[From MTV Splash Page] "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" is very much a movie for me. As a fan of co-directors Mark Neveldine and Bryan Taylor well before their Marvel adaptation, and as a fan of Nicolas Cage's signature brand of over-the-top performances, "Spirit of Vengeance" was a movie that worked for me on every level — or, at least, on the important ones.

That said, I am the first to admit that it's not a movie for everyone. Its 17% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes says it, too. With that statistic in mind, perhaps it's not surprising to hear that Cage is done making "Ghost Rider" movies.

"I think the ship has sailed on that one," Cage told MTV News at the recent press junket for "The Croods," his new animated movie from Fox and DreamWorks Animation. "At least with me involved."

Read the rest of the article at MTV Splash Page.

Warner Bros.

This week: After the blockbuster success of the first film, it was elementary that Robert Downey Jr. would return as the world's greatest sleuth and master of disguise in "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows," costarring Jude Law, Noomi Rapace and Jared Evans.

Also new this week is Nicolas Cage's return as Johnny Blaze in "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance," Thandie Newton in "Tyler Perry's Good Deeds," the harrowing World War II foreign drama "In Darkness," and the Blu-ray debut of "Meatballs" with Bill Murray.

'Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows'

Warner Home Video

Box Office: $187 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 61% Fresh
Storyline: Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) meets his intellectual match in Professor Moriarty (Jared Evans), the evil mastermind behind a plot to start a World War for his own benefit. In an attempt to outmaneuver his formidable foe, Holmes steals Dr. Watson (Jude Law) away from his honeymoon, also enlisting the help of a gypsy fortune teller (Noomi Rapace).
Extras! The interactive picture-in-picture Maximum Movie Mode on the Blu-ray is hosted by Downey Jr., who walks you through the film's focus points.
We Say: Downey Jr. and Evans bring the brains as perfectly matched adversaries, while director Guy Ritchie's highly stylized action sequences will engage viewers still game for seeing the famous detective updated as an action hero.

'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance'

Sony

Box Office: $52 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 18% Rotten
Storyline: Nicolas Cage reprises his role as Johnny Blaze, who, struggling with his curse of being the devil's bounty hunter, has the opportunity to save a young boy and thereby free himself from the Rider forever.
Extras! Exclusive to the Blu-ray is a 90-minute "making of" feature, broken into six parts, that covers all aspects of the production.
We Say: Although described as a reboot, this semi-sequel is grittier and darker in tone than the first "Ghost Rider." It features another wonderfully loony performance by Cage, such as when he resists changing into the Rider in much the same way Dr. Banner resisted transforming into the Hulk. The herky-jerky camerawork by the guys who directed "Crank" can be jarring, but the flaming finale sizzles -- especially on the Blu-ray 3-D edition.

'Tyler Perry's Good Deeds'

Lionsgate

Box Office: $35 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 32% Rotten
Storyline: Tyler Perry plays a corporate boss who has always done what is expected of him, including proposing to his restless girlfriend (Gabrielle Union) and tolerating his brother's unprofessional antics in the office. It is there that Perry has a chance encounter with a down-on-her-luck single mother (Thandie Newton), working as a cleaning woman, who sparks something life-changing in him.
Extras! Both the DVD and Blu-ray contain two featurettes that explore the central themes of the film, including how important it is to understand those in different social circles.
We Say: There are good intentions at the heart of "Good Deeds," but the tidy way this woman-in-trouble rescue fantasy plays out is just too implausible, even for fans of this kind of Lifetime-caliber melodrama.

'In Darkness'

Sony

Box Office: $1 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 90% Fresh
Storyline: Based on a true events, this Oscar-nominated Polish drama tells the story of Leopold Socha, a sewer worker in Nazi-occupied Lwów who used his knowledge of the city's sewer system to hide Jews during the Holocaust.
Extras! Both the DVD and Blu-ray contain a meaningful meeting between director Agnieszka Holland and Holocaust survivor Krystyna Chiger.
We Say: Equal parts horrifying and moving, this arduous art-house drama is a testament to man's drive to survive even in the most hopeless situations.

