![]() I believe that Deadpool (Miller, 2016) and Logan (Mangold, 2017) would have been excellent films if they had been rated PG-13 because they were solid films at their core. If a film is lacking a strong central plot, characters, theme (the basics of good storytelling), adding more gore and nudity may distract from the shortcomings, but it will not fix them. The fact that it was rated PG-13 has emerged as the main excuse for people involved with Spirit of Vengeance to explain its failure.įor the record, an R-rating, meaning potentially more profanity, violence, sexuality or drug use, does not automatically make a film better. But that film would have been R-rated and Sony Pictures, the studio behind both Ghost Rider films, was not willing to make an R-rated superhero film. Back in 2000, Goyer wrote a Ghost Rider script that everyone seems to agree was fantastic. Goyer, who had previously worked on the Blade trilogy for Marvel before moving over to the Dark Knight trilogy for Warner Bros., to write the first version of the script. Cage was, indeed, willing to return, but he requested the tone be darker than the bland first film. The best thing that I can say about this sequel is that the filmmakers tried something different, stylistically. And so, although it took a longer-than-usual five years, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (Neveldine/Taylor, 2012) was produced. Nicholas Cage was still a huge star, and was willing to return to the series. Ultimately, I think the reason is that comic book films had become the biggest genre in Hollywood, and the Ghost Rider property had some name recognition. The producers could have walked back that claim in light of a seeming lack of interest for another film. Sure, shortly before the release of Ghost Rider, producer Avi Arad had announced that they were making plans for a sequel, but that’s standard for superhero films. Since its release, the fifth ongoing Ghost Rider series was cancelled with Ghost Rider Vol. The first film, starring Nicholas Cage as Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider, was moderately successful, but was not particularly well-liked by critics or audiences. Think “The Ring.Why make a sequel to Ghost Rider (Johnston, 2007)? The property had only been fitfully popular over its nearly 40-year history, and never had same the staying power as most of Marvel’s stable of characters. ![]() The co-directors augment this with jump-cuts that make the Rider move with the supernatural jerkiness of a Japanese ghost. But Johnny Blaze states the obvious: “We’ve BOTH got to work on our decision-making.”Ĭage is hilariously wound-up throughout this sequel - manic, motor-mouthed, and bug-eyed. The guy who made a deal with the Devil and the woman who slept with Satan click, right off. The angel fetches Johnny Blaze, biker-turned-Ghost Rider. A wine-swilling biker-angel (Idris Elba) and the boy’s mother (Violante Placido, as ineffably gorgeous as her name) are all that stand between the Devil and the boy who “completes” Satan’s Grand Design. He’s commissioned Corrigan (Johnny Whitworth) to grab the kid. Satan, who wears double-breasted suits and alligator shoes, needs the kid to fulfill a prophecy. But a boy (Fergus Riordan) borne of the Devil (Ciaran Hinds) needs the Rider’s help. ![]() In “Vengeance,” the “Rider” (Cage) is haunted by the life he now leads. In fact, they should call themselves “The Crank Brothers.” It fits. ![]() But this time around, Cage and everybody else on board are in on the joke.Ĭredit the directing duo of Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, action auteurs who go by the moniker “Neveldine / Taylor.” For jacked-up action, the guys who made the “Crank” movies (GREAT bad movies) have no peers. It’s still a profoundly silly mash-up of comic book and quasi-religious “prophecy” about a motorcyclist who sold his soul to the devil, who transforms into a flaming avenger hurtling out of hell when the need arises. A goofy, gonzo thrill ride, “Vengeance” is a bad movie sequel so bad it’s good - a bad movie that’s almost a great bad movie. Of all the bad horror / fantasy / sci-fi / action pictures Nicolas Cage has cranked out over the last decade, “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” is the Nic Cagiest.
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