Post by Mr.HoRrOr on Mar 29, 2012 15:59:46 GMT -5
Plot:The titular Ghost Rider, currently hiding out in Eastern Europe. Is soon called upon to protect a mother and her son from evil forces. Led by the devil, who is trying to take human form.
Cast:
Nicolas Cage
Ciaran Hinds
Violante Placido
Idris Elba
Johnny Whitworth
Fergus Riordan
My Thoughts:"Crank"...meet "Ghost Rider". "Ghost Rider"...meet "Crank".
Review:The Rider (Johnny Blaze)...is back. In Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor's "Ghost Rider" (2007) sequel. "Ghost Rider:Spirit Of Vengeance". Nicolas Cage is also back, once again playing the flaming-skull-headed anti-hero. Who is back to protect the good from the wicked. But is still as "wicked" as ever, himself. So folks out there might be wondering. Where exactly does this movie "fit"...quote unquote, into the "Ghost Rider" film universe? Can you believe that only two movies in, we're already having this discussion?
Sheesh! But it's mostly driven by the fact that so many people out there didn't like the first "Ghost Rider". Eva Mendes was hot in it, of course. But people didn't approve of Cage's performance that much. While others thought the villainous Blackheart, played by Wes Bentley. Wasn't done proper on-screen justice. And then there was that country-western theme music. *Cringe*. That was personally my, least favorite part of the film. And those people are hoping that "Spirit Of Vengeance" has "corrected"...the first movies mistakes.
Well, to be honest. "SOV" is from a script that filmmaker/writer David Goyer penned back before "GR 2007" was released. So "SOV"? Is kind of like a prequel. Which conveniently allows "GR 2007" haters, to completely pretend that movie didn't even happen! YAY!!! This time around, some catholic-monk-mystery-men types. Are protecting a young boy and his mother. From evil forces. Apparently, this boy is the half-son of Satan. He was created when his mom, the ex-girlfriend of a gun-running-drug-dealing-sociopath...got trapped during a "job".
The devil apparently apepared before her, and offered her a deal. She took the deal, which was to carry his child. Unfortunately, the woman, Nadya (Placido)...had a falling out with her boyfriend Carrigan (Whitworth). And when she left him, she also took her son Danny (Riordan). As in most domestic disputes. And being that these two were criminals, well...lets just say this is one spat that cannot be settled in family court. Problem is, Carrigan also made a deal with the devil, so he is enlisted to find the boy and bring him to his master.
And if he doesn't, well he'll burn in the lake of fire forall eternity. Or...something like that. Thus, after the films opening scene...the only survivor of a vicious attack on the boy's hiding place, Moreau (Elba). Enlists the Rider (Cage), to help him find Danny before Roarke/The Devil (Hinds). Does. In exchange...Moreau will remove Johnny's "Rider Curse". And make him human again. YAAYYY! Some more! Unfortunately, it doesn't prove to be "that" easy. Because well, we've got 90 minutes to eat up folks!
If there's one thing new directors Taylor and Neveldine bring to the sequel. It's that familiar directing style that "Crank" and "Crank 2" had. As you watch this film, and see how events unfold, and are shot. You can tell even without reading the movie page first the "Crank" guys were directing this one. But that's certainly not a knock on the film. In fact, these two infuse the movie with a comic book feel and style that part 1 (or 2 depending on your point of view)...was badly missing. "Ghost Rider 2007" felt so big budget.
So "Hollywood". This movie, even though the Rider hellfire effects costed a pretty penny I'm sure, felt more like an indie/comic book film. And really put on screen, what the "Ghost Rider" film franchise should be all about. The characters. "SOV" also dumps the lame country-western music for some hardcore metal riffs, and leaves behind the Sappy Ghost Rider love-story, for a cynical and more hardened lead female in Placido's Nadya. The movie also spends some time getting into Johnny's inner-turmoil as "The Rider". As he tries to hold back the darkness inside him.
And this is the reason for his fleeing to Eastern Europe. But eventually, he finds himself called into action against The Devil and his henchmen who want this boy. Whitworth does a decent job as Carrigan. A really goonish type bad guy. Who's got some style to him and avoids the fatal mistake of delivering flat, and uninspiring dialogue. Hinds, albeit a cliched human version of The Devil. Does play the Dark Prince really good. Hinds leands the type of look, and voice to really make the character stand out in the few scenes he's in.
And there's one really cool scene involving him and Whitworth's character Carrigan. At the ruins of a previous fight with The Rider. Where Carrigan came up on the bad side of things. Elba as Moreau, is an interesting character. He works with the monks/protector's of the boy. But doesn't dress like them. And rides a motorcycle, has an affinity for French wine, and has an arsenal of firearms at his disposal. I am also happy to say that none of these characters came off as extremely annoying.
Whereas the first film had more than a few annoying characters. Hinds character of The Devil/Roarke, doesn't have the screen presence of Fonda's Mephisto from the first movie. But he does come off as far more sinister than Mephisto did. That's for sure. The action scenes in this film as ratcheted up to larger more epic proportions compared to its predecessor. And they're also more well done, and much cooler. One in particular that stayed with me.
Was where The Rider does battle with Carrigan and his goons at a construction site. And ends up getting a full machine gun clip of bullets to the face. Only to seconds later, "return the favor". So to speak. The ending of "SOV" is led in by a solid third act, where every character, both good and evil, are trying to accomplish their respective goals. And things really hit a high octane note. Although Carrigan's character by the finale is very different from his character at the very beginning of the movie. A little twist which I won't spoil here in the Review.
But it's certainly a really cool turn of events. The final battle between Johnny/Ghost Rider, and The Devil isn't as strong s I had hoped? But when you consider what was in play and how things were set up from the start. It fit well and made sense in hindsight. "Spirit Of Vengeance" is simply superior to its predecessor in every way. Better script, better characters, and overall...a lot more fun!
Positives:The Rider's hell-fire-face effect is even better and more cleaned up this time around. Good characters all around. Villains and good guys. Awesome action scenes, cool battles, and a very high entertainment value. As well as better scoring. Much better.
Negatives:Nothing too depressing. Although one character dies near the end, whom I wish hadn't.
Overall:Three and a half stars out of four.