One of those extreme rarities...
where the sequel is better than the original. I gave the first one a one, this one a three.
shareIts a little better.
part 1 (3/10)
part 2 (4/10)
MovieChat Forums > Octopus 2: River of Fear (2002) Discussion > One of those extreme rarities...
No way. The original "Octopus" (2000) actually had a wildly creative and original plot rather than rip-off one of Peter Benchley's stories, which is what this pedestrian sequel did. "Octopus 2" is decent as a TV-budget creature feature for the first hour, but the final act drops the ball with a rushed (i.e. lousy) "Let's-finish-this-up-and-get-our-paychecks" vibe.
Sure the special effects of the first movie reflect the cartoonish CGI of that era, but they get the job done. The question is, is "Octopus" entertaining for what it is? Does it deliver the goods, so to speak? Definitely.
Yes, it's outlandish and larger-than-life, but the filmmakers and cast play it pretty straight with some lighter aspects and humor thrown in for good measure. The film only turns totally outrageous like "Deep Rising" in the final act but, by then, it's pretty much expected and (for the most part) welcomed.
Aside from the highly creative storyline the film impresses with its five main characters: the world-weary captain of the sub, his black first officer, the CIA agent who doesn't want to be James Bond, the sexy blonde oceanographer, and the love-to-hate villain. They're all fleshed-out well and are memorable characters. The viewer comes to care for the four protagonists and can't help but root for them. The oceanographer is intelligent & spirited and looks great when she's ultimately forced to take off her skirt (lol).
The ending is too over-the-top and ridiculous, but it comes with the territory.