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TANGd878 (6)
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I can't argue with any of that. The kid actors for the most part, seemed the weakest part of the film. And Scheider seems to have been 'paychecking' it in this one. There's a whole lot of still photos where he's just sunning himself, getting a nice tan, during filming Florida (where most of film doubled for Amity). IN fact, there's a sort of subtle (not meant to be detected) transition trick they play on everyone. Brody is late to the AMITY SHORES grand opening thing, so he gets on the Ferry (that's Martha's Vineyard). By the time he gets off the ferry and is shown headed over hill and dale in route to the gala, that's Navarre, FLORIDA location. And voila, just like that, we've now moved South. Waters never look right to me at that point (being from MA).
For sure, "2" paled in comparision to Spielberg's film. By leaps. But, I'm still fond of it, compared to the junk coming out today.
Well, Damnit! Now I have to dig it out and watch it again... for what is probably the 18th-20th time since seeing it in theater...
Agreed on all. And some more facts:
► Hendricks (Jeffrey C. Kramer) returns also, and is so very much in Brody's corner when he gets canned.
► It's not a ton, but there's clearly identifiable Edgartown scenes (my favorite scenes in fact)
► Murray Hamilton plays his role superbly. He exudes the look of a broken man (sadly, I guess Murray's wife was on her deathbed during filming, so that comes through).
► Waterskiing scene. Wow. Terri? Terri? "One minute, they were having a wonderful time... and the next... (gasp)."
► Scene where Brody beats the paddle on the power line at "Cable Junction". outlandish, but AWESOME.
► Another great scene: Eddie/Tina sayonara scene. Where Eddie is smashed (unseen) to pulp against the side of the boat. Not seeing it is so much better. Just that massive thump.
► Marge, when found by Brody, letting out incredibly drawn out... "Sh..... sh...... shar........ SHAAAAARRRKKKKKK!!!!!"
► even the 'film roll' scene was gripping. We get to slowly see the shark's eye come into focus (just like Brody, was clear as day to me a shark!)
► Great homage... opening titles, at Universal MCA logo... you hear those sounds, like in JAWS... whale sounds, maybe... sort of calm before the storm. Magnifico.
Apparently, I could talk about Jaws 2 all day, which is probably not something to admit.
Jaws 3, Nope. Still a Universal picture, But it had nothing to lock onto.
Jaws 4, that's a tough one for me. Because yeah, the film is awful. But there are back-links which give it marginal life. Lorraine Gary is good. Caine? Not here!
By the way, right up there with Scheider, a bigtime main character in Jaws 2 ---> is the score by John Williams. It pretty much carries the film and keeps it going. I love film scores, but I rarely make that claim. In this case, his cues provide the glue which link it back to the first film. If anyone else (even my other favorites Elmer, Jerry, Schifrin) had scored this, the film would have (pun) floundered. So yeah, a great score. Williams was buds with Zanuck & Brown, so it was a favor, basically.
PS: Another film where I make that same claim (about score as saviour) ....... Treasure of the Four Crowns. So so so bad, but the score makes it watchable.
Jeannot Szwarc made it work (& the one remaining scene that's still in there from original director John Hancock), along with Gottlieb, Alves, Scheider, Gary, Hamilton, Kramer, JOHN WILLIAMS, & Fritzi Cohen. Oh, and that SINGLE yellow barrel (Hooper must have kept the other one) which is now a flower planter just outside the Brody's front door. Scheider carries the film. If you're a New Englander, the film strikes a certain chord (the Martha's Vineyard scenes ring true). Of course, most of the film was shot in Pensacola. For me, easy to spot Florida waters vs. Massachusetts waters. Love the opening with the two Scubas coming up on the Orca. If you can't tell, yeah, I like the film (not as much as JAWS), but still!
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