Early Reviews.

[EML420]

They had a smaller budget but I cant remember anything from the first movie scopewise as big as the hellfire digger thats in the trailers

Spoiler

In the first one I think what cost a lot was using the Rider he was in it way more than in the second.

In this movie it feels like we should have got the Rider much more then we did.

 

[EliteF50]

Wow. That was bad. I mean, that was REALLY bad. It definitely made GH1 look like TDK.

 

[I Am The Knight]

Yeah this is a DVD/Blu-ray purchase for me... when it goes waaaay down in price.

More like a rental for me.

 

[Marvel]

I just saw the first showing of the movie this afternoon, and i honestly- it was cool. Not epic, but i enjoyed the movie. To me, it was nice appetizer as we await for May, (Avengers) and all it's awesomeness that's soon to follow. I didn't love GR:SoV, but i didn't hate it either. I give it a 6.5/10- which isn't terrible.

Yeah, it's very "meh" and I'd place it at a low 6/10 at best.


I applaud the fact that they completely ignored the first film because there was NOTHING worth remembering. What’s unfortunate is that they didn’t learn the main lesson that the original should have taught. AGAIN, The Rider has no real challenge and the film itself delivers no credible action sequences of merit. Honestly, I was expecting so much more from this film in terms of popcorn fun. I did like the concept and the overall plot, basic as it was but it was written shallow because they wanted to throw us right in to the story. Everything sets up fine and everyone is great in their roles (even Cage who goes wonderfully hambone and off the rails as only modern Cage can!). The CGI is superb. So, it’s bizarre that the movie itself feels so incomplete. It’s like all the best stuff was cut out of the movie and sanitized. It’s almost as if the writers didn’t know what to do with this supernatural character or even how to challenge him. There’s a LOT of Ghost Rider looking creepy, cackling and staring at people but not much else. A few car crashes and chain flings fall way short of what a movie like this requires. Still, it’s better than the first and kind of close to being actually good. Maybe there’s a director’s cut somewhere that can save this thing in the future.

 

[Spidey_62]

I totally dug it, but I'm not a critic.

I enjoyed the first as well to an extent, but there were many things that bothered me. Most of that was rectified here, however. One thing I liked is how the final battle was actually Ghost Rider vs. the baddie and not Johnny Blaze.

I wasn't expecting a masterpiece so I sat back and enjoyed it a great deal, great action and great Nic Cage. Always love his freakouts onscreen. t:

 

[ShadowBoxer]

Saw this Friday night.I wasn't even planning on seeing this in theaters. I was just extremely bored and had nothing better to do. Anyway, I will give it a 6.5/10. It's a pretty forgettable movie but there are some cool moments with Ghost Rider but they are extremely short. Also the way Ghost Rider defeated the devil in the end was super lame. And on top of that, the movie kinda ended abruptly. Anyway, I would recommend waiting til this hits redbox or FX. The only highlight of seeing this in theaters was seeing The Amazing Spider Man trailer in 3D.

 

[Spidey_62]

^ The TASM trailer looked incredible in 3D.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

^ The TASM trailer looked incredible in 3D.

Heck yea it did!

 

[AlexanderMoon]

I don't get why most of you are so into "critics" ?

They are like you and me, human beings with totally "subjective" views and opinions...

I know a few movies I totally enjoyed and that critics destroyed forever....Guess what ? I could not caress less.

What matters is my very enjoyment watching it.

As for GR : SOV : it's a Z Movie in disguise. It's the Ed Wood of Comics.

Just have extremely low expectations going into this one and you will enjoy it.

 

[Liam_H]

I don't get why most of you are so into "critics" ?

Critics get to see movies for free and inform us if its worth our time or not. I certainly wouldn't want to continually spend money on crap. Would a person agree with the consensus all the time? Of course not, that's why its best to pick a couple of people you enjoy reading and that you agree with most of the time. I just wanted some great visuals/action from this movie but from what I've heard most of the action you see in the trailer comes in the first 30 minutes, knowing this I'll be watching this way down the line.

Also, they are usually the first people who get a crack at the movie. By the time summer rolls around, the first negative review for Avenegers/ASM/TDKR and some people will act like the sky is falling.

 

[Spideyfan93]

I'm optimistic about all movies, really, I find good things in most bad films and I hardly ever say a movie "sucked" but this SUCKED.

Positives: Nick Cage being hilariously over the top like always, Idris Elba(not much, but helped), some of the action and Ghost Rider

Negatives: Practically everything else. The acting, some of the action, THE SCREENPLAY/SCRIPT! My God, the kid was reading his lines off a queue card!


And that ending was dumb as hell. The last line could've been stated by Captain Obvious or done in a better/more creative way.

EDIT: Review's in my sig if you're interested.

