Filmed exciting, professional and very interesting. The struggle of primitive cruelty and human ingenuity keeps the whole film in suspense, of course, thanks to the Great Spielberg.
- I'll take some pictures first. Then I'll try to kill her.
- What do you want to know?
- This is the cane.
- Great idea, if your twig doesn't work, then at least tickle it to death.
I first watched this movie relatively recently, at the end of the zeros. I'm not a big fan of this kind of horror because I don't think it's scary. But sometimes I like to put on a movie like Jaws, Piranhas, etc. to turn off my brain and just rest. Normally, I don’t expect anything extraordinary from such pictures, but Jaws, made by the great and terrible Steven Spielberg, captured my attention.
In the small resort town of Amity, attacks of a man-eating shark on vacationers have become more frequent. Sheriff Martin Brody, enlisting the support of an experienced shark hunter, as well as a student oceanographer, goes to the open sea to destroy the predator.
Despite the fact that I met this film only 15 years ago, it has already become one of my favorites. And the sequels were also very good, as was the remake. But back to the original. For the mid-70s, everything was filmed qualitatively and there is nothing to complain about. However, there are no perfect films, so I will try to assess all the advantages and disadvantages.
The plot is quite simple, but at the same time catchy. I wouldn’t say that the film drags on from the very first minutes, but gradually, with the development of the storyline, it becomes more interesting to watch. Closer to the middle, it is impossible to get away from the screen. The film is based on the novel by Peter Benchley, and I am not very warm about the film adaptations. Often, filmmakers simply cannot transfer the printed original to the screens and convey the desired atmosphere. But Steven Spielberg did it just brilliantly.
Visually it looks just gorgeous here. Even despite the film's age. Cinematography is high. Luxury landscapes, underwater photography - there is something to see. But the most interesting thing is that I was surprised to learn that the shark is not real and instead uses animatronics. So used to modern technical tricks that I did not expect to see something like this in a film almost half a century ago. Bravo! Even now, after all these years, it looks very realistic.
Jaws took three Oscar statuettes, two of them for sound and soundtrack. And the sound here is really impressive. What is the main topic, from which goosebumps run on the skin? Rarely do you find such a perfect hit of music in the mood of a movie. Also, another statuette went for the best sound. I can’t say anything because I don’t understand it.
As for the cast and their performances, I can’t say anything. No good or bad. I haven’t seen any of these actors and have nothing to compare them to. However, in general, everyone played for a good assessment. I haven’t seen any sluggish acting at all. Everyone did great.
But there is one drawback. I think it's a little tight. I understand that this is a film adaptation, and without the necessary details nowhere. Only 15-20 minutes from the film can be safely removed, and the overall meaning will not suffer.
As I said, there are no perfect movies. And Jaws is no exception. For all my downsides, I never get bored watching this movie. On the contrary, every time I find more and more elusive details in it that I did not notice before. As for sequels, this is ambiguous. Before the first film is clearly not up to, but the viewing is also worthy.
9 out of 10
I will stand in solidarity with old Quentin and describe this movie as the greatest.
Quentin Tarantino’s favorite film, one of the best thrillers in the history of cinema and definitely the best shark movie. Nothing was filmed and even very remotely similar in atmosphere and suspense level to the climax.
Usually, such a movie is accompanied by pathos main characters with expressive facial expressions and superhero inclinations. Here the narrative is too natural, and despite the fact that almost all screen time events occur on land, it does not cease to frighten and delay our desire to finally go into the water. I do not know how it works: visually it is already clearly visible that the bloodthirsty shark walking near the resort town of Emity is a sham of pure water, but it is also frightening.
Spielberg decidedly followed the path of a classic thriller, where the main villains are masked maniacs, like Jason Voorhees, who induce fear only from the very thought of them and the realization that they may be somewhere near. It is the same with the shark in this picture, where it does not act as a dangerous nature or a ferocious creature. She is like a maniac, operating carefully and systematically, in a quiet time of day, only occasionally allowing herself to go out into the light. Brilliant.
The film became a classic of the genre. I am still amazed at the stupidity of Russian translators with their Orca. What the hell is that? The yacht was named after a female orc? Maybe the owner was a Warcraft fan? =) COAT!!! In Russian, the yacht is called "Kosatka".
So, I am not a fan of such films, I will not be afraid of this word, horrors, but then I decided to see what kind of “Jaws” that everyone talks about.
The plot is simple - a basking shark attacks holidaymakers on the fictional island of Amity. The chief of police decides to catch the killer and hires for this oceanologist Matt and professional shark hunter Quint.
In principle, this is an ordinary slasher, the only thing that distinguishes it is that it was created as far back as 1975 and the fact that due to the fact that the shark was mechanical and with a lot of faults, director Steven Spielberg for most of the film inflates the atmosphere with creepy music, showing the presence of a shark nearby. Well, the fact that this film is a turning point in the history of cinema, after it has already gone a whole series of disaster films about sharks (and films much better than that).
But how does all this justify the fact that the film now looks miserable and dull? The shark is unrealistic, does not look scary, but rather even ridiculous. Yes, the composer worked for fame, is there at least 1 person who has not heard the title tune from the movie "Jaws"? I don't think so.
In terms of actors, they are quite mediocre and not interesting, I did not feel any sympathy for them and did not worry about them. In the year 22, there are films about shark attack, much more interesting and exciting, and most importantly - plus or minus realistic.
