GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE
US, 2011, 95 minutes, Colour.
Nicolas Cage, Violante Placido, Ciaran Hinds, Idris Elba, Johnny Whitworth, Jacek Koman, Christopher Lambert.
Directed by Mark Nevildean and Brian Taylor.
For those who recognise the names of Neveldine and Taylor, they will know what to expect. Yes, it does have some resemblances to the much better written, acted and intriguing original Ghost Rider (2007 – and made in Melbourne). Nicolas Cage reprises his role (though a stunt double spends a lot of time riding Ghost Rider’s bike, his head a flaming skull, and his wreaking vengeance on mercenary pursuers led by Johnny Whitworth). I am not sure that Cage’s heart is in it sometimes.
But, back to Neveldine and Taylor. Their films so far are action extravaganzas, lots of flair, very showy, not too worried about characterisation, credibility or even themes and issues. It’s just go for broke. They came into our awareness with the two Crank films with Jason Statham no holds barred. Another film was the Gerard Butler computer game flashy actioner, Gamer. As we watch their films and are carried along with the energy (or exhausted by it!), the pace of the editing and the almost non-stop action, we might think that they storyboard everything, that they plan each sequence and frame, wanting them to be full and busy. So, its cinema flair for a fair bit of dramatic nonsense.
Ciaran Hinds is a devil who has made a pact with John Blaze (Cage) with the result that Blaze is possessed by the demon to wreak vengeance on whomsoever. Blaze would like to be exorcised (and, at one stage, he is), but demons are hard to shake and it is just as well the ghost rider returns otherwise the end might have been a bit of a fizz.
Oh, the plot.
The devil has impregnated a woman as part of her deal with him. There are some prophecies (spoken by whom is not explained), but the apocalypse seems to be upon the world and the devil wants his son so that he can possess him – and rule the world, of course. Blaze rescues mother and son but they keep being caught...
One fascinating aspect of this screenplay is the religious dimension, not facets of faith, but the use of religious symbols. We have monasteries of friars (Christopher Lambert is the abbott of one of them) who are alert to the prophecy. We have an itinerant priest/warrior (Idris Elba) who does the exorcism for Blaze after his confession and bringing out of his bag bread which he calls the Lamb of God and proceeds to break it and give it to Blaze in communion. I wonder what the graphic novel fans make of this. It does mean that they ought to have some knowledge of the Christian and Gospel traditions.
Just to see these scenes is not a reason to see Ghost Rider. It is really for the comics aficionados and the admirers of the extravagances of Neveldine/Taylor.
1. The popularity of Marvel Comics and their films? Expectations? Fantasy? The continuity with the original Ghost Rider film?
2. The directors and their reputation, their cinematic flair, the touch of excess, the wild imagination?
3. The eastern European settings, Romania and the roads, the mountains, the castles, monasteries? The Turkish sequences, the mountains and the desert? An atmosphere for the film? For
4. Action, stunts, CGI, images of hell, monsters? The animation and its tone? Action and the editing flair? Pace?
5. The exotic plot, audiences believing it or not? Hell, devils and deals? Transformations? Angels? The incarnation of a satanic child? Themes of destiny, prophecy, apocalypse?
6. The Ghost Rider, John Blaze’s deal with the Devil, his reasons for his father, his later explanations that they were not authentic? John, the encounter with Nadya, the consequences? The Rider taking possession of John Blaze, images of fire, the bike, vengeance? Nadya and her child?
7. The religious dimensions of the film, credible? The religious order, the habits, the monasteries? The child and their knowledge of the prophecy? The day in which the Devil will become incarnate? Roarke and his henchmen, the abbot, the murder of the monks? The capture of the child? Moreau and his being a roving priest? The reappearance in Turkey, the monastery and the abbot, his face? The use of Latin? Knowledge of the prophecy? The executions? The destruction? Moreau, the bread, the Lamb of God, Blaze’s confession, giving him communion, the exorcism?
8. Roarke as an incarnation of the Devil, his character, control, use of Carrigan, his motivations, the firewall? His pursuit of the child, in Turkey, the monastery, the rituals, Daniel and his face, Roarke turning? Daniel revived, the Ghost Rider taking the road again, the chase, the fight against Carrigan and the villains? Hell?
9. Nadya, her child, the incarnation of the Devil through Roarke? The boy’s age? Relationship with his mother? Carrigan and his pursuit, taking the mother and child? The Ghost Rider, the pursuit, taking them? Their being recaptured? John Blaze, his explanation, the rescue, going to the monastery, the confrontation with Roarke, the pursuit, the car, the fight?
10. Carrigan, the mercenary, his men, the chases, the abduction, fighting John? Roarke and his continuing his pursuit, the monastery? His defying Blaze?
11. The saving of the boy, the prophecy not being fulfilled? Audiences reactions to these themes – as well as to the action and the fights?
