Now riding in theaters to mixed reviews that will surely put fans on the fence, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance brings veteran actor Nicholas Cage back in the role he first starred in 2007, albeit a lot more darker and sinister than before. I've seen the film and reviewed it (featured in Geekmaticas well), and my opinion will be something that leaves a lot to be desired for the most part if you haven't seen the film yet. Still, there may be hope yet if you're a Nic Cage fan. Via a video interview with Total Film, he gives his take on the character, describing the Ghost Rider as a "philosophical hero" and letting on his background that he is a bog comic book fan himself.
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance - Total Film interview with Nichiolas Cage
Well, Nicholas Cage has spoken, and it's up to you whether or not you want to see The Rider on theaters. For more insight, visit the source post at Total Film and Comic Book Movie.
Open since the February 17th, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance is now in theaters.
Columbia Pictures has officially launched the official website to their upcoming new Ghost Rider film, Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance! Once again starring Nicholas Cage as Johnny Blaze/ Ghost Rider, the film opens early next year, and the website gives viewers a taste of things to come with some downloadable treats and a sneak peek of the official soundtrack for the movie! Check out more via www.thespiritofvengeance.com, and the source posts at Enewsi and Superherohype for more info!
Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance rides into theaters on February 17, 2012!
Via Comic Book Movie, Colombia Pictures has released a new poster of Nicholas Cage's new Ghost Rider film, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. Once again reprising his role as the cursed motorcyclist Johnny Blaze, he must once again ride into adventure as his hell spawn alter ego, protecting the lives of a mother and child while facing a new dark threat bent on destroying them. Check out the poster itself, featuring the rider riding and dishing out some hellfire justice.
The film recently premiered at Harry Knowles annual "Butt-Numb-A-Thon" over at the states, and early reviews were generally unfavorable. It won't be until next year still anyway, but that's not a good sign at all. Also, I just recently found out that this IS NOT a sequel to the 2007 Ghost Rider, and as the wikipedia states, a whole new origin sequence will be filmed. For more info, visit the source post at CBM!
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance rides into theaters on February 17, 2012!
Coming Soon and SuperheroHype have debuted the first exclusive look at the teaser poster to the new Ghost Rider sequel coming out next year, "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance"! The teaser image shows the gloved hand of Marvel's supernatural antihero, holding his trademark chain and setting some hellfire on it at the same time. It's a tease in every sense of the word, and not a bad poster at all for fans of the franchise to embrace.
Once again starring Nicholas Cage as Johnny Blaze/ Ghost Rider, the adventure takes place several years after the first film, with Blaze placing himself in a self-imposed exile because of his curse. However, he is called back into action by Moreau, a member of the monastic order of Michael, who tasks Blaze with the protection of a mother and child from a person known only as Roarke, who has knowledge of the Ghost Rider and his legend. A teaser trailer for the movie is expected to hit soon, so check back for updates time and again. For more on the story, visit the source post at Superherohype!
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance rides into theaters on February 17, 2012!
Via Slash Film, Empire magazine now has some photos in their latest issue of the new Ghost Rider sequel entitled "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" (scans courtesy of The Film Stage). Once again starring starring Nicholas Cage in the titular role and as Johnny Blaze, the sequel takes place in Eastern Europe, where Blaze has relocated to in order to repress his curse. Unfortunately, he has no choice but to return to action when a sect recruits him to take on the devil, who wants to take over his son's body on the kid's own birthday. That pretty much sums up the plot of the next movie, and so far fans are actually warming up to the idea of this film seeing a release. The bike and other props were shown off in the recently concluded San Diego Comic-Con, so feedback has been positive so far. For more updates and photos on the story, visit the source post at Slash Film!
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, directed by Neveldine/ Taylor, blazes into theaters on February 17 next year!
Just in time for the Halloween, Superman fans will finally get to see the suit that could have been had director Tim Burton gotten the greenlight to go forward with his take on th Man of Steel in "Superman Lives".
Revealed to the public for the first time by FX man Steve Johnson via his Facebook and through movie blog site Screen Rant, Superpeeps can finally take a glance at a very different take of Superman's suit, which appears more Kryptonian and futuristic compared to the iconic Red and Blue we know.
