 11:16:12 AM CST

    Quit your bitching

    by scytheofluna

    Enough with the bashing of Daredevil and Punisher. Neither was perfect, but all of the constant whining is pathetic. Was I the only person who got a chill when Tom Jane jammed a popsickle into that guys spine and told him he was torching him? I have the comic that scene was taken from and it's things like that that make seeing these characters come to life on the big screen worthwhile even if the film doesn't meet or exceed your expectations. The playground in Daredevil was modified from a scene in the comics, so quit your bitching about that. And of all the Marvel films I think Hulk is totally underrated. You people just expect too much. Not typically being the religious type comic fans tend to build their morality and to some extent their spirituality around the heros and mythologies we grew up with. I think this leads to bitterness when those heroes aren't portrayed exactly as we would like. Just calm down, lower your expectation and enjoy these films for what they are. One particular vision of a larger myth. X Men, as good as it was didn't really represent my visions of the characters. I always liked the Jim Lee versions, but I can suspend my own disbelief, and set aside my own biases about the characters and how they should look and act, long enough to enjoy what is at this point the best film representation of the characters yet seen. Ben Affleck may not be your vision of Matt Murdock, and the only Hulk for you might be the grey Hulk, but for fucks sake grow up they are comic characters. I love them too, but jeezus, you people have way too much emotional investment in these kinds of things.

    To the guy who said Wes Bentley would make a good Batman, I have to give you a big second on that one, if Bale wasn't doing it Bentley would have been perfect. Bentley should be good in Ghostrider regardless of how the rest turns out. Blackheart seems like a character that would require lots of makeup and effects unless they wuss out and change the appearance. Personally I would rather have had Johnny Depp as Johnny Blaze, but Cage should be okay. I am just glad he never played Superman. Of all of the upcoming comic book adaptations THAT's the one that has me scared. Routh doesn't even look like Kal El.

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  • Jan 23, 2005 11:38:28 AM CST

    No faith in Mark Steven Johnson

    by sharondeitz

    I hate throwing dung at a film before a single frame has been shot, but I have no faith director Mark Steven Johnson can do Ghost Rider justice.

    His Daredevil was the laughing stock of Marvel's latest cinematic offerings(that is, before Elektra) and I won't be surprised if Ghost Rider falls flat on its face.

    Of course, I hope I'm in for a big surprise.

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  • Jan 23, 2005 10:32:31 PM CST

    This Bentley dude needs to be phased out.

    by mel garga

    How appropriate to be playing Me-Fist-O. Were none of you people laughing when this kid played blind at the end of Four Feathers? It took me a while to realize he was portraying a visually-impaired person because I had just awoken from the nap I was forced into by the first two-thirds of the film. That performance ranks alongside Anthony Hopkins' stroke-riddled character in Legends of the Fall. And aren't we also a little embarassed that we went so ga-ga over American Beauty a few years back.

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  • Jan 23, 2005 10:33:57 PM CST

    to the character!!

    by emma peel

  • Jan 23, 2005 10:37:11 PM CST

    Oops. I meant to say Johnson will stay faithful to the characte

    by emma peel

    Frank Miller's influence was all over Daredevil. Shot for shot. It remains one of the truest comic to film adaptations out there. Daredevil may have been a boy scout in the early 60's but he sure as hell wasn't in the stories he's best known for!!!

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  • Jan 23, 2005 11:48:11 PM CST

    Nic cage and Face-Off

    by bootskin

    I dont care what anyone says. Nic Cage sucks ass. Leaving Las Vegas was the last, best thing he did, and Raising Arizona the only one before that. And don't go waving Face-Off in my face, that's another american John Woo Crapterpiece I dont really wanna see again. BTW: John Travolta getting shoved down my throat in ever increasingly bad roles is gettting tiresome also.

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  • Jan 24, 2005 1:29:37 AM CST

    'Adaptation.' anyone?

    by ribbons

    Yeah, that too. And while it's hard to defend Nicolas Cage's resume, I'd say he's at least one of the most consistently talented American actors working right now.

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  • Jan 24, 2005 2:02:35 AM CST

    In Nic's defense...

    by hung-wei lo

    I'm here to defend the ultra-hated Nic Cage. I know that most of you hate him, and for good reason -- I too thought his bid to be Superman was not only completely wrong, but insanely wrong. He has participated in craptacular trash like Gone in 60 Seconds, Con Air, Vampire's Kiss, City Of Angels, Family Man, Valley Girl, etc. However, I will give props to him for Leaving Las Vegas, The Rock (yeah I said it, total Bay-hatin' mindless cheese), Raising Arizona, and Adaptation. He doesn't have a flawless resume, but you name me one person who does have one. And you can't say Casper Van Dien, that's just not fair ;)

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  • Jan 24, 2005 2:10:03 AM CST

    Hey, I liked "A family Man" ...

    by anlashok

    of course I was watching it in a hotel room in vegas overlooking a pool with hot-sunbathing senoritas at the time.

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