Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

I went into Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance with pretty low expectations and came out pleasantly surprised!
For those of you who read my blog regularly, you'll have noticed I've been giving predominately high scores to the movies I've been reviewing. Fear not - Spirit of Vengeance is no classic!
Like any film-goer on a budget, I try my best to avoid seeing bad movies at the cinema. I do have a particular fondness for comic-related movies and most will have noticed a steady flow of comic-related features appearing at theatres of late!
I think my interest goes beyond mere fandom though. Being a creator myself, I believe it's the process by which these stories have been brought to life, which interests me most. The collaborative act of adapting that which was once on the page - the genesis of which was born in the imagination.
This new incarnation of Ghost Rider has very little to do with the 2007 feature. We join the character of Johnny Blaze(the Ghost Rider) in Eastern Europe - living a transient lifestyle with no attachments. He rides across the continent, his curse in tow - punishing those unlucky enough to cross his path.
The devil is in town however - and he's chosen a boy to embody, as his current 'shell' has grown weary. Johnny is propositioned by a man named Moreau, who has sworn to protect the boy. In return for his help, Moreau promises to free Johnny of his curse.
Spirit of Vengeance isn't so much a sequel to the 2007 original as just another story featuring the same lead character(and actor). It's less commercial and more inventive than it's predecessor. This time the 'Rider' and his motorcycle are more organic - blackened and charred, belching thick smoke into the air. Quite different to the polished, 'Hot Rod' aesthetic of the first.
Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor are the directors this time and their background in action-movies is evident. Neveldine and Taylor have successfully re-created the crazy spectacle of a comic 'splash page' with this film. Most sequences are built from visuals indicative of comic-book art. Unfortunately many of these shots were pinched for the trailer, leaving few surprises for the viewer.
One of the few things that wasn't really evident in the trailer is the sprinkling of humour throughout. There is many a chuckle to be had in Spirit of Vengeance. Often dry and somewhat kooky, the humour breaks up the action and reminds us all, despite the apocalyptic visuals and doom-laden mood, we are in fact here to have a good time - not unlike a roller coaster!
Spirit of Vengeance doesn't raise the bar for comic-book movies, nor does it do very much to challenge it's audience. What it does do is entertain for a couple of hours. It's a simple yet engaging story, featuring a fearsome iconic character. The 'Ghost Rider' looks and feels just at home on screen as he does in the comic-books - 3/5.