ROTTEN TOMATOES: "Ghost Rider" Update: Sony Confirms Early Screenings

"Ghost Rider" Update: Sony Confirms Early Screenings

by RT Staff | February 09, 2007

Much has been made about the presumed lack of screenings set in anticipation of next week's comic book adaptation "Ghost Rider," but the folks over at Sony assure you: yes, it will be screened.

NY Post film critic Lou Lumenick started a veritable wildfire when he blogged about the $120 million "Ghost Rider" not being screened for critics (the fate of five wide-releases already this year). But the filmmakers insist this is a misconception, as they've arranged at least three screenings before the film's release next Friday.

A publicist for Columbia TriStar tells RT that in addition to hosting "Ghost Rider" screenings yesterday and today for junket press, multiple promotional screenings will be held across the country Thursday, February 15, a day before its nationwide release. [We just got our local notice for the 7pm screening.] A simultaneous premiere in New York that evening will also be held, and press will be invited to both events.

Granted, this sets a tiny timetable for critics not attending the earlier screenings to crank out reviews for Friday -- most press screenings occur days, weeks, or more in advance of a film's scheduled release. Then again, most reviewers abide by the implicit industry code of posting a review on game day, so while we may have to wait until Thursday night or Friday to see "Ghost Rider" navigate the Tomatometer, there should certainly be reviews to read.

Our source says the unconventional screening situation is a timing issue; as director Mark Steven Johnson explained to readers of SuperHeroHype.com (who seem to have been the only reviewers who have seen the flick so far), "Sometimes you have critic screenings a week in advance but we weren't ready for that (as I've said before, we took it down to the wire)."

Producers Avi Arad and Gary Foster also took to the 'net, sensing the potentially damaging confusion:

Quote:
Hey guys,

Avi Arad and Gary Foster here. We wanted to chime in on all this speculation. Here is the scoop: We just completed a fantastic international tour where the film screened all around Europe. Our junket begins tomorrow and 75 plus journalists are seeing the film. Of course we screened it for Mirko and SHH. You saw the review. Theater owners across the country saw it last week and were thrilled with the film and expect big attendance. There are promotional screenings being held across the country next week. Next week reviewers who haven't seen it will have the opportunity. Don't worry. We can't wait for February 16th to roll around so that everyone can see our cool GHOST RIDER.

Avi and Gary

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(1-18 of 18 posts) | Reply

TheIceGhost writes:
on Feb 09 2007 03:21 AM

I dunno, I still think it's going to suck, but I guess that's just me.

(Reply to this)

Dreday writes:
on Feb 09 2007 05:07 AM

Aw man. This would have been the best "Guess the Tomatometer" ever.

(Reply to this)

mojodaddy writes:
on Feb 09 2007 05:52 AM

Whether it sucks or not, sometimes you just have the urge to go watch a guy with a flaming skull and flaming motorcycle kick some tail. I have that urge, and will see it regardless of the reviews.

(Reply to this)

AlienSeed writes:
on Feb 09 2007 06:04 AM

It's entertaining, but this movie is really only average at best. To me, it ranked only slightly better than the theatrical cut of DareDevil. There's no way this movie is going to get rave reviews.

(Reply to this)

CannibalPenguins writes:
on Feb 09 2007 10:45 AM

If this gets above 40% I will be in shock.

(Reply to this)

unbreakable_samurai writes:
on Feb 09 2007 11:13 AM

Thanks goodness, I was still holding onto hope that this would be good and this gives me a little bit more.

(Reply to this)

renodc writes:
on Feb 09 2007 11:25 AM

In reply to this comment (#855328)
You saw the movie?

(Reply to this)

Dinalfos 2 writes:
on Feb 09 2007 12:31 PM

Of course he didn't.

(Reply to this)

Admiral_N8 writes:
on Feb 09 2007 02:37 PM

I wonder if they really werent going to screen it, then saw negative reaction, then said they are going to screen it now just to keep hope alive that it doesnt suck. Either way I'm looking forward to seeing it.

(Reply to this)

High School With Money writes:
on Feb 09 2007 03:09 PM

Yet again, precious critics perpetuate the notion that if a film isn't screened for them, then it deserves automatic derision, as if worse films screened for them magically became better due to such advances. This practice needs to be broken in two and the spinal fluid drained out of it. Back in his Pultizer Prize winning salad days, Ebert had to jog ten miles in the snow, backwards and in clogs, just to view and review a flick. Critics have it too easy nowadays and it shows in their attitude.

