The best worst thing you’ll see all week: Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

If you’re going to see an awful movie about a dude with a flaming skull for a head riding a flaming motorbike, this is probably the one to see. Not to say it’s good. It’s not. It’s laughably bad. But lordy, what awesome shots of flaming skulls and flaming motorbikes, all heavy metalish and trailing smoke and crazy zooms and tilts and God of War style chain flinging and other things going fiery. The Nicolas Cage overacting in between is just gravy. His style complements the CG, as his face gets all distorted and his eyes pop and smoke comes out of his head, like when a character in an old-timey cartoon sees a hot chick. I’m pretty sure he even goes AH-WOO-GA! at one point, like a steam whistle. He wouldn’t be out of place in one of those Mask sequels Jim Carrey passed on. I only wish that when he promised early on that when the demon takes hold, no one is safe, he didn’t then spend the rest of the movie defending women and children. That’s not very demonic.

The bigger issue is how long can Idris Elba maintain being cool when he’s in movies like The Losers, Thor, Prometheus, and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance? I wonder if he thinks he’s hidden in Ghost Rider because of his fake French accent, like maybe you won’t know it’s him. I see you, Idris! Look, I’ll allow him no more than eleven or twelve stinkers before I start to think a little less of him. Also, since this is a movie based on a Marvel comic, I looked for a Stan Lee cameo and didn’t see one. Why would he not show up for his cameo? Was he getting his teeth whitened the day they were scheduled to shoot?

  • Wolfox

    Stan Lee didn’t create Ghost Rider, which is why I suppose he didn’t make a cameo.

  • hahahabonk

    Idris Elba can continue being cool for exactly how long he wishes to be cool. Because he’s Idris Elba. Luther says hi (I’m sure you’ve seen it). But you’re right to pick up on that as the key issue. And not to focus on why Christopher Lambert has ended up as a bit part.

    C.

    PS – Ghost Rider is a guilty pleasure, Ghost Rider Two is something you should be deeply ashamed of. If they make a Ghost Rider 3 then I’m sure liking it will be a war crime.

  • John Roberdeau

    Elba also slummed in NBC’s The Office.

  • Barac Wiley

    Have you seen Luther, Tom? (The British cop drama, streamable on Netflix.) If so, I think you’ll understand when I am prepared to forgive him any number of Prometheusi and Ghost Riders.

  • Barac Wiley

    Wait, is this a sequel to Ghost Rider? Yeesh.

  • tomchick

    20 years ago, Christopher Lambert would have played the Ghost Rider. 10 years ago, Christopher Lambert would have played the Edgar Winters villain. Today, he shaves his head and plays the guy who gets killed off after one scene. What has the world come to?

  • tomchick

    I haven’t seen Luther yet, but Netflix simply will not shut up about it. I expect I’ll be giving in soon.

  • RedHerb

    What? There was a bee…thought it was going to sting your face

  • David Ray

    Why does the name Idris Elba sound Tolkienesque to me?