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Jaws: The Revenge

Jaws: The Revenge

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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Bad, but better than Jaws 3-D...
Review: It's no wonder that there are no extras on this disc, when it seems like a different production company than Universal somehow got the rights to it (not that Universal would be holding on all that tightly) and released it cheaply. The DVD version is the same as the VHS, which includes scenes where Mario Van Peebles' character lives, but excises other scenes in the original film and the TV version-- most notably a scene where Lance Guest and Van Peebles sit on the porch of the house, playing guitar and talking about how not only has the shark gone, but so has their money. The final sequence is also longer on the TV version, giving a better understanding of how the shark dies, and the TV version also includes a voiceover commentary that specifically blurs the line of reality with the film -- "is this simply a fable, or is it real? Only you can judge," something to that effect. The DVD/VHS version actually strips away some of the "quality" of the TV version, removing character moments that may have made the film stronger.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Gimme a break!
Review: Why would a shark revenge? Sharks don't care about other sharks. Besides, how would this shark know which people are part of the Brody family? This shark also doesn't look anymore real than the original.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: What did you expect? Lawrence of Arabia?
Review: It's a Jaws movie; not Braveheart, not Silence of the Lambs, but a JAWS MOVIE. Universal Studios' theme parks (both coasts) have extremely cheesy attractions based on this series (Orlando's version seems closer to "Jaws 2" than the original), and no matter how silly, people stand in line for an hour to see the big, fake-looking shark jump out at them. I live in Orlando, so I see this first hand every time I visit the park.

Subsequently, I just bought "Jaws - The Revenge" on DVD (cheaply) just for fun. It was the first time, since it's opening night in 1987, that I have watched it (13 years ago, I walked out of it before the end and sneaked into "Robocop" which opened the same day). Now that I've seen the whole thing, I feel humbled. It's really not that bad.

I have actually read all of the reviews here at Amazon, and some others (Roger Ebert's Chicago Sun-Times review and TV Guide Online's Move Database - an excellent resource) and I am ready to debunk those who had (ironically the same) jaded opinions. Let's begin, shall we?

"The shark looks fake" - well DUUUUUHHHHHHH! This was made 12 years before "Deep Blue Sea" and two years before James Cameron helped break special effects ground with "The Abyss." Yes, it looks fake, but for the first time in the series, the shark occupied a lot more screen time. Spielberg didn't show the shark early in his film because he really couldn't - the mechanical sharks made for the first "Jaws" were very difficult in the beginning of the shoot - there's still one missing out at sea from 1975. Also, CGI was almost unheard of at that time. I'm sure if the filmmakers had the technology at the time, they would have tried to utilize some of it.

"The story has continuity problems" - actually, it doesn't. There are two scenes where Ellen Brody (played for the third time by Lorraine Gary) has flashbacks to events where she wasn't present; one was from the first film (and justified later in the story) and the other was from several key points in this film. The only other way to convey these thoughts/flashbacks would be to say them out loud - guess how awkward that would've been.

"The shark roars" - OK, it did, but it was only for dramatic effect (the shark in the Orlando ride roars, too - listen in the boathouse). Remember, we're not defining Pi here.

"The shark leaps out of the water like Shamu and stays there indefinitely" - well, no; the scene in question is in extreme slow motion and probably should've been edited a little better.

Roger Ebert stated there was no "establishing shot" before the shark was killed, and it did happen pretty quickly, but if you put yourself in the same situation (I know, now I'm supporting the realistic quality of it), you don't exactly get a lot of "establishing shots" in life to perfectly set up a climax.

Please understand, I do realize this isn't a fantastic movie, but the bad reputation that it has, and the fact that a "part five" hasn't occurred in over a decade and probably never will, is unfortunate. Given the advancement in special effects technology, maybe someone will write a worthy script and another will be made (maybe on the 30th anniversary of the first film). Jamie Lee Curtis came back to Haddonfield 20 years later, so I guess anything's possible.

