When an insatiable great white shark terrorizes the townspeople of Amity Island, the police chief, an oceanographer and a grizzled shark hunter seek to destroy the blood-thirsty beast.
- Released: 1975-06-18
- Runtime: 124 minutes
- Genre: Adventure, Horror, Thrillers
- Stars: Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw, Murray Hamilton, Lorraine Gary, Chris Rebello, Jay Mello, Jeffrey Kramer, Carl Gottlieb, Susan Backlinie, Jonathan Filley, Lee Fierro, Jeffrey Voorhees, Craig Kingsbury, Phil Murray, Fritzi Jane Courtney, Belle McDonald, Ted Grossman, Robert Nevin, Peter Benchley, Dorothy Fielding, David Engelbach, Joseph Oliveira, Beverly Powers, Ayn Ruymen, Christopher Sands, Rex Trailer, Joe La Creta, Denise Cheshire, Steven Spielberg
- Director: Steven Spielberg
Comments
- misarisu - 9 June 2024
7,3
It is clear that this movie is a classic and has inspired most if not all shark movies made and to be made. Getting into it I thought it would be boring since I mean, it's an old film about hunting a shark, but, it has surprised me in a good way. It was pretty realistic taking into account the year it was produced and it has made me want to watch more shark movies( maybe recent ones). The only flaw I could point out would be the fact that there was a moment when Quin kept talking and honestly, I don't know if it was the company (my friends who don't like cinema and couldn't keep talking about how boring the movie was to them) or the fact that I had slept 1 hour the night before but I literally didn't pay any attention and just wanted the final attack to take place, so there's that.
Overall it was a nice movie and I'm glad it's a classic since the work behind it and the realism of it are admiring. - MJB784 - 17 April 2024
Certainly a classic.
Many of the characters are wonderfully written and memorably played. There's a lot of tension when we don't see the shark rather than when we do. While a great movie, I wouldn't find it as scary as when it was first released, but I wasn't born yet. There are many popular scenes though. A lot of the camera angles show really cool poont of view shots of the shark underwater or the split diopter lens of images in long shot and close up of various characters on the beach when Alex the little boy is swimming and it shows the worry look of Chief Brody. The swish pan of Brody lifting his head up after first seeing the shark was cool, too. - deanosuburbia - 2 February 2024
The First Summer Blockbuster
I think this must be at least my 50th watch of Jaws. Steven Spielberg directs a masterclass in suspense with some excellent technical achievements alongside the exciting story. John Williams' score is possibly the best one of all time, the editing is brilliant, sound design and cinematography are also top notch. Roy Scheider is perfectly cast as Chief Brody and the banter between Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw is worth the watch alone. Murray Hamilton is also great as the ignorant mayor and Lorraine Gary brings a warmth to the role of Ellen Brody. Highlights are the opening scene attack, Alex Kintner's death, the jump scare of the head inside the hull of the boat and Quint's monologue about the USS Indianapolis. Jaws is truly one of the best cinematic experiences of all time and every summer blockbuster thereafter have this film to thank for paving the way. - daoldiges - 22 November 2022
This Shark is Out for Revenge
When I originally saw Jaws it made quite an impact on me and I found it at times to be both scary and thrilling. Years later, I still find it scary and thrilling, but not quite to the same degree. The technology is very dated but I still have tremendous admiration for the iconic score and sound employed by the film. John Williams went on to compose many iconic film scores and the work he did for Jaws holds up very well. The story is a little thin and there's very little in the way of subtext, but that's ok as there is enough here to make Jaws a fun and enjoyable viewing experience. I do feel it's one of those films that does benefit from the larger screen, but either way it's worth checking out. - the_ruck - 13 September 2022
A timeless masterpiece
Well, I've really never seen Jaws before and there's actually no reason for that. Somehow I just always pushed Jaws aside and pushed it up further and further, but now the time has come, I have seen the film and am just thrilled.
But what else can you expect from Steven Spielberg? He simply has an incredible range and has so many different genres in his filmography around action, adventure, war film, comedy, children's film, sci-fi, most recently musical and with Jaws he has proven that he is also great in the horror/thriller genre. This man simply knows how to tell stories, build up characters, build tension and captivate the viewer to the screen and he proves that anew in every film.
Well, that what makes the film so special and stands out from other shark films is of course the tension, the incredible tension that mounts more and more until it comes to the climax. The special thing about the tension in Jaws is that a huge mystery is being built around the white shark. At first you see a few killings of the beast and of course only expect a normal shark attack. But without seeing the shark, as a spectator you learn more and more details about the shark that all indicate that this is not a normal shark.
