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Some movies are so good that it's almost impossible to imagine how a sequel could be as good as the original. In other cases, too much real-world time elapses to make a sequel feasible (think Basic Instinct 2.) In the case of Chinatown, a sequel to the Roman Polanski classic was an uphill battle from the start, but without Polanski at the helm, The Two Jakes was in serious trouble. Jack Nicholson took it upon himself to not only star in the sequel, but also to sit in the director's chair. As he brought J.J. 'Jake' Gittes back to the screen, Nicholson was flanked by Harvey Keitel who played Jake Berman, a real estate developer who snaps after he finds his partner in bed with his wife. But just like Chinatown focused on a cover-up for the fresh-water industry, there's more at play in The Two Jakes. This times, it's black gold, Texas tea.
 While The Two Jakes doesn't come quite as loaded as the special collector's edition of Chinatown, the lengthy interview with Jack Nicholson is a welcome examination of the project by a man who heavily invested himself into both films. Not only does Nicholson speak from an actor's point of view, but he also addresses the behind-the-scenes action, both as a director and as a person who saw it all. But, much like Chinatown, it's just cool to have this flick on DVD, with a great visual restoration.
Given the amount of extras on the newly released Chinatown DVD, it's hard to understand why there aren't more goodies on The Two Jakes. The theatrical trailer doesn't hold much water, and while the Jack Nicholson interview is amazing, it only makes you crave more. The definite drawback is that it isn't completely loaded with extras for the hardcore fans. Then again, the new Chinatown does the trick.
If you loved Chinatown, it's hard to avoid placing The Two Jakes on your DVD shelf right next to it. Sure, it isn't quite the tour-de-force that Chinatown is, but it is a decent film, and a great place to pick up where Chinatown left off. If only they could make that third film, Cloverleaf...
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