I don’t see 1 reason to watch this movie, other than an interest in regalia (as in my case), or some nostalgic feelings, if you, for example, watched this movie back in 1975. I don’t see any other reason to watch Jaws. Yes, you'll tickle your nerves, yes, the film isn't a bad one, but again, for 22, it's godlessly outdated, with all due respect for its cult.
The main film of Steven Spielberg, which scares not the object itself, but the impending threat. “Jaws” became a phenomenon in the coming era of horrors, now it is not a maniac, the obvious object of threat, and the fight against nature. The picture is cute and quietly gaining momentum from the opening stage, when a company of young guys, cheerfully resting on the beach, decides to swim.
The key point of the film is that the viewer (and especially already tempted by such tapes) knows that a toothy monster is coming, that there will be blood and ... oil (?) (pardon Paul Thomas Anderson), but suspense and gradual injection in the water, underwater filming and the famous music of John Williams make the usual episode magical and stunning.
The tape affects only 5 days, during which it reveals masks to greedy beach owners, adds drama and introduces the hunt for the White Shark, leaving people one-on-one with the predator. The director does not try to scare the viewer with a predator, but gradually misleads people. A sheriff who is responsible for the victims. Oceanologist who studied sharks, "old warrior", shark hunter. The trio of main characters, combined with constant tension, present to our attention the struggle with fear, the struggle with oneself and the opportunity not to be cowardly in the eyes of others.
The problems of the beach owners raise issues of profit, increase in seasonal prices and the weekend of the holiday on July 4 - US Independence Day. Excellent combination of circumstances that allowed to gather a large number of tourists in one place. The film poses a threat, but does not obtrusively contradict the behavior of commercial organizations, at the same time mocks the behavior of an economic entity in the resort city.
Fear and horror from the shark do not shoot pitch thrash, fear is overtaken by underwater photography and the soundtrack, and even the shark is not visible for a long time, and it works perfectly on the imagination, on ignorance of the threat, but the feeling of incredible death. The jokes of the film itself, for example, a billboard decorated under a shark attack, the humor of the main three hunters, stories about life. Disclosure of the characters is quite acceptable, since when meeting with a predator it will be clear what to lose. It may seem that there are few scenes with a shark, but alertness and hunting for fish cause excitement from watching.
In general, the film works for its genre. Frightening predator approach, boat attack, attempts to reach people. The main character - a shark - like an immortal warrior, endures all the blows with probes, shots. The director plays well with shots, leaving pronounced scenes open to hide an unexpected turn behind a slow and slow episode, a suspense with loud music that characterizes a threat to humanity.
The work of Steven Spielberg inspired many filmmakers to create such attractions. Yes, the Jaws themselves got three sequels, but the cult and significant will forever remain the full-length work of Spielberg.
Back in the early 70s, film critics feared the birth of a new Howard Hawks, a kind of pompous showman. and not even realizing that the jaws will turn the world of cinema upside down. The filming process turned for the director into a real hell, comparable to the Apocalypse of Coppola.
The radically altered history of Benchley. And instead of fighting water pollution, they added the fight of three completely different characters with an invisible shark. Yes, yes, it is invisible, and her appearance after the tricks of the character Schaider frightening. Williams’ amazing music is half of the film’s success. The director repeatedly spoke about the editing tricks of Vera Fields, who eventually managed to combine the episodes with the appearance of the fin, tail and nose in a holistic growing horror, relevant to this day.
The director from the first frame sets an alarming tone. The silent death of a girl at sunrise leaves an indelible impression of helplessness. The same actress will appear in a cameo in 1941 on the stern of a submarine. These are the movie worlds that the director creates. The plot of the picture is simple, but its main component is not in this. Chief Brody has been appointed beach keeper on the eve of July 4 to maintain order and avoid the victims of the ferocious shark. And after 2 deaths, the mayor of the city assigns a decent amount for the head of this creature. And how put a whole bunch of idiots go to kill her with dynamite. They end up killing the wrong shark. To help Brody comes an oceanographer who knows all about sharks. Together, they point out to the mayor that the white shark is free and the beach is not safe. But that wasn't it. Severed legs, arms and sea blood. And that's all in the company of Williams' growing disturbing music. The hand of the first victim, found on the beach in the company of crabs, is nothing more than a Hitchcock trick with a mutilated hand.
The final part with the unification of the trinity on one boat is the most powerful, bringing suspense to the limit. The last 40 minutes are a real test of intelligence and a fierce duel of an intelligent white shark and a trio on an orc boat. Ultra is an intelligent shark, able to go under water with a barrel, more than once catches the boat team by surprise. Botzmann’s madness also puts them on the brink of survival. But miracles will happen. They are on the shore, but not all managed to escape. Not an outdated spectacle that has educated more than one generation of water-phobes.
The director, more than 20 years later, reflects on the success of the film, paying tribute to its success, but remembering the difficulties he went through while filming it. And reproached the compilers of various lists of the best paintings of America for including jaws there.
A masterpiece that gave rise to a number of weak and frankly hulking continuations. After all, Spielberg’s success was directly related to an invisible enemy, with whom he introduces the viewer, gradually bringing the intensity of passions to apogee.
“Why do you have such big teeth?” "And this is to eat you soon!"