'Meatballs' Blu-ray

Lionsgate

Box Office: $43 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 71% Fresh
Storyline: Bill Murray made his feature-film debut as Tripper, the wisecracking, rule-breaking head counselor of the cut-rate Camp North Star, in this 1979 Ivan Reitman-directed comedy classic. It's Murray's show as Tripper plays pranks, flirts shamelessly with female counselors and schemes against the wealthy brats of Camp Mohawk.
Extras! This Blu-ray debut features all-new commentary by Reitman and co-writer/producer Dan Goldberg.
We Say: Although the franchise name has been tarnished by three sequels that had nothing to do with Reitman or Murray, this original PG-rated romp still offers fun in the sun that looks more vibrant than ever in high definition.

Also New This Week:

"Too Big to Fail"
"A Little Bit of Heaven"
"Harold and Maude" Blu-ray
"Thin Ice"
"Don't Go in the Woods"

You know that Idris Elba is the star of "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance." But did you also know that he's an ambassador for the upcoming London Olympics?

Elba takes his position of ambassador very seriously and believes in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. He's also been concerned about all of the "fat journalists" who ask "lazy questions" that he's been encountering while doing publicity for both "Ghost Rider" and the Olympics -- enough that he's taken it on himself to start a hardcore workout and training program especially for people like MTV's own Josh Horowitz.

It's not easy to train with Idris Elba. Watch as he pushes Josh to his physical, emotional and mental limits in sprinting, wrestling and fencing on MTV After Hours.

Universal

This week's box office winner is still up in the air thanks to a three way virtual tie for first place, with "The Vow," "Safe House" and "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" battling it out for the top spot.

Holdovers "Safe House" ($23.9 million) and "The Vow" ($23.6 million) appeared to have a slight edge over newcomer "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" ($22 million), but with the figures still being estimates at this point, any one of the three could emerge victorious when all is said and done.

For the full weekend report, including strong showings from "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" and "This Means War," head to Hollywood.com.

Filmmakers Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor know all about pumping up the voltage, having helmed "Crank" and its sequel "Crank: High Voltage." But directing Nicolas Cage in "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" was a new experience altogether, because they got to play with fire. Lots of it.

We caught up with Neveldine and Taylor at New York Comic Con, where they revealed just how many bodily orifices can emit flames, as well as those pesky "Nicolas Cage is a vampire" rumors and which Journey songs inspired their flame-filled shoot.

Columbia Pictures

Dynamic directorial duo Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor are known for Rollerblading through action scenes with disposable consumer-grade camcorders, and now they're applied that extreme DIY spirit to the world of big-budget comic book movies with "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance."

Nicolas Cage is back with another wackadoo performance in a weird haircut, and the footage promises to take things up a notch or two from the last outing of the possessed hero.

1. Seems the Ghost Rider can turn any machinery into a flaming death dealer. Perhaps next time, a Toyota Prius?

2. These glimpses of action prove our hero is a ghostface killah.

3. Idris Elba takes things down to the wire.

4. But wait, if you lift the curse, then there's no "Ghost Rider 3," "Ghost Rider 4" or "Ghost Rider: Babies"!

5. Some cool long and lingering fetish shots of that flaming bike for all you motorheads out there.

Columbia Pictures

This weekend, "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" is motorcycling to multiplexes across the country. Along with flaming asphalt, it will no doubt leave great controversy in the geekazoid community. Is it a fun B-picture offering a heavy dose of Crazy Nic Cage and frenzied Neveldine/Taylor camerawork? Or is a mess on wheels that makes the first "Ghost Rider" look like "Iron Man"?

I leave it to you to hammer this argument out, but there's one thing that's absolutely for certain: Nicolas Cage's fanboy cred.

The two-time Johnny Blaze doesn't just own an Academy Award statuette; he's got the heart of an unrepentant comic-book nerd, and he doesn't care who knows it. In case you weren't aware, let us detail the ways in which Nic Cage is Hollywood's A-list dork.

