Rated PG for violence116 Minutes
Directed By: Jennot Schwarc
Written By: Carl Gottlieb
Staring: Roy Schreider, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton, Joseph Mascolo, Jeffrey Kramer, and Mark Gruner
I mean, it’s obvious that a big fish took a bite out of… this big fish. -Martin Brody
Synopsis
Police chief Brody must protect the citizens of Amity after a second monstrous shark begins terrorizing the waters.
Review
Jaws 2 doesn’t suffer from a case of the sequels. While it may not have been the exact masterpiece of it’s original it was smart enough to pay tribute to that story and the way it was filmed and created, while still standing brilliantly on it’s own. Jaws 2’s storyline is definitive, but also simplistic enough that a viewing of the original Jaws isn’t necessary or required to really appreciate this terrifying sequel.
There was certainly the obvious absence of the ingenious Speilburg touch, but Jennot Schwarc paid Speilburgs style an homage while implementing his own. With the epic feel of a John Williams score, Jaws 2 definitely maintained it’s original integrity. The slow, drama induced horror incites the same shocking reaction when the scenes of terror and action finally smack you in the face. It wasn’t as suspenseful as it’s original, but it carried it’s own genius. The scene with the scuba divers is so beautiful and peaceful that you actually forget the dangers lurking in the water, and the tragic warning music never warns you of the impending attack, it just happens.
We as viewers get to see the initial deaths are from the new big bad shark, but our character’s on Amity island are oblivious to it’s evil. Giving us that point of view and watching the growing suspicion of Chief Brody, and the ignorant incomprehension of the other islanders becomes a suspenseful tension that can’t be shook throughout. With every-ones lives in peril and the only person who is trying to save them is being disregarded, the moment of climax is stupendous!
Unlike most horror flicks today Jaws and Jaws 2 really developed it’s characters. Even the extras that are likely to be nothing more than shark food, have been tossed in and out of frames so often that their faces, if not their names, are familiar enough with us to have more of a connection to them than some random group of people tossed on screen to feed the shark and make cool special effects. It was also pleasant to have Roy Schreider back for round two. Without him and his character, much of the heart of Jaws would simply have been lost.
One thing I’ve always enjoyed about Jaws and Jaws 2 is our film makers implement the ideal that less is more. We never get to see our monster completely or for too long. He is just as mysterious and elusive to us as he is to the people on Amity Island. The uncomprehending is so much more frightening than what you can see right before you. That mystery and fear of the unknown makes the Jaws and Jaws 2 is part of the reason Jaws is still quite so frightening to this day. All you need is that scary music and a dorsal fin and not much is more horrifying.
The dread and fear return with full impact with this sequel. It wasn’t the masterpiece of perfection it’s predecessor was, but it rose high above any expectations most probably set for it, and today stands alone as a good movie. With most of the elements that we loved about Jaws put in this sequel Jaws 2 was another terrifying adventure about the unknown of the ocean. This one is a keeper. Buy it and add it.
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