Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance is a 2012 American 3D supernatural superhero film based on the Marvel Comics antihero Ghost Rider. It is a sequel to the 2007 film Ghost Rider and features Nicolas Cage returning to his starring role as Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider.^[1][5] It is also the second film to be released under the Marvel Knights banner after 2008's Punisher: War Zone. The film was directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, from a screenplay written by David S. Goyer, Scott Gimple and Seth Hoffman. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance was released in theaters on February 17, 2012.

Plot

Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage) was a former stunt rider who often teamed up with his father on various stunts. When he discovers that his father's death is impending, he makes a deal with a man named Roarke (Ciarán Hinds) who claims to be the Devil in exchange for his soul and a curse to be set upon him. Johnny now hosts an entity called 'The Rider', a fiery demon who punishes sinners, no matter how petty their crimes are. However, his father dies regardless, and having two minds fighting for control over his new powers, Johnny attempts to stay as far away from mankind as possible, hiding out in Eastern Europe (Romania).

In the present, a drunken priest named Moreau (Idris Elba) attempts to warn an order of monks residing in a castle that the Devil has sent out forces to retrieve a certain boy and his mother hiding there, despite the head monk's (Anthony Head) reassurances of their safety. At that moment, mercenaries hired by Roarke breach the castle and kill all of the monks except for Moreau, while the mother, Nadya (Violante Placido) and her son Danny escape. Moreau chases after them, as well as the mercenaries. While trying to protecting Nadya and her son, Moreau is driven off a cliff before he shoots out the mercenaries' tires, delaying them before they can go after Danny and Nadya. He survives, as a tree breaks his fall. Moreau seeks out Johnny, who has been living in isolation in an abandoned village. Johnny initially refuses to help Moreau locate the mother and her son, but after he is promised that Moreau's ancient order can exorcise the curse from his soul, he agrees.

Nadya and Danny are found by the mercenaries, who drive their car off the highway and crash it. Their leader, Ray Carrigan (Johnny Whitworth), takes Danny after a struggle and attempts to execute Nadya. Sensing this, Johnny unleashes the Rider (having held it in for some time) and transforms. He arrives just as Carrigan is about to kill Nadya, and kills two of his men. The Rider senses the great evil in Danny and attempts to kill him, but Nadya distracts him long enough for Carrigan to knock him out with a grenade launcher. Danny is taken away, while Johnny wakes up in a nearby hospital the next day and confronts Nadya, who is also there. They both join forces in order to save her son. Meanwhile, Roarke arrives in Europe, and sets up a "firewall" within Danny (via cellphone) to prevent the Rider from locating the boy, but advises Carrigan to run, as the Rider can still 'sense' him.

Nadya takes Johnny to one of Carrigan's contacts and, upon interrogating him, finds that Carrigan and Danny are in an old quarry. Johnny begins to transform, and when Nadya confirms her son and Carrigan's location, Johnny rides there mid-transformation. Carrigan prepares himself with an army of his men, including a rocket launcher that could hopefully defeat Johnny. The Rider appears and a battle ensues while Nadya frees Danny. The Rider makes short work of the mercenaries by "riding" a Bagger 288 and defeats Carrigan. As Nadya and Danny escape, the Rider catches up to them and attempts to kill Nadya. But in Danny's presence, the Rider is forced to turn back into Johnny Blaze, partly due to the fact that Danny is the Devil's son. Roarke approaches Carrigan, who dies in front of him. However, Roarke resurrects him as a being known as Blackout, who can render a person's environment pitch black and decay anything he touches. Owing to this resurrection, Roarke sustains some injuries due to his weak state on the Earth, and sends Blackout to retrieve Danny.

Moreau catches up to the group and leads them to a Sanctuary, where the monastic order resides, led by Methodius (Christopher Lambert) who ensure the protection of Danny. Before the exorcism, Moreau explains to Johnny that the Rider was once the Angel of Justice, Zarathos, but was tricked into going into Hell and was driven insane. Retaining his sense of justice, Zarathos became a Spirit of Vengeance, an entity who took pleasure in punishing the wicked regardless of their crimes, although Johnny questions if the Angel's benevolent spirit still exists. Johnny is successfully exorcised, but Methodius reveals his treachery and plans to kill Danny to prevent the Devil from taking over his body and achieving higher powers. Johnny, Moreau, and Nadya are imprisoned as Danny is about to be executed. However, Blackout arrives and kills Methodius and the monks, retaking Danny back to Roarke. Nadya is devastated by what has occurred, but Johnny swears to rescue Danny, even though his powers have been removed.

