I don't think anyone expects it to be as great as "Chinatown". But for me, although some scenes were as nicely photographed as in Polanski's film, the general quality fell short. For one thing, Nicholson's narration struck my ear as too lengthy and omnipresent, and tried too hard to epitomize the "Noir" style. Characters seemed less engaging overall. Tilly seemed a bit too introspectively "dreamy" (a criticism sometimes leveled at her performance in Perkins' "Psycho II"). I enjoyed the movie but it can't hold a candle to its predecessor.

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Bodymaster t1_ja778m4 wrote on February 27, 2023 at 10:24 AM

#2,051,375

That's been the consensus since it came out, and the reason the third one never happened. To be fair, how do you follow up a film like Chinatown?

Dottsterisk t1_ja7db68 wrote on February 27, 2023 at 11:45 AM

#2,052,498

It was boring.

Which is a cardinal sin.

Morgneto t1_ja7eca9 wrote on February 27, 2023 at 11:57 AM

#2,052,682

Forget it, The Two Jakes, it's two Chinatowns.

ToxicAdamm t1_ja7rd94 wrote on February 27, 2023 at 2:01 PM

#2,055,666

I never went back and revisited it, I just remember the pacing being really bad. There would be scenes I would like, but then it would just start dragging again.

That was one of the things that made Chinatown so great. It just had this energy that propelled you forward.

PieceVarious OP t1_ja7wfmj wrote on February 27, 2023 at 2:40 PM

#2,056,815

Replying to ToxicAdamm (#2,055,666)

Good point - I'd forgotten that uneven pacing...

PieceVarious OP t1_ja7wtk9 wrote on February 27, 2023 at 2:43 PM

#2,056,924

Replying to Morgneto (#2,052,682)

Good one.

PieceVarious OP t1_ja7wxu1 wrote on February 27, 2023 at 2:44 PM

#2,056,952

Replying to Dottsterisk (#2,052,498)

Yeah, it certainly did not grip me and pull me in like Chinatown did.

PieceVarious OP t1_ja7x99e wrote on February 27, 2023 at 2:46 PM

#2,057,040

Replying to Bodymaster (#2,051,375)

"...how do you follow up a film like Chinatown?"

With another Exorcist or Halloween sequel/prequel.

;)

CodyTaco t1_ja8y021 wrote on February 27, 2023 at 6:47 PM

#2,066,807

sequel was unnecessary, but it is watchable

it expands on the plot points and corruption themes from the first flim, substituting oil control instead of water

Gittes still haunted by the past tragedy, and it forms his obsessions, and guides his decisions in this film

Nice retro set design, cinematography add to the period vibe

and Meg Tilly provides fine support, that results in a twist I did not see coming,

QuintoBlanco t1_jaa9ygq wrote on February 27, 2023 at 11:58 PM

#2,080,356

I love Meg Tilly.

The movie is not great, but the dreamy aspect to Tilly's performance works really well.

It explains her actions, and it explains Jake Berman's motivation.

The movie doesn't work if Kitty is an ordinary woman.

I also think she's the best thing in Psycho II.

The problem with both movies is that lightning doesn't strike twice. You can't will a classic sequel to a classic movie into existence.

It's the same with 2010: The Year We Make Contact, Jaws 2, Rocky II.

Most great sequels to a classics movie are either a natural continuation of the story or an ambitious re-imagining.