The legendary picture of Steven Spielberg about a bloodthirsty shark-killer is of great importance for the whole world cinema, since at one time it became actually the first summer blockbuster, earning an incredible amount of box office.
Without a doubt, this tape amazingly demonstrated the basic elements of a successful “mass” cinema. Extremely lively and real heroes with whom the viewer can easily associate himself, a fascinating story that fascinates from beginning to end, and an easy, but absolutely understandable basic message: do not joke with nature. All these beautiful components formed a unique cult film that inspired many filmmakers to create their own unique filmmaking (George Lucas, Ridley Scott, James Cameron later shot no less box office-successful hits, which is called for everyone: from small to great).
It is also worth noting the stunning soundtrack by the unsurpassed John Williams and a brilliant cast of actors. Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss are perfect for embodying their characters on screen, creating a unique trio where each has its own individual weight. The technical part of the film also deserves special praise, because it is not for nothing that the creators spent two million dollars only on the construction of a mechanical shark (while the entire budget was seven million).
As a result, “Jaws” is a legendary blockbuster, which formulated this concept for the cinematic world, telling a brilliant story about the invincibility of the animal world, in which the hunter always defeats his victim.
Illogical: a person hates water and lives on an island.
- It is an island only when viewed from the water.
There were a lot of great movies in 1975. Such legendary paintings as “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” or the Italian hit “Zorro” with Alain Delon know everything. But also this year, another work came out - Steven Spielberg's cult film Jaws. This is certainly not the first film about marine life, but probably the most famous of them.
On the small resort island of Amity, a tragedy happens - Sheriff Martin Brody and his assistant find a girl torn apart by a shark. The number of victims is growing, and a high reward is assigned for the capture of a man-eating shark. Sheriff Brody together with war veteran Quint and young scientist from the Institute of Oceanography Matt Hooper go hunting in the open sea.
I first saw this quadrology quite a long time ago, at the beginning of zero. Also released a remake of the first part in free presentation, but it turned out so bad that it is now not even remembered. The original 1975 film was Steven Spielberg’s first successful directorial work. Subsequent sequels came out with each new part worse and worse. The fourth film in the series was horrific. Let’s start with the first part.
Great original story based on the novel by Peter Benchley. Subsequently, he wrote the scripts for the sequels, but the success of the original could not be repeated. This film is very exciting in terms of story. I don’t know what the secret is, but from the very first minutes, history grabs attention and doesn’t let go until the very end. There were only a few times in my memory when I didn’t want to be distracted from watching the movie. And one of those films was Jaws.
Great soundtrack written by John Williams. He is best known as a composer who has had a hand in most of Spielberg’s films. His title themes from Star Wars, Indiana Jones and other works of the science fiction maestro are known to everyone. But the music that escalates the scene during the appearance of the great white shark from Jaws is also easily recognizable. And even received one of the statuettes of the Oscar.
Nice cast. I am not familiar with the other works of most of the actors from this film, which does not prevent me from assessing their acting here. Best of all played, oddly enough, not the main character, but secondary. Robert Shaw was a great fit in the role of Quint and in many ways I empathized with him, even more than others. As for the other actors, it seemed to me that they played somehow with some laziness and without interest.
If I hadn’t read the interesting facts about the movie Jaws, I wouldn’t have been able to determine that the shark here is not real, but mechanical. I'm surprised. I thought that the use of animatronics in movies began much later. For 1975, it was an incredible achievement. The shark is indistinguishable from the real one.
Could this movie scare anyone? By the third ten of the twenty-first century about different underwater monsters made a bunch of films, and the vast majority of them about sharks. In the 70s, it may have been possible to scare someone with a shark attack (especially shown so realistically), but in our time it is unlikely.
I don't know what the secret of Steven Spielberg's films is. Perhaps he has a great flair for good projects, and perhaps all because of his manner of presentation. Jaws is one of his first films to become mega-popular. This popularity is well deserved.
I saw this movie for the first time in the era of video games. People came to see the confrontation between humans and sharks no less than Freddy Krugger or Sylvester Stallone as Rambo. I wouldn't say it's a horror movie in the way we're used to seeing it. There is more fear of wildlife than fear of all evil. And sometimes wildlife is much more dangerous.
The small resort island of Amity has long been popular with tourists. But this time the opening season is in jeopardy. The coast is terrorized by a huge man-eating shark. Police Chief Brody, oceanologist Hooper and shark hunter Quint are called to end the bloodthirsty predator.
I do not want to take a long look, but there is not much to understand. There is hardly anyone who has not seen this movie. So I'll just point out the pros and cons.
Plus
Plot. By 2021, there have been so many films about marine predators, the vast majority of which are about sharks, that eyes run away from choice. In 1974, Jaws was quite original. Mostly due to an interesting, albeit simple story. It seems that nothing new has been invented, but the story itself, and the way it is presented, does not let you get bored.
Soundtrack. One of five Oscars won by composer John Wilms for his music for Jaws. And the Oscar was well deserved. Music also plays a very important role here. In order to avoid the frequent appearance of a shark in the frame, so as not to fad and destroy the desired effect, the title theme of the film was used as a designation for its appearance. A kind of suspense, familiar to viewers since the time of Hitchcock.
The cast. It is clear that I belong to a generation that has not really caught most of the best acting work of the main cast. However, with some signs, and there is something to compare. All perfectly fit into their roles, but the main trio stands head above the rest. Roy Scheider did his best. He later migrated to the sequel, but the sequel was given to him with some laziness. There are also great emotions and experiences.
