Dynamixor
The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.
Anoushka Slater
While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.
Staci Frederick
Blistering performances.
Uriah43
This movie takes place near a small resort island in the Caribbean. Essentially, "Annie Kimbrough" (Tricia O'Neil) is a scuba instructor for the luxury hotel on the island and has been recently divorced from her husband "Chris Kimbrough" (Lance Henriksen) who happens to be the local sheriff. One day while teaching some tourists how to scuba dive one of the trainees is killed by some kind of fish that Annie is unable to identify due to the bite marks on the body which doesn't resemble any fish that she is familiar with. Neither does she realize just how dangerous these fish truly are. At any rate, rather than disclose the rest of the plot and risk spoiling the film for those who haven't seen it, I will just say that I enjoyed it. Now, make no mistake it clearly wasn't up to the level of "Jaws" or possibly even its predecessor "Piranha". But the scenery was nice and a couple of the actors, most notably the aforementioned Tricia O'Neil and Lance Henriksen, played their parts rather well. Along with that there were a couple of attractive ladies wearing either nothing or next to nothing in several different scenes. And while some of the scenes featuring the flying piranha were clearly absurd, whether intended or not, I found it to be quite hilarious. Now, that is not to say that I thought this was a movie that was "so bad it's good". Not at all. I just thought it was a fun movie and I enjoyed watching it. Obviously, there will be some who strongly disagree and I respect their opinion. Be that as it may, even though it certainly has its flaws I rate this movie as average.
Kristine
Funny to think, before Avatar, Titanic, True Lies, Terminator 2, Aliens, The Abyss, The Terminator, James Cameron was just trying to make it himself. After quitting being a truck driver, he was just the editor on Piranha 2 and somehow got shoved into the director's seat. I can see why he skims over this movie when in interviews people ask about what his life was like before The Terminator. It's fun to see what are the first works are of a huge Hollywood name. I did see this movie when I was a kid and even then I have to say that this was one of the silliest movies I had ever seen in my life. I mean, flying piranhas? I get it, they were trying to make the fish seem impossible to escape from at this point, under water or on land, you just couldn't get away from these monsters. But these monsters looked like something you could get at Spencer's Gifts for a Halloween party.Off the coast of a Caribbean island, a young couple flee the hotel to have sex in the sea. But they swim into a sunken wreck which is also a piranha lair and they are both killed and eaten by the unseen piranha. The next day, a group of tourists are taking the diving courses provided by Anne Kimbrough, an employee of the Hotel Elysium. One of her divers swims into the wreck, which she has strictly forbidden to her divers. Leaving Tyler to take over and lead the others to the surface, she discovers almost immediately that her 'missing' student has swum into the wreck and been killed there when his badly chewed up body is found. With the help of her estranged husband, Steve, they must figure a way to stop these evil flying piranha.Now one of the great things about this film I have to say is the first scene. This couple goes underwater to have sex, that is something I have to say I have never seen on the wackiness level for un-needed nudity. Other than that, I don't think there was anything that good about the film even on a camp level. But given the credit where it's due, you could really see talent behind James. As an editor, he did the best he could with what he had. It's like handing over a broken stick house and saying to fix it, he did the best he could, but just couldn't really save the film. But Lance Henriksen is the only actor in the film who actually puts a little effort into this movie and I could see why he made it above the other actors in this movie.I don't know if I could recommend this film, it just depends on the mood you're in. If you're looking to see all of James Cameron's work or Lance Henrikson, I would say to go for it. But just a warning in advance, this is an over the top silly movie. Some moments work and some don't, there are some laughable scenes, but most of the film is oddly boring for a film about flying fish. Now I would watch a documentary about these flying fish if James made one today, either that or he should've added the flying piranha to his blockbuster film Titanic. I think he would've gotten the full 11 out of 11 Oscar wins if he added those. Anyways, just don't expect anything special out of this movie, just remember, there was a time before his submarine missions deep below the seas being one of the most powerful men in Hollywood he slept on a friend's couch just trying to make a name for himself.2/10
MovieCritic33-6
I seldomly bash films, and usually I am able to find enjoyment in any film I watch. But this film was plain and simple garbage! There are no other words to describe it. This poor quality film and ridiculous concept which is so far out there its ludicrous. Genetically altered fish that not only have the ability to fly, but to breathe out of water. They're also pretty smart with good vision too, because they know where the people are at and almost never miss their target. To say a sequel to Joe Dante's 1978 cult classic film 'Piranha' would have potential, is probably wrong to say. The first film was a classic, with humour and unnerving moments which actually make you ask the question "What lies under the water?" Dante was able to create fear of the unknown in his film, and although many if not most films bend the branches of reality, Cameron's Piranha II: The Spawning completely mangles and breaks those branches which attempts to form any type of realism. A personal opinion is only a personal opinion, and if you still decide to waste your money on this film that is your choice. Maybe you'll find some enjoyment in this film that I could not, and if so kudos to you because you have a greater tolerance for films then I do. 0 Stars Out of ****
BA_Harrison
By genetically splicing together DNA from piranha with that of the harmless grunion and the flying fish, biochemists working for the military have created a strain of flesh-eating fish not only capable of living in the sea, but also of launching itself out of the water to attack on land. Doh!When will people understand that not every film-maker wants their work to be the next Citizen Kane? Believe it or not, some directors deliberately cater for movie fans who enjoy schlock entertainment. Piranha II: Flying Killers, for example, is a film that has received an awful lot of flak here on IMDb for being cheap and trashy, when as far as I can see, that was exactly how it was intended. The silly concept, camp performances, and iffy effects are precisely what makes this film such a blast, and the fact that it was directed by the man who eventually gave us Avatar is just the icing on the cake.I'm just glad that I'm one of those able to enjoy Piranha II for what it is—an unashamedly silly, tongue in cheek B-movie featuring some effective gore (courtesy of Gianetto De Rossi), quality T&A (in the form of MILF diving teacher Anne, a pair of sexy topless babes on a yacht, and busty jail-bait Allison) a cool soundtrack (love those opening credits), lots of flying fish suspended on wires or stuck on the end of poles, and quality underwater action from a director whose confidence working 'in the drink' would serve him well in years to come.
