Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

After Gamer, I started to like Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, and the idea of them directing a sequel to Ghost Rider was actually quite appealing to me. I don't know where exactly the fault lies, whether it's the smaller budget compared to the first film, or in the script, in which we have no idea what's going on. Either way, I know that the directing duo is sending it all down the drain with their lack of creative art. This is no longer the kind of visual anarchy one might enjoy. Like in Crank, this is the crystal clear essence of a filmmaker's mess, where the camera and editing are supposed to mask poor exteriors and mediocre special effects, all while you don't actually keep track of what's supposed to be happening in any given visual segment because it just doesn't work. If you're completely let loose and think you're going to throw one cool frame after another with speed, you're sorely mistaken. It sucks that I was kind of looking forward to it. (03/28/2012)

Awful codswallop, but entertaining. Idris is really fine here, Cage is as crazy as hell itself and the action is superbly done (especially the quarry and the chase finale). Neveldine and Taylor add their own particular Crank style to this. Shame they didn’t try for an R-rating. And one of the main villains had a cellphone like mine. In fact, I like this more than part one. (06/10/2012)

While it may not have seemed like it in the first few minutes, the second Ghost Rider is ultimately just as bad as the first. Meaning very bad. Similarly, because the film is completely different in every way. Some people might like the predatory style of the directors, but I, who didn't like even one of the Crank films, would have a hard time with it (Gamer is probably the exception that proves the rule). The stunts were decent, but that's it. (09/23/2014)