Minuses
The disadvantages can be attributed to some tightness. There is nothing wrong with small details, especially if they are significant for the overall plot, but long tedious dialogue dragged the film more than half. A little less detail, a little more action – and it would be perfect.
The film is beautiful and deserves at least one view. Even though almost 50 years have passed, it still looks with interest and in one breath. One of Steven Spielberg’s best directorial works. It's recommended to watch. But it is better not to get acquainted with the sequels, so as not to spoil the impression of the original.
-- That's some bad hat, Harry.
I saw this movie for the first time in the era of video games. People came to see the confrontation between humans and sharks, no less than Freddy Krugger or Sylvester Stallone as Rambo. I wouldn't say it's a horror movie in the way we're used to seeing it. There is more fear of wildlife than fear of all evil. And sometimes wildlife is much more dangerous.
The small resort island of Amity has long been popular with tourists. But this time the opening season is in jeopardy. The coast is terrorized by a huge man-eating shark. Police Chief Brody, oceanologist Hooper and shark hunter Quint are called to end the bloodthirsty predator.
I do not want to take a long look, but there is not much to understand. There is hardly anyone who has not seen this movie. So I'll just point out the pros and cons.
Plus
Plot. By 2021, there have been so many films about marine predators, the vast majority of which are about sharks, that eyes run away from choice. In 1974, Jaws was quite original. Mostly due to an interesting, albeit simple story. It seems that nothing new has been invented, but the story itself, and since it is submitted, does not let you get bored.
Soundtrack. One of five Oscars won by composer John Wilms for his music for Jaws. And the Oscar was well deserved. Music also plays a very important role here. In order to avoid the frequent appearance of a shark in the frame, so as not to fad and destroy the desired effect, the title theme of the film was used as a designation for its appearance. A kind of suspense, familiar to viewers since the time of Hitchcock.
The cast. It is clear that I belong to a generation that has not really caught most of the best acting work of the main cast. However, with some signs, and there is something to compare. All perfectly fit into their roles, but the main trio stands head above the rest. Roy Scheider did his best. He later migrated to the sequel, but the sequel was given to him with some laziness. There are also great emotions and experiences.
Minuses
The disadvantages can be attributed to some tightness. There is nothing wrong with small details, especially if they are significant for the overall plot, but long tedious dialogue dragged the film more than half. A little less detail, a little more action – and it would be perfect.
The film is beautiful and deserves at least one view. Even though almost 50 years have passed, it still looks with interest and in one breath. One of Steven Spielberg’s best directorial works. It's recommended to watch. But it is better not to get acquainted with the sequels, so as not to spoil the impression of the original.
That's some bad hat, Harry.
I saw this movie for the first time in the era of video games. People came to see the confrontation between humans and sharks, no less than Freddy Krugger or Sylvester Stallone as Rambo. I wouldn't say it's a horror movie in the way we're used to seeing it. There is more fear of wildlife than fear of all evil. And sometimes wildlife is much more dangerous.
The small resort island of Amity has long been popular with tourists. But this time the opening season is in jeopardy. The coast is terrorized by a huge man-eating shark. Police Chief Brody, oceanologist Hooper and shark hunter Quint are called to do away with a bloodthirsty predator.
I do not want to take a long look, but there is not much to understand. There is hardly anyone who has not seen this movie. So I'll just point out the pros and cons.
Pros
Plot. By 2021, there have been so many films about marine predators, the vast majority of which are about sharks, that eyes run away from choice. In 1974, Jaws was quite original. Mostly due to an interesting, albeit simple story. It seems that nothing new has been invented, but the story itself, and the way it is presented, does not let you get bored.
Soundtrack. One of five Oscars won by composer John Wilms for his music for Jaws. And the Oscar was well deserved. Music also plays a very important role here. In order to avoid the frequent appearance of a shark in the frame, so as not to fad and destroy the desired effect, the title theme of the film was used as a designation for its appearance. A kind of suspense, familiar to viewers since the time of Hitchcock.
The cast. It is clear that I belong to a generation that has not really caught most of the best acting work of the main cast. However, with some signs, and there is something to compare. All perfectly fit into their roles, but the main trio stands head above the rest. Roy Scheider did his best. He later migrated to the sequel, but the sequel was given to him with some laziness. There are great emotions and experiences.
Cons
The disadvantages can be attributed to some tightness. There is nothing wrong with small details, especially if they are significant for the overall plot, but long tedious dialogue dragged the film more than half. A little less detail, a little more action – and it would be perfect.
The film is beautiful and deserves at least one view. Even though almost 50 years have passed, it still looks with interest and in one breath. One of Steven Spielberg’s best directorial works. It's recommended to watch. But with sequels it is better not to get acquainted, so as not to spoil the impression of the original.
9 out of 10
I hated the ocean.
(Roughly 122nd minute of the film)
Jaws
Years will pass, decades will pass, director Steven Spielberg will die (I don’t mean, bearded – live another hundred years, please us). But, he will forever go down in the history of cinema as the only director in the world who managed to make a great film about a shark, his-my. Don’t hold on to your belly right now with laughter, it’s the truth.