He Has a Secret Identity

Getty Images

Nicolas Cage wasn't born this way. When he appears in "Let's stay up all night drinking Milwaukee's Best and see the 11 a.m. showing" movies like "Season of the Witch" and "Bangkok Dangerous," know that "Nicolas Cage" is just the face he wants you to see. The man's true identity is Nicolas Coppola. Yes, that kind of Coppola.

Francis is his uncle, Sofia is his cousin and Jason Schwartzman is his cousin on Talia "Yo, Adrian" Shire's side. He assumed the different identity to try and play down notions of nepotism, which kinda didn't work considering his first big roles were in Uncle Francis' "Rumble Fish," "The Cotton Club" and "Peggy Sue Got Married."

Where'd he get the idea for the name Cage, you ask? From the house of ideas, of course. He was inspired by Marvel Comics' Luke Cage.

He Has a Fortress of Solitude

Getty Images

All a fanboy really wants in life is a secret lair. Preferably with a giant screen hooked up to a computer where you can monitor your effect on the outside world. (In Cage's case, a Blu-ray of "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" will suffice.)

Our hero Nic Cage has had multiple HQs in his day. The three most badass were the "haunted" LaLaurie House in New Orleans' French Quarter (!), the Schloss Neidstein Castle in Oberpfalz Germany (!!) and an entire freakin' island off the Exumas Archipelago near the Bahamas (!!!).

And what does he keep in these no doubt highly secure and technologically advanced abodes? He keeps comics!

He Collects Comics (and Dinosaurs)

In 2011 Nicolas Cage sold an Action Comics #1 for $2.16 million. (He needed the dough because all of his awesome lairs were getting expensive.) Back in 2002 he had an auction of other prize Golden Age comics like Detective Comics #38 (with the first appearance of Robin) and All-Star Comics #3 (with the first team-up of the Justice Society).

Cage doesn't just have a killer stash of funnybooks, though. He also spent $266,000 on the skull of a Tarbosaurus dinosaur. Why? Because Cosmic Cubes aren't real, that's why.

He's a Kryptonian at Heart

With all this love of nerdery, you begin to understand why Cage is pumped to get back on his hog for "Ghost Rider 2." But his commitment to superheroes doesn't end there.

Also Check Out: Nicolas Cage Is Sexy and He Knows It

Never forget that he was one thin pair of Underoos away from playing the Man of Steel in the mid-1990s. That's right, the ill-fated Tim Burton version of "Superman Lives!" (with the Kevin Smith script) had Nic Cage attached as the Big Blue Boy Scout.

Lionsgate

Cage more than made up for it. He played Big Daddy, a badass Batman on speed in Matthew Vaughn's version of Mark Millar's "Kick-Ass" (which has got to be 10 times better than that "Superman" ever would have been) ... and he NAMED HIS SON KAL-EL. Yes, that's right, somewhere in one of those fantastic domiciles is a six-year-old kid named Kal-El Cage. You know that Daddy Nic is prepping teaching crystals for him during breaks on whatever film he's working on.

From an earlier marriage Cage sired another son, Westin, and it looks like he caught the nerd bug, too. Father and son collaborated on a comic in 2007 called "Voodoo Child" for Virgin Comics. (Yeah, I haven't read it either.)

Want more? Hell, the name of his production company is Saturn Films, which means he's a great big science-fiction dork, too! He even married Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of the closest thing this country has ever had to a real superhero. They split up a few months later, but Superman didn't stay dead for long, either. He probably considered it a one-shot.

So this is all the proof I need. Maybe "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" stinks, maybe it rules; but I think we can all agree that Nic Cage really means it. Being a fanboy is part of his very essence.

Come back every Thursday for more intergalactic musings on Planet Fanboy and follow its fearless leader Jordan Hoffman on Twitter!

Columbia Pictures

Over-the-top directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor have got the spirit inside them … the "Spirit of Vengance," that is.

Notoriously quick on their feet, these guys are just now dropping the "Ghost Rider" sequel and they're already talking about a third one. They sure can "Crank" 'em out, can't they?

The team known simply as Neveldine/Taylor, prone to strapping on rollerblades, grabbing a camcorder and getting into the action themselves, have told The Playlist that discussions are already underway for more flaming insanity.

