PRINCETON — Even though it is one week before the movie “Ghost Rider” opens nationwide, the Ghost Riders of West Virginia Chapter 17 are already making preparations for the event.


Ghost Riders of West Virginia, a biker group with a patch modeled off of the Ghost Rider himself, have reserved 30 seats for the movie when it opens at Carmike Cinemas 8 movie theater of Mercer Mall on Friday, Feb. 16.


“From the previews I’ve seen, it looks like it would be great,” Carl Snider said, spokesman of the group. “The computer animation is getting better.”


The national group, which began 36 years ago, started planning for the movie event. The president of the group, Snider said, believed it would be a good idea to bring every member together in the event of the movie.


“Ghost Rider” is the story of stunt motorcyclist Johnny Blaze, who sells his soul and gains supernatural powers. He then uses those powers to fight in the name of justice and absolute good.


“He’s not a real good guy, but he does really good things,” Snider said.


The new film stars Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Sam Elliot and Peter Fonda. It is based on the 1940s Marvel comic book of the same name.


“If it’s got Nicolas Cage, Peter Fonda and Sam Elliot, then it’s got to be good,” group member Blandman.


The local Ghost Riders said they were confident in Nicolas Cage would portray their group’s founder well.


“He is a real good choice,” Blandman said, adding that Clint Eastwood would have also been a good choice.


“Clint Eastwood would be a good choice, but he’s getting too old,” he said.


Although they are not avid readers of the comic books, the group members said that the Ghost Rider character is someone to look up to because of his good deeds, even though he looks like a bad man. They also see the character as a symbol of brotherhood.


“It’s all about brotherhood and respect for everybody,” Blandman said.


If the movie meets or surpasses their expectations, the group members said that they wouldn’t mind to see a sequel to the movie.


“I’d like to see more of it,” Snider said.