There are a lot of science fiction (at once a friend Lucas or Maestro Ridley with a Stranger comes out), and directors of adventure films (by the way, this movie applies to adventure, of course). But specifically on the subject of sharks - no one else has achieved this result (Cameron with piranhas screwed up, a-hee-hee). Realizing this simple (seemingly) fact, my jaw fell to the floor. Unique achievement. Think for yourself.
Sharks in the cinema - cheap movies, SaiFai, Asailum, only for video, sholima sequels and imitators of the original "Jaws", fierce thrashak, dull nonsense, murky franchises (Shark Attack, Shark tornado), etc. Spielberg (in 1975) did the impossible. I remember “The Deep Blue Sea” perfectly (it’s normal, more or less), but Spielberg wipes out all competitors at one click.
The film will soon be 44 years old, it is still the best. Why, Grandpa Zombion? you ask. To be honest, I still don't really understand. I think the bearded man sold his soul to the devil and then started making Jaws. Giant fees. Extreme rating on IMDB. Influence of cosmic scale, the film was released in the summer, the birth of summer blockbusters.
It would be possible to blame on a cool plot, but it is ordinary here (a big shark terrorizes the resort town, several heroes decide to catch it, everything). Hands moving. It happens when the stars meet. The audience wanted a shark movie, Spielberg gave it. Let's dig into the insides of the picture.
The movie lasts two hours, Spielberg gives the shark 20 minutes! Another jaw fell to the floor. What does the bearded man do then? He's becoming a cult director, guys. Forgive me fans of previous works of Stephen (Duel, Sugarland Express, etc.), but it was Jaws that first showed us the same Spielberg, whom we adore with all our hearts.
He is a storyteller, he tells a story in detail (and slowly). An important detail tells about each hero. A prime example, Spielberg tucks Robert Shaw's character somewhere in the second half. Such an uncouth sailor. Okay, let's do a quick shark fight, comrade director. We all got our nails! Spielberg pulls out a fig and says – until you know about the life of this hero (not the main one!), I will not do anything at all.
We really learn about this guy, what he had in the past, what he fought there, etc. In this way, Spielberg makes you understand. He's not a cardboard hero anymore, he's a man. You're worried about him. You know? That's where Spielberg's dog is buried. That’s why Jaws are different from other delusional fakes. Subjective. You don't care because the director doesn't care. The shark will wait, tap dancing on the bottom of the ocean. And only after that, Stephen will arrange a tooth-grabbing shark action. Cool? Yeah. Beautiful!
P.S.
I don’t like shark movies if I did, this is my favorite movie. House by the road ...
In 1975, there was a difficult release of the film Steven Spielberg 'Jaws'. There was an epochal event, significant for the entire film industry, to cancel the consequences of which in theory was not possible. Yes, it was this sleazy young man in a cap, who did not engage in art dialogues with Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese at a special party in California in the early 1970s, who plotted a coup. Before Lucas and despite New Hollywood, which has 8 years left to exist, Spielberg himself did not come up with anything innovative. Hollywood and since the first masterpieces has been a film factory to attract a mass audience. They'd be called blockbusters now. Like 'Jaws' - the first blockbuster by all indications, blew up the box office and attracted streams of viewers around the world, instantly making the ever-troubled Universal Pictures the owner of $ 470 million with a budget of 7! Although, the previous record was set in 1973 by horror 'The Exorcist' who took a little less on the weekend - 413 million, and ' Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' in terms of slightly inferior. But for some reason the history of the blockbuster is divided into ' to 'Jaws'' and ' after'.
The director himself, entering the cinema, took the position of creation for money. And he never shunned her. It was important for Spielberg to shoot for the audience, so that his films were seen by as many people as possible. He was not interested in some extreme meaning in the works, in the minus - a bet on any element of cinema that will reject people. That is why he tried to shoot as simply as possible from the viewer. The director's films could be liked by someone, someone did not, but absolutely attracted the audience. In the case of 'Jaws' the principle was justified for the first time. I am glad that this is not a done thing. With the simplest, without any pitfalls, the director tried to demonstrate the highest quality, hitherto simply unprecedented, trying to wipe Kubrick's nose with his flights in space under the Viennese waltz.
The story told in the film is unlikely to raise any questions. The beach town is in a state of fear from an attack by a man-eating shark. The authorities do not act, and people continue to die. Local Sheriff Martin Brody, played by Roy Scheider, tries to counteract, the rest of the caring help him. That's all it takes, no more. It does not require a large-scale development. History follows as logic should: it is absolutely concise. She's not the target. It is logical that in the future there will be no deep development. Bureaucratic Mayor Vaughn does not close the beaches because he does not want to lose income in the season that has just begun, and the sheriff does not climb into the water because he is afraid of her since childhood. And even the biography of the oceanologist Matt Hooper, who came to Amity Island, does not develop. The viewer is not shown the tragedy of the mother of the torn child, although she manages to become truly pathetic. The first victim's relatives are not seen at all. Zero existential.
Hunter Quintus director pays more attention, which among all stands out half-crazy character and violent temper. He is cynical: he is ready to kill a shark only for a large fee, and when he gets into the frame, he behaves vulgarly to the general mood of the tape - tells funny stories, sings songs and laughs. Through it, Spielberg once again details simplicity, but adds another important feature. Among the large number of heroes, Quintus has the most clear and detailed history. It turns out that he served on the cruiser 'Indianapolis' and was one of the few survivors of the sinking of the ship. Before the eyes of a simple American soldier, more than 800 people died from a shark attack, which affected the fate of the sailor. After Quint talks about that event, you start to worry even more. . .
