Review-Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

Nicholas Cage is back as Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider in the new film Ghost Rider:Spirit of Vengeance. This sequel to the 2007 film finds Johnny hiding from the world to avoid unleashing the Rider. He still suffers with this "curse" from the deal he made with the devil to save his father. When a man named Moreau (Idris Elba) offers him a way to lift his curse, he comes out of hiding. His job is to locate and protect a boy from Roarke(Ciaran Hinds), aka the devil. The movie has a good amount of pyrotechnics graphics and Nicholas Cage being Nicholas Cage. If you like the first one, you will have a better shot of liking the second one. The movie almost seems like a good direct to video(or indie film) sequel than a straight up theatrical release. The budget of the movie will show at times compare to that of the first film. I did like the direction of the film(the directors were Neveldine/Taylor, the directors of the Crank movies) and had some really cool scenes. If you blink, you will miss appearances of two stars of sci-fi lore.
P.S. There is no need to watch this in 3D.

Review-Safe House

Safe House is the lastest action/drama film starting Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds. The story focuses on Tobin Frost(Washington), an ex CIA operative wanted for espionage and treason. For reasons known only to him, he surrenders and is taken to a safe house. When things go awry, it is up to CIA agent Matt Weston(Reynolds) to deliver Frost safely to face the crimes that he has committed. On the surface, Safe House looks like a carbon copy of action dramas like Man on Fire, Smokin' Aces and Broken Arrow. When you look beyond that, you get a good solid entry into that movie genre. The movie, underneath it all, is a very good morality play. It lets you see both sides of the coin while they are wrestling with each other. It is because of this and the great acting of its stars that I can recommend this film. There are visuals and sounds in here, especially the last twenty minutes, that gives even more weight to the theme of the movie.