"There's been talk about [a sequel]," Neveldine said. "I know Nic[olas Cage] wants to do it, he's very pumped about it. We'll just to see how well [this] does."

"He's such an incredible force," adds Taylor regarding the equally crazy Cage. "When you've got a weapon like that, you don't want to leave anything on the table."

There's also discussion of getting cockney superstar Jason Statham back as the adrenaline-fueled Chev Chelios for "Crank 3-D," and the boys insist they're fueled by "Beer, tequila, talking about ideas, doing whatever the f**k we want to do, and trying to push it through the system."

Then, in a moment of brilliant creative synergy, they offer an idea to kill two birds with one stone, perhaps literally knowing them.

"Maybe Chev Chelios versus Ghost Rider," Taylor offers. "But you can't kill Chev."

Getty Images

It's impossible not to notice Italian actress Violante Placido. She possesses the kind of stunning beauty that makes men forget their names, particularly if she's showing off her considerable natural gifts in a movie like "The American."

After her scene-stealing performance opposite George Clooney, it's no wonder Hollywood came calling again to offer her a sexy role in the action sequel "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance." Placido plays the kind of fiercely protective mother who would gladly put a bullet in you if it meant saving her kid. With her alluring charm and acting pedigree, Placido should be a household name in no time.

Age: 35

Hometown: Rome, Italy

What She's Done: Placido started acting as a teenager in her native Italy, appearing in more than 30 film and television projects there. She made her Hollywood movie debut playing an Italian prostitute whom George Clooney's character employs and then falls for in the 2010 hit-man thriller "The American." Anyone who saw the film will remember their steamy, skin-bearing love scenes.

What She's Doing Now: She's the female lead in the Nicolas Cage-starring action sequel "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance." Placido plays Nadya, a Romanian mother whose young son Danny is wanted by the devil (Ciaran Hinds). Nadya, who has a secret dark past, must accept help from Johnny Blaze (Cage), the devil's bounty hunter, to protect Danny from evil.

Also Check Out: New "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" Trailer Is on Fire

Reminds Us of: The curvy Italian import exudes sexuality like French actress Eva Green. She also has the same beautiful-but-badass appeal of Charlize Theron and Angelina Jolie. And although we don't use this comparison lightly, we can't help but consider her a possible successor to the queen of Italian sex symbols, Sofia Loren.

Fun Facts: Placido isn't just an actress, she's a singer-songwriter who released the 10-track album "Don't Be Shy" (under the name Viola) in 2006.

Quotable: "My parents never pushed me to be an actress. You can come from a family of actors, and sometimes there have been families that grow you up as an actor, but this wasn’t my situation. It’s very important to find your own way because it’s something you then have to confront yourself," she told Indie London.

View Gallery »

What's Next: Placido stars in her father's upcoming crime thriller "Le guetteur," or "The Lookout," starring French leading man Daniel Auteuil as a detective on a mission to find the sharpshooter (Mathieu Kassovitz) who ruined his elaborate plan to catch a ring of bank robbers.

Columbia Pictures

You know Nicolas Cage the actor. But do you know Nicolas Cage the one-man cover band?

The "Seeking Justice" star recently appeared on Capital Breakfast, a show on UK radio station 95-106 Capital FM, and ended up treating the hosts and listeners to his own a cappella version of "Sexy and I Know It," the hit single by electro-rap duo LMFAO (and what BuzzFeed calls "one of the most popular/annoying songs of the millennium").

Cage was on the show to promote his upcoming second turn as Johnny Blaze in "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" (pictured) and obliged a request from a listener to perform the song (though, admittedly, it's funnier if you don't have any context for this stirring and otherwise completely random rendition whatsoever).

The new "Ghost Rider" doesn't hit theaters until Feb. 17, so might there still be time to have this playing over the closing credits?

Listen to Cage croon below, courtesy of Capital FM, and thanks to BuzzFeed for the find.

Universal

2011 is almost at an end, but while we're sorry to say goodbye to a year that brought us so many great films, we're just as excited for what the future brings us. After all, "Harry Potter" might be over, but "The Dark Knight Rises," 'The Avengers," "The Hunger Games" and the final installment of "Twilight" are all on the horizon. And that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to big blockbuster events.

