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Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

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For the Marvel Comics character, see Spirit of Vengeance (comics).

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
The Ghost Rider holds his metallic chain and flips it in the air while he rides on his bike Hellcycle. The film's title, credits, and release date are below him.
Theatrical release poster
Directed byNeveldine/Taylor
Screenplay by
Story byDavid S. Goyer
Based on
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyBrandon Trost
Edited byBrian Berdan
Music byDavid Sardy
Production
companies
Distributed byColumbia Pictures[2]
Release dates
  • December 11, 2011 (2011-12-11) (Butt-Numb-A-Thon)
  • February 17, 2012 (2012-02-17) (United States)
Running time
95 minutes[4]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish[2]
Budget$57-75 million[5][6]
Box office$132.6 million[5]

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance is a 2011 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics antihero Ghost Rider. It is a standalone sequel to the 2007 film Ghost Rider[7] and features Nicolas Cage reprising his role as Johnny Blaze / Ghost Rider[8] with supporting roles portrayed by Ciarán Hinds, Violante Placido, Johnny Whitworth, Christopher Lambert, and Idris Elba. The film was directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, from a screenplay written by Scott M. Gimple, Seth Hoffman, and David S. Goyer. Released publicly for one night in December 11, 2011, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance had its wide commercial release on February 17, 2012 in 2D and 3D.

The film experienced worse critical reception than the first film, with criticism being aimed towards the script, CGI, and acting.[9] The film grossed more than $132 million, against its $57 million production budget.[5]

Nicolas Cage stated that he was "done" with the Ghost Rider films and a planned sequel was cancelled. The film rights to the character reverted to Marvel Studios shortly thereafter,[10] and the Robbie Reyes version of Ghost Rider appeared in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D..

Plot

In Romania, an alcoholic French monk named Moreau warns a monastery about an impending attack by the devil's forces to obtain a boy named Danny. In the attack, Moreau tries to help the boy and his mother Nadya escape, but the distrusting Nadya shoots at Moreau and flees with her son. Believing that only the Ghost Rider can protect the boy, Moreau seeks the Rider's help.

Eight years have passed since Johnny Blaze became the Ghost Rider—a vengeful, fiery spirit who feeds on the evil of his victims and consumes the souls of sinners. The Rider does not differentiate between infractions—anything from genocide to a white lie—and Blaze is driven into hiding, fighting the evil spirit within him. In exchange for Blaze's help, Moreau promises to restore his soul and remove the Ghost Rider's curse.

Nadya and Danny's pursuers force them off the road and bring them to their leader: Nadya's former boyfriend Ray Carrigan. Carrigan is about to execute Nadya when the Ghost Rider appears, killing several of Carrigan's men. Nadya distracts the Ghost Rider, who is shot with grenades.

Johnny awakens in the hospital, leaving despite his injuries, and convinces Nadya to accept his help. Carrigan tells the demon Mephistopheles, in the form of Roarke, about the Rider, and Roarke speaks an incantation to Danny over the phone, preventing the Rider from sensing Danny's location. Warning that the spell will not shield Carrigan, Roarke gives him instructions to deliver to Danny. Nadya tells Blaze that as she lay dying, she made a deal with Roarke: her life in exchange for him impregnating her with Danny, making their son a direct vessel for Roarke, potentially giving him limitless power in the mortal world. Danny nearly escapes, but breaks his ankle and is recaptured.

That night, Nadya and Johnny interrogate a contact of Carrigan's. Johnny takes off to deal with Carrigan, and Nadya rescues Danny as the Rider converts a mining machine[11] into a massive fiery machine, destroying the hideout and mortally wounding Carrigan. When the Ghost Rider catches up to Nadya and uses his Penance Stare, Danny is able to stop him with a word.

Roarke turns Carrigan into the demon Blackout, capable of decaying anything he touches. Johnny and Nadya bring Danny to the monastery, where Moreau explains that the Ghost Rider is the twisted incarnation of the Spirit of Justice, Zarathos, after being captured and tortured in Hell. Moreau tells Johnny that he can exorcise the spirit if Johnny tells a secret only he knows. Johnny confesses that his deal with Roarke was a selfish one: his father had accepted his cancer and was ready to die, which Johnny could not accept. Moreau exorcises the spirit and Johnny becomes human again. The head monk Methodius proclaims that Danny will never be safe from the influence of evil and must die, taking them captive to execute the boy. Carrigan intervenes, killing the monks and recapturing Danny.

