Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (3D)

Director: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Ciaran Hinds, Violante Placido and Idris Elba
Release Date: 2012-02-17 08:00:00
Quick Take: Style over substance




While it’s no reboot, the mere inclusion of how Johnny Blaze got his cursed powers from the devil at the start of the film makes it nothing less. Of course, this graphic novel style sequence is one of the best things about the film. The sequel of Ghost Rider is chock-a-block with inspired action sequences, manic energy and silly humour. They add a darker touch to the protagonist and make the hero look crazier than you’d expect him to be. But having said and done all of that, the film still lacks the proverbial punch. 

This is the story of the Ghost Rider who’s called upon for another challenging task. But this time, instead of working for the Devil, he works against him. The Devil in cinema really has no other agenda in life than to sprout an offspring and rule the Earth. So that’s what he’s about to do in Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance and obviously the anti-hero is out to foil his plans.

When one heard that Crank makers Mark Neveldine and Brain Taylor were helming the new Ghost Rider film, one thought they’d bring the much needed darkness that was absent from the first feature. In parts the duo has succeeded in bringing more character to the Ghost Rider but it’s still not enough. The point is they’re still treating a dark hero like a text book crusader. The juvenile comic book humour may go down well with a PG 13 audience, but those are not the people who pass the ultimate quality judgment on the film.

A guy whose head is on fire and who enjoys punishing people for their sins is unobtainium for a filmmaker. But to treat him like Spider-Man or Ironman is really a slap on creativity. Nevertheless a bipolar (on-screen of course) Nicolas Cage is perfect as the unstable Ghost Rider. But his antics look a bit ludicrous simply because there is no subtext to why he behaves the way he does. He just wakes up and wreaks havoc. The result of which is mayhem that can be very satisfying for the action junkie. A giant quarry machine, a Yamaha V-max and a bionic flamethrower are all amped with hellfire. If burning leather and bones are your fancy, this film can serve up some serious erotica.

But beyond all that detailed gothic styling and video game styled camera work lies nothing. It’s a vacuum created by the fact that the hero does absolutely no thinking by himself. The new Ghost Rider film, like the original, has very little soul.