Jaws 2 Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Jaws 2" features a commendable 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode (2.35:1), offering strong definition and clarity. The transfer retains a critical grain structure, which is balanced and unobtrusive, maintaining the film’s original aesthetic. Textural details are impressive, capturing the rust on boat components, rubbery textures of wet suits, and the granularity of sandy beaches with a high degree of intimacy. While the picture is inherently a bit more flat compared to contemporary films—whether shot on film or digitally—the overall textural integrity remains largely intact.

Colors in this transfer are vibrant and punchy, with cheerful greens, yellows, and multicolored parachutes contrasting effectively against the water and sandy hues. Notably, the blue of the ocean and the reds in blood and 70s T-shirts are richly saturated, adding to the visual appeal. Flesh tones are natural and well-sunned, reflecting the setting accurately. Underwater scenes are somewhat murky with limited variation in teal-colored water, but brighter elements like natural greenery stand out sufficiently. Black levels are true and accurate, with shadow delineation remaining robust, despite a few less satisfying moments in poorly-lit interiors.

Compression artifacts are minimal and largely unnoticeable, enhancing the viewing experience. Print wear is mostly absent except for some minor debris during the opening titles. This Blu-ray release represents a significant upgrade over its DVD predecessor, benefiting from spot-on contrast and an ultra-fine layer of visible grain that preserves the filmic quality of this classic sequel.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack for "Jaws 2" presents a mixed bag of audio performance. While it lacks the immersion and punch that modern audiences might expect, key elements such as John Williams' iconic theme are impressively detailed and fairly deep even without an LFE channel. Unfortunately, other sounds, such as band music and crowd applause, often struggle with clarity and seem muffled. Splashes, crashes, and gunshots lack vitality and enthusiasm, making action sequences feel less dynamic than they should be. Dialogue is naturally positioned in the center and maintains clear prioritization throughout, although the overall soundstage would benefit from a more expansive 5.1 track for better atmospheric definition.

In spite of these limitations, the DTS-HD MA mono soundtrack does accomplish a few noteworthy feats. It offers a fairly engaging background environment with the continuous sounds of tourists on the beach and distant ship horns adding to an active soundscape. The orchestration in Williams' score subtly expands the soundfield, providing excellent detailing and separation of musical elements. While much of the track feels narrow and restricted to the center, it delivers strong dialogue reproduction and responsive low-end frequencies. However, the track is not without flaws; it exhibits noticeable hissing in certain moments and upper-range extension seems to fall flat, contributing to an overall sense of restriction in the audio experience. For a film approaching its forty-year mark, it offers a dynamic range with strong dialogue clarity but falls short in delivering room-penetrating energy during its action set pieces.

The Blu Ray release of "Jaws 2" is packed with an impressive array of extras that offer a thorough exploration of the film's production history and behind-the-scenes details. The standout feature is the comprehensive making-of documentary, which provides deep insights into the challenges and triumphs encountered during the sequel's creation. Actor Keith Gordon's reflections and John Williams' musical contributions are given spotlight focus, enriching our understanding of the film's artistic elements. Deleted scenes and storyboards provide additional layers of visual planning and storytelling that went into crafting this sequel. Each featurette is presented in standard definition and collectively enriches the viewing experience, ensuring that fans and film historians alike will find much to appreciate.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scenes: Various cut scenes focusing on the Brodie family and key action sequences.
• The Making of Jaws 2: In-depth look at production, including script development, technical challenges, and direction.
• A Portrait by Actor Keith Gordon: Actor's experiences and memories from the set.
• John Williams: The Music of Jaws 2: Examination of the film’s iconic score.
• The French Joke: Anecdote about the film's title translation for French audiences.
• Storyboards: Scene-specific visual plans.
• Theatrical Trailers: Pre-release promotional material.

"Jaws 2" returns us to Amity Island with a familiar fear of aquatic terror. While undeniably ambitious, the film navigates murky waters of both strengths and weaknesses. The return of John Williams' renowned score and Roy Scheider's reprisal of Chief Martin Brody lend a sense of continuity and gravitas to the sequel. With French filmmaker Jeannot Szwarc at the helm, the film manages to recreate some of the original's tension, particularly in its more intense action sequences. That said, it suffers from a lesser narrative energy and pacing issues, often lingering on extraneous details at the expense of forward momentum.

The plot, structured around Brody's mounting fears of another great white shark attack, unfolds methodically but predictably, echoing the original film's core storyline without its pacing efficiency or deep thematic exploration. Characters frequently come across as stagnant, with Brody once again clashing with Mayor Larry Vaughn over public safety and economic interests. This reiteration feels more like a repetition than an evolution of the original conflict. When evidence of another shark mounts but goes unheeded by the town’s authorities, these plot beats can feel overly familiar and somewhat frustrating.

Where "Jaws 2" finds its stride is in its later acts. The focus shifts effectively towards a group of teens, including Brody’s sons, who find themselves pursued by the relentless predator. This section injects a surge of much-needed suspense and danger. Although these scenes rehash familiar cat-and-mouse chases from "Jaws," they showcase improved animatronics and provide a satisfying, if derivative, climax. Ultimately, "Jaws 2" may lack the groundbreaking thrills of its predecessor, but it succeeds in delivering enough tension and spectacle to remain a worthwhile, albeit flawed, continuation of the iconic shark saga.

Review of Jaws 2 Blu-ray

"Jaws 2," which follows four years after Steven Spielberg's 1975 masterpiece, represents a mixed yet intriguing sequel. While it doesn't reach the heights of its predecessor, it does offer fair entertainment within the man-eating shark genre. Retaining some of its predecessor's best aspects, it introduces new elements that occasionally falter, leading to a film that can feel overly long and somewhat underperformed. However, it compensates with a few genuine scares and impressive close-up shark work. Not a worthy successor but an enjoyable entry nonetheless.

The Blu-ray release offers a noteworthy enhancement over previous home video editions. The visuals are borderline gorgeous, presenting crisp and detailed images that are more vivid compared to earlier versions. Conversely, the audio quality, while generally satisfactory, shows minor limitations likely resultant from the source material's condition. Despite sticking to a 2.0 lossless audio track, it still manages to provide an engaging auditory experience that aligns adequately with the cinematic content.

Overall, Universal's Blu-ray treatment of "Jaws 2" is commendable. Although the audio doesn't impress at the same level as the video, it adequately serves its purpose. The included supplements, true to their vintage nature, effectively complement the film. For fans of the genre and franchise, this release stands as a recommendable addition to their collection.