It’s time for the fanboy whining to begin. Nicolas Cage is all over the internet in the news now that the promotional machine for “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” has been cranked up. Personally, I’m excited for another “Ghost Rider” film. I guess I’m one of the few that are after the critical beating the original film took when it came out.
Cage still looks on top of his game as Johnny Blaze in “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.” Many people out there feel he is getting too old to be playing these types of roles. Apparently, they didn’t see how solid the guy looked in “Drive Angry.” He has more than proven time and time again that he is one Hollywood star that isn’t going to just roll over and give up the good roles to the younger guys. He’s going to go on doing whatever it is he wants to do.
The story of “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” picks up with “Johnny Blaze, still struggling with his curse as the devil’s bounty hunter, hiding out in a remote part of Eastern Europe where he is recruited by a secret sect of the church to save a young boy from the devil. At first, Johnny is reluctant to embrace the power of the Ghost Rider, but it is the only way to protect the boy and possibly rid himself of his curse forever.”
Although I liked the first “Ghost Rider,” you can tell that Marvel has stepped it up for this sequel. It looks like it’s going to be much darker in tone from what is shown in the new trailer and pictures from the film. It also looks like it’s going to be packed from beginning to end with action sequences and insane stunts. With “Crank” directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor directing “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance,” we can definitely count on that.
The Ghost Rider in this film looks much scarier than the first version. He looks like he has literally been frying in Hellfire and was just brought up from the depths of the Underworld. The burned up jacket and pants completely add to the look.
Another hint that “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” is being taken more seriously than its predecessor is by the use of the logo for Marvel Knights for the film’s promotional items. For those that are uneducated, Marvel Knights is the logo that is put on any of the more mature and darker items that come from the publishing and entertainment giant. It’s more targeted to teenagers than children. Many of the stories that are published under the Knights imprint are considered to be outside of the continuity of the regular Marvel Universe.
“Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” also stars Idris Elba, Christopher Lambert, and Ciaran Hinds. Scott M. Gimple and Seth Hoffman wrote the screenplay for the film. It’s based on an original story by David S. Goyer. The movie is being released in theaters on February 17, 2012 through Columbia Pictures.
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