It would seem more frightening. The episodes seen before are more striking than any horror movie. But that was the bet. Fear is the main feeling 'Jaws' When he gets enough for a standard horror, Spielberg throws in more. And then again and again, and there is no end to fear! This film is based on boundless horror, whereas it is not even in the genre. Man is reunited with nature, not the universe with an unreal monster. The white shark is an instrument that causes primitive fear in people, where natural selection is again a priority, where a person acts as prey for a strong and fearless predator who looks at you with empty eyes like buttons and paralyzes, and then this sham, very difficult from the point of view of production, mechanism begins to eat the victim, moving the jaws up and down without applying the slightest effort. Oh, yes, madman Spielberg invented the shark and finished the production every day on the verge of stopping for anyone to see his naked fears. This maniac frightens reality, makes you remember about insecurity and the fact that no one is immune from death. He makes death as cruel as possible. His shark indifferently gnaws a person, causing him hellish pain, and then with his guts wrapped on his teeth swims away, leaving behind liters of blood and consequences in the form of torn corpses, mattresses, boats. She seems invulnerable, attacks unexpectedly - a better monster is impossible to think of.
But Spielberg is not easy to bring his movie audience to shock. He completely follows the strategy of creating a real art blockbuster, with respect to the genre of thriller and with a competent investment of art. The film to the masterful music of John Williams maneuvers on a beautiful island, torn from civilization, its sea. When necessary, the orchestra plays light melodies, and at the most critical moment will break the dynamics with an alarming soundtrack - also appearing sometimes unexpectedly. Spielberg competently shows the shark: it does not appear everywhere, which causes the desire to see it out of nervous curiosity. And later it shines in the face when there is nowhere to let go of fear. The director consciously improves the canons of the genre. After all, almost from the very beginning you understand how this film will end, to what cylinders with compressed oxygen flash in the frame and so on. You understand and accept that it is much easier to shoot a creature with machine guns than to play cat and mouse with it. But I really want to see it. And the viewing is worth it.
The only thing that the creators punctured is the consequences of the perception of the film. The novel, which was shot 'Jaws', did not make so much noise, but the movie itself resonated with society. In short, the representation of a shark here is a distortion of reality, where a marine predator rarely attacks humans. The same crash of Indianapolis, 39, killed an estimated 80 people, but not 800. And it happened on the high seas, not on the shore of a crowded beach. But the fact remains that Steven Spielberg spooked society, and the consequences of the artistic assumption remain. What you will not go for the sake of audience sympathy and huge changes in art.
9.5 out of 10.
Despite some sham (excusable for the mid-70s) of the main monster of the film, Spielberg produces a rather significant resonance in the horror genre (and in general, in cinema). Following the old Hitchcock suspense school and diluting it with innovative techniques (patented static camera influx, for example) and bringing something more frightening to the sphere than vampires and werewolves, the director is really scary when you don’t expect it.
It is also frightening that in its time, the relaxed reality of the picture forced all fans to tickle their nerves to become notorious ablutophobes. And all because of the fact that on the shore of a small island town (being a kind of resort area), a large predatory fish began to come to visit, you do not mind eating a little man. And this is something more tangible to you than the monsters of Frankenstein or the henchmen of Count Dracula.
Without using any eminent persons in the film, the director clearly made it clear that he pays much attention to the cause of the horror rather than the details of its service. But from this decision, the acting in the person of Roy Schneider and Robert Shaw did not almost suffer, bringing a bit of atmosphericity and some “pirate” romance to the picture.
As many have already noticed, the main laurels from the success of “Jaws” reaped Verna Fields, whose work is definitely done qualitatively, but completely undeservedly eclipses the project manager. And here you can argue endlessly, but the result remains unchanged: one of the first sea “horrors” is the very brick of the foundation, which we now know as “horror”.
8 out of 10
Writer Peter Benchley did exactly what Sean Cunningham did for the sea for summer camps in Friday the 13th. Describing deep-sea monsters in his novels, Benchley did not bypass a single monster that can scare us and his books were swept off the shelves like hot cakes. The most famous work of Benchley can be considered “Jaws”, which fell into the attention of Steven Spielberg, who shot an olin from the most high-profile films of 1975.
The action takes place near a small town surrounded by an ocean. Locals prepared for the opening of the next beach season, but suddenly out of nowhere in the local waters appeared a great white shark, which well really wanted to eat human meat.
The number of victims is constantly growing, the mayor of the town does not know what to do, and only Sheriff Martin Brody is not afraid to get involved in a massacre with an angry predator, because he understands that his children can become victims. And he certainly can’t do that.
The film follows the patterns of the classic horror film, only the main monster is not a vampire or werewolf, but a real shark. Spielberg takes us to the climax for a very long time, enjoying the opportunity to lift a suspense in the style of Alfred Hitchcock. And, to be honest, “Jaws” know how to scare a lot.
With all the artistic fantasies, you believe in the danger of the great white shark. In addition, the director masterfully plays on our expectations and gives an incredibly beautiful and tough spectacle, which nevertheless lured crowds of young viewers to the cinemas.
