Is It Bad?: Jaws 3-D (1983)

 A Film that I just barely pre-date.  

The Film is a punchline.  It is just seen as a bad Film with an '80s Gimmick.

It is...

This one is infamous.

The Film was shot in 2-D, but has some 3-D Sections used to accentuate some key moments.

A Sequel to the previous Films, its only connection being two new guys playing the now-Adult Sons of Sheriff Brody.  

It was Directed by a guy who apparently worked on the previous Films- as an Art Director and Production Designed- and was (probably, but not really) the last guy to say 'Not it' when they said 'Who wants to Direct this Film?'

This is his only Directing Credit.

Thankfully, he worked on a pair of John Carpenter Films too.

According to Roy Scheider's Biographer, he said that 'they knew better than to ask' when it came to the 3rd Film.

Putting aside its history, let's find out if it is bad...

Pro: They set up a decent Story, with a new branch of SeaWorld getting targeted by a shark.

Con: SeaWorld.

Con: As noted, the connection is that Brody's Sons both end up at the park, with one working there and one visiting.

What are the odds of them both being there when this happens?  Can I count that high?

Pro: They really set the Scene nicely.  
Granted- this is just filler, as the Shark never *actually* attacks the Pyramid.

Con: Why set this up and not pay it off properly?

Pro: Lea Thompson.

Do I need to explain this one?

Pro: Another good setup comes in the form of SeaWorld's new Tunnel exhibits, which let you walk 'underwater.'

Con: Not much comes from this either.

The Shark attacks it, it floods and... that's it.
In a modern Film, it would swim through it- as a CGI abomination- eating people up.

Pro: Manimal's Simon MacCorkindale does a decent job as a guy brought in for publicity at the Park.

He's sort of the Film's Quint.

He also introduces Chekhov's Grenades in for the finale.

Con: His Arc isn't really that much, as he doesn't die heroically or learn a lesson.

I was expecting more.

Yes, from Jaws 3-D.  Shut up.

Pro: This Scene of him being swallowed by the Shark is actually kind of freaky.

A rare off-putting scare in this one.

Con: These poor Actors had to be slow-motion scared by the worst F/X shot in the Film.

A young Zack Snyder took note.

Con: FYI the Shark actually roars in this one too.  Right as it goes to attack Quaid and his lady the second time.

Pro: This shot of the 3-D Shark smashing through the glass is hilarious.

Con: It is also terrible.  I've only seen it in 2-D, but...come on.

Pro: A memorable (if silly) death for the shark.  It isn't the worst one.

Con: A tonally dissonant Ending shot with jumping dolphins that is somehow played as 'triumphant' after a bunch of people just died at the, well, teeth of a giant shark.

What Is Good?

There's the bones of a good Plot here as, no joke, Richard Matheson worked on it.  There's some decent tension with the Shark at times.

It can actually look good sometimes too.

The 3-D gimmick does make it more (but not well) remembered than Jaws 2.

What is Bad?

The mucked up Plot, which constantly sets up and doesn't properly pay off Characters/events.
The 3-D effects in the Finale.
The fact that so much is copy-pasted from Jaws.

The lack of proper connection to the Films.

Wasting a good Lea Thompson.

All of the Shark physics.

The fact that this Film features a legit-looking dead body and was somehow rated PG.

So...

Is It Bad?

Yes.

The Film has some good moments, to be fair.  It is just so silly and so disconnected from the other 2 Films.  When Jaws: The Revenge does a better job of world-building, you're hurting.

This still isn't the worst Shark Film I've seen, thanks to the glut of terrible ones in the last 20 years.

Plus, this Film and I 'debuted' at nearly the same time, so I have a weird sort-of connection to it.

A Film that is about as bad as you remember/heard.  It's more generic than it is silly- that's the next one.