Batman & Robin, Superman IV: Quest for Peace, Catwoman – will Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance go down as being worse than these films? The movie comes out this weekend, so we’ll just have to wait and see how the cinema going population responds to Ghost Rider. While we wait, there are a few bits of evidence we can look at.

First, what did the critics think? Turning to RottenTomatoes, the movie is sitting at 12% (with the sample size at 25 reviews, at the time of this writing). Comparing it to the movies listed above, Ghost Rider eeks out ahead of Catwoman and Superman IV. Both at 10%. Batman & Robin fairs a bit better with 15%. We still have a bit to go before making it definitive, however. Here are some of the review snippets from the contributors…

“Let’s just say good judgment’s not my forte,” quips Cage at one point, although the line can also be applied in a broader sense.” – Robbie Collin (Daily Telegraph)

“There’s a fine line between jarring and unwatchable that Ghost Rider Spirit of Vengeance gleefully straddles which might make one wonder who exactly was meant to enjoy this experience.” – Edward Douglas (Comingsoon.net)

“Spirit Of Vengeance is madder than a line of designer guinea pig pyjamas and possesses the energy of a pre-schooler on a diet of candy floss and insulin shots.” – Jordan Farley (SFX Magazine)

Critics aren’t always a great barometer of a movie’s worth, however. Citizen Kane was critically panned by many back in the proverbial day. So how does the general public feel about Spirit of Vengeance? Turning to Twitter, most of the responses seem to match the critics…

Now we come to my reaction, which is what you’ve really been waiting for – right?

It’s hard to quantify how bad I thought this movie was, as I saw it at a free screening last night. I almost walked out of it; that’s right, leaving a movie I was able to see for free. What’s really impressive is I can usually like bad movies. I’m the first to plop on the couch and watch those awful B-movies on Netflix, or turn it to ScyFy to watch some mutant animal fighting another mutant animal. Even the silly aspects of this movie aren’t entertaining enough to carry it.

Instead of seeing this movie, I would suggest watching these YouTube videos instead. Collectively, they basically represent what Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance is all about (bad Nicholas Cage acting, bad Nicholas Cage facial expressions, and awful puns)…

What’s really sad about this movie is it features one of my favorite up-and-coming actors, Idris Elba. It’s awful that this movie represents his worst performance of his career so far. What is also very depressing, is how Ghost Rider could make such a great movie. All that the formula requires is amazing supernatural fights, with plenty of hellfire for our eyes to ogle at; the movie even comes up short in this regard. There are maybe two scenes which really displayed visceral, other-worldly elements. Most of the time Ghost Rider just faces throw-away gangsters, and at no point does the movie present a sense of worry or anticipation.

I would say the movie provided me with a worse feeling than all the movies I listed above. Superman IV & Batman/Robin have the novelty factor in their favor, which this might have ten or so years from now. However, on one cold night in February, a movie presented me with a worse feeling than Catwoman ever did.

In conclusion, I’ll leave you with a few tidbits you can look forward to if you decide to watch it this weekend.

[WARNING: SPOILERS]

– If you see this movie, a random picture of Jerry Springer will flash on the screen for no reason at all.

– Ghost Rider will urinate fire at two different points during the movie, because one scene of fire urination isn’t enough.

– Not one non-humanoid villain for Ghost Rider to fight at all. The one villain with super-powers is just some actor with white make-up, and bleach blonde hair. That’s right, a movie about a super hero with demonic powers will only fight humans in the movie.

– For those who have kept up with the comic book series throughout the years should know that the story is a bastardized version of the Johnny/Danny arc. Where nothing that was great about their dynamic is present at all.

– The Nicholas Cage factor is at 10 the entire movie. We’re talking along the same lines as The Wicker Man. I’d wager that we will see a Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance compilation video soon after the movie releases. I’d recommend waiting for that.