Jaws 2 (1978)

Well Deserved Praise

Horrible, fascist and poorly acted

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

Jaws 2 is a good movie but as a sequel it's very formulaic.Jeannot Szwarc has made a competent film though I suspect the reason for it being above average is down to the producers Zanuck/Brown and to the incredible score from John Williams. The water ski theatrical poster is actually worth a mention here too as it's a real work of art.The likeable Chief Brody is played well, once again, by Roy Scheider but there's a big gap without Hooper and Quint. The rest of the cast (Ellen, Deputy Hendricks, Mayor Vaughn) don't quite fill the space and we're left with everything of interest hanging on Brody. This is one major negative for the film and the other is the pacing. Scenes in the movie don't build towards the climax as they did in the original. This film is very much of two halves and the first half is really just a time-filler before the finale gets underway.As for positives, this movie has a look and feel very similar to the exceptional first - probably due the producers but who knows. There are quite a few scary moments and one in particular which always sends a shiver down my spine. In my opinion, the first movie is a much more tense and scary watch but the second has many frightening images which stick in the mind - and as a person who doesn't like deep water, it's more the scenes from this movie which I think about just before swimming in the sea.I mentioned it before but it is worth mentioning twice - Williams' score. It really is sublime. The movie's memorable main theme in the intro is played with atmospheric harps, which add to the underwater atmosphere and leads into a blasting fanfare against the "Jaws 2" title shot. If you're a Williams fan then honestly you'll want to watch this movie just for the score.No one will ever rate this movie close to, or above the first but as sequels go it's definitely one to check out.

Yesterday l revisited this too long sequel in first time on DVD,even had purchased it almost ten years before,take into account as a sequel and a sole star from the original is quite decent,Jeannot Szwarc made a great effort and trying to do a seemly from previous one,of course the result is predicable in such conditions,but it's watchable after all,the DVD comes with a lot of bonus including the Making of.Resume:First watch: 1988 / How many: 3 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 7

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.

I first discovered the JAWS movies when I was about 8-years-old. I saw the original JAWS and loved it. It gave me nightmares for weeks, and made me all the more afraid to go near a beach. Several weeks after watching JAWS, I was introduced to JAWS 2 by a friend of mine who had rented the film from a video store. At the time, I was not even aware that the original Steven Spielberg classic, JAWS, had a sequel let alone three. Anyway, my friend and I both watched JAWS 2 together and it was then when I discovered my favorite entry in the JAWS franchise.....JAWS 2.The story takes place four years after the original. Martin Brody (again played by the excellent late Roy Scheider) begins to suspect another Great White Shark is stalking the Amity waters after two divers and mother and daughter go missing. He tries again to warn the Mayor (again played by Murray Hamilton), but again, all the town's people seem ignorant of the threat.Meanwhile, a group of teenagers, including Martin's two sons, Mike (Mark Gruner) and Sean (Marc Gilpin), head out on a sailing trip where they are attacked by the shark. Also with them is Larry Vaughn Jr. (David Elliot), the Mayor's son. The last half hour of JAWS 2 is pure action as the teens are attacked again and again by the shark, as they try desperately to drift toward an island called Cable Junction. Not to spoil it scene by scene, the final confrontation again features Chief Martin Brody and the giant shark--this time including a power cable.JAWS 2 is usually considered the best of the sequels. I can agree, as I am not a fan of JAWS 3D or JAWS: THE REVENGE. However, I often find myself torn between JAWS 1 and JAWS 2. For a long time, I tried to make myself like the original JAWS, but it was then when I came to discover I always had more fun with JAWS 2. As many other reviewers have pointed out, JAWS 2 is more of an action movie than a horror like the original, and I find that this action is shot in such a thrilling pace that it leaves you on the edge of your seat right up until the end of the movie.When I was a kid, I also found myself feeling more for the teens of JAWS 2 rather than Martin Brody, Matt Hooper and Quint from the original. Probably because when I first saw it, I was about Sean's age from the film, and could understand what terror the kids must have been feeling during their confrontation with this menacing predator from the deep. I also think there is more of a sense of shock and terror in JAWS 2, as the kids in the film had no idea about the shark. In the original, the three men went out to sea to hunt the shark. Hooper was a marine expert on sharks and had come up against them before, and due to the fact that the three were hunting the shark made it less scary for me. In JAWS 2, the kids are simply sailing when the shark attacks, so I felt it was more of a shock.Some people may call me crazy, but I have always preferred JAWS 2 over the original. I find myself always wanting to watch the sequel over the original. However, I am still a HUGE fan of the original, and do consider myself a JAWS fan period. Not much a fan of JAWS 3D and REVENGE as stated, but then again, I never mind sitting down and watching any of them, but my favorite will always be JAWS 2.10/10