CAGE CONVINCES CARPENTER THAT MUSICAL LOVE IS ...

[wisejester7]

Looks like there will be a comic book film coming out in February 2007
that will include "Superstar" and a main character (played by Nicolas
Cage) who listens to Carpenters music to relax.


www.pr-inside.com/cage-convinces-carpenter-that-musical-love-r28892.htm

CAGE CONVINCES CARPENTER THAT MUSICAL LOVE IS FOR REAL

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network

NICOLAS CAGE persuaded RICHARD CARPENTER to embrace his
CARPENTERS-loving comic book superhero GHOST RIDER by personally calling
the pianist and confessing his love for his late sister.
Cage decided his tormented movie character should share his own fondness
for The Carpenters but he initially struggled to convince Richard
Carpenter that he wouldn't be poking fun at the hitmaking siblings.
He reveals, "I made him a KAREN CARPENTER fan. I love Karen Carpenter's
voice, honestly, and Richard Carpenter didn't want to participate at
first, but I explained how much I cared about Karen's voice and thought
it was the most beautiful voice of all time. It was genuine so he was OK
with it.
"We even got the rights to use (The Carpenters hit) SUPERSTAR on the
soundtrack. You should check out SONIC YOUTH doing it.
"My point there was that the Ghost Rider alter-ego, JOHNNY BLAZE, is
trying to keep the devil away, and Karen Carpenter and jelly beans relax
him.
"If he was a chain-smoking, Jack Daniels-guzzling guy, which is
originally how he was drawn, he'd be inviting the devil in and I thought
he'd be trying to avoid the devil."

Here's the official movie website:

www.sonypictures.com/movies/ghostrider/


(The source for this article was a web group e-mail posting by White-Ash.)

[GoodOldDreams]

Cool! Lets hope they will do a good job with it. I am aware of another movie where the main character is similarly entranced with Karen, but it was an edgey and experimental independent film, not a mainstream one as this appears to be.

[Rick Henry]

This is very interesting. Even if the movie is a dud it will still draw a good amount of possitive attention toward Carpenters as all Cage's movies get major exposure.

[YesterdayOnceMore]

I find it absolutely amazing the momentum that's going on out in our world regarding Carpenters and their wonderful music. It's something those of us here have known all along, but to see more and more of the world embracing and saying out loud to one another just how great Carpenters sound was, and the fact that it's timeless, because it still IS wonderful - well, that just says a lot, and I am delighted by the continuing recognition and kudos!!

Great stuff. Thanks wj7!
Tim

[merlinjones]

That is wonderful news, wisejester7!

Gosh, can you imagine a young kid first hearing of the Carpenters through that movie? It might help turn on a whole new generation of fans, you know. That is just great news and I appreciate your having posted it a great deal.

[wisejester7]

I hope they do the Carpenters justice. It would be fantastic exposure for them!

[Rick Henry]

wisejester7 said:

I hope they do the Carpenters justice. It would be fantastic exposure for them!

Just from what I've read it sounds like Nicolas Cage will be using Carpenters music (and name) in quite a favorable way.

Now "Desperado" would be a fantastic song to use in this movie - somehow it seems like it would fit the theme.

[Ming]

That's great. It must be a good movie.

Ming

[makapipi]

Now all we got to do is ask Mr. Cage if he would like to join
"Carponline". It would be interesting to hear how he learned
about Carpenters.

[Rick Henry]

makapipi said:

Now all we got to do is ask Mr. Cage if he would like to join
"Carponline". It would be interesting to hear how he learned
about Carpenters.

Interesting that you'd make this comment, Makapipi, as I've already made a few searches find an address (email or otherwise) to contact Nicolas Cage. The only thing I've find is a guest book from one of the major fan sites. We'll see if anything comes of it.

I think it's interesting that Cage is using Karen's voice as somewhat a serum to ward off evil spirits (feelings). In the Adam Sandler movie "Anger Management", Jack Nicholson's character stated that Carpenters music is "songs of madness and obsession" - quite the opposite of how Cage will be portraying Carpenters. Interesting how different people have different viewpoints on their music.

[Rick Henry]

I've seen several trailer for the movie on TV and recent DVD rentals - but none of the trailers play Carpenters music or mention it. Could be the Carpenters thing is a very small part of the movie.

Anybody else see the trailers yet?

[wisejester7]

admin said:

I've seen several trailer for the movie on TV and recent DVD rentals - but none of the trailers play Carpenters music or mention it. Could be the Carpenters thing is a very small part of the movie.

Anybody else see the trailers yet?

I've finally seen a couple of commercials/trailers for the movie and , like you Rick, I haven't heard any mention of the Carpenters.

