#28 on Glenn's Top 100 Movie ListI don't care about/am not scared of sharks. Big fishy killing machines that could take me out with one bite? It seems pretty easy to go through life and avoid that ever happening. I guess that doesn't subtract from this being an awesome movie though, and it's pretty terrific even 34 years later. Oh right, the plot for those of you who haven't seen it - a big shark is eating people so they try to stop it and do stop it (spoilers). Smile you son of a BLAOW!
RATING: 91%
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15 comments:
I love Jaws. Like all of the rest of the scariest films of all time, it subscribes to the "less is more" approach of creeping out an audience. I know it was forced into that position with all kinds of problems getting that shark to work, but thank your chosen deity that those problems existed. If they had gotten the shark to work, we wouldn't be reviewing Jaws today. It makes us edgy with the mere PRESENCE of the shark and I would guess that the shark itself doesn't even have two minutes of actual screen time. It's an example of movie editing at its finest, courtesy of Verna "Mother Cutter" Fields.
It also has an outstanding cast, a great look (primary colors abound), wonderful pacing, and plenty of subtext. The attack on Chrissie Watkins is a symbolic rape, which makes it all the more terrifying. Play that scene with just sound and you'll hear what I'm talking about, right down to the guy on the beach (whose leg is bent to resemble a shark fin) whispering "I'm coming, I'm coming" during the attack.
I also love the imagery of teeth throughout, using other pointy objects to resemble them (broken glass, the jagged fence, a bridge in the pond, and the changing tents on the beach).
I think it's interesting, too, how Quint is the fifth victim of the shark that we see in the film. The prefix "quint" means "five". =) Oddly, though, Hooper was supposed to have been killed before him, but since they cut out the affair that he and Mrs. Brody had in the book, the film had no reason for him to die.
All in all, not bad for a movie whose filming sounds like it was a pretty unpleasant experience for many.
I also love this movie. I read the book, too, and it's kind of fucked up in a very 70's way. Would recommend to someone who wants a nice weird weekend read. It's interesting to see the differences, anyway. SPOILER For example, in the book the Richard Dreyfuss character is a hot young stud who sticks it to Roy Scheider's wife. Srsly.
Annnd now I actually read Tim's comment and look like a dumbass. Blog comment fail.
You are not scared of the sharks but you are scared of the plane flight?? Does not compute.
Jeez, what's wrong with me!? I reviewed Jaws and didn't mention one of the GREATEST FILM SCORES EVER by John Williams! Bad Tim.
Who doesn't like Jaws?
People who deserve to be eaten by sharks, that's who.
Well put, B.
This movie has one of the most horrifying openings ever!
Still can't wait to see what makes #1 on the list.
(spoiler) #1 is the movie version of doom w/ the rock
I was going to bet Super Mario Bros with Bob Hoskins and Dennis Hopper. =P
ROY SCHEIDER [to RICHARD DREYFUSS]: Thank God you're here! WTF is a shark?
lol whose jn
Doom w/ The Rock, eh? Never would have guessed. Thanks for spoiling it, (not) Brent Newland.
hey jacqui you shld read the coments in itunes genius review its a p. epic war of words and a p. compeling read
and if thats not enough for you check out crunk hi voltage coments and hunkmana at duvet coments
taken all together they tell the narative of r3s demise and rise from the ashes like dark phoenix
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