So today, instead of looking back, let's look forward -- to the 50 movies we can't wait to see in 2012. Because we have a feeling that this might just be the best year for movies yet.

'The Woman in Black'

CBS Films

Release Date: February 3
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Janet McTeer, Ciaran Hinds
The Scoop: Daniel Radcliffe may have spent the last 10 years as the Boy Who Lived, but in his first post-"Harry Potter" film he may just become the Man Who Dies. That's because "The Woman in Black" is a creepy gothic horror story based on the popular novel of the same name by author Susan Hill. Getting himself out from under "Harry Potter"s' long shadow is likely to be a tough task, but if he can survive this film -- both plot-wise and in terms of fan expectations -- Radcliffe may be with us for the long haul.

'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance'

Columbia Pictures

Release Date: February 17
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Ciaran Hinds, Idris Elba
The Scoop: Five years ago, Nic Cage scored a surprise hit when he indulged his inner comic-book geek and made the low-budget, low-profile superhero/horror movie "Ghost Rider." Now he's back with a sequel that once again features him as stuntman Johnny Blaze, an unfortunate motorcycling guru who turns into a grim demon with a flaming skull whenever something needs avenging. Plot details are sketchy, but really, that's a bit beside the point, isn't it? Bonus: "Thor" supporting player Idris Elba pops up for another comic-book bit part. Someone get this guy a leading role already!

'Dr. Seuss' The Lorax'

Universal

Release Date: March 2
Starring: Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Danny DeVito
The Scoop: In terms of relevance, beloved Dr. Seuss story "The Lorax" is about as far from "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" as you can get, thanks to a timely ecological message about the importance of preserving the environment from man's destructive greed. Zac Efron and Taylor Swift provide the voices in this animated 3-D adaptation from the folks that brought the world "Despicable Me" last year. Now we know why they were so despicable -- they were cutting down the forest!

'Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters'

Getty Images

Release Date: March 2
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Peter Stormare
The Scoop: What happens when two kids get crammed into an oven by an evil witch bent on eating them up? Well, anyone who knows their fairy tales knows Hansel and Gretel eventually escape, but with "Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters," stars Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton show how childhood trauma can lead to a lifetime of mental issues -- and some serious, deadly retribution. Imagine "Van Helsing" with a lot more gingerbread and you've got a pretty good idea what to expect from this one.

'John Carter'

Disney

Release Date: March 9
Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Willem Dafoe, Lynn Collins, Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds
The Scoop: A movie literally a hundred years in the making, "John Carter" adapts the series of Edgar Rice Burroughs novels about a Civil War casualty who finds himself inexplicably resurrected on the surface of Mars, where he lands in the middle of another bloody war between varying Martian factions. Played by "Friday Night Lights" star Taylor Kitsch, John Carter also learns that he possesses amazing powers of strength and endurance owing to the planet's lower gravity, allowing him to become an unlikely superhero. It will be interesting to see if this film can jumpstart a franchise, especially since it's directed by Pixar's Andrew Stanton, who previously helmed "Wall-E" and "Finding Nemo."

'21 Jump Street'

Columbia TriStar

Release Date: March 16
Starring: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube
The Scoop: Back in the '80s, "21 Jump Street" became one of Fox Television's first big hits thanks to a catchy premise -- youthful looking cops are sent undercover into high schools to fight juvenile crime -- and a certain unknown actor named Johnny Depp. Two decades after the show ended, Jonah Hill has revived the franchise for this comedic take on the concept, with Channing Tatum playing his partner and Depp dropping in for an as-yet unknown cameo. Taking old TV hits and turning them into post-modern comedies has a pretty spotty history in Hollywood, but if anyone can do it, these guys can. You say "Jump Street"; we say "how high?"