 

[Spider-X]

Yeah...that was not a good movie. It wasn't even dumb-fun enough. I'd go as far as to say the first movie was better. Hell, the scene in the first film where Ghost Rider drives up a skyscraper, chain whips a helicopter to him so he can tell the pilot "YOU'RE PISSING ME OFF," and then flings the helicopter away was a better Ghost Rider moment than ANYTHING we got in this new movie.

Spirit of Vengeance has it's moments, and you could see the Crank touches here and there...but they were too few and far between. The movie was actually straight up boring at several parts. It felt like there was a better movie boiling under the surface...the movie it should have been: ridiculous/hilariously over the top, but awesome, action with some good dark and cheesy humor thrown in...but you only got glimpses of it throughout the movie. Not to mention the 3D was barely even utilized. If you have to see this movie, save the money and see it in 2D...seriously, you won't miss much at all.

I went into this movie as I do with all comic book movies: willing to overlook many faults for the sake of enjoying seeing my favorite characters brought to life in live action. And scenes with the Ghost Rider in them were pretty awesome, but not enough to save the movie from all the negatives.

As a side note, I feel like Nick Cage is really starting to show his age...I'm thinking he should give up trying to portray comic book heroes who are most often shown as in their late 20's to mid 30's. Stick with the Big Daddy type roles (which I'd say is easily his best role in several years now).

Sorry to say, but this movie is a 4.5/10 in my book

And agreed with the above: the best part of this experience was seeing the new Amazing Spider-Man Trailer in 3D

 

[BigThor]

I finally saw the movie with two of my friends earlier and I think saying the first film was better is quite a stretch.

Pros

- The action in the film surpasses anything in the first film by a mile, in my opinion it's better than the action scenes in most CMB film (both scenes where's he's hit by a rocket is amazing).

- Ghost Rider does some very awesome things with his chain and his "Penance Stare" was done alot better this time around.

- The acting was also a far better for the most part, especially Cages performance.

- The visual effects were also far ahead of anything in the first film, especially Ghost Rider himself.

- I found the final fight which is Ghost Rider Vs Blackout to be pretty awesome, I love the way he defeated him.

- Cage's performance as the Rider was much better than the stuntman's performance in the first film, he even seemed down right scary at times.

Cons

- Alot of the editing was done poorly and I think they should've tone down the quick cuts quite a bit.

- The story leaves MUCH to be desired and the script was paper thin.

- Ghost Rider does a few movements that doesn't seem very "Rider-like" and while I think Cage did a good job as the Rider I think he went a little overboard a few time.

- Idris Elba's character wasn't given enough to do and it was quite ashame because he gave a good performance.

- The scenes where Ghost Rider were riding his hellcycle was too short and I wish he would've use his hellfire abilities a bit more (ie. summoning a wall of flame or shooting fire from his hands).

- There were a few pointlessly wierd moments and I definately think should've been left out of the film.


Overall I'd give the film a 6.5/10 and while it's far from a good film I certainly enjoyed it more than the first.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

Critics get to see movies for free and inform us if its worth our time or not. I certainly wouldn't want to continually spend money on crap. Would a person agree with the consensus all the time? Of course not, that's why its best to pick a couple of people you enjoy reading and that you agree with most of the time. I just wanted some great visuals/action from this movie but from what I've heard most of the action you see in the trailer comes in the first 30 minutes, knowing this I'll be watching this way down the line.

Also, they are usually the first people who get a crack at the movie. By the time summer rolls around, the first negative review for Avenegers/ASM/TDKR and some people will act like the sky is falling.

It's always funny when one reviewer ruins a perfect RT score of 100% by giving a bad review. The movie fanboys get so pissed and flood them with negative feedback.

HI-larious!

 

[Smashlilman]

God!!! After reading all these post, I don't even think i'm going to see the film at all now.

 

[Dugath]

God!!! After reading all these post, I don't even think i'm going to see the film at all now.

Ya, me and my GF were going to go see it today as I though it should at least be an average movie, but from what everyone says it is not good.

I already dragged her to see Underworld (which was garbage) so I can not drag her to this..

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Midnyte, Avei, what's up guys?!!? Been a really long time, hope you guys have been good!

So given the horrible reviews the film is getting, I just want to chime in with this is another case of what I went through with AvP and AvP:R. The trailer really, really looked promising. I expected a film that wouldn't be quite on the same level of the first Spider-Man or Iron Man, but at least something that could hit a Captain America. Is that so much to ask for?

I just don't get this. Ghost Rider is such an incredible character, with depth to him that in some ways, is akin to Batman. Sure Johnny Blaze isn't an insane man trying to convey that insanity in a meaningful and profound way; the guy's possessed, he's not crazy. But he's a tormented character who just wants to do right. Casting a broken actor like Nic Cage just doesn't cut it. And this sort of film needs to be dark, violent, and scary. It can't pull any punches and these stupid writers would realize that if they'd even ****ing bother to open a Ghost Rider comic and actually read one!!!