"Jaws" is an undoubted classic, quoted film for all time. Let the shark itself look a little comical now, but the story itself causes trembling and frightening, like the first time.
10 out of 10
Unconsciously, the release of Jaws (1975) marked a new era in Hollywood that changed the opinions of many producers and film companies regarding the works that would later be filmed in the wake of the success of Steven Spielberg’s film. More specifically, "Jaws" (1975) changed the priorities in the film business, earning at the box office a record amount for the film industry at the time. The era of "New Hollywood" began to fade. Author’s films were already much less interested in investors, but with greater loyalty were accepted ideas for the creation of new “summer blockbusters”. Thus, the 28-year-old director, without realizing it, changed the main vector of direction in cinema, the results of which we see to this day.
The film is filled with energy, which is characteristic of such a genre. From the very first scenes, we already feel the presence of the main antagonist of the film and have an idea of its possibilities. Having all the cards in his hands, Spielberg calmly opens one after another, devoting us to the thick of events evenly, not with his head. The contrasting story keeps the viewer in good tone. Moreover, the inevitable clash of the main characters with their rival does not seem like something fantastic, the story throughout the story feels very real. Real as the motives of the main characters who want to catch a shark and protect the inhabitants of the town from dangers, and the motives of the mayor of the city, who in order to avoid panic is looking for workarounds to solve such a terrible problem. If you consider that Stephen is a fan of making films that are based on real stories, you would think that such a nightmare was actually real, but the novel “Jaws” (1974) was taken as a basis.
Without forgetting the camera techniques that the director used in this work, I would like to mention a couple. Very colorfully remembered a fairly simple shot with a close-up of a typewriter and inscriptions on the document, which was filled in by the main character. There, in the column "probable cause of death" slowly, by letters, the phrase "SHARK ATTACK" was hammered in. This shot stuck in my head as much as I could remember that creepy scene with the same typewriter in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (1980). There were other techniques, for example, the very popular at the time "Dolly Zoom" was used by Spielberg on the character of Roy Schaider, when he watched people sitting on the beach and noticed something suspicious in the water. This effect worked well with Stephen’s future key visual feature, The Spielberg Face. Growing zoom on the puzzled face of the hero became one of the main business cards of the film in the future. There are still many visual examples of how Spielberg presents a story for us, it is better to let your eyes enjoy such a colorful narrative than to imagine these images in your head. Excellent picture and interesting camera solutions helped the film to get those shots and moments that have become canonical and used in pop culture for a long time.
Not to mention the soundtrack for the film, written by John Williams. His work became absolutely household, taking the form of fear and danger. Subsequently, this soundtrack, but under a different shade, was used in some future films by Spielberg, as well as other directors as original references.
Being the progenitor of a new genre of cinema, which will become the main pivot of the future of the Hollywood film industry and around which many high-budget films will be built, Jaws (1975) will forever remain the standard of style and will be recognized even by those who are not familiar with this work, and all thanks to the frenzied inertia created by Steven Spielberg, who decided to make a story about the struggle of a resort town and a great white shark.
9 out of 10
- Illogical: a person hates water and lives on an island.
- It is an island only when viewed from the water.
In 1975, there were not many good horror films. I would even say that there was not much to choose from. Mostly Italy tried, invariably pleased with the stability in terms of horror films, albeit a little similar. However, this year was marked by the appearance of the legendary creation of Spielberg. Namely, "Jaws." Having recovered a little from an unsuccessful attempt to realize himself in mysticism, with the film Something Sinister, he finally found the right rod.
Amity Island is about to begin a new holiday season, but it is under threat due to attacks by a great white shark. Sheriff Martin Brody, shark specialist Matt Hooper and war veteran Quint go into the ocean on a yacht, in order to destroy the shark-eater.
This film is as simple as five-five cents, so I will just indicate the main advantages (cons I did not find).
- Great soundtrack. The music of John Williams is as good as ever. By 1975, he had already had a lot of experience writing the sound, but it seemed to me that this film sounded a little uncharacteristic style. More like the main themes from Hitchcock movies. But I can’t help but mention it as a plus.
- Not a trivial story. By our years, a lot of films about sharks and various marine predators have already been filmed, but it was Jaws that nobody beat in popularity. I don’t know what this painting is about. Maybe its simplicity. Just a shark, just people trying to survive a confrontation with it. Nothing superfluous.
- Easy storytelling. At first, we are smoothly introduced to the course of things, then introduced to the main characters and begins the alignment of the storylines. By the way, she's alone. There are no side or secondary stories. There are also no tricky details that usually try to confuse viewers. It’s not a trivial thing to do.
- When I first saw this movie, I thought all the predators in the frame were real. What a surprise it was when I learned that animatronics were used to create Jaws. For this, too, an extra couple of points, because for 1975, to create something like this is a titanic work. It looks really natural.
- And of course actors. The main star of the series was, and still is, Roy Scheider, who played in almost all quadrology films. A perfect hit in the image. It’s also an excellent character disclosure. The other two secondary characters Quint and Hooper harmoniously complement it, at the right moments pulling the audience’s attention to themselves. As for the rest of the actors, I have nothing to say, because their characters were not so expressive.
There are a lot of advantages, such as cinematography, directorial work, and just masters in creating visual effects, but I will not have enough space to list their merits. So this is the creation of Steven Spielberg is better to see for yourself.
9 out of 10
- Illogical: a person hates water and lives on an island.