'Mirror Mirror'

Relativity Media

Release Date: March 16
Starring: Lily Collins, Julia Roberts, Armie Hammer
The Scoop: Stars Lily Collins and Julia Roberts have their work cut out for them in this whimsical live-action take on the classic "Snow White" fairy tale. After all, "Snow White and the Huntsman" is also coming out in 2012, and it's been getting a lot of hype thanks to a certain someone named Kristen Stewart. Luckily, "Mirror Mirror" has a secret weapon, and no, we're not talking about slipping Stewart a poison apple; we're referring to director Tarsem Singh, who just wowed critics and audiences with the highly stylized action flick "Immortals." We're not sure this will be a hit, but with Singh giving "Mirror Mirror" his unique touch, we know one thing: It will be memorable, one way or another.

'The Hunger Games'

Lionsgate

Release Date: March 23
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
The Scoop: There's not a lot left to say about "The Hunger Games." Arguably the most anticipated film of the year, "The Hunger Games" has a huge and devoted fan base thanks to the wildly popular series of novels from author Suzanne Collins. So most people already know the story, which means the question is whether stars Jennifer Lawrence (as lead Katniss Everdeen), Josh Hutcherson (hunky do-gooder Peeta Mellark) and Liam Hemsworth (broody hunter Gale) can live up to those expectations. And in that game, our money is most definitely on Lawrence to win.

Also Check Out: MTV's Movie Smackdown 2012

'American Reunion'

Universal

Release Date: April 6
Starring: Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Seann William Scott
The Scoop: It's been a long time since the original cast of "American Pie" actually starred in one of the seemingly endless spin-offs from the franchise -- you could build a fort out of the straight-to-DVD releases --  but this time the whole gang is back. Does "American" still have a hankering for some good old-fashioned pie buggery, or has the world moved on to bigger, better and less sticky things? Either way, it will be good to reunite with these old movie friends one more time.

'Titanic 3D'

Paramount

Release Date: April 6
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane
The Scoop: It might be hard to remember now, but back when James Cameron was filming "Titanic," most people in Hollywood thought it was going to be an epic disaster (no pun intended). And then his decision to spend over a decade working on the 3-D CGI technology for "Avatar"? Also expected to be a disaster. Well, if that’s the case, then maybe we should put Cameron in charge of FEMA, because those happen to be the two biggest box-office hits of all time -- and now he's taking the best of both worlds and combining them for a special "Titanic 3D" re-release. Does the world need such a thing? At this point, if Cameron says we need it, we're going to assume we need it. Get ready to swoon all over again.

'The Five-Year Engagement'

Universal

Release Date: April 27
Starring: Jason Segel, Emily Blunt, Chris Pratt, Mindy Kaling
The Scoop: Once upon a time, people got engaged and then, you know, got married. These days, though, getting and staying engaged for years at a time is not uncommon, which makes this the perfect time for Jason Segel's newest rom-com, "The Five-Year Engagement." Segel and Emily Blunt star as a couple that intends to get married but keeps having the big day pushed back by, you know, life. Anything that gets the "Muppets" and "Forgetting Sarah Marshall' star back on the big screen  is good enough for us -- and if he wants to stay for five years, we wouldn't turn that down, either.

'The Avengers'

Marvel

Release Date: May 4
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson
The Scoop: The boldest blockbuster experiment in the history of Hollywood arrives at last when "The Avengers" hits the big screen. For the last few years, Marvel Studios has been meticulously setting the groundwork for the first real shared universe in movie history, and this is the result, with the stars of "Iron Man" (Robert Downy Jr.), "Thor" (Chris Hemsworth) and "Captain America" (Chris Evans) being joined by a new Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) for the most astonishing superhero adventure of all time. It doesn't get any bigger than this.

'Dark Shadows'

Warner Bros.

Release Date: May 11
Starring: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Eva Green
The Scoop: Johnny Depp has a message for all you "Twilight," "Underworld' and "True Blood" fans: The granddaddy of the vampire craze is back to show you whippersnappers how it's really done. That would be one Barnabas Collins, who turned vampires into a pop craze way back in the 1960s on the cult-hit, gothic soap opera "Dark Shadows." Of course, you don't need to know anything about ancient TV history to get psyched for this one; all you need to know is that "Dark Shadows" is directed by the legendary Tim Burton and stars Depp as a vampire. Let the lesson begin.