The first film had me giddy for a little while like AvP when I first saw it but after I simmered down, I realized just how awful it was. There's no way in hell (no pun intended) I'm dropping money on a ticket for this hunk of garbage.

Hey Doomrulz, I've not been bad how have you been? Bit gutted we are getting another lacklustre GR movie.

 

[CaptainCraig]

My grade: B
So what are some things in this film one might like, I'll share mine:

• I liked how they explained why the devil looks different. Ciran Hands vs Peter Fonda.
• I liked the nods to acknowledging his stunt rider days and I don't mean the storyboards. The bonding moments with Danny on the highway doing bike stunts.
• Incorporating the Zarathos element inherent with the comic version. And that explanation sequence between Blaze and Moreau was nicely done.
• The use of Negative Space and filming in a Negative manner worked well in several scenes. Such as the purging of the Rider scene and "Decay vision".
• Glad the "pissing scene" was only an in-joke visual for Johnny and Danny and not an actual moment in the film.
• Tying into the first film again, how the Rider fears and/or is powerless in the light AND how events in the film change that.
• How we see the Rider as a hero, controlled by Blaze in that final sequence. Not just a force of nature.

So, in fairness what could've been better, my thoughts on that:

• I know they spent less money but I missed the full on Penance Stare. It's done but without the f/x, more implied then *poof* dead bad guy.
• The transitions between major set pieces could've been more fluid. A few too many Hard Cuts.
• Nadya, Danny's mom, is suddenly a good shot with a military grade sniper rifle from 500yrds? Some 30 second bs explanation earlier in the film might've sold this better. The best backstory we get is she a bit of a gypsy.
• Personally I would've liked more dialogue from the Rider. Like the Hulk films I feel they've missed this twice now. Neither character is that silent in their own book.

The few location cinematography shots we got were great. Liked seeing the Monks chiseled out monastic hideout.
The castle was very nice.
The amphitheater ruins for the ritual were cool.
Nice cameos by Anthony Stewart Head(Giles of BtVS) and Christopher Lambert.
Idris Elba did a very servicable job as well. Not Heimdell awesome but still a respectable performance. Cage was a much, much better Johnny Blaze this time imo.
Some nice humor although I can see where for some a few moments might be over the top(Jerry Springer's 1/2 second cameo perhaps).
The twinkie scene got several laughs at my viewing.

It's a fun movie, cut loose and enjoy the film. Oscar bait it's not but in all objectiveness there are worse films, worse comic films out there than this. Don't allow yourself to get caught up in the seemingly current "Hip to bash Cage and/or Ghost Rider" bandwagon this month. You'll miss a fun time at the theater and be forced to sit through The Vow.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

At 16% so far, here is the consensus from Rotten Tomatoes:

With a weak script, uneven CG work, and a Nic Cage peformance so predictably loony its no longer amusing, Ghost Rider: Spirt of Vegeance aims to be trashy fun but ends up as plain trash.

I can't say i'm surprised. This movie has disappointed critically so lets hope the Box Office can save it.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

^Its got a lot worse reviews than even the first movie which was considered very poor, gonna make my own judgement when I see it in the week but things arent looking good.

 

[Marvel]

Why is anyone raving about the action???


Why is it that hard to figure out if you're a hollywood writer? Like I said before, The Rider has no real challenge and the film itself delivers no credible action sequences of merit. NONE.

Spoiler

Besides the logic flaw of having grenades knock him silly one day and the next he's shrugging off stinger missiles, nothing was a threat. When your lead can take automatic weapons fire point blank in the face and then spit the bullets out, there is NO thrill or challenge to watch the character. EVERYTHING loses tension and becomes video game boring. That is a HUGE problem with this movie when the limited action they do show carries no weight at all.

 

[Aztec]

Are people even remotely surprised that Nicolas Cage is "over the top"?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP1-oquwoL8
(Maybe the greatest video in YouTube history)

I'm glad it seems that this movie sucks. The first one was the WORST superhero movie I've ever watched. I've never seen a film so boring in my life. NOTHING happens. One of the coolest heroes ever did nothing for an hour and a half.

Bombs away! Send the rights back to Disney/Marvel!!! Maybe we can get a cool Marvel Knights/Hearts of Darkness film down the line.

 

[PunisherFC]

do they explain at all, why we see him glimpsed in the trailer with blue flames?

 

[Midnyte_Sun]

Spoiler

Yes and No. The blue signifies that there is good within the Spirit of Vengeance. No in that, it doesn't explore this giant transformation at all and the movie is over right afterwards.

 

[Punisher Rising]

Just got back from this, pretty disappointing all-around. Lacked action and had a weak plot and some truly terrible directing and editing. Cage, whom I normally like and thought was good in the first movie, gave a pretty poor performance here, though I don't blame him at all, thanks to the astoundingly poor directing.

The first movie was no masterpiece but I found it entertaining at least, this was pretty boring with little to like.