IMDb > Jaws 2 (1978)
Jaws 2
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Jaws 2 (1978) -- MattTrailer.com - Trailer (Flash)

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Overview

User Rating:
5.6/10   17,606 votes
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Director:
Writers:
Peter Benchley (characters)
Carl Gottlieb (written by) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for Jaws 2 on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
16 June 1978 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water... more
Plot:
Police chief Brody must protect the citizens of Amity after a second monstrous shark begins terrorizing the waters. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
NewsDesk:
(12 articles)
Possible Jaws 3D Remake with Tracy Morgan
 (From FilmJunk. 9 February 2010, 9:22 PM, PST)

HorrorBid's 50 Freakiest Sounds in Horror History (Part 1)
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User Reviews:
Competent, yet totally unnecessary. more (207 total)


Additional Details

Runtime:
116 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (2001) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Norway:15 (DVD) | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | Netherlands:12 (original rating) | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 (DVD rating) | Australia:M | USA:PG (certificate #25237) | UK:PG | Singapore:PG | UK:A (original rating) | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The helicopter scene took four days to shoot. more
Goofs:
Continuity: After Mike gets knocked cold during the shark attack, he slides off the boat and into the water, but when the shark flips it over a moment later, not only is he back on board, but he is sitting upright as if he is awake. more
Quotes:
[Hendricks and Red are dragging the ocean in the police launch]
Red: We've been over this a dozen times.
Hendricks: I know, I know!
Red: How much longer?
Hendricks: Until we find something!
Red: But I'm cold, bored...
Hendricks: You're bored!
more
Movie Connections:
Edited into Cruel Jaws (1995) (TV) more

FAQ

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12 out of 15 people found the following review useful.
Competent, yet totally unnecessary., 9 April 2006
7/10
Author: TOMASBBloodhound from Echo Base, Hoth. (formerly Lincoln, NE)

It only figured that multiple sequels would be spawned from (at the time) the most financially successful film in history. Jaws 2 was not the least bit necessary in terms of story and character development. It's merely an opportunity to put the lives of numerous young characters in jeopardy before our hero from part one (Scheider) can paddle to their rescue. The film is technically well-done, and the action somewhat compelling. This film also made a fortune, but it had nowhere near the commercial or critical success of the original.

First of all, the acting talent of Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss is sorely missed. They tried to write the Matt Hooper character back in, but Dreyfuss was in the midst of shooting Close Encounters with Spielberg, rendering his physical participation out of the question. Roy Scheider is back, though. And once again he proves that he is in fact a hell of a good actor. He's the kind of guy whose character you always end up rooting for. This time we see a darker side of his Chief Brody. Convinced there is a new shark in the waters off Amitty, he presses the point so vigorously that he is fired from his job. Keep in mind, the same mayor (Hamilton) is still in office, and he's not the kind of guy who wants his beaches closed for any reason.

Despite losing his job, Brody is once again forced to dispose of the killer great white before it devours his teenage son's friends and their sail boats. The film has some good stunt work, and some memorable shots of the killer fish. There is decidedly less blood shown in this one. The original barely escaped and R-rating, and they were obviously not going to chance that again. There are still plenty of frightening scenes, though. French director Jeannot Szwarc is no Spielberg, but he does a decent enough job with the material. John Williams' music still rings true.

Speaking of the material, that's the film's weak spot. Sharks do not behave like killers in a slasher movie. They don't use strategy to hunt down their victims like the sharks in these movies. A great white shark is a powerful and dangerous predator, but humans are generally not on its menu. Jaws 2 is however, miles above the next two sequels in the series. Part 3 had only the 3D gimmick to fall back on. Part 4 is hardly worth mentioning unless you like to laugh at really, really bad films.

7 of 10 stars for Jaws 2.

The Hound.

Added Feb 14, 2008: RIP Roy Scheider!

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Message Boards

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Did Marge and the Helicopter Pilot survive? sarand
Why didn't the shark kill Lucy? raskdog
Things I learned from Jaws 2 oldsalt61
what's with the novelisation MarcatoLegato
Should they have even done any sequels? electrorevolution
Anybody else think they missed a HUGE trick...... byrotk
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