In Ghost Rider (2007) we learned that Johnny Blaze (Nicholas Cage) had made a deal with The Devil. Johnny literally sold his soul in order to save his father from a deadly cancer. As with any devilish deal there was a cruel twist where Johnny's father still died and Johnny ended up as yet another pawn of Hell. In his first major film adventure Johnny was able to harness the powers of the Ghost Rider to save the day and get the girl. Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance finds Johnny struggling so bad with his Ghost Rider persona that he's fled to Europe and exiled himself so that his inner demon doesn't do harm to others. His seclusion is cut short when a mysterious yet charming stranger named Moreau (Idris Elba) asks Johnny to help save the life of a young boy. The boy, Danny (Fergus Riordan), is being hunted by Roarke aka The Devil (Ciaran Hinds) because the young lad is key to an ancient prophecy that would grant The Devil great power. In return for his aid, Moreau has promised Johnny a cure for his satanic curse. The opportunity to rid himself of Ghost Rider and stick it to the jerk that cursed him in the first place is more than enough incentive to get Johnny back on the bike and back into action.

Well, as a film, Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance is definitely a grander adventure than the one depicted in the first film. The “rock n roll” cycle vibe that made the first film kind of fun to watch is replaced by a somewhat more somber tone. Being the Ghost Rider is no longer a cool super power but rather a terrible burden that Johnny wants expunged from his being. The recurring moral of “you wield satanic powers but that doesn't make you evil” is the fuel that powers the film and garners some genuine sympathy for Johnny, Danny and even Danny's mother, Nadya (Violante Placido). Despite the attempt to make a more serious Ghost Rider flick there are still hints of the off beat comedy that was more prevalent in the first outing such as an amusing discussion about what it must be like to “take a leak” while in Ghost Rider form.

While the plot isn't too horrible and succeeds in delivering a more intimidating version of Ghost Rider I felt that the way it was depicted was a bit scatter-brained. The first and second parts of the film seemed to be just a patchwork of images hastily fused together with tape and chewing gum. It wasn't until the final act where Roarke sits down with Danny and plainly, calmly, tells Danny why he's been chasing him for ninety-nine minutes straight that the plot became much clearer. I suppose this was done to create an air of mystery meant to keep me riveted until the end when all of the master plan is revealed. Sorry, screenwriters, but I ended up feeling annoyed that the grand scheme wasn't just explained in the beginning to help build a more sensible feeling of tension as Johnny raced to stop The Devil's evil plan.

The supporting cast seemed to bit more on-board with the project than the lead star. I'm sure a lot of people have questioned why Nicolas Cage would come back to play Ghost Rider. Based on his off-key performance I would say that his main motive was the smoking-hot paycheck Marvel handed to him. So here we have Idris Elba rocking a French-flavored accent and contacts, Ciaran Hinds playing a grumpy yet still menacing incarnation of the King Of Hell, Johnny Whitworth as the crafty henchman “Carrigan”, Violante Placido as the embattled mother fighting some incredible odds to save her son and young Fergus Riordan who struggles with mustering an ounce of hope that he won't end up as Satan's latest little helper (and, yes, Christopher Lambert as a “helpful” priest but his role is so criminally small it's barely worth mentioning, sadly).

Then Mr. Cage walks on-screen and manages to tear away the curtains of the cinematic illusion with line delivery that's more dead than dead-pan. When he goes into a schizo-fit that has Johnny and Ghost Rider battling for physical supremacy the effect comes off more comical than disturbing.
I'm tempted to jump towards the assumption that Cage didn't see much worth in delivering at least a competent performance since 1) he knows the core audience is coming for the action not the acting and 2) he cashed the check before filming started. I felt the supporting cast bore the burden of carrying the film while Cage just rode on top and worked on his Ipod playlist.

Truth be told, though, I didn't buy a ticket to Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance to see “Oscar-calibur” performances. The previews presented some wild action scenes with Ghost Rider showing off more of his powers and in 3D. I felt the film delivered on the action. Lots of stuff gets blown-up along with a few notable car chases and lots of fiery mayhem produced from Ghost Rider himself. Not exactly the best action film of the year but it got most of the job done.

As a 3D film, Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance was decent. On a scale between “mediocre” and brilliant” this 3D presentation was closer to the center with a slight lean towards the “mediocre” side. There were enough scenes that didn't make the experience a complete waste of cash but if I was going to advise a friend on the decision (hi, friend) I would tell him/her to pass because the 2D would be just as good and cheaper.

Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance was the sequel no one really asked for but here it is. The “nutshell review” is that the sequel has an adequate plot and decent action sequences with so-so 3D enhancements. But the flames of fury are somewhat doused by a combination of choppy editing and a wavering leading man. See it in the theater, if you dare, but this latest Ghost Rider film can be enjoyed just as much when released for home viewing.

Rhymes With: Ghost Rider (2007), Daredevil (2003), Hitman (2007), Underworld: Awakening (2012), The Spirit (2008), Bloodrayne 2: Deliverence (2007), Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)

Coming Soon:

Battleship (5/18/12) – Remember that classic naval-based boardgame where two players used strategy to sink each others' battleships on a plastic blue grid? Well, the game has been made into a major motion picture and forget human against human. The flick pits humans against very powerful and malevolent aliens. Stars Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgard, Liam Neeson and Rhianna. http://www.battleshipmovie.com/  

The Hunger Games (3/23/12) – Based on the popular literary series this film adaptation of the first book introduces newbies (such as myself) to a bleak version of Earth where children are chosen to participate in a deadly survival tournament. To the victor goes the spoils and to the victims....hopefully a swift death. Buzz about this flick has been gathering since Summer 2011, heck, possibly earlier than that. It could be the next major book-to-film franchise (like Harry Potter) or another failed attempt at that honor (like The Golden Compass). Featuring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Stanley Tucci, Elizabeth Banks and Woody Harrelson. http://www.thehungergamesmovie.com/

The Bourne Legacy (8/3/12) – The Bourne action series continues with Jeremy Renner taking the helm as another product of “Operation Treadway”. Also stars Edward Norton, Rachel Weisz, Albert Finney and Joan Allen. http://www.thebournelegacy.net/  

The Amazing Spider-Man (7/3/12) – Well, if Batman can do it then why can't Spider-Man? Peter Parker's classic origin story gets rebooted and looks like it will be much darker and possibly more intense than Sam Raimi's previous three “Spidey” movies. I saw the 3D trailer and if the aerial shots are an accurate indication then this could be quite the three-dimensional experience. Stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Martin Sheen and Sally Field. http://www.theamazingspiderman.com/