One of San Diego Comic-Con 2011’s biggest, happiest surprises was the footage from the upcoming “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.” Directed by Brian Taylor and Mark Neveldine of “Crank” and “Crank: High Voltage” fame, what they showed this past weekend turned a group of largely skeptical fans into believers, with a darker, high-octane look at everyone’s favorite skullheaded stuntman.

While the footage was impressive enough as is, it will be even more immersive and stunning when “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” hits theaters, as the film will be released in glorious 3D, a format that Taylor and Neveldine have wanted to work in for quite some time.

“We’ve always wanted to make a 3D movie – we wanted to make ['Crank: High Voltage'] in 3D,” Taylor told MTV News. “The way that we move the camera and the sort of manic pace of our action… we always thought it would be sort of amazing and nauseating and fantastic in 3D.”

The added dimension of “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” won’t be the only thing leaping off the screen, however, as the crew took several unique approaches to achieving the directors’ signature visual style, techniques that managed to impress even film veteran Nicolas Cage.

“I’ve never shot a movie with directors like this before,” the “Ghost Rider” star told MTV News. “[Neveldine] would hold onto motorcycles on rollerblades with the camera, literally risking his life to get the shot.”

Clearly pleased with the result of their daredevil filming techniques, Taylor added an enthused: “Let’s see Scorsese do that!”

What do you think about Neveldine/Taylor’s filming techniques? Are you ready to ride with “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance”? Tell us in the comments section or on Twitter!