Sharknado 2: Twice in a Lifetime

The Godfather 2 is no longer the greatest sequel.

 "There's something in the air, and it ain't love" - Wittlesey, Oz S01E01



On August 21st, 2014, one of the greatest films of all time was released on televisions everywhere. It is rare that a sequel can capture the same magic as the original film, but much like Jesus, the second coming of this particular series was even more powerful than the first. This already legendary piece of cinema is known as Sharknado 2: The Second One.

As an avid television and movies fan, I've seen works from critically acclaimed directors and writers, ranging from Curtiz's Casablanca to Lynch's Mulholland Drive. Both of these pale in comparison to the beautiful set design, A+ acting, and artful directing that make up Sharknado 2. Few movies can really hold a candle to this fine piece of cinema, only the likes of Tommy Wiseau's The Room or Claudio Fragasso's Troll 2 seem to outclass it.
To analyze this beautiful piece of art, let's start with the acting. Tara Reid, one of the best actresses of the last hundred years and Ian Ziering, the man that Phillip Seymour Hoffman wished he could be headline the movie. In the supporting cast is Mark McGrath, perhaps the greatest artist in rock history, and Vivica Fox, known for her karate skills and acting chops. Then, there's Judd Hirsch, playing what he plays best, a cab driver, Kurt Angle, putting away his wrestling boots and putting on his Barbara Streisand in The Prince of Tides ass-masking acting pant suit, and Biz Markie, playing a pizza shop owner who thinks of Ian Ziering's character as Just a Friend. To round out the cast is Billy Ray Cyrus, Downtown Julie Brown, Judah Friedlander (without a signature baseball cap), Perez Hilton, Richard Kind, Kelly Osborne, and of course, the man who outshines George Carlin, Andy Dick. Every one of these actors combine the passion of a Tennessee Williams play with the realism of Gustave Courbet painting.

Then, there's the directing. Sharknado 2 is directed by the legendary Anthony C. Ferrante, known for the show Project RCVR, a program so incredible that IMDb doesn't even have a page for it, the acclaimed horror movie Hansel & Gretel, and of course, the first Sharknado. What's amazing about his work is that almost every scene seems to be a reference to Tolstoy, Hugo, or even the Bible. Having this many allusions and metaphors may seem overwhelming at first, but upon the third or fourth viewing of the movie actually add a great deal to the movie's majesty.
Combine Ferrante's directing with the writing of Thunder Levin and the movie is made even better. Levin, known for his work on the first Sharknado as well as his feature film which he wrote and directed, Mutant Vampire Zomies from the 'Hood!' really makes the characters seem like real people with his handle of dialogue. One of the biggest problems with most science fiction movies is their excessive plot holes. Luckily, with an expert like Levin, any and all plot holes about a tornado sucking up thousands of sharks and dropping them on New York City are completely avoided.
The final piece of this puzzle lies in the special effects. Using the top quality CGI animations, Sharknado 2 makes the ferocious sharks plaguing New York look as real as Cameron's Avatar. I myself jumped out of my seat when the first shark was shown in the movie, almost believing that it was really in my living room, ready to eat me.

Whether you enjoy Tarantino's fast talking gangster flicks, Judd Apatow comedies, British art films such as Joanna Hogg's Archipelago, or any other type of film, Sharknado 2 is most definitely for you. Whether your IQ stands at a mere 10 or an impressive 200, you will be able to recognize the brilliance of this triumph in film making. Truly, we are lucky to be alive in this era if for no other reason than to watch, re-watch, and study one of the greatest films ever made: Sharknado 2: The Second One.

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