By the way, the DVD version is the one where Jake (Mario Van Peebles - did you know his father Melvin was in the movie, too?) lives. I saw that question a lot here, so I thought I should probably mention it. The DVD has absolutely no extras, which some may scoff at, but hey, I said I got it cheaply.

So, about "Hudson Hawk" and "The Last Action Hero"...

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Terrible
Review: Please do not buy this DVD. Save your hard earned money and buy the original "Jaws". I can't believe people actually like this movie. Here's a question for you: In this movie, Mrs. Brody moves away from the ocean shore where Jaws I and II took place, but instead of moving to a land-locked area like Tupelo Mississippi, or somewhere in Ohio, she moves right next to the ocean! What's up with that? Obviously, the giant shark follows her. Equally ridiculous is Michael Caine's mind numbingly boring performance as "Hoagie". This movie should be avoided at all costs.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: A Bad, Bad Movie
Review: Being a big lover of the first Jaws and liking the first two sequels, I felt that I had to see the movie. With the exception of the opening sequence where Sean Brody gets killed, I just wish that I hadn't bothered. I remember the time when Roy Scheider refused to make this movie, and he made a good choice. I do admit that there are a couple of times in the movie where the acting was OK. I have only been able to sit through this entire movie once, and it was a waste of time (and I generally like bad movies). Definitely not a recommended film, if you have to see it, look for it on TV some Saturday afternoon, or late at night.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Better than it's reputation suggests
Review: Hardly perfect, however I really enjoyed Lorraine Gary's performance and the cameos of characters from the original Jaws including Mrs. Kittner. The Bahama and Caribbean locations are beautiful. It was also fun seeing the "Amity" locations again. The shark couldn't look any less real and a lot of the story is pretty silly, however no sillier than films like Independence Day, Armageddon, and countless other block busters. This film has been ridiculed a lot, however it's actually the best of the Jaws sequels.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Jaws 4:Back To Basics
Review: Many people feel that this third sequel in the series is the worst ever. I like it, because it takes you back to the storyline of the first two. Roy Schneider's character is killed off by a heart attack. It seems that he never recovers from the shark incidents. The youngest Brody child also becomes the victim of the shark. Yes, the story may be far fetched at times, but it also ties some loose ends together.

Michael Caine is an added attraction as the new love interest of the widow Brody. If you remember, at this year's academy awards, Caine was made fun of for filming "Jaws 4" right after winning an oscar for "Hannah And Her Sisters". Maybe that wasn't such a wise career move for Caine, but it is a fun and watchable movie. "Jaws:The Revenge" is another good reason to stay out of the water this summer...

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: There is nothing Bahamian about this movie.
Review: Before you direct a film that is supposed to take place in a foreign country I think that it is a good idea to study the culture. I think that the thing that would have helped this film considerably would have been if the director had learned about the Bahamian people. He obviously didn't do that. If he did he would have hired Bahamian actors to play the part of the Bahamian characters.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Super Mom versus the big fish!
Review: What's this, Did they have remaining money to spend in the fiscal year? If you are bored and want to rent a movie better choose that "Police Academy" sequel that you haven't seen yet. I would like to see this movie again because the first time that I saw it on video Mario Van Peebles survives the attack of the big fish but when it was cast on TV he dies, (are there two versions?) It isn't believable that a widow turns into a seasoned fisherwoman within hours. And this movie. as well as Jaws 3, suffers from the lack of "Boss" Brody (the "soul" of the "Jaws" saga)

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: the worst waste of time ever (well and jaws 3)
Review: "agaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"i screamed not at the scaryness of the film at the stupidness of it. the shark looks like a dead salmon on a pole and is sometimes balencing on the boat.the beggining just askes for troulble as the blown up,electricuted,frazzled comes back and chews up the kid whats his name.ellen broady has flashbacks of things she diddnt see.the film is awfull.i wish i was eaten by a shark then see this."this time its personal"said the catchphrase.more like "this time its stupid"


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