Such a frustrating disappointment

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

I enjoyed this much more than anticipated, although there are plenty of plot flaws and the Maniac Cop is somewhat passive, leaving much of the killing to a serial killer whom he befriends for whatever reason. Some of the action scenes were great, as well as the climax. A typical B-Movie.

William Lustig's "Maniac Cop 2" is a rare thing - a sequel that surpasses its original. Granted, the original "Maniac Cop" wasn't exactly Shakespeare (though it is a hell of fun trashy B-Movie) so that probably wasn't very hard to do. This direct-to-video follow up still holds up well as one of the better B-films of the early 90s.We all know the story of how dedicated NYPD officer Matt Cordell became the Maniac Cop after being framed by his superiors and sent off to prison as part of a corruption cover-up. His vengeance against those who wronged him served as the plot of the first film, and as "2" opens, the horribly scarred, hulking Cordell still has a few loose ends to tie up. Bruce Campbell and Laurene Landon return briefly from the first film though neither of them survives very long, and new characters are brought in to deal with the psychotic officer: grizzled NYPD detective Robert D'avi (of the James Bond flick "License to Kill") and police psychologist Claudia Christian (who went on to "Babylon 5" as well as lots of other genre TV/film). The ante is upped this time because the Maniac Cop has hooked up with a partner for this second installment (Leo Rossi of "Halloween II" fame), a serial killer who's been stalking strippers and prostitutes on New York's seedy streets. Cordell shoots up NYPD Headquarters in a hilariously over the top shootout/massacre that simply has to be seen to be believed before he and Rossi (along with a few other criminals freed from police custody) head for the prison where Cordell first met his fate, to take care of the inmates there who were responsible for his beating/coma/"death" in part 1.OK, so the plot is ridiculous and was probably written on a cocktail napkin. That doesn't take away from the fact that "Maniac Cop 2" works beautifully both as an action flick and a horror/slasher movie. Lustig puts the pedal to the medal virtually from the first scene and doesn't let up through one bloodbath after another. Car crashes, shootouts, throat impalings, explosions -- whatever your taste in carnage, "Maniac Cop 2" will have a scene that satisfies.The (slightly) larger budget when compared to the first "MC" go-round allows for nastier makeup on the Cordell character (who by this time is basically a hulking, undead Jason Voorhees type in a cop uniform), better set pieces, and improved stunts and pyrotechnics. Say what you want about "Maniac Cop 2," but you can't say it's a boring movie.Fans of the "MC" series have long acknowledged that this second film is the highlight of the series. Sadly, the only DVD available in the U.S. went out of print almost as quickly as it appeared (and it was in fullscreen besides -- arrrgh!) but if you can get hold of a copy, "Maniac Cop 2" is a worthy night's viewing for action freaks and fans of cop-related carnage.

The massive maniac cop has returned to the New York streets again, this time with more taste for his fellow brothers and sisters in blue. After Jack Forrest (Bruce Campbell) and Teresa Mallory (Laurene Landon) defeat Matt Cordell (Robert Z'Dar) by drowning him in the river, they think all is well. They're sent to Dr. Susan Riley (Claudia Christian) to prove their sanity and return to the force, but before they're reinstated, Jack is murdered and the force finally realizes they must accept the fact of Cordell's return and find a way to stop his murderous rampage, all the while trying to put a stop to a serial killer who specializes in murdering strippers.After seeing the terrific original for the first time, I decided to check out the sequels, the first being Maniac Cop 2 (1990), followed by Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence (1993). First things first, however, with the #2. Unlike many horror series, the Maniac Cop trilogy maintains the same writing & directing team throughout all three installments. That's probably why it seems that the quality is maintained throughout as well. The ever-likable William Lustig (Maniac, which reflected some of its sleaziness here) and Larry Cohen (It's Alive) make a great team and it shows here and in their other projects (like Uncle Sam (1997)). Regardless of how entertaining this sequel is, however, it's not quite as good as the first (which is to be expected 99% of the time). It's not the writing or the direction that makes it come up short. Both of those are just about equal to the first (as they're by the same guys). It's not the story, which is fairly cool. The teaming up of the murderers was something I've not really seen all that much before this. It's not even the acting, which is as acceptable as any standard 80s slasher. No, it's none of those things. What hurts Maniac Cop 2 the most. . . is a huge lack of The Bruce. Killing off Mr. Campbell, one of the best actors of the horror business, only fifteen or so minutes into the film is not a way to keep your fanbase happy. Bruce is a legend of the genre since his terrific showing in Sam Raimi's (who made a brief appearance in the first Maniac Cop) Evil Dead, and to take him out so early was not so fun. Regardless, the rest of the film was fun, even without The Bruce. It was gritty, violent, and full of all the elements a horror fan could want: boobs, blood, and big murderous giants. Highly recommended for fans of the first, or anyone looking for a bloody good time.Obligatory horror elements:Sex/Nudity: As the serial killer loves to hack up hot strippers, there's quite a bit of nudity throughout.Scares/Suspense: Some good jump scares, and there's a thrilling car scene, but it's not as scary as the first.Mystery: We know there's a secret to Cordell (or else the story wouldn't be any different than the first), but it's not really 'mystery.' - -Final verdict: 7.5/10. How did you know? -AP3-

He's back again! Officer Matt Cordell(Robert D'Zar) is back on the streets again making a killing in law enforcement. Since the first "Maniac Cop" some of the city's finest were actually corrupt. Those who confessed lost their badges or worse their lives. Oh well. This time, he teams with a serial killer, and they are a powerful team. Somewhere in the middle, Cordell gets rid of the killer, and goes after the ones who kill a policewoman. That kinds of put something new into the ring. Not only does he have to find his killers in prison, he has to find who killed the cop. To me, I don't think it would be any problem at all. Since he's unstoppable, it would take an army to bring him down, and the criminals aren't safe either. They fall like dominoes. Imagine, those who lose their lives in the line of duty get their just dues at a funeral, for Cordell, he just won't stay dead. This movie will leave you on the edge of your seat, and the suspense is just right! 3 out of 5 stars!