(Reply to this)

lrm8 writes:
on Feb 09 2007 05:24 PM

who thought it was a good idea to make a 120 million dollar movie (made by the guy who made elektra no less) and have it open in february? as i am hating on ghost rider, i see a commercial on espn cross promoting the ncaa basket ball tourney with ghost rider (are you ready for the fires of march)

i CANT wait for this to totally bomb and we can stop talking about it. although, i hated on rex grossman all this year and its no fun that the super bowl is over

(Reply to this)

Brad 3000 writes:
on Feb 09 2007 09:52 PM

In reply to this comment (#855337)
It's not made by the guy who made Elektra. Electra was made by Rob Bowman, director of The X-Files and Reign of Fire. Ghost Rider is directed by Mark Steven Johnson, writer of Grumpy Old Men, director of Simon Birch and Daredevil (which simply featured Elektra). You're still free to hate all you want, just get your facts straight.

(Reply to this)

Mr. Kong writes:
on Feb 10 2007 07:33 AM

I really would like to see the movie, though he did PRODUCE the travesty Elektra. I loved Grumpy Old Men, Simon Birch was solid, and Daredevil was a decent movie with craptacular action.

(Reply to this)

lrm8 writes:
on Feb 10 2007 02:04 PM

brad, i was looking at johnson's filmography on yahoo, and it stated he exec produced elektra, which i should have clarified... my bad.

i will see ghost rider of course, but i am extremely skeptical it will be any good. i would love for it to be good, but i just cant see it from the trailer. it really is like rex grossman. on one hand, most people love to watch him fail, but on the other hand, if he had won the superbowl it would have been just as satisfying to see all the haters eat crow.

ALTHOUGH. the folks over at superherohype.com gave it a fairly good (though extremely non-specific and very generic) review, i have a feeling that they are just trying to not get cut off from the powerhouses at marvel.

(Reply to this)

kanedahuang writes:
on Feb 11 2007 09:21 AM

Daredevil was a decent movie? Are you serious?
Remember the blind kid kong fu scene? Kingpin's lacking of characteristic?
Don't even mention the "Elektra music vedio" in it...

Now tell me Ghost Rider is going to be good..

(Reply to this)

Bigbrother writes:
on Feb 11 2007 09:54 AM

In reply to this comment (#855342)
Daredevil was a decent movie and Ghost Rider is going to be good. Ask and you shall receive...Sarcasm aside, maybe there was a "blind kid kung fu scene" because Daredevil was a blind kid who learned kung fu. What "characteristic" was Kingpin lacking? He was lacking in some CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT and Micheal Clarke Duncan was a bad choice to play him, but no unforgivably so. He got the basics right, and Jennifer Garner was hot as Elecktra at least until she got her own movie.

(Reply to this)

kanedahuang writes:
on Feb 11 2007 08:09 PM

In reply to this comment (#855344)
The blind kid did go blind and became extra agile, but who did he learn his Kung Fu from?
Audiences don't usually demand a reasonable "superpower explanation" from all superhero flicks, just like i don't care why Bullseye is so good, because that part was well handled(at least "FUN"). However, when Daredevil's superpower was so badly and dullly portrayed, people will start judging the superhero and his power as well.
And the action sequence was badly directed with mediocre effects.

Yes, Kingpin did seriously lack some character developments, in fact, almost all the characters in Daredevil need some. All the characters in Daredevil are pretty flat, flat is fine, at least make them "fun", but I only find the character of Jon Favreau and Colin Farrell interesting, the rest just fall into this inevitable cliche.
And if HOT is the only thing you ask for Elecktra, I guess it's the end of our discussion.

(Reply to this)

Bigbrother writes:
on Feb 12 2007 08:30 AM

In reply to this comment (#855345)
They did leave out Stick his teacher, but if Elektra the Movie was anything to go by that's a good thing. I thought they did a fair job explaining how his senses worked for him and in the context of the movie they never really say it's martial arts. He's a street kid from Hell's Kitchen who's dad was a boxer it's wasn't an unimaginable leap that he knew how to fight. I thought Colin Farrell's Bullseye was the worst part of the whole film (As he seems to be in most everything he's done lately) He was overly camp and didn't capture Bullseye's nature at all well. I think it would have been better if they'd have actually taken advantage of the Irish accent and given him ties to the IRA or something. They could have easily fit that in by cutting out all Colin's orgasm scenes as he fondles the bullseye on his forhead.

I thought for the time they had they encapsulated their characters pretty well. They at least got the basics. I could see if you weren't a long time fan how you could feel a bit left out, but for die-hard Daredevil fans it was pretty good. Hot was not the ONLY thing I was looking for, but it certainly didn't detract from the performance. She was hot, handled the physical parts well and had a decent pout for the sad parts. Compared to a lot of the female parts in Superhero movies she could have done a lot worse. Her performance deserved a much better sequal than it got.

(Reply to this)

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