'The Dictator'

Paramount

Release Date: May 11
Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris, John C. Reilly
The Scoop: Following the controversial madness (and comedic genius) of "Borat" and the even more over-the-top (and more controversial) "Bruno," there's pretty much nothing Sacha Baron Cohen can do anymore that will shock people, right? Well ... funny thing. "The Dictator," which Paramount describes as "the heroic story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed," is reportedly based on a novel written by Saddam Hussein. We might be watching this one from between the fingers we have covering our eyes, but we'll be watching.

'Battleship'

Universal

Release Date: May 18
Starring: Alexander Skarsgard, Brooklyn Decker, Liam Neeson, Taylor Kitsch
The Scoop: "Clue" proved you could make a movie out of a board game, but we're still a little surprised by "Battleship," which is a big (really big) budget adaptation of the classic naval strategy game. Taylor Kitsch stars as a kid trying to make good in front of his new commanding officer (Liam Neeson) -- a guy who just happens to also be his future father-in-law. That sounds bad, but it's not as bad as aliens invading Earth's seas, which is what happens next. So will Hollywood manage to sink this "Battleship"? You'll have to wait until M-18 to find out.

'Men in Black III'

Sony

Release Date: May 25
Starring: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin
The Scoop: Back in the '90s, "Men in Black" was one of the biggest franchises around. Somewhere along the way, though, the series slipped through the cracks -- until now. Yes, 10 years after the last installment, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are back with their jokey take on alien invasions. This time around, there's a new twist: time travel, which gives Josh Brolin a chance to bust out the most dead-on Jones impersonation ever as the younger version of Agent K. Hey, if that's the result, we wish we'd get invaded by aliens a lot more often.

MORE: 50 Movies We Can't Wait to See in 2012 - Page 2 >>

Sony

Different superheroes have different ways of battling evil. Batman, for instance, uses his keen intellect and an array of high-tech gadgets to put himself one step ahead of the enemy, while Spider-Man's spider-sense, quick reflexes and his patented web-shooters allow him to do whatever a spider can. And Ghost Rider?

Well, he vomits fire in your face.

Yes, the most demonic "hero" in comics is back with a brand new trailer and it turns out that this time around, Nic Cage isn't just playing with fire -- he's puking it. Hey, you work with the tools you have.

First things first, though: "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance," which arrives on February 17, is the long-awaited sequel to Cage's surprise 2007 hit "Ghost Rider." And once again, Cage is back in the saddle of his iron horse as Johnny Blaze, a stuntman who, after making an ill-advised deal with the devil (is there any other kind?), becomes the mortal host for a demon bent on wreaking vengeance on "whoever's got it coming."

Unlike the first movie, though, which was mainly just an origin story, the sequel features a real plot, as Cage joins forces with "Thor's" Idris Elba to try and rescue a kid who is about to be turned into the mortal host for Satan. And when you're facing Lucifer himself, you don't just spit in the devil's eye -- you projectile vomit in it.

Check out the new trailer from Yahoo! Movies to see what we mean. And get excited, because "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" IS in 3-D:

Marvel/Disney

Think Comic-Con International in San Diego is the only comic book convention movie fans need to pay attention to? Well, think again, because New York Comic Con kicks off this Thursday -- and it's jam-packed with must-see events that will have movie fans on the edge of their seats.

Whether you're planning to attend in person or follow the event virtually (hint: We're going to have coverage right here, friends), New York Comic Con is one of the biggest movie events of the fall. So with that in mind, here are our picks for the can't-miss moments and personalities of the con.

Friday

• Mark Hamill isn't just beloved with fanboys for his role of "Star Wars" Jedi-in-training Luke Skywalker; he's also carved out a second career providing the voice of The Joker for DC's many video game and animation projects. He receives the spotlight treatment with his own panel on Friday night, then returns Saturday for a close-up look at his future projects.