With the ritual to transfer Roarke's spirit and power into Danny underway, Johnny, Nadya, and Moreau infiltrate the compound. Carrigan kills Moreau, but Danny returns the Ghost Rider's powers to Johnny, with Johnny becoming even more powerful as he is now able to stay in his Ghost Rider form in broad daylight where as before he could only do so while it was at night or within shadows during the day. Roarke escapes with Danny, pursued by the Ghost Rider and Nadya. The Rider defeats Carrigan, crashing the vehicle carrying Roarke and Danny. The Ghost Rider sends Roarke back to Hell while Danny, who had died in the crash, is returned to his mother. Channeling the blue flame of Zarathos, Johnny revives Danny and assures him he is safe, before the Ghost Rider rides off.

Cast

  • Nicolas Cage as Johnny Blaze / Ghost Rider: A motorcycle stunt man who sold his soul to the devil to save his father from cancer, and became the devil's servant called the Spirit of Vengeance, a fiery spirit that feeds on the evil of its victims.
    • Ionut Cristian Lefter as Young Johnny Blaze. Matt Long, who portrayed the character in the first film was originally set to reprise the role, but was eventually replaced by Lefter.
  • Johnny Whitworth as Ray Carrigan / Blackout:[12] A mercenary, drug dealer, and gun runner turned into Blackout by the devil to complete his job. This transformation gives him the fortitude and supernatural abilities to compete with Ghost Rider.[13] Carrigan's powers are completely unlike those of the comic book character; writers admitted that the only aspect of Blackout they used in designing the movie version was his appearance.[14]
  • Fergus Riordan as Danny Ketch: A young child caught up in a demonic conspiracy who ends up in the care of Johnny Blaze during his travels.
  • Ciarán Hinds as Roarke / Mephistopheles: The demon who transformed Johnny Blaze in the Ghost Rider. Mephisto has fathered a child named Danny, and has plans for the boy.[15] Peter Fonda, who portrayed the character in the first film, had previously expressed interest in reprising the role.[16]
  • Violante Placido as Nadya Ketch: Danny's mother and Ray's ex-girlfriend who helps Johnny to stop Mephisto from taking over Danny's body.[15]
  • Idris Elba as Moreau: A French member of a secret religious organization who joins forces with Johnny. He is the one who tells Johnny to find Danny.[17] Moreau is an original character, not based on an existing comic character.[18]
  • Christopher Lambert as Methodius, a monk.[19][20]
  • Anthony Head as Benedict: A senior monk at the castle where Nadya and Danny are hiding at the start of the film.
  • Jacek Koman as Terrokov
  • Vincent Regan as Toma Nikasevic: An arms dealer who works with Carrigan.
  • Spencer Wilding as Grannik

Production

On February 9, 2007, Marvel producer Avi Arad announced the development of Ghost Rider 2 at a press event.[21] Peter Fonda had also expressed a desire to return as Mephistopheles.[22] In early December, 2007, Nicolas Cage also expressed interest to return in the lead role as Ghost Rider.[23] Shortly after, in another interview he went on further to mention that he would enjoy seeing a darker story, adding, "He's not eating jelly beans anymore; he's getting drunk". He suggested that the film could do with newly created villains.[24] It was also rumored that the sequel would feature Danny Ketch, another Marvel character who took up the Ghost Rider mantle in the comics.[25]

This story picks up eight years after the first film. You don't have to have seen the first film. It doesn't contradict anything that happened in the first film, but we're pretending that our audience hasn't seen the first film. It's as if you took that same character where things ended in the first film and then picked it up eight years later—he's just in a much darker, existential place.

