Jaws 2 is equal to, if not better than Jaws. While the first the Jaws film was character driven with the shark as something between a plot driver and fourth major character Jaws 2 is unashamedly a monster movie. It makes no apologies for this and can not be accused of trying to pass itself as a piece of high art. How can it when the movie poster has an image of the shark about to bite down and feast upon a bikini clad water skier? It is also true that the film is a retelling of Jaws with less character developing dialogue and more shark, but to accuse it of being nothing more than a monster movie, a shameless cynical money-making exercise is unfair. It deserves more than the 5.6 IMDB fans have deemed to give it. It is at least a 6.something, possibly even a 7.
At its core Jaws 2 is a movie about a man trying to regain the respect of his family and the community that he lives in. Instead of being recognised and lauded as a hero for ridding Amity of the first shark he is viewed as if he is the village idiot, a crazy man who requires tolerance and understanding. Smile and nod when he talks to you but for Jesus’ sake don’t actually listen to him.
The corruption that exists within Amity is explored further and viewers are shown just confident those in power in the town are and their belief that they can act with impunity. This attitude is most clearly demonstrated by Len Peterson who is anything but discrete in his attempts to sleep with Chief Brody’s wife Ellen.
There are very few bad films. Most just require some work to watch them properly or a more eloquent advocate.
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