The first GHOST RIDER was pretty much a huge disappointment. I mean how can you make a guy with a flaming skull suck, I don’t know but director Mark Steven Johnson somehow managed it.
But the new production GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT oF VENGEANCE actually seems hopeful with Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor the men behind CRANK. Sadly, though, with the mild success of the original at the box office Columbia Pictures have decided to allot only half the budget of first film with $75 million compared t the $135 million Johnson previously played with.
The official reason for the budget cut is apparently due to the production company being stretched capital wise with other comic related projects that are better money spinners.
I happen to think that it’s a good thing that the budgets smaller. The directing duo having been creating fantastically energetic films with the CRANK series and GAMER, each having budgets around $12 million.
They are highly resourceful which having a smaller budget will help them to be even more resourceful. Also, GHOST RIDER always seemed to me to be a film that would best suit a grittier, grindhouse-esque, production and style.
Whatever the effects that a budget slash will have, I’m still optimistic about what Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor will come up with.
GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE will hit the theatres 17 Feb 2012
