Outside View: Does Johnson have a Ghost of a chance?

Long before "X-men" was even in pre-production, there were two consistant rumors about comic book adaptions starring Nicholas Cage. The first, "Superman" (or as I always imagined him saying it, "Super..., man?"), thankfully never got further than script writing (and we all know how many cracks they took at that).

But, according to Superhero Hype, it seems that Mark Steven Johnson managed to find someone in Hollywood that enjoyed "Daredevil" and now he's quickly getting ready to direct a $51 million "Ghost Rider" movie in Australia (standing in for Texas of all places). Cage will be the titular stunt-biker-turned-fiery-demon-of-vengeance Johnny Blaze.

Meanwhile, plastic-bag loving Wes Bentley will be the main villain, Blackheart.

We may all talk smack about "Daredevil," but it really wasn't as bad as we want it to be. Blame Affleck, Garner and Farrell all you want, but they aren't really to blame for the film's failure (okay, they aren't MOSTLY to blame). It was simply that Johnson, as big a fan of the character as he may be, didn't understand the central themes of Daredevil. The movie tried too hard to turn Matt Murdock into a superhero out for revenge, when anyone could tell he was supposed to be about getting justice, not revenge. Now in this day and age, the lines between those two may seem blurry, but there's still a clear difference.

Adaptations aren't easy. Despite what we want to believe, a director can't just pick up a trade paperback, treat it like a storyboard and script and produce the next "Spider-man." Too often the greater failures miss what truly maters about the characters and we get left with a pretty, but hollow film like "Daredevil." Which is a pity.

So what does Johnson have to say about his take on "Ghost Rider"?

The script is much closer to the comic. But at the same time, it's much more of a Western. A Supernatural Western is, I think, about the coolest idea ever. The Ghost Rider needs that open road as well as the city. I feel that is what makes him unique -- that he's a rider. Think Mad Max. Unforgiven. We have huge battles in the city but, ultimately, they will end up out in the desert.

I don't know nearly enough about the comic to really judge what he's saying at this point. He could be right on the money this time. To be honest, he's reminding me a bit of the great LucasArts game "Full Throttle." Which isn't too shabby a comparison.