paulijcalderon It's always difficult for a sequel to live up to the original. Jack Nicholson did manage to recapture the feel and tone of "Chinatown", but not so much with the story unfortunately.The look of the film is good. All the locations, lighting and camera-work are all nice. The music is very suiting with its somber and calm atmosphere. It feels like the whole thing was shot during magic hour, and every other scene seems to have a sunset in the background. This is a beautiful movie to look at. Everything in the design and look department is done right, but the rest doesn't live up.Jack Nicholson really tried and I feel a bit bad for him. I can tell that he really wanted to show how J.J. Gittes' memories were haunting him years later. If that would have been the focus, then maybe it would have worked. But, the story that we are treated with is not interesting or intriguing and not much actually happens. I kept checking what time it was every 5 minutes or so. I was really disappointed because the movie never really finds itself. Towards the end they started hinting at something that could be good. But, it's only hinted at.I liked the one scene where he is at a nightclub, but the only reason was because of the nice lighting and cinematography. It's very melodramatic and there's the classic noir voice over. There's never any big twist or something to really surprise you. It's mostly just Jack Nicholson walking around in a fedora trying to find something interesting to do. It was underwhelming and it lacked some intensity and mystery.I don't recommend it that much. If you are a fan of Nicholson and "Chinatown", then maybe check it out because of curiosity. But, don't expect much at all.

tieman64 "In this town, I'm the leper with the most fingers." - Jake Gittes Jack Nicholson directs and stars in "The Two Jakes", a sequel to Roman Polanski's "Chinatown". The film once again sees Nicholson playing private investigator Jake Gittes, and sports another interesting, labyrinthine screenplay by Robert Towne, but as neo-noir relies heavily on mood, ambiance and decor, and as Nicholson is a poor visualist and director, the film is ultimately a failure. Nicholson's weak camera work and production design can't match Polanski's panache and the film at times feels like a television movie or cheap pastiche.Towne's script, however, is fairly interesting. Where "Chinatown" revolved around greed, incest and filthy low-lives hiding behind pretty facades, "The Two Jakes" does the opposite, the object of Gittes' investigation revealing himself to be a impassioned and idealistic man beneath the slime others cynically project upon him.Like most neo-noirs, the film is entirely in "quotes". There are no characters, only characters who mimic or reference certain character types (the "tough guy", the "femme fatale", the "rich villain" etc). Likewise, there are no scenes, just "copies of scenes", no decor, just a kind of self conscious imitation of what noir decor should be like. The result is a lazy, unimaginative aesthetic, and cartoonish, imitative acting by most involved.7.5/10 – Those familiar with old B-movie noirs will find nothing new here. Worth one viewing.

thinker1691 The classic hard boiled detective of the fifties is among the most popular characters ever created. Guys like, Sam Spade, Mike Hammer and now J.J. Gitties have become immortalized on the big screen. Ever since audiences watched 'Chinatown' there has been a steady stream of fan mail asking for a sequel. This movie connects the original and is called " The Two Jakes. " In this follow up story which dealt with water rights and was filled with a twisted and scandalous family, is back with an even more confusing signature of who wants, what and where. Jack Nicholson not only directs, but also stars as J.J. 'Jake' Gittes, the introspective, but sophisticated Private Eye. Harvey Keitel plays Julius 'Jake' Berman, the rich and futuristic housing developer who has several schemes with which to grow wealthier, but to secure his wife's future. Eli Wallach, plays Cotton Weinberger, the high price attorney. Rubén Blades plays Michael 'Mickey Nice' Weisskopf, who is out to solve problems despite whom it may hurt.Perry Lopez, returns as Captain Lou Escobar with David Keith as an ambitious Dectective out to nail Gittes. Richard Farnsworth, Earl Rawley, Tracey Walter and James Hong add to the list of great stars in the movie. Though the story is as deep as a fifties novel, if one pays close attention, the out-come is inevitable. Seen is this retrospective and the modern problems arrayed in the future, this dramatic movie should lay the foundation for the third in the series. All in all, the movie should be listed as second in a trio of Classic movies for Nicholson. Recommended for anyone who loved the oldies movies with the hard bitten Private eye, spinning a tale. ****

jmcdaniels-812-7690 Sure it's not Chinatown, but the atmosphere, sets, costumes and iconic actors carried this film and left me longing for the third part of the trilogy. Quick while Nicholson is still breathing! Some had the opinion that it was too long, but the longer I could stay in that world, the better. Even Meg Tilly, sounding as if she had the worst sinus infection on record, brought an excellent performance to the table. It's too bad that it was a sequel and a sequel to what has become a late twentieth century classic film. I've found that it's the same with going to see any film - you have to keep your expectations under control. Many of the reviewers were expecting to see a second classic in this sequel, but I don't think they realize how rare it is, in spite of the effort and talent associated with the making of a film, for it to all come together into something like Chinatown. So, here's to the films that aren't so great, because they make the great films well..great.