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• Director Kevin Smith and actor Jason Mewes are better known to their fans as the foul-mouthed hetero life partners Jay and Silent Bob, and on Friday night you can sit in on a live performance of their "Jay and Silent Bob Get Old" podcast.
• There are hardcore "Harry Potter" fans, and then there are the truly hardcore: fans who engage in real-life wand duels. Adults can test their prowess at the "Harry Potter" Wand Dueling session on Friday night, while kids can get in on the action during a special all-ages throwdown on Sunday.
• MTV Comics -- yes, MTV makes comics -- has teamed up with no less than comic book legend Stan Lee for a brand new series, and Friday afternoon you can hear about the epic results from Lee himself.  Excelsior!
• Chad Michael Murray may be best known for his roles on zeitgeist-defining TV shows like "One Tree Hill," "Dawson's Creek" and "Gilmore Girls," but the popular actor has another career as well: comic book creator. Murray will be on hand all weekend to discuss his new graphic novel and provide autographs. Pretty cool.

Saturday

• The biggest event of the convention takes place Saturday afternoon, when Marvel Studios holds its "Avengers" panel -- something it didn't do in San Diego, by the way -- and debuts brand-new footage along with surprise guest stars. Oh, yeeaaah.
• The legendary British comedy team Monty Python has reunited for one last movie, and on Saturday afternoon, fans can get their first peek as EPIX Pictures unveils "A Liar's Autobiography," an animated adaptation of the autobiography of the late Graham Chapman featuring voicework Chapman recorded before his death.
• Lucasfilm has left "Star Wars' behind to focus on another epic story from long, long ago: the real-life triumph of the Tuskeegee Airmen during World War II. "Red Tails" is the film, and fans can get a sneak peek of exclusive footage on Saturday.

New Line

• "The Hobbit" is one of the most anticipated films in years, so it's only fitting that one of the most anticipated events of NYCC is the "Hobbit" movie panel being hosted by the insiders from TheOneRing.Net.
• It's been a long wait for fans of "Ghost Rider" since the first Nic Cage movie came out back in 2007, but "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" is finally in full swing. On Saturday afternoon, directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor spill the beans on what you can expect when the movie hits theaters next spring.
• John Landis is a legitimate Hollywood superstar, so the chance to sit in and listen to the director of films like "An American Werewolf in London" talk about the history of monster movies is one any serious film buff won't want to miss.
• It may not be marked on your calendar, but trust us: Saturday is Resident Evil Day. Celebrate 15 years of "Resident Evil" by heading to NYCC dressed as your favorite "Resident Evil" character (seriously, the chance to see hundreds of people decked out like Milla Jovovich's Alice is reason enough to attend) and checking out the con's special "Resident Evil" anniversary panel.
• "Attack the Block" is already approaching cult status -- and once writer-director Joe Cornish shows fans everything they can expect out of the new "Attack the Block" Blu-ray release, the film is guaranteed to take off even more. Get in on the ground floor of the phenomenon now.

Sunday

• "Conan the Barbarian" may not have conquered the box office, but it certainly captured the attention of fans, thanks primarily to star Jason Momoa and his huge pectoral muscles. Those will be on full display Sunday when he stops by the convention to discuss the new "Conan" Blu-ray release.

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• Fans of the legendary Jim Henson are in for a special treat on Sunday as The Jim Henson Company opens its vault to present a unique look at "The Early Works of Jim Henson," which shows just how he developed his inimitable style. Then, as if that weren't enough, there'll be a preview of the new graphic novel "Tale of Sand," which is based on an unproduced Henson screenplay. Holy crow.

Sony

The movie we didn't think we wanted may now be the movie we have to see.

The original "Ghost Rider" was a plodding, joyless mess. Johnny Blaze is one of Marvel's most outrageous characters, and if a movie about him is going to work, it has to be pretty much just stark raving slobberingly burningly insane.

And "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" looks like it could be that movie. Marvel was smart to get Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, the maniacs behind the "Crank" movies, on board to direct the further (and much more exciting) adventures of a stunt motorcyclist whose nightly curse involves him having his freakin' head on fire.

Watch as Nicolas Cage unleashes holy hell upon the wicked, sometimes by wrapping them up in chains and sometimes by just screaming in their face. You can also check it out in crazy HD at iTunes Apple Trailers.

"Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" rides on Feb. 17, 2012.