Paul Evans
If I were to make an appropriate comparison, Jaws 1 was a White shark bite, ferocious and huge, Jaws II would be a bite from a Blue Shark, still nasty, but lacking the ferocity. The film reminds me of the Halloween follow up in so many ways, the first being a moment of cinema where the game was changed, a massive act to follow, both feel like a direct continuation of the first, both have quality, but lack the originality and impact of their predecessor.Jaws II is slow to start, but as it gets going it really cranks up the tension, featuring some really good, tense moments. The shark has become a psycho killer instead of just a predator, and is now intent on killing its victims in the way Michael Myers did.Some good strong special effects, I thought in several scenes the shark looked very realistic, I've never been a fan of the ending though, it's just a bit silly. Roy Schneider clearly did not want to do this film, and I think it shows in his performance, he is not happy.It's a pretty good sequel, trouble is the original is a classic.
ironhorse_iv
While, it's true that Jaws 2 is not as good as the original film. For movie lovers, around the world, they still have their jaws on the floor. It was very highly successful as a summer blockbuster. In spite of everything, it was briefly the highest-grossing sequel in history, until 'Rocky II' was released in 1979. So, it's still worth checking out. However, I do understand, why some fans & critics, might hate this sequel. After all, this movie directed by Jeannot Szwarc does seem unnecessary. It mostly follows the same thread as the last movie, by having another great white shark terrorize the small tourism community of Amity Island; with Police Chief, Martin Brody (Roy Schneider) going out in the open water to stop it. Nevertheless, it didn't bug me, as much, because how much new scenarios, and open water locations, the writers put, into this film. Still, if I had to nitpick, some of the new characters, the writers put into this movie, didn't really stand out, much. While, I didn't mind, the story shifts focus from Chief Brody and Amity's officials to the teenagers, Brody's son, Michael (Mark Gruner) hang out with. I just wish, some of them, had a little more of a persona. It was really hard to figure out, who was who. However, I do like how the writers didn't turn the mayor's son, Larry Vaughn Jr. (David Elliot) into a stereotypical bully, since Michael's dad was in odds with his father, Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) throughout this movie, and the last. As for the new adult characters; I found them, to be, the worst. Even, if you put, all the delete scenes of Joseph Mascolo's property developer character, Len Peterson trying to hook up with Brody's wife, Ellen (Lorraine Gray), back into the film; it wouldn't make much of a different, to the main plot. In short, the property developer's botch romantic subplot adds nothing, but run-time. His scenes should had been merge with the mayor, and Peterson should had been cut from the film, all-together. As for diver instructor, Tom Andrews (Barry Coe), that fought off, the shark, before Brody came to the rescue. His short introduce scenes really come out of nowhere & quickly ends, so it was really hard to root for him, since we know little about him. As for the new shark. It's a mixed bag. I felt like the action scenes with it, were a little over the top & unrealistic. Seeing a Great White Shark take down a helicopter & blowing up several large boats, while, having half of its face, burn off does seem highly stupid & illogical. On the other hand, those scenes were also fun to watch, even if the creature doesn't act like a normal shark. Nevertheless, I also felt that the movie would had work better, if they were little more ambiguous on showing the creature, so early in the film; by cutting down on composer, John William's iconic memorable theme music & hiding the shark, from view. Yes, I know, that recognizable score struck fear in the hearts of people for years; but just think, how good, the movie's attack scenes, would had been, if the audience weren't hinted at the threat. Not only does, these tactics, hide the malfunctioning cheesiness special effects of the 1970s, but it also might enhance the subplot of Police Sheriff, Martin Brody's going a little mad, a lot more. It would add something new to the film, by turning the generic man vs nature horror, into a psychological thriller like 2011's 'The Hunter'. After all, it's clear that the movie was going with, Brody suffering from PTSD on account of the events of the first film. So, why not, go all the way, with it! Raise the stalks, by making him, have pressure from all sides, doubting his validity & sanity. Show the town in extreme financial troubles, due to corruption and the loss of tourism; with him struggling to keep his job, in float, with his family intact. Make it seem like the shark might be all in his head! Until, the twist, when it's not. It might make the unnecessary sequel seem a little more interesting. Despite not going with the route that original director, John D. Hancock was going for; Roy Schneider is still great in this role, even if he was a bit disinterested in reprising, due to many reasons; including conflicts with Universal Pictures to whom he was locked into a multi-film contract with, and frequently clashing with new director Jeannot Szwarc who replace Hancock, during production. Honestly, if there is any highlight from this movie, it would be, Schneider. Roy made this B-movie, very watchable. Sad to see him, leave the franchise after this. Although, that's tragic, I would rather see, producer, Steven Spielberg, actor, Richard Dreyfuss & screenwriter, Howard Sackler take; with the film series being taken to a prequel focusing on a supporting character from the first movie, time on the USS Indianapolis and it's sinking during WW2; however, production on 1977's 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' was running behind and they declined to participation. Sad to see that happen. Look, I wouldn't for say, it would had been a great movie, seeing how 2016's historic film 'USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage' tanked, but it could had been better than the sequels than we got, later, after this film. Overall: despite the difficulties with production with reshoots being done in the winter, due to malfunctioning, and behind the scene turmoil, I have to say, 'Jaws 2' isn't that bad, as certain critics make it out to be. Szwarc & his crew somehow, made an entertaining decent movie, out of a film series that was already in troubled waters. This movie is kinda a guilty pleasure of mine. It's worth taking a dip, in.
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.