This was also the movie where Nicholas Cage was supposedly tagged to play the famous DC hero, and the mold wearing the suit suggests that it could have happened had things sailed smoothly and Burton directed. Nic Cage has always been vocal about his big time adoration and fandom for Supes, and him playing the Man of Steel would have finally been his dream come true next to naming his own son "Kal-El" (Superman's Kryptonian birth name). Still, we can only imagine what could have been with these shots. For more pics, visit Steve's own FB album or see the feature article over at Screen Rant!
Fresh from watching the movie last night with my friends and buddies, all I can say about Kick-Ass is pure and simple - IT KICKED ASS!!!
Into the start of Saturday and still geeking over a fantastic movie experience, I can honestly say that the film adaptation of Mark Millar and John Romita Jr's work is AWESOME. So awesome that even if I said a number of things to clarify the differences between it and its comic book counterpart, it wouldn't matter. This film uses the same premise I know and twists it around into a unique version that absolutely caught me off-guard and impressed the hell out of me. Nothing says fangasm more than seeing a comic book movie outdo its printed counterpart, and that's saying a lot already. Don't get me wrong here, I still like the original Kick-Ass story presented in the books, but this one totally blew me away, and I'll get right to explaining why as soon as I kick off this ass kicking review. Pardon the puns, but it's soooo true.
Movie review: Kick-Ass Starring: Aaron Johnson, Nicholas Cage, Mark Strong, Chloe Grace Moretz Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
Following mostly the same plot as in the comics, Kick-Ass tells the story of Dave Lizewski, your average teenager and student who has a dull life and decides to become a real life superhero. His first attempt to fight crime nearly gets him killed, but he soon recovers and is still determined to pursue his passion. Eventually, he succeeds in saving a guy and becoming an instant sensation via You Tube, as well as taking up an identity - the alias of "Kick-Ass"! However, Dave isn't the only hero around town, as the mysterious team of Big Daddy and Hit-Girl take on the mob and leave a body count trail behind them. With his actions causing more trouble in his life than he bargained for, Kick-Ass will learn firsthand what it means to be a hero, even if could get him killed.
Directed by the guy who produced Snatch and directed Stardust, Matthew Vaughn brings an excellent re-imagination of Kick-Ass to the big screen. It's the flick to start off an awesome month laced with comic book movies, and even if it's not a big time superhero name you would have normally heard off, this film pays tribute to the heroes that inspired the making of this story, with several references and montages placed all around the story. The right combination of story-telling, action, and comedy is what makes Kick-Ass work, and the cast in the movie bring the two-dimensional comic book characters to life gloriously.
Aaron Johnson takes the lead and is the guy who plays Dave Lizewski/ Kick-Ass. Although the character was a blond kid in the comics, this version is just about the same, living with his dad and suffering a pathetic, Peter Parker-esque life in High School each and everyday. Dave's quite a likable fellow, albeit insecure and almost unsure of his actions most of the time. It's only when he takes up the mantle of Kick-Ass that he gains a sense of renewed confidence and self-esteem. But that itself is thoroughly tested as he realizes how big a hero's life is. Johnson's performance was excellent, and he kind of reminds me of a younger Tobey Maguire with the role he's taken up here. His previous film, Nowhere Boy, had him in the lead role of a younger John Lennon, and that's still pending a US and International release date later this year.
As a veteran actor and legend in his own right, Nicholas Cage knows what it takes to play heroes in the big screen. Being a big comic book fan himself, he's played Marvel's demon riding hero, Ghost Rider, and now gets another heroic role in Damon Macready/ Big Daddy. This version of the character is vastly different from its comic book counterpart, but that's on the good side, and a better improvement thanks to adjustments made to the story's narrative. Big Daddy is a former cop who was framed by the mob and sent to jail, losing his wife to drugs but gaining a daughter just before she died. After leaving prison, he decides to get payback, raising and training his daughter to exterminate crime and donning costumed identities to hide their faces. Damon Macready was just a man... but Big Daddy is ready to kick the mob's ass. Instead of an accountant who sold his comic book collection to fund an ideal future for his daughter, Cage plays a Big Daddy who actually wants revenge, and dresses in a costume that has a noticeable similarity to Batman. The actor also pays homage to the legendary DC character by incorporating a "utility belt" and speaking in a manner that would make William Shatner and Adam West proud. Good performance I've got to say, but wait til you get a load of BD's daughter.