Armed from the Sanctuary weapons vault, the group makes their way to a Turkish coliseum, where Roarke and his followers gather to enact the trade. Moreau distracts the followers while Johnny attempts to free Danny, but is knocked back by Roarke while Moreau is killed by Blackout. The ceremony interrupted, Roarke opts to kill Johnny in retaliation. Danny, knowing that he has his father's abilities, returns Zarathos to Johnny, who becomes more powerful and is now able to exist in daylight, appearing to be in full control of the Rider as well. Danny is again taken and a chase ensues between the Rider, Nadya, Blackout, and Roarke. The Rider dispatches Blackout and causes Roarke's vehicle to crash. The Rider confronts Roarke, who declares that Johnny is the worst deal he ever made. The Rider then literally sends Roarke back to Hell, slamming him into the fiery depths of the Earth. Nadya catches up, but is dismayed to find the Rider pulling Danny's lifeless body from the wreck of the car. Reverting back, Johnny says that he feels the Angel of Justice reawaken within him once more and resurrects Danny with the Angel's blue flames. Johnny then rides off, now engulfed in holy blue flames, declaring that he is "The Ghost Rider".

Cast

• Nicolas Cage as Johnny Blaze / Ghost Rider
• Johnny Whitworth as Ray Carrigan / Blackout,^[6] the main antagonist who, at the beginning, is human. He is turned into Blackout by the Devil to complete his job. This transformation gives him the fortitude and supernatural abilities to compete with Ghost Rider.^[7]
• Fergus Riordan as Danny, a young child caught up in a demonic conspiracy who ends up in the care of Johnny Blaze during his travels.^[8]
• Ciarán Hinds as Roarke, a being trying to take over the body of his son on the boy's birthday.^[8][9]
• Violante Placido as Nadya, Danny's mother who helps Johnny to stop her son's father from taking over his body.^[9]
• Idris Elba as Moreau, a Frenchman who joins forces with Johnny. He is the one who tells Johnny to find Danny.^[10]
• Christopher Lambert as Methodius, a monk.^[11][12]
• Anthony Head as Benidict, a monk at a castle where Nadya and Danny are hiding at the start of the film.
• Jacek Koman as Terrokov
• Vincent Regan as Toma Nikasevic
• Spencer Wilding as Grannik

Production

On February 9, 2007, Marvel producer Avi Arad announced the development of Ghost Rider 2 at a press event.^[13] Peter Fonda had also expressed a desire to return as Mephistopheles.^[14] In early December, 2007, Nicolas Cage also expressed interest to return in the lead role as Ghost Rider.^[15] 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.^[16] It is also rumored that the sequel would feature Danny Ketch, another Marvel character who took up the Ghost Rider mantle in the comics.^[17]

In a September 2008 interview, Nicolas 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."^[18] 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.^[19] On September 23, 2009, it was reported that David S. Goyer had signed on to write the script for the sequel.^[20] 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.^[5][21] The sequel is titled Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance and was produced by Mike De Luca,^[22] and screened with a PG-13 rating.^[23] 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.^[24]

Christopher Lambert underwent three months of sword training^[25] and shaved his head for his role.^[26]

Filming

In July 2010 Cage revealed shooting was to start in November.^[27] In an interview with Superhero Hype!, Eva Mendes revealed that she would not be back as Roxanne for the sequel.^[28] The film was shot in Romania and Turkey.^[29] The film started principal photography in Sibiu, Romania in November 2010, using mostly local talent.^[1] Principal photography was completed on January 24, 2011.^[30] On March 16, 2011, it was confirmed that Johnny Whitworth would be playing the antagonist, which was also confirmed to be Blackout.^[7] The film was converted in post-production to 3D.^[31]

Three scenes were shot on set Castel Film. Among the places in the country chosen were Transfăgărăşan, Targu-Jiu, Hunedoara Castle and Bucharest.^[32]

Filming in Turkey took place in Cappadocia, a historical region in central Turkey with exotic chimney topped rocky setting.

Reception

Reviewers who viewed an early preview screening at the December 2011 Butt-Numb-A-Thon in Austin expressed negative reactions to the film, with two attendants saying it was worse than the first Ghost Rider film, and one even going so far as to say that this film makes the first look like The Dark Knight in comparison.^[33]

Critical reception has been negative. The film currently holds a 18% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 97 reviews with the consensus stating: "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."^[34] Criticisms were also levelled at its handheld camera work, with many noting it was "shaky". On Metacritic, the film currently holds a score of 32 based on 20 reviews.^[35]

Box office

Despite its negative reviews, it opened in 3,174 theaters at #3 with $22,115,334, behind Safe House, which moved to #1 on its second weekend and The Vow the holdover of the last week, less than half of Ghost Rider's opening weekend of $45,388,836. As of March 20, it has gone on to gross $49,811,229 at the domestic box office and $72,487,860 overseas for a worldwide total of $122,299,089.

References

External links

• Official website
• Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance at the Internet Movie Database
• Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance at Box Office Mojo