—David S. Goyer about the relationship between the two Ghost Rider films.[26]

In a September 2008 interview, Cage informed IGN that Columbia had taken meetings to start a sequel. Cage noted conversations about the story, where Ghost Rider may end up in Europe on behalf of the church, having story elements "very much in the zeitgeist, like Da Vinci Code."[27] In February 2009, an online source stated Columbia Pictures had greenlit a sequel to Ghost Rider. Nicolas Cage was stated to reprise the lead role, whilst the studio were in search of writers.[28] On September 23, 2009, it was reported that David S. Goyer had signed on to write the script for the sequel.[29] Goyer spoke to MTV about the sequel, stating that the story would pick up eight years after the events of the first film and that he hopes to start filming by 2010.[26][30] On July 14, 2010 it was confirmed that Nicolas Cage would return, and Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor were announced to direct the film, with editor Brian Berdan and cinematographer Brandon Trost reuniting with the directors from the Crank films.[31] Taylor said this version of Ghost Rider was darker than the first film, and will be based on the miniseries Ghost Rider: Road to Damnation by Garth Ennis and Clayton Crain.[32]

Christopher Lambert underwent three months of sword training[33] and shaved his head for his role.[34]

Filming

In July 2010, Cage revealed shooting was to start in November.[35] In an interview with Superhero Hype!, Eva Mendes revealed that she would not be back as Roxanne for the sequel.[36] The film was shot in Romania and Turkey.[37] The film started principal photography in Sibiu, Romania in November 2010, using mostly local talent.[8] Principal photography was completed on January 24, 2011.[38] On March 16, 2011, it was confirmed that Johnny Whitworth would be playing the villain Blackout.[13] The film was shot in 2D and converted in post-production to 3D.[39]

Three scenes were shot on set Castel Film Romania. Among the places in the country chosen were Transfăgărăşan, Targu-Jiu, Hunedoara Castle and Bucharest.[40]

Filming in Turkey took place in Cappadocia, a historical region in central Turkey with exotic chimney-topped rocky setting. The scene with the Greco-Roman theatre was filmed in Pamukkale where the ancient Greek (of the Seleucid Empire) city of Hierapolis once stood.

The motorcycle used by Cage was a Yamaha VMAX.[32]

Reception

Box office

The film opened in 3,174 theaters at #3, with North American box office receipts of $22.1 million, behind Safe House, which moved to #1 on its second weekend. The Vow, the holdover from the previous week, made less than half of Ghost Rider's opening weekend of $45.4 million. It went on to gross $51.8 million at the U.S. box office and $80.8 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $132.6 million.[5]

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance has an approval rating of 18%, based on 113 reviews, with an average rating of 3.82/10. The website's consensus reads, "With a weak script, uneven CG work, and a Nic Cage performance so predictably loony it's no longer amusing, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance aims to be trashy fun but ends up as plain trash."[9] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 34 out of 100, based on 22 critics, indicating "Generally unfavorable reviews".[41] Audiences polled by Cinemascore gave the film a C+ rating on a scale from A to F.[42]

Reviewers who viewed an early preview screening at the December 2011 Butt-Numb-A-Thon in Austin expressed negative reactions to the film. Two attendees said it was worse than the first Ghost Rider film, and one said that the sequel makes the first film "look like The Dark Knight" by comparison.[43]

IGN reviewer Scott Collura gave the movie four out of five stars, saying it "is a movie you'll either love or hate". He commends the film for bringing the cartoonish insanity of the Crank movies to insane concept of Ghost Rider.[44] Andrew Barker of Variety called it a marginal improvement on the first film but said "The picture is still much too rickety, slapdash and surprisingly dull to qualify as a good barrel-bottom pleasure."[45] Ben Sachs of the Chicago Reader notes that this is the first time directors Neveldine and Taylor have directed a script they didn't write, "and the superhero plot often seems to hamper their imaginations" but says the film "doesn't lack for crazy charm", praising Cage and Hinds for their admittedly weird performances.[46]

Marc Savlov from The Austin Chronicle awarded the film 1.5 out of 5 stars, writing, "Cage appears to find his role as this second-tier Marvel Comics antihero alternately silly, tremendously fun, and the means to a decent paycheck for not all that much work." Savlov also criticized the film's use of 3D as being "a few shots of flaming motorcycle parts comin' at ya, but little else."[47] Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club welcomed Idris Elba's role as the alcoholic priest Moreau, but criticized the film for "squandering even more potential" and that it fails to achieve the "go-for-broke energy of superior trash."[48] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone called the film "a dreadful mess", and "a dishwater dull sequel to the hellishly bad 2007 original", and said he'd never seen worse 3D.[49]

Accolades

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance was nominated for two Golden Raspberry Awards:[50] Worst Actor (Nicolas Cage; also for Seeking Justice) and Worst Remake, Rip-off or Sequel.

