Jaws Review and Thoughts

Jaws is classic thriller directed by Steven Spielberg and released in 1975. The movie is based on the novel by Peter Benchley and is considered as the first blockbuster movie. The story is set in a small resort town, which relies solely on tourism during the summer. A young women is found dead on the beach and Brody (played by Roy Scheider), chief of police, suspects a shark attack, but the mayor reluctant to acknowledge the possibility of a shark attack as it could scare away tourist. As more attacks occur Brody teams up with Hooper (played by Richard Dreyfuss), a marine biologist, and Quint (played by Robert Shaw), a shark hunter. Together they set out to sea to capture and kill the great white shark responsible for all the trouble and killings. After a long few day journey on the water, they kill the shark, but in doing so the boat is torn to shred and Quint is killed in the process.

After watching the film, I thought that Spielberg did a great job creating a movie that could be so suspenseful. The movie constantly had me on the edge of my seat as I waited for what the shark was going to do or who it was going to kill next. By keeping the shark mostly hidden for the first half of the film, it builds an unbearable tension, enhances the impact of each encounter. Overall, the storytelling and the acting were great, leading to the film being very enjoyable. I would definitely watch this movie again as I could pick up the something new every time.

Jaws left a huge mark on pop culture as it had an insane amount of cultural impact. It left an everlasting impression that sharks were killers and that going into the water could lead to you being eaten by a shark. In addition, the popular two-note theme become correlated with danger and whenever that sound is played, Jaws immediately comes to mind. Spielberg utilized some of the best shots and angles throughout the film such as the underwater shots in the shark's point of view which created suspense. Furthermore, the overhead shots employed during the opening attack helped emphasize the vulnerability of the swimmers and created a feeling of helplessness. The combination of these shots along with many others played a crucial role in building tension, ultimately contributing the popularity and sucsess of the film.