Jaws 40th anniversary
- Thread starter HarryCanyon1982
- Start date
Like CorporalCaptain I was too young to see the original release, but I did see a re-release around 1979, age 9. A lot of kids my age had seen it and I got my parents to let me go with some friends. The most intense movie experience I'd had to that point, to say the least. PG was different in those days!
Jaws is a near-perfect combination of thriller and adventure, with outstanding character performances and a strong dose of humor. It is said to have started the era of the summer blockbuster, but not many that followed have matched its unforced, wide-eyed but also sometimes laid-back storytelling.
We're planning to catch a screening this summer, no question.
Jaws is a near-perfect combination of thriller and adventure, with outstanding character performances and a strong dose of humor. It is said to have started the era of the summer blockbuster, but not many that followed have matched its unforced, wide-eyed but also sometimes laid-back storytelling.
We're planning to catch a screening this summer, no question.
One of my all time favorites as well. When it first hit the theaters I wasn't even one year old yet, I have always wanted to see Jaws on the big screen.
So you were born 75?
Doctorwhovian
Fleet Captain
It's interesting that the original novel in retrospect isn't that good-most of the characters are unlikeable, whereas the movie was much better in that respect (apart from characters such as Amity's Mayor). Even Quint comes off better and more sympathetic IMO.
As for the Shark looking fake, it's interesting to note that they were going to use the Shark for more scenes I think, but it kept breaking down, hence the film using more POV/not showing the shark/the theme/stock footage etc. We barely even see the Shark animatronic in the third act, even (It's most visible I think when it eats Quint)
Of course, in the sequels, they rolled out the "Bruce" animatronic several times, and it was clearly increasingly worn out as time went on.
As for the Shark looking fake, it's interesting to note that they were going to use the Shark for more scenes I think, but it kept breaking down, hence the film using more POV/not showing the shark/the theme/stock footage etc. We barely even see the Shark animatronic in the third act, even (It's most visible I think when it eats Quint)
Of course, in the sequels, they rolled out the "Bruce" animatronic several times, and it was clearly increasingly worn out as time went on.
Some times technical limitations such as in the case of Jaws with Bruce breaking down so often, can make a better film. Take a film which came out aa few years later, we barely see the Alien so it can make the creature more meancing.
But the simple Jaws tune helps make up for the lack of seeing the Shark.
But the simple Jaws tune helps make up for the lack of seeing the Shark.
Doctorwhovian
Fleet Captain
Yeah, that's true. It also helped, I think, the first Jurassic Park film also by Spielberg. When you think about it, the Dinosaurs don't really have that much screen time (They actually don't see any on the tour itself apart from the sick Triceratops, and apart from the hatchling and a few brief glimpses at the beginning, the Raptors don't really appear until the film's final act). The sequels-and to a degree the original novel-rolled out the Dinosaurs at pretty much every oppurtunity.
The best Star Wars films kind of did this too. We don't really see the entirety of the trash compactor monster, or ESB's wampa (Well, at least in the original version). The latter at least was because the suits didn't work out I think, the Wampas were originally going to be in a lot more of the Hoth portion of the film (Part of which can be seen in the deleted footage on the blu-rays).
The best Star Wars films kind of did this too. We don't really see the entirety of the trash compactor monster, or ESB's wampa (Well, at least in the original version). The latter at least was because the suits didn't work out I think, the Wampas were originally going to be in a lot more of the Hoth portion of the film (Part of which can be seen in the deleted footage on the blu-rays).
Saw it as a kid the first time and it scared the hell out of me.. the music, the long time before we finally see the shark and the multiple shock moments.
The scene where the shark kills Quint gave me nightmares (yes.. a kid should NOT see this movie).
As i got older the horror lessened and i started to notice how brilliantly the film was put together and how good the cast and the characters were.
Quint's Indianapolis speech is still one of the best movie monologues i have ever seen for tone, delivery and content.
Just a brilliant movie.
The scene where the shark kills Quint gave me nightmares (yes.. a kid should NOT see this movie).
As i got older the horror lessened and i started to notice how brilliantly the film was put together and how good the cast and the characters were.
Quint's Indianapolis speech is still one of the best movie monologues i have ever seen for tone, delivery and content.
Just a brilliant movie.
Let me guess? back to the future 2?
...what's a 'back to the future'?
I saw in the theater it a couple of years ago when Fritz the Nite Owl hosted it in Columbus, that was a great time! Still as enjoyable as ever.
The opening scene where the swimmer gets dragged under is still one of the scariest movie moments I've ever experienced, and Quint's speech about the Indianapolis is my favorite part of the movie. I love that little moment when you get to understand what made this guy into the grizzled, strange man he is.
The opening scene where the swimmer gets dragged under is still one of the scariest movie moments I've ever experienced, and Quint's speech about the Indianapolis is my favorite part of the movie. I love that little moment when you get to understand what made this guy into the grizzled, strange man he is.
Double post, sorry!
Jaws (1975)
My Grade: A+
It's interesting to in the same weekend watch two movies with Spielberg behind them. Granted, he was director of Jaws and obviously much more heavily involved in it than he was as senary executive producer. But it none-the-less shows how much the Summer blockbuster action movie has changed from inarguably the very first one to the latest one.
It makes one wonder if Jaws would work if released for the first time (unchanged) today and, similarly, if Jurassic World had been released in 1975 (sending it back in time as it currently is, shock audiences!) if it would have kicked off the concept of the Summer Blockbuster. (Summer movie season in 1975 often considered the dead-zone for movie releases much like the mid-winter season is today.)
The movie Jaws was released in 1975 and directed by a then unknown untested director, a cast of largely unknown stars and plagued with numerous problems with the mechanical shark and operating it on seawater. (Necessitating many of the shark scenes to be carried out without a shark around and rather the theme and objects attached to the shark to reveal its position, coupled with actual footage of sharks.)
