JAWS (1975)

JAWS (1975)

You yell barracuda, everybody says, 'Hunh, what?' You yell shark, and we got a panic on our hands on the Fourth of July.

JAWS is one of the most classic movies ever, not just in the thriller genre, but in relation to all movies in general, partly because it changed the summer landscape and “fear index” when it came out. In this one we meet a new Chief Of Police Brody, on Amity Island. The community almost completely relies on summer beach business. So when a few sea killings happen, the town’s Mayor is extremely reluctant to take any steps, in an attempt to avoid freaking out potential business to the island. As evidence piles up, the town is forced to take action. Quint (played by Robert Shaw), Brody (played by  Roy Scheider) and Matt Hooper (played by Richard Dreyfuss) from the Oceanographic Institute decide it’s time to take the hunt to the sea. 

There are a million takes on this damn movie, if not more, but I think my experience watching this as a kid was always a bit jaded, because I never saw this one in theaters and missed out on some of the more crazy “horror” driven scenes. My DVD has the restored version on it and while it’s not the 4K Ultra HD version or even BLU RAY, it looks amazing. They did an outstanding job. Roy Scheider’s performance in this thing was brilliant along with everyone else’s. Not even the kids in this movie mail it in. Each scene is meaningful and the dialog rich and full of life. Even down to one of the mothers coming to talk to Brody when her son is killed is meaningful. It replaces what could have been a commendable but over-done funeral scene with real parental emotion. Just that scene alone is almost haunting. We also get brilliant exposition, and great backstories regarding shark lore from both Matt and Quint’s characters. There are even a few scenes where the men hunting the shark descend into anger and uncertainty, which I feel might be a more realistic approach than just having the scene acted straight forward. 

This is a movie that I have always liked but never really loved until more recently. I am glad I finally own it and highly recommend that every serious movie critic and fan check it out. The score for this movie is one of the most iconic of all time and the cinematography is amazing. The only slight complaint I have about this movie is the zoom in scene on Brody when the shark first shows up at the beach. It just feels out of place, and even slightly slower camera movement would have had a similar effect. Having said that this is a very very minor complaint. Even though it was shot in 1975, the movie doesn’t feel dated and some of the relationships are relatable even in the 2020’s.  

I have to give JAWS a 6 out of 7. It’s amazing but not a film I watch every single year. As epic as it is, I don’t run to this thing every chance I get. However for most who have seen it, this is a likely definitive 7 out of 7. 

GRAPHICS ARE THE PROPERTY OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES  AND ARE USED FOR REVIEW PURPOSES ONLY.  

Please check out the link below by clicking on the picture. Because no one should die buttonless. Until next time.