Future

Cancelled sequel

In February 2012, directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor discussed producing a potential Ghost Rider 3, and having someone else direct it.[51] Neveldine told The Playlist that Cage had expressed interest in appearing in another Ghost Rider film, hinting that the film could move forward provided that Spirit of Vengeance was a success, saying, "I know Nic wants to do it, he's very pumped about it ... We'll just have to see how well [this] does."[52] In March 2013, when Cage was asked about a possible third installment, he said, "It's possible, but it won't be with me ... Anything's possible. But I doubt, highly, that I would be in the third installment of that."[53] Cage said in 2013 he believes another Ghost Rider film might happen "down the road", saying, "It would be interesting if they did it with a female Ghost Rider." He added, "Personally, I'm done. I've done what I had to do with that part. You never say never, but right now, today, I would say that I'm done."[54]

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige announced on May 2, 2013, that the film rights to Ghost Rider had reverted to Marvel Studios, but there were no immediate plans to make another Ghost Rider film.[55][56] The Robbie Reyes incarnation of the character appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe through the television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., where he is portrayed by Gabriel Luna.[57]

References

  1. ^ "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance". AllMovie. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance". American Film Institute. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  3. ^ "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance". Variety. February 17, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  4. ^ "GHOST RIDER – SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. January 10, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2012)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
  6. ^ "Leaner Budget for 'Ghost Rider 2' Gets Greenlight from Sony and Hyde Park". The Wrap. October 10, 2010. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
  7. ^ Stewart, Andrew (February 12, 1012). "'Ghost Rider' expected to spark B.O." Variety. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  8. ^ a b "'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance' Set for February 17, 2012". SuperheroHype.com. CraveOnline. September 17, 2010. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2012)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  10. ^ Shaw-Williams, Hannah (May 6, 2013). "'Ghost Rider' Movie Rights Return to Marvel - Will We See a Reboot Soon?". Screen Rant. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  11. ^ "'Chatting with Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance directors Neveldine and Taylor'". DigitalTrends.com. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  12. ^ Douglas, Edward "Ghost Rider Spirit of Vengeance". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved February 17, 2012
  13. ^ a b "Blackout Confirmed for Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance". ComingSoon.net. March 16, 2011. Retrieved March 16, 2011.
  14. ^ "Ghost Rider Sequel's Blackout Won't Follow Marvel Mythology".
  15. ^ a b "Hinds and Placido Joining Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance". SuperheroHype.com. October 1, 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  16. ^ Arya Ponto (August 16, 2007). "Peter Fonda Talks About Working with Russell Crowe and 'Ghost Rider 2'". JustPressPlay.net. Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. Retrieved August 17, 2007.
  17. ^ "Idris Elba to Join 'Ghost Rider' Sequel & Possibly More Marvel Movies?". Cinematical. October 7, 2010. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
  18. ^ Weintraub, Steve 'Frosty' (January 5, 2012). "Idris Elba GHOST RIDER SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE On-Set Interview". Collider.com.
  19. ^ "Announcement of 'Ghost Rider 2' casting". Official Christopher Lambert Website. November 17, 2010. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
  20. ^ "Christophe Lambert, le retour d'une star sensible". QuestFrance.fr (in French). April 8, 2011. Archived from the original on February 20, 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  21. ^ Peter Sciretta (February 10, 2007). "Ghost Rider 2 Announced". SlashFilm.com. Retrieved February 10, 2007.
  22. ^ Arya Ponto (August 16, 2007). "Peter Fonda Talks About Working with Russell Crowe and 'Ghost Rider 2'". JustPressPlay.net. Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. Retrieved August 17, 2007.
  23. ^ Heather Newgen (December 3, 2007). "Nicolas Cage on Ghost Rider 2". SuperheroHype.com. Retrieved December 7, 2007.
  24. ^ Larry Carroll (December 5, 2007). "Nicolas Cage Wants Ghost Rider To Team Up With Spidey, Hit The Bottle In Sequel". MTV. Retrieved December 7, 2007.
