Jaws 2

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

It were spectacular years for legendary composer John Williams, receiving praise for his classic two note theme and Oscar winning score Jaws in 1975, 2 years later composing legendary scores like Star Wars: A New Hope and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, perhaps then he probably was at the pinnacle point where he stunned everyone from fan to filmmaker. The same year he composed Superman (another classic score), John Williams also returned to the water with Jaws 2. The movie didn't do what it did for Steven Spielberg but it's one of the very few sequels which comes of as a really good successor nonetheless. John Williams returning as composer of course helped to give the sequel more dignity and by that I mean, composing more then just the two note main theme. The two note main theme is of course to be found aplenty in this score yet there is more available since the basic ideas he created in Jaws are returning in Jaws 2, in simply a different sounding form. The basic main themes return and Williams throws in a couple of others, combining a very enjoyable whole of both orchestral dissonance and climatic fanfares. The score is different from the first and perhaps offers a bit more thrills then the first overall in the sound of things, but those highlights of the first are not here so you get the good and the great in a very amusing package. Especially the way this score sounds like Star Wars almost will probably amuse the fans the most of all.

The score opens a bit different with 'Finding the Orca (Main Title)'. This is not the music underscoring the discovery of the dead Orca on the beach but is in fact the actual opening music, with the harp creating a typical underwater moment before a short fanfare signals the movie's title on screen. Here you probably think the two note main theme will not appear during the movie and further evidence is found when a theme from the first film returns, a lovely string moment signaling the discovery of Quint's sunken boat of the first before the threatening theme appears and dissonance follows (what would you expect?). A typical family theme supporting the arrival of the tourists appears in 'The Menu' but stronger moments are the attacking and racing action tracks if you can call it that. 'The Water Kite Sequence' captures the two note theme before a grand fanfare (1.05) signals a heroic moment before again returning to these racing moments with attacking fanfares. 'Attack on the Helicopter' is all furious fanfare after another and simply sounds spectacular if you especially know what it supports and 'Fire Aboard / Eddie's Death' captures at the same time furious but thrilling fanfares (again using the two note theme as pace setter) and supports the stunning scenes of the shark attacking the victim in the film. However it are various other moments which we can entitle as highlights of the score, and especially with that is the theme Williams composed for the sailing party and their playful attitude. 'The Catamaran Race' is a stunning parade of the joyful theme with some amazing fanfares and appears equally at the end of the score with 'End Title / End Cast', capturing here the soft string theme of the first score and track and also a finishing trumpet fanfare singing the end of the movie.

But wait, there is more. 'Toward Cable Junction' has a more Nixon attitude in that it gives these amazing trumpet fanfares which definitely will sound great to those who loves fanfares at all and 'The Big Jolt!' has even a surprise waiting to emerge. Here the final climatic music is heard which sends of the shark and especially film music listener with some amazing rushing pieces of music but adds some stunning variations of the Cage theme of the first score into the mix. Especially this added theme is the big winner of this track and even if the finale doesn't sound so great as in the original Jaws, it works in giving the movie and listener the thrill. Together this album offers much more then originally estimated. The furious pace covering signs of all the classic Williams scores (Indiana Jones, the Star Wars scores) give the soundtrack a sensational rushing feeling and the trumpet fanfares and furious playing string and flute work give it both scope and everlasting effect. Together Jaws 2 is just like the sequel film, one that stands proud behind the classic first. It is capturing more scope then the first which was a bit low on volume at times, creating more of an eerie mood. Yet here the stops are out, we know how the shark looks like and of course the technical advantage of the shark led naturally to a bigger sounding score overall. Jaws 2 is therefore capturing the proud place after a legendary classic and will thrill anyone who dares to enter its territory.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Finding The Orca (Main Title) (3.15)

2. The Menu (1.48)

3. Ballet For Divers (2.56)

4. The Water Kite Sequence (2.52)

5. Brody Misunderstood (2.48)

6. The Catamaran Race (2.08) Excellent Track

7. Toward Cable Junction (3.44)

8. Attack On The Helicopter (1.56)

9. The Open Sea (2.03)

10. Fire Aboard / Eddie's Death (3.25)

11. Sean's Rescue (2.55)

12. Attack On The Water Skier (2.41)

13. The Big Jolt! (4.39) Excellent Track

14. End Title / End Cast (3.25) Excellent Track

Correct Order: (1 - 6 - 4 - 12 - 5 - 2 - 3 - 10 - 9 - 8 - 11 - 7 - 13 - 14)

Total Length: 40.44

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: John Williams ===