It is particularly important that the shark is never really shown at first, because then the mystery is expanded much further. As a spectator, you wonder what this beast must be and then when you finally see the shark, it is much bigger than expected.
Of course, this would only be half as impressive if the shark had been computer-animated, because then you could certainly no longer take the film seriously today. But luckily they decided against it and Bruce still looks fantastic today. Oh yes, Steven Spielberg called the shark Bruce, perhaps after his lawyer, who hast the same name. But in any case, the beast in the film looks really impressive and that's why it was certainly worth building the shark instead of animating it. Although the shark has sunk on the first attempt to put it in the water, because it has never been checked its water suitability.
But be that as it may, the film offers such incredible tension that is getting worse and more acute and also a realistic-looking shark. But another special aspect is, of course, the horror factor. Because it is not without reason that the film is one of the only five horror films that has received an Academy Award. Well, I thought at first that the film would not be scary and would rather go in the direction of a thriller. That's true, but the horror aspect was still captured magnificently. There were even two moments when I really shrugged and that doesn't happen often with horror movies. Probably it's just because Jaws simply offers a fantastic and immersive experience, so that you are so deep in the story that you sympathize with the characters at all times and are therefore frightened.
Well, speaking of characters, because these were also written really brilliantly and also fantastically embodied by the actors. Roy Scheider plays the protagonist and he is completely convincing in his role. He plays a police chief of a smaller island town and he is the only one who actually has his heart in the right place and is not interested in profit. In addition, he also has a personal interest in killing the shark, as he feels guilty not to have done anything earlier to close the beach. The fact that he is also afraid of the water simply makes him a great character in the film.
Richard Dreyfuss actually plays the second leading role and is also fantastic in his role. His character is a kind of shark or fish expert, who once again brings a slightly different perspective into the film.
And then of course there is Robert Shaw in the role of Quint. Even if he actually plays an asshole in the film, he still plays it really convincingly and with great joy. But his character is at least as important as the other two, as he brings another new perspective into the film. As a result, there are three characters that are all very different, but still pursue a common goal.
The characters are particularly important in the film because they conveyed the feelings of the whole event. When they see the shark for the first time and are completely amazed by this size and at the same time afraid, this is really important, because this is the same effect as in Jurassic Park. If the characters react only half-heartedly and as if it were nothing special, then of course we feel the same. But fortunately, the actors convey the feelings of their characters really great, so that we as viewers naturally sympathize much more.
Of course, the soundtrack should also be mentioned, because once again John Williams is responsible for how it actually befits Steven Spielberg films. His theme of the film is at least as iconic as the film itself and anyone who hears this theme will probably immediately associate it with the film.
Well, it is probably not without reason that the film when it was released, could record the greatest revenue ever, until Star Wars replaced it. Because Jaws is simply an immersive, exciting, thrilling and unforgettable experience that perfectly combines the thriller and horror genre and just delivers a damn great experience. - SoumikBanerjee25 - 6 September 2022
A revolutionary vision from Spielberg
"Smile, You son of a...!"
What can I say that hasn't already been said about this movie; it is a timeless classic, in the truest sense of the word. This is where it all began, all those movies on sharks, and oceanic predators; god knows how many people from the film fraternity as well as from the pool of ordinary spectators got their dosage of inspiration right here.
In a way, this venture revolutionized the entire industry from the inside out. It transformed people's viewpoints and beliefs on what could be achieved with a little ambition in your heart. And it is needlessly to say, Steven Spielberg not only was the quintessential catalyst behind all these reformations, but he also made a ton of crucial contributions to this industry or to this medium of 'Cinema' in general, which I believe will keep on bearing fruits for the eternity.
Now coming back to the film; while I may not put it on my all-time favorites list, I can see why this garnered so much love and appreciation from the audience. Despite having a simple, uncomplicated narrative, it managed to keep us thoroughly engaged for the full duration. It is fraught with tension, anticipation, and a bunch of unforgettable moments (Like when Hooper located the dead body inside of the sunken boat).
Nevertheless, it had its fair share of issues as well. For example, following such an incredible build-up, the concluding act seemed to have dragged on for too long. While the characters themselves had some interesting stuff to share, all their emotional availabilities came about missing. Maybe it's just me but unlike Steven Spielberg's other works (the likes of Jurassic Park, E. T.); I could not seem to establish any personal connection whatsoever to any of these personalities, let alone care for them!
