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Some movies are so bad that they’re just plain irresistible. Maybe you think of them as guilty pleasures. Maybe you call them “craptastic” or “awesomely bad.” Whatever the case, though, 2007’s Ghost Rider was one of those craptastic guilty pleasures—a comic book thriller that managed to be dark and creepy and ridiculously hilarious all at the same time, thanks to another over-the-top performance by Nicolas Cage. If you’re looking for more of the same from the reboot, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, however, you’ll be disappointed—because this one isn’t really awesomely bad as much as it’s just plain bad.
Cage once again stars as Johnny Blaze, the motorcycle superstar turned recluse who’s hiding out in Eastern Europe, trying to keep the demon inside him at bay. When he’s given the opportunity to regain his soul and remove his curse forever, he jumps at the chance—but he soon discovers that the job won’t be an easy one.
Blaze is tasked with tracking down and protecting a young boy named Danny (Fergus Riordan), who’s on the run with his mother, Nadya (Violante Placido). But Carrigan (Johnny Whitworth), the man who’s after them, isn’t their greatest threat—because Carrigan is working for the devil himself (Ciarán Hinds), and he has no intention of letting the boy get away.
Directed by the duo behind spastic thrillers like Crank, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance does, admittedly, have its moments. Some of the comic-style graphics are pretty cool—and if you happen to be a teenage boy, you’ll most likely enjoy watching things blow up in 3D. (You’re also sure to get a good giggle or two at the film’s depiction of what happens when the Rider has to pee.)
For anyone with slightly more mature tastes, however (let’s say anything above the maturity level of a drunken frat boy), it’s a painfully ridiculous mess of bad writing and even worse acting. The characters’ lines should be enough to give any self-respecting actor pause, yet Cage and his on-screen cohorts seem to have no qualms about gleefully reciting such gems as “You’re the devil’s baby mama.”
Of course, it’s no big surprise that Cage is once again totally over-the-top as the fiery demon on wheels. In fact, I can’t think of a better guy to play a man possessed by a flaming skeleton on a motorcycle—and his maniacal laughter is strangely infectious. Still, despite his crazed performance, other members of the cast (especially Whitworth) somehow manage to make Cage look like a classically-trained thespian. Others, meanwhile, are head-scratchers—and I can only imagine that someone, somewhere, has some kind of dirt on Idris Elba and Ciarán Hinds, since I can’t think of any other logical reason for the two of them to show their faces in a film that’s as off-the-wall as this one.
Granted, after a few (very strong) drinks, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance might actually be oddly amusing—in a completely craptastic kind of way. But, for the most part, it’s just a bad B-movie with a much bigger budget.
Blu-ray 3D Review:
Very few Blu-ray 3D releases include 3D special features—but you’ll actually find one on the 3D release of Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. Riding into Another Dimension follows directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (along with various crew members) on their 3D journey—first planning to film in 3D before deciding to go with the 3D conversion instead.
For more extras, pop in the Blu-ray disc to check out six deleted scenes—including an unfinished scene that offers a glimpse into the production process and an entertaining scene with Ciarán Hinds and an unsuspecting rental car agent. You’ll also find an extensive, six-part, 89-minute making-of feature, covering everything from the concept and the changes from the original Ghost Rider to various details of the production process to the friends-and-family test screening. But, if that still isn’t enough, you can also watch the directors’ amusing audio/video commentary, in which they give their own take on the movie and show some behind-the-scenes footage.
Sure, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance may not be the kind of movie that you’d expect to get a feature-filled Blu-ray release. But the features here are surprisingly interesting (and entertaining), making them worth at least a quick look.
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