Nothing edifies the soul like an endless barrage of CGi fire. Remember when you'd come home from school in your wool cap, set your knapsack down in the chilly den, and Mother would crank up computer-animated flames in the plasma-screen hearth? Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance understands and would like to add a few more soul-tickling items to your precious memories: Nicolas Cage's terrifying gaze, leather jackets, and fire pee. Serious.
Well. Forget that Nicolas Cage and his leathery ensemble/aflame chopper look like an emblem on an expensive bowling ball; let's discuss the pee-pee pyro. There at the end. You may assume the movie is going for somewhat sincere thrills early on -- especially when Cage is breathing fire like Dhalsim from Street Fighter II -- so the America's Funniest Home Videos piss hilarity might not fit on first glance. Then you remember that Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance comes from Crank impresarios Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, and it sorta makes sense. How an Oscar-winner and relative to the Coppola family fits here, however, does not. This is a "Don't ask questions" sort of trailer, though, so move on.
Frankly, every once in awhile, it's fun to see a Hot Topic t-shirt skull come to life and spew CGi majesty, no? I'm guessing this is the Sex and the City 2 of fiery skull pictures -- utterly self-indulgent, maddeningly stupid, and kickass to watch drunk. I am THERE.
VERDICT: Captain Corelli's Piddlin'
Watch the trailer in HD (highly recommended) over at Apple.