  25. ^ Jim Vejvoda (September 10, 2010). "Danny Ketch in Ghost Rider 2?". IGN. Archived from the original on September 13, 2010. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
  26. ^ a b Josh Wigler (November 4, 2009). "EXCLUSIVE: David Goyer Says 'Ghost Rider 2' Isn't A Reboot, Takes Place Eight Years Later". splashpage.mtv.com. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
  27. ^ Vejvoda, Jim (September 3, 2008). "Cage Talks Ghost Rider 2". IGN. Archived from the original on September 9, 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2009.
  28. ^ Miska, Brad (January 29, 2009). "Nicolas Cage Attached to 'Ghost Rider' Sequel". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved May 26, 2009.
  29. ^ Miska, Brad (October 2, 2009). "David Goyer's Shocking 'Ghost Rider 2' News". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
  30. ^ Barton, Steve (November 4, 2009). "David Goyer Talks Ghost Rider 2". DreadCentral.com. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
  31. ^ "Neveldine and Taylor WIll Direct Ghost Ride Sequel and Cage Will Return". The Film Stage. June 14, 2010. Archived from the original on August 21, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  32. ^ a b STEVE 'FROSTY' WEINTRAUB (January 5, 2012). "Collider Goes to Romania to Visit the Set of GHOST RIDER SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE". Retrieved December 31, 2011.
  33. ^ "'Ghost Rider 2' Casting Updates: Ciaran Hinds, Iris Elba, Johnny Whitworth & Christopher Lambert". FusedFilm.com. October 12, 2010. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
  34. ^ "La bonne étoile de Christophe Lambert" (in French). TVMag.com. February 25, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  35. ^ "Nicolas Cage Says 'Ghost Rider 2' Is 'A Different Trajectory, But It's Still The Same Guy'". MTV Splash Page. July 7, 2010. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  36. ^ "No Eva Mendes for Ghost Rider 2". Superhero Hype!. July 19, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
  37. ^ "Ghost Rider Sequel to Shoot this Fall in 3D". [Superhero Hype!]. August 24, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
  38. ^ "'Ghost Rider' star Nicolas Cage admires Cappadocia". Today's Zaman. January 24, 2011. Archived from the original on January 24, 2011. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
  39. ^ STEVE 'FROSTY' WEINTRAUB (September 27, 2011). "Bryan Taylor interview on Collider.com". Retrieved December 31, 2011.
  40. ^ http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/g/Ghost-Rider-Spirit-Of-Vengeance.php
  41. ^ "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  42. ^ Pamela McClintock (September 8, 2015). "'Fantastic Four' Gets Worst CinemaScore Ever for Studio Superhero Movie". The Hollywood Reporter.
  43. ^ Virtel, Louis (December 13, 2011). "Early Report: Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance is so Awful, You'll Pee Fire". Movieline. Archived from the original on January 8, 2012.
  44. ^ Scott Collura (February 17, 2012). "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance Review. Johnny Blaze, shine on you crazy diamond". IGN. Archived from the original on February 19, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  45. ^ Barker, Andrew (February 17, 2012). "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance – Variety". Variety.com. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  46. ^ Sachs, Ben. "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance 3D". Chicago Reader.com. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  47. ^ Savlov, Marc. "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance". Austin Chronicle.com. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  48. ^ Rabin, Nathan (February 17, 2012). "Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance". The A.V. Club. The Onion. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  49. ^ Travers, Peter (February 17, 2012). "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance". Rolling Stone. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  50. ^ 33rd Annual RAZZIE® NOMINATIONS on YouTube
  51. ^ Ghost Rider 3' & 'Crank 3D' Planned – via YouTube.
  52. ^ Mark Langshaw (February 14, 2012). "Ghost Rider 3' wanted by Nicolas Cage". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on December 30, 2012.
  53. ^ "Nicolas Cage Talks 'Ghost Rider' 3; Says it's Possible 'But it Won't Be With Me'".
  54. ^ "Nicolas Cage: 'I'm Done' Making 'Ghost Rider' Movies".
  55. ^ "'Ghost Rider' Movie Rights Return to Marvel – Will We See a Reboot Soon?". screenrant.com. May 2, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  56. ^ Anthony Breznican (May 17, 2013). "Marvel's Phase Three: 'Doctor Strange,' 'Iron Man 4,' 'Hulk,' 'Inhumans' or 'Runaways' on Horizon? -- EXCLUSIVE". Archived from the original on June 7, 2013.
  57. ^ "'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' adds Gabriel Luna as Ghost Rider". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
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