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'Ghost Rider' has never been more than a minor member of the Marvel Comics pantheon, and the character was never particularly well defined. The appeal lay largely in the fabulous drawings by Mike Ploog and the striking image of a man with a flaming skull riding a motorbike.

Fairly thin material for the makers of this film to work with then, but they've done a splendid job in weaving it into a thoroughly enjoyable two hour movie.

As with the comic book, so with the film, in that it's the visuals which make the really lasting impression, thanks to inventive lighting and excellent special effects - though the performances are certainly up to scratch. Peter Fonda has the chance to project his brooding malevolence as Mephistopheles, while leading man Nicolas Cage delivers his usual strange, compelling and enjoyable turn. He may be a little too old for this role, but his commitment to the character and the genre is obvious.

That kind of integrity extends to the way the film acknowledges the comic book and even the central figure's Wild West roots. But while there's plenty here to please the purists - and I liked the film much more than I expected to - 'Ghost Rider' is also fast-moving and fiery fun for teenagers of all ages.

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