The movie, if you don't know, centers around an island hamlet in the North East preparing for the beginning of their busy time of year, the 4th of July, when tourists rush to the quaint beach town for relaxation and beach shores a critical time of year for the island's residents as it makes-or-breaks their finances for the next year. Everything is put into jeopardy when it seems that a shark has staked a claim on the waters around the island endangering swimmers. The chief of police, Martin Brody, is recent transplant from New York City who quickly decides to close the beaches after a young woman dies from an apparently shark attack. He butts heads with the mayor and other locals who know the desperate need for the beach traffic over the Summer. The medical examiner recants his findings and the mayor insists the beaches stay open.
More accidents occur and Chief Brody calls in an oceanographer, Matt Hooper a rich man with intense interest in sharks, to help them with the shark problem. Eventually Brody gets fed up with the accidents and forces the mayor to allow him and Matt to hire a local shark-hunter, Quint, to go out and kill the shark. What results is more of a character drama than any strict action flick as the personalities of three men clash (particularly between the working-class Quint and the rich Hooper) over how to handle the situation as the shark reveals itself to be much more than they can handle.
For the time, and even to extent even for today, the shark scenes still look great and the movie's inability to use a shark on screen much plays to the tension much more than if we'd seen it the entire time. POV shots, the infamous Jaws theme, and a series of barrels attached to shark provide all of the tension needed to fear the shark and when we do get to see it, it is a sight to behold and we see this in the reaction and awe in the characters' faces.
Our three male leads are remarkable and when the three of them finally bond over comparing old wounds and singing sea shanties you're ready to see these men face their aquatic Mt. Everest.
What needs to be said? This movie started the Summer Blockbuster and for good reason. It's a remarkable movie that really shows the genius that's Spielberg, or at least the Spielberg that existed back then, as he was able to accomplish given his lack of clout as filmmaker back then and the bevy of problems the movie faced during filming. The movie, naturally, gave birth to numerous sequels the likes of which are best forgotten.
Jaws for me remains one of my most favorite movies, probably in my Top 5. Lots of great scenes in it, particularly Quint's recounting of his experiences on the doomed WWII ship the Indianapolis. It's hard to watch that scene and not be utter wrapped up and hanging on every single word Quint says.
Remarkable work, Mr. Shaw.
A fantastic, fantastic movie. Nothing else need be said.
My Grade: A+
It's interesting to in the same weekend watch two movies with Spielberg behind them. Granted, he was director of Jaws and obviously much more heavily involved in it than he was as senary executive producer. But it none-the-less shows how much the Summer blockbuster action movie has changed from inarguably the very first one to the latest one.
It makes one wonder if Jaws would work if released for the first time (unchanged) today and, similarly, if Jurassic World had been released in 1975 (sending it back in time as it currently is, shock audiences!) if it would have kicked off the concept of the Summer Blockbuster. (Summer movie season in 1975 often considered the dead-zone for movie releases much like the mid-winter season is today.)
The movie Jaws was released in 1975 and directed by a then unknown untested director, a cast of largely unknown stars and plagued with numerous problems with the mechanical shark and operating it on seawater. (Necessitating many of the shark scenes to be carried out without a shark around and rather the theme and objects attached to the shark to reveal its position, coupled with actual footage of sharks.)
The movie, if you don't know, centers around an island hamlet in the North East preparing for the beginning of their busy time of year, the 4th of July, when tourists rush to the quaint beach town for relaxation and beach shores a critical time of year for the island's residents as it makes-or-breaks their finances for the next year. Everything is put into jeopardy when it seems that a shark has staked a claim on the waters around the island endangering swimmers. The chief of police, Martin Brody, is recent transplant from New York City who quickly decides to close the beaches after a young woman dies from an apparently shark attack. He butts heads with the mayor and other locals who know the desperate need for the beach traffic over the Summer. The medical examiner recants his findings and the mayor insists the beaches stay open.
More accidents occur and Chief Brody calls in an oceanographer, Matt Hooper a rich man with intense interest in sharks, to help them with the shark problem. Eventually Brody gets fed up with the accidents and forces the mayor to allow him and Matt to hire a local shark-hunter, Quint, to go out and kill the shark. What results is more of a character drama than any strict action flick as the personalities of three men clash (particularly between the working-class Quint and the rich Hooper) over how to handle the situation as the shark reveals itself to be much more than they can handle.
For the time, and even to extent even for today, the shark scenes still look great and the movie's inability to use a shark on screen much plays to the tension much more than if we'd seen it the entire time. POV shots, the infamous Jaws theme, and a series of barrels attached to shark provide all of the tension needed to fear the shark and when we do get to see it, it is a sight to behold and we see this in the reaction and awe in the characters' faces.
Our three male leads are remarkable and when the three of them finally bond over comparing old wounds and singing sea shanties you're ready to see these men face their aquatic Mt. Everest.
What needs to be said? This movie started the Summer Blockbuster and for good reason. It's a remarkable movie that really shows the genius that's Spielberg, or at least the Spielberg that existed back then, as he was able to accomplish given his lack of clout as filmmaker back then and the bevy of problems the movie faced during filming. The movie, naturally, gave birth to numerous sequels the likes of which are best forgotten.
Jaws for me remains one of my most favorite movies, probably in my Top 5. Lots of great scenes in it, particularly Quint's recounting of his experiences on the doomed WWII ship the Indianapolis. It's hard to watch that scene and not be utter wrapped up and hanging on every single word Quint says.
Remarkable work, Mr. Shaw.
A fantastic, fantastic movie. Nothing else need be said.
Similar threads
- Sticky
- Poll
