Crazy driving The reboot sequel to “Ghost Rider” famously makes an extremely ridiculous previous attempt to transfer the character to the screens, even though the budget has become half as much, but the talent of the brand “Neveldine and Taylor”, who gave the world “Adrenaline” and “Gamer”, seems to save almost any movie.
The creators did not specifically watch the first film and made a new picture from scratch. This is successful in everything, except for one thing - it is painfully lacking in the final credits of a once again amazing cover of "Ghost riders in the sky", but the musical selection of winding rock is very good (although something beyond the cult type of Marilyn Manson and Bloodhound gang is not observed).
The appearance of the Rider and his bike is adjusted as it should, besides, now he does not look like a computer defect, suitable only for playing on the console, but looks like a whole character - a living blazing skeleton in all its madness. Actions and tactics of the battle (and action clashes here in bulk) have also undergone a huge change, and this applies both directly to the character and the style of presentation.
With action and drive, Neveldine and Taylor always had complete order, and here their funny madness successfully fits into the framework of the provided movie universe, without demolishing the tower with dubious excesses such as a sudden dance from Gamer or numerous delusional scenes of Adrenaline 2. Zadora adds a beautiful homage "Adrenaline" to the first, which can not be appreciated, but the crazy turns of the cameras sometimes manage even with tinkering and shaking to choose amazingly clear angles and perfectly present spectacular scenes. All the drive and fiery madness, crazy riding and first-class chases - everything is breathtaking and remains in memory for a long time.
Nicolas Cage continues to try on the role of charismatic madmen, and this time he plays above all praise. Fans will certainly appreciate, others will simply remember that the “saddest face of Hollywood” is also a chic action hero, whom it is too early to write off, and it is high time to invite to a picture like “The Expendables”. Cage plays two roles, as his Johnny Blaze and the Rider are served by extremely different personalities, very clearly spelled out in the plot.
With the villains, the picture was also lucky. Chiaran Hinds amazingly presents the Devil, Johnny Wheatworth in the guise of the demon Blackout famously do all four dull gay-ready elements from the first picture, well, the evil Christopher Lambert is already enough as another lure for the film, though it is not enough, oh little. He should also be resurrected as a demonic entity and sent to hunt the Rider.
The companions of the protagonist also cause sympathy, Idris Elba came out both brutal and funny, depending on the context of the situation. After all, a cool black monk-alcoholic is a type worthy of a separate spin-off. The naked beauty of “American” Violante Placido also looks very nice in the image of a confused woman who has done a lot of evil, but remains on the side of the good guys. Well, dissatisfied with the absence of the heroine Eva Mendes in the plot can relax - there is not a single romantic hint between the characters of Cage and Violante. A real male action movie without snot and love teary sentiments!
I would like to say, of course, that this is really non-stop action, which many films like to define now. However, the sharp sagging and inhibition of the plot and the general drive in the episodes with the monks - the lull before the final storm, weaken the fervent pace of the tape and are really too stretched. Some surreal scenes are quite similar to a set of test special effects on a white background, but animated inserts about the characters are a wonderful solution, especially when pictures of incarnations of the Devil on Earth begin to flash.
There are no problems with special effects, the abundance of fire scenes and explosions, the regular decay of villains to dust, the transformation of Blaze into the Rider, the special abilities of supernatural characters - all at a high level of quality. The creators of the wonderful “Adrenaline” and the amazing “Gamer” clearly know what they want from the film and in what direction such a fantasy-fighter should move, and the viewer should be sure exactly what he is going to do. And yes, the Ghost Rider is really pissing with fire! The main scene of the trailer did get into the film, becoming its main scene too!
Defending the antichrist boy (a positive hero, by the way), Ghost Rider recalls that the Spirit of Retribution was once the Angel of Justice, which is ultimately one of the plot cores for the character. Fans of comic books will appreciate the presence of blue flames, in addition to hellfire. Fans of action will be satisfied with the created madness and abundance of action. Well, great humor should definitely deliver a dose of positivity to anyone watching.
The main problem of the film lies not even in the sagging of the plot with the monks, the shaking camera or the absence of bonus scenes in the credits (so pleasant elements of the movie suits), but in the PG-13 rating, in which the full potential of the picture and directors remained untapped. And although it is possible to burn crowds without a single drop of blood (and the opponents of the main characters here are bandits, demons, monks, and even ninjas, and at the same time devil-worshippers of the power of this world), but it is impossible to compress the framework of censorship of such films. I want such an expanded version with additional seconds of special cruelty, the presence of pre-drawn blood and preferably naked female bodies, so that everything is in full program!
To perceive the picture as a reboot or a sequel is absolutely not important. The slightly changed original in flashbacks does not really say anything, many details of the past are omitted and therefore do not contradict the events of the first film, and whether you are waiting for a sequel or want to see a new film about Ghost Rider - everyone should be satisfied. Much cooler than the first film, and just a very funny, spectacular and crazy movie.
7 out of 10
Original