Speaking of Carpenters NOT being mentioned, did anyone see the Grammy's ... especially the Alpert/Moss award part?

[Dave]

This is the first I've heard of this, and I think that it's a stroke of genius, myself.
Rick might remember this story, from shortly after Katrina hit.
I was at my local Harley shop, and local rock station WDVE was having a "Pay for Play" weekend. The idea was that if you'd pledge money for flood relief, they'd play anything.
Someone requested "Close To You", and all of the women in the shop began squealing in delight. This huge biker-type guy behind the parts counter said "I believe most of their songs were written by John Bettis", and I just looked around in amazement. Perhaps this movie will cause all of the "closet" Carpenters fans to show up at the bike nights and Daytona.
Hey Richard, see ya at Sturgis!

[wisejester7]

They are still playing the Karen Carpenter/Carpenters angle in the ads.


www.theage.com.au/news/film-reviews/notsofriendly-ghost/2007/02/15/1171405357368.html?s_cid=rss_age

"By day, Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage) is a cheerily eccentric daredevil motorcycle performer. He drinks coffee straight from the pot, gulps jelly beans from cocktail glasses, adores the music of The Carpenters and loves pay-TV documentaries about monkeys. He's an easy guy to like.
...............................................................................................

It need be stressed, however, that while the film was shot in Melbourne, it is not set in Melbourne, but in a generic city in Texas. That said, the joint looks great, especially in those shots of the cityscape at night as the Ghost Rider accelerates out of frame and into what he sincerely hopes will be a long-running franchise. All power to his flaming skull.

And his devotion to Karen Carpenter."


I've seen a promo or two on tv for this movie and the Carpenters/Karen weren't mentioned.

Has anyone else seen anything about this movie lately?

[YesterdayOnceMore]

Thanks, wj7.....very interesting read. I would NEVER go see this movie just because....but since there's definite Carpenter/Karen Carpenter references in it, it's bound, now, to make my DVD player, at least.

Very cool - thanks for the great read.

Tim

[GoodOldDreams]

This movie will be shown in theaters starting tomorrow. Is anybody planning to check it out?

On the official website for the movie, there is a section called "Become Ghost Rider" with the disclaimer "The Become Ghost Rider website uses visual effects to simulate fire. Please do not set yourself on fire." This seemed rather obvious and somewhat amusing until I think about how action movies based on comic book characters are primarily targeted to impressionable teenage males who are bent on doing copy cat stunts for the camera.

Ads in my area for "Ghost Rider" do not include the reference to the Carpenters, but there is a humorous commercial for a tax preparation service agency with Ghost Rider as a client, setting off the sprinkler system.

I generally do not run out to see movies of this genre, but I have occasionally made exceptions (such as "Spider-Man" and "Batman Forever") based on reviews and recommendations.

[Rick Henry]

I generally like Nicholas Cage. I own several of his movies on DVD such as "Raising Arizona", "National Treasure", "Face Off", "It Could Happen To You", "Birdy", "Gone In Sixty Seconds", "Con Air" and "8MM". Although, "Ghost Rider" is one of those rare Nicholas Cage movie that doesn't appeal to me. But since Carpenters are a part of it - I will watch it at least once.

I find it interesting that of all the types of movies Carpenters music could be featured in they end up in this comic book hero / horror / sci-fi movie starring one of the most successful actors of all-time. And maybe it's fitting that the girl with the dark and mysterious yet lilting and smooth as silk voice is part of the movie.

[GoodOldDreams]

admin said:

I generally like Nicholas Cage. I own several of his movies on DVD such as "Raising Arizona", "National Treasure", "Face Off", "It Could Happen To You", "Birdy", "Gone In Sixty Seconds", "Con Air" and "8MM". Although, "Ghost Rider" is one of those rare Nicholas Cage movie that doesn't appeal to me. But since Carpenters are a part of it - I will watch it at least once.

I find it interesting that of all the types of movies Carpenters music could be featured in they end up in this comic book hero / horror / sci-fi movie starring one of the most successful actors of all-time. And maybe it's fitting that the girl with the dark and mysterious yet lilting and smooth as silk voice is part of the movie.

I also find it interesting that the music of the Carpenters unexpectedly cropped up in the movie "Tommy Boy" in 1995. For those who don't know, in one scene of the movie, Chris Farley and David Spade were cruising along in a convertible and criticizing each other's choice of music on the radio as they channel surfed and came upon Karen singing "Superstar." Disparaging the music as "lame," both characters gave each other the option of changing the channel, but ended up singing along with Karen with a surprising depth of raw emotions, both apparently closeted fans...

Here is a video link:
youtube.com/watch?v=zB_sTns8NTo