What's the deal with Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengance?

Sequel? Reboot? Nobody involved in this movie has given a definitive answer to what this movie is.

Editorial Opinion
By ironpool007 - Jul 28, 2011 05:07 AM EST
Filed Under: Ghost Rider

So, Comic Con has come and gone. One of the big movies to have a presence there was Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengance. But what exactly is this movie? Is it a sequel or a reboot?

Sure Nicolas Cage is returning as the rider, but scans of pics from the new issue of Empire show the rider looking very different. The skull, jacket, and motorcycle all look very different than how they did in the 1st movie. Despite Cage's involvement the different looks of things suggest that this is a reboot.

After that things get a little confusing concerning this film's status. Remember when Bryan Singer and Matthew Vaughn would talk about X-Men: First Class, and would classify it as something different in each interview? In one they would say that it's a prequel and leads up to the original trilogy. Other times they would say it was a reboot and a chance to start over. To this day, it's hard to say which it was. Now, I'm getting that same vibe with the new Ghost Rider movie.

If you ask Nicolas Cage, the answers you get tend to be all over the map. On one hand, he says the movie will have a new origin sequence, will have a darker, more nightmarish tone, and that he does not want to harken back to the 1st movie at all. He says that he wants to focus more on the rider than Blaze this time who will be more of a grizzled loner in this movie than the goofball he played in the 1st one. This would suggest its a reboot. On the other hand, he says he is proud of the 1st movie and that Blaze will be different because he has been living with the curse for a long time now. Bare in mind that this actually fits with the description we got of the movie when David Goyer pitched it. Goyer said that fans who hadn't seen the first one could watch this and understand it because it takes place many years after the 1st one. Of course he then said this movie would do for Ghost Rider what Casino Royale did for James Bond. All of that would suggest it that it is a sequel. But saying it will do for Ghost Rider what Casino Royale did for James Sugests a reboot.

Finally the film's directors themselves have not provided a clear answer as to what it will be. All they have said is that other than Nicolas Cage, everything else will be different. They then jokingly try to figure out whether to call it a sequel or a reboot, finally settling on the made up word, requel. It should also be noticed that one of the logos used resembles that of the original, while all others look completely different.

At the end of the day,I wil still watch this movie in theaters. I'll take it for what it is and enjoy it. It would just be nice to get some clarification.

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CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 7/28/2011, 5:20 AM
I really hope this isn't the new trend, directors and writers confusing the audiences into not knowing what kind of movie they're making.

When they do a little of both, to me, it looks like they're trying to make a prequel, but do a bad job because of all the inconcistencies. Look at First Class. As its own movie, sure it was good. But it was also full of crap that doesn't fit with the original trilogy.

Incredible Hulk is a little different because the only similarity is the fact that it started in the same city as Ang Lee's Hulk ended. EVERYTHING else was different from his origin, characters, and no events from the first carried over. So its a lot easier to just say its a coincidence that Hulk is in that city at the beginning of IH.

anyway, I HOPE this movie is good and not full of all the cheese from the first one taht totally dumbed down the character. Also, Nick Cage is all wrong for Blaze...
ironpool007
ironpool007 - 7/28/2011, 7:10 AM
I never really looked at The Incredible Hulk as a reboot to be honest. It was a Marvel Studios film where as The Hulk was owned by Universal. The only common link they have is Universal since they distributed The Incredible Hulk. Otherwise, I simply saw The Incredible Hulk being just the vision Marvel Studios had for the character with the things they shared I'm common being coincidence.
ironpool007
ironpool007 - 7/28/2011, 7:16 AM
Unfortunately though, I fear confusing the audience is a new trend. Why directors and writers who don't know how to categorize their movies get hired is puzzling. Hopefully Nelvedine and Taylor can bring that insane vibe from the Crank series to this movie. And I think Cage has learned his lesson and will gives us a better Blaze but more importantly more badass Ghost Rider. Time will tell.
Paulley
Paulley - 7/28/2011, 7:16 AM
The Incredible Hulk - Main continuity
HULK - alternate world one-shot.

no relation

depending on what happens with the Ghost Rider movies you can say the same... not that it matters it aint part of the MCU so they can do what they like with there continuity

CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 7/28/2011, 9:18 AM
@ ironpool and paulley

yeah, i'm with you guys, but there are people to this day that will argue to the death that Incredible Hulk is a sequel. Despite what the creators said, lol.
naterator
naterator - 7/28/2011, 10:47 AM
I had no problem with TIH....it was a great movie and to an extent DID feel like a sequel although we all know that it was only partially a sequel....they did it in a way that felt natural.
As for GR i think it could be done in the same fashion. This movie wont be an origin movie...hes bee living with this curse for years...maybe this could explain why his skull is black and not white in this movie...over time his look would change..right? Anyway, if they did it right then they could make it feel more like a sequel than a reboot and i think thats what peoploe are going to prefer in the long run...a sequel ...not another origin story.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 7/28/2011, 11:12 AM
@ nate

but they said it would show a quick origin and that it would be different
naterator
naterator - 7/28/2011, 11:16 AM
Yeah they did the same thing with TIH....there WERE differences....but in the HULK he fled to SOUTH AMERICA and in TIH thats where the military found him. There were certain elements that make it feel kinda like a sequel even tho it wasnt entirely.
BigK1337
BigK1337 - 7/28/2011, 6:10 PM
I suppose the only way to enjoy this new Ghost Rider movie (if it turns out better than the last) is to erase memories of the first Ghost Rider movie, Clockwork Orange style.

But if the movie turns out bad; well forget Clockwork Orange, this movie is going to bash the hell out of by the fans.
BigK1337
BigK1337 - 7/28/2011, 6:12 PM
Damn, made a typo in the last sentence; I meant to say, "the fans are going to bash the hell out of this movie".

Yyyyeah, somebody needs to start a pettition to CBM about bringing back the edit button.
ironpool007
ironpool007 - 7/28/2011, 7:45 PM
I typed this entire edotorial on my iphone. I've never done one on it before. Anybody heard the Red Hot Chili Pepper's new single yet The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie?

have a listen...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8QoB3sifzw
Ghostt
Ghostt - 7/28/2011, 8:09 PM
I think this is ok. They are saying, "we [frick]ed up the first film. We see where we [frick]ed up, lets do it right this time." This should be good, because the first one had potential.
CaptainDC
CaptainDC - 7/29/2011, 9:14 AM
I really hope this film can work, but for some reason I just cannot see this working out. The first one wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great. We need to see a breakthrough, because if not, I'm afraid this franchise is going no where.
sexymuppet
sexymuppet - 7/29/2011, 9:23 AM
penis
Moonwalker1991
Moonwalker1991 - 7/29/2011, 12:33 PM
Reboot. WITHOUT NICOLAS CAGE!!! This needs to be a reboot.
Moonwalker1991
Moonwalker1991 - 7/29/2011, 12:37 PM
Captain DC, this "franchise" won't be going anywhere as long as we got grandpa Nicolas Cage playing Johnny Blaze who is like a generation younger than him. Like Daredevil, Ghost Rider has potential if done right. I really want to enjoy a Ghost Rider film, but with Cage on board again after the crappy other one, why not just start fresh with a YOUNGER cast. Gee what a concept.
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