gab-14712
Jaws. The movie that is often given the notion of starting the summer blockbuster season. It was a magnificent achievement that Steven Spielberg's film became a critical and monetary success. It was a tense thriller that relied upon hiding the shark until the end and its three main leads in Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw. So naturally a sequel would have to be made. Understandably so, I scratch my head at the thought of a sequel. But it doesn't matter because Jaws 2 does exist. I'll say this. It's the best sequel you could hope to make……but that is not saying much. The movie is sometimes enjoyable, but there are several critical mistakes in the movie.But let's start with the positives. The shark has returned, and it came back bigger and stronger than ever. The shark even has an evil-looking scar to it. I really liked the look of the shark. The performances weren't too bad, either. Out of the original cast, only Scheider, Lorraine Gary, and Murray Hamilton returned. Scheider had problems on set, but he tried his best to give a convincing performance as Chief Martin Brody. Once again, he succeeds. After all, he is now the human heart of the franchise. Next, I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the film. The buildup and tension to the reappearance of the shark is as good as ever. You really know that the shark is there to kill. John Williams returned with another amazing score. He used the original themes to great extent, and he added darker, more complex music to enhance those themes. I don't think this movie would work half as well without his powerful score.Now, the negatives. I mentioned that I liked the look of the shark. I do not like how and when the shark fully emerged, which was practically right away. The whole point of the first Jaws was to keep the shark in the shadows, to build tension. Now tension was effective here, but it could have been way better if they followed the formula of the first film. So the first film was mainly a psychological thriller. While that is retained for the first half, the second half becomes a dumbed down slasher film. Essentially, the second half was the kids (including Brody's son) versus the shark, and it played out like a worn-out teen horror flick. That is something I did not want to see. Finally, I missed the direction of Spielberg. He decided not to return, and Universal decided to attain the services of Jeannot Szwarc. He did an okay job, but he is no Steven Spielberg. You can tell there is a big difference in the directing style, and I'm not sure if I liked that change. I do miss what Shaw and Dreyfuss brought to the table, but Scheider managed to deliver a strong performance.Now let's talk some plot. This sequel takes place four years after the original horrors of Amity. One day, the town suddenly receives mysterious disappearances and boating accidents. Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) knows better than to call them accidents. He believes another killer shark has come to town. Just like before, he is ignored by the townsfolk and Mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton). But once a group of teenagers, including Brody's son, sets out to sea, Brody goes after them. Will he reach them before its too late? So I had apprehensions for a long time watching this film because I fear it would not live up to the original classic. While it certainly does not, I won't deny it's a fun ride at times and I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. Let's put it this way. Jaws 2 is a decidedly inferior sequel to the original, but can be called a masterpiece compared to the two pile of dung sequels that followed (and I refuse to see). There are elements of the film I dislike, but this is good escapist cinema…..if you don't compare it to Jaws.My Grade: C+/B-
Matthew_Capitano
This first of several un-needed sequels is just a re-working of the original shark flick.Brody tries to save a group of rotten teenagers after almost two hours of filler wherein somebody gets devoured by the mad fish every time an imposed-upon good samaritan throws them a line in an attempt to save their sorry butts.Most of this film is a mirror of scenes in Jaws 1 leading up to when Brody has an ace up his sleeve as the shark swims towards him for the final blow; this time it's not an oxygen tank, but an underwater electric cable that contributes to the angry mammal's demise.2 stars only.... one each for pretty Ann Dusenberry and Donna Wilkes. See Donna in 'Fyre' (1979). What a nice small set of boobs as she goes topless. Ann also shows her young rack in 'Basic Training' (1985).I bet Mom and Dad were real proud of these two little fame-n-fortune hunters who would both do ANYTHING to be a 'star'! Like when Donna shows her breasts, snorts cocaine, and makes out with another chick in 'Fyre'. And where are they both now? Pffft.
GL84
As Amity prepares to open a new resort complex, a series of boating accidents in the local waters prompts suspicion another shark is in the area and when it's confirmed the local police chief mounts a rescue attempt on a group of teens trapped by the creature.There is actually a lot to like in this one. One of the best features in here is that the shark is featured prominently and gets a chance to show off how great it looks due to the enhanced screen time. It's more believable and there's some really good suspense from its deformed and scarred face as the burn marks go the extra mile giving this beast a little more menace to it. Since it really looks more demonic being as mangled as this is and with the personality demonstrated, it makes for a more effective threat. There are a couple of great early attacks, starting with the divers being ambushed while discovering the shipwreck and a later scene where the fin surfaces behind an oblivious water-skier and trails them underwater. All of these attacks lead to the film's one truly imaginative scene, the debacle at the beach when what he thinks is the shark turns out to be nothing more threatening than a school of bluefish. The suspense apparent at the beginning is obvious, as the approaching figure does vaguely look like a shark at the spot from which it's spotted at, and the ending resolution is a nice twist. The film's main feat is the sailboat massacre which is a long, drawn out affair that really serves for quite a great time. from the moment the fin breaks the surface causing general pandemonium to the continued assaults and breakthroughs of the defense barriers that follow, this sequence never stops. Throwing in the fear of devourment with a couple of really well-done stalk-and-bite scenes that really hold up quite well and a few clever touches in their struggles helps this out. The helicopter downing is handled nicely, having an obstacle thrown at them that hammers home the hopelessness of the situation really clearly. The method for dispatching the creature isn't new, but it's nicely handled and really gets some suspense going, especially the shot of the massive creature bearing down on it. All in all, this wasn't all that terrible for a sequel. There really isn't a lot here that this doesn't do right, and most of that is the fact that film feels too padded out at times. It takes forever to get to the assault on the sailboats, and the wait to get there is filled with certain scenes that really don't need to be as long as they are. One of the most annoying things, though, about this film is the repetition of the we-can't-close the-beaches plot thread from the original. This attitude is inane for anyone who lived through Amity's previous nightmare summer, and even more so in a man whose son spends all of his free time out on the water. The repetition of this useless and really irritating subplot really takes most of the film's energy from it, but beyond these, the film isn't that bad.Rated PG: Graphic Violence and Language.
