Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengance

When I first heard that Nic Cage was doing a Ghost Rider sequel I was extremely happy. Then I heard that he was going to be directed by Neveldine/Taylor the insane guys who filmed Crank. I envisioned an R-rated spectacle of crazy shots and Nic Cage freaking out multiple times.

However, when I found out the film would be rated PG-13 I got worried. I knew it wouldn’t be better than Blade 2 and I never expected good writing or a coherent plot  I just wanted Marvel mayhem in which a man with a flaming skull battles evil people.  I also hoped that this film would be more Crank (fun) and less Gamer (horrible on every level) These pictures suggested I would get what I wanted.

I understand the %15 rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The plot is nonexistent and Nic Cage’s freak outs are predictable. The fun is gone when the Cage crazy seems forced. The movie works best when Cage is being a normal human being. I understand that he has been possessed by a captured angel that was tortured in hell and ultimately became insane. However, Cage is the weakest part of this film. The dude feels semi-exploited by his zaniness and this hurts the movie.

The look of Ghost Rider is beautifully gritty. I will never say that this is a good film but I will admit it looks great. The directors are known for their out of control style and determination to get the funkiest shots available.

I think a documentary about the making of this film would be better than the actual movie.  Neveldine/Taylor have been known to buy cheap cameras in order to wreck them to get a crazy shot. The problem is that they focus more on thier style and less on the story. The idea behind this film is very cool. However, it becomes so garbled you are left with a great looking movie with very few bright spots.

Idris Elba is reliably good as the drunk Frenchman named Moreau.

Also, Johnny Whitworth has a great time being an evil dude who becomes Blackout. Blackout can turn anyone into dust…besides the main characters.

The movie is a visual cornucopia full of dumb. I wish the story would have lived up to the look of the film. There is a great Ghost Rider story out there somewhere. Hopefully, the third time is the charm.