Young actress Chloe Grace Moretz plays Mindy Macready/ Hit-Girl, Big Daddy's "Baby Girl" who completely steals the movie's spotlight with her moves and kick-assery! Much like her comic book counterpart, Hit-Girl is the character that makes Kick-Ass work, and as adorable looking as the 11 year old lady looks, you DO NOT want to mess with her. Her knowledge of using guns and the balisong thanks to her daddy's training comes a long way, and unlike the comics, she gets a lot of great action scenes that pay tribute to a number of games and movies people will probably recognize outright. I love Hit-Girl, and she made this movie totally awesome to watch.
Another familiar Hollywood face who last appeared alongside Robert Downey Jr. in Sherlock Holmes is actor Mark Strong, who breaths new life into the role of Frank D'Amico, a mob boss who was not such an intimidating villain in the Kick-Ass comics, but becomes a serious threat with some serious martial arts skills to show for it in the movie adaptation. D'Amico mixes his calm and organized nature with some aggression and frustration, and that adds a new layer to the character that was just another punk waiting to get his ass kicked by the right person. He's not all ruthless, however, as he shows a father side to his "strictly business" attitude with his son Chris D'Amico, played by Christopher Charles Mintz-Plasse.
A comic book reader himself, Chris actually respects Kick-Ass in this film unlike his comic book counterpart, but also takes on the role of Red Mist to draw out the hero and impress his father in relation to the mob killings. He's not so much the Harry Osborn type of guy, but that soon becomes apparent by the end of this film that Kick-Ass has gained a new enemy instead of an ally in the superhero business.
Kick-Ass Red Band Trailer
Co-produced by Brad Pitt and co-written by the actual comic book's creators, Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. themselves, the movie adaptation of Kick-Ass does more than good, it really KICKS ASS. Tons of actions, lots of nods to other films and videogames, and great acting and comedy only serve the film well. Even if it deviates from the comics and improvises on certain scenes, it's fresh enough to feel great about this movie, especially on the changes made to Dave and the characters around him. True, it won't replace that feeling of awesomeness I got the first time I read the comics, but Kick-Ass The Movie is another great experience for the comic book/ action movie lover. This is certainly looking like a sleeper hit to many who don't know about the premise of this film, but if you be curious enough to give it a try, rest assured, it WILL KICK YOUR ASS.
Did anyone like Ghost Rider? Yeah, the 2007 film starring Nicholas Cage as the titular character? I guess not that many people would remember it these days, but it was one of the many anticipated films that viewers wanted to see prior to Spider-Man 3's release.
Over two years since the movie came out, I still find it hard to believe that I actually enjoyed it... for the effects at least. It was one of those movies that looked kick ass from the trailers because of the character - one of Marvel Comics' dark and cool supernatural creations. Once I saw the movie though... I tried too hard to enjoy it. Every conceivable flaw that people saw was overlooked by me, and I tried to be optimistic about Cage's acting - which is decent, but nothing hardcore to say the least.
The premise was simple - A stunt daredevil biker named Johnny Blaze makes a deal with the demon Mephisto in order to save his Dad. Unfortunately, the deal turns sour and Johnny gets more than he bargained for when he gets turned into the Ghost Rider. As a Spirit Of Vengeance, Ghost Rider's mission was to punish and bring judgment to whoever committed unspoken acts of evil... but under Mephisto's leash and contr He eventually turned against Mephisto, and has since waged a war against him and those that would do evil to others.
So in the end, the film was... B-movie quality at best. It had a poor and predictable plot for one thing, and the villains were pansies who fell easily to the Rider's powers as compared to the baddies we saw in the Spider-Man and X-men films. Even the supporting characters were given less screen time, most especially the "other" Ghost Rider, Carter Slade. Things were treated more like a comedy rather than a dark tragedy, and even the romance was downplayed. In short - we got a lot of Nic Cage and less of the brutality found in the comics. The ride was fun... but not thrilling enough.
With the first film in the books, it wasn't long before talks of a sequel were up on the horizon. The filmmakers were ambivalent about such a thing happening... but not Nic Cage. As a comic book fan himself, he's very much invested in trying to pitch a new Ghost Rider movie, and MTV.com just posted a story about the actor's progress. He's still looking for a writer and a director to help him make the film... but it won't be a sequel. Cage is looking towards the lines of a "reboot" for the franchise, and his adventures will take him to Europe, where the Rider will team up with the Catholic Church to do battle with the forces of evil. This is just an idea up the air, but if this manages to fly, then I sincerely hope that GR2 will please fans more than the first film did.