- It is an island only when viewed from the water.
In 1975, there were not many good horror films. I would even say that there was not much to choose from. Mostly Italy tried, invariably pleased with the stability in terms of horror films, albeit a little similar. However, this year was marked by the appearance of the legendary creation of Spielberg. Namely, "Jaws." Having recovered a little from an unsuccessful attempt to realize himself in mysticism, with the film Something Sinister, he finally found the right rod.
Amity Island is about to begin a new holiday season, but it is under threat due to attacks by a great white shark. Sheriff Martin Brody, shark specialist Matt Hooper and war veteran Quint go into the ocean on a yacht, in order to destroy the shark-eater.
This film is as simple as five-five cents, so I will just indicate the main advantages (cons I did not find).
- Great soundtrack. The music of John Williams is as good as ever. By 1975, he had already had a lot of experience writing the sound, but it seemed to me that this film sounded a little uncharacteristic style. More like the main themes from Hitchcock movies. But I can’t help but mention it as a plus.
- Not a trivial story. By our years, a lot of films about sharks and various marine predators have already been filmed, but it was Jaws that nobody beat in popularity. I don’t know what this painting is about. Maybe its simplicity. Just a shark, just people trying to survive a confrontation with it. Nothing superfluous.
- Easy storytelling. At first, we are smoothly introduced to the course of things, then introduced to the main characters and begins the alignment of the storylines. By the way, she's alone. There are no side or secondary stories. There are also no tricky details that usually try to confuse viewers. It’s not a trivial thing to do.
- When I first saw this movie, I thought all the predators in the frame were real. What a surprise it was when I learned that animatronics were used to create Jaws. For this, too, an extra couple of points, because for 1975, to create something like this is a titanic work. It looks really natural.
- And of course actors. The main star of the series was, and still is, Roy Scheider, who played in almost all quadrology films. A perfect hit in the image. It’s also an excellent character disclosure. The other two secondary characters Quint and Hooper harmoniously complement it, at the right moments pulling the audience’s attention to themselves. As for the rest of the actors, I have nothing to say, because their characters were not so expressive.
There are a lot of advantages, such as cinematography, directorial work, and just masters in creating visual effects, but I will not have enough space to list their merits. So this is the creation of Steven Spielberg is better to see for yourself.
9 out of 10
Minimum cliche. Minimum special effects (and the ones that are, and look good). No ketchup rivers so widely exploited by horror directors. No otherworldly shit, no LSD-eating nonsense like the rebel dead, trees that rape people, and that kind of heresy. No yelling "boo-oo-oo" from around the corner in silence. The only thing that really scares you.
Heroes do not behave like mentally retarded spinograts in a shelter for downs, on the contrary, they have well-written characters and always act in accordance with them, absolutely adequately respond to danger, which also creates a feeling of immersion in this reality. To be frightened, the viewer must believe that it can happen to him, at least potentially. You have to be able to identify yourself with heroes. And that's very well taken into account.
The definition of “thriller” is perhaps too strong – psychology was clearly not the main task of the director, it is still not about the inner world, but about the outer. But as a horror film, it is a universal admiration. I sincerely recommend to everyone who wants to see a work of art as a horror, and not a set of clichés, from which I have long been sick.
10 out of 10
On a quiet resort island, the attacks of a man-eating shark begin. Alarmed Sheriff Martin Brody calls in from National Oceanographer Matt Hooper Institute. All indications are that the people eaten were the victims of a giant white shark that first appeared in the area. The sheriff hires shark hunter Quintus in order to destroy the sea predator.
Oddly enough, I watched this movie relatively recently. As a child, when all the boys exchanged videotapes with endless sequels of this film, I was not interested in this topic. But when I saw the original for the first time, I got so excited that I probably don’t have a shark movie that I haven’t seen. As it turned out, the topic of marine predators is still close to me.
The only thing you can say about the movie is that you have to see it yourself. Just incredibly exciting plot, drags on from the first minutes and does not let go until the very end. It would seem that no new topics have been invented. Just people, just a shark. But it is so immersed in its atmosphere that the impressions of the film remain for a long time. No special effects, special technical tricks (except for the shark itself), just the confrontation between man and wildlife. It’s probably one of the few movies that doesn’t have anything to do with it. It's perfect.
Bravo Maestro Spielberg!
It is hardly an exaggeration to call this film the first successful in the career of Steven Spielberg. “Jaws” earned a huge amount at the box office, surpassing the threshold of $ 100 million, and is rightfully considered the first blockbuster, as well as the founder of the category of zoohorrors.
At the same time, "Jaws" is a unique and inimitable zoohorror. Despite the ominous title, there are no frightening or unnecessarily bloody moments in the film (in the eyes of viewers of the third millennium, of course), and more importantly, there is no element of thrashing. The script of Peter Benchley and Carl Gottlieb includes the development of the story, colorful characters manage to open up, and only against their background shark attacks occur. The film focuses on the turmoil caused by the incident on the beach, not the attacks themselves. Sheriff Brody, oceanologist Hooper and sea wolf Quint make up a trio of protagonists who do not resemble each other, but are united by a common goal to protect the beach of Amity Island from a great white shark. And their hunt, ending so unexpectedly - the main highlight of the film, occupying the entire second half of the timekeeping. The first, dedicated to the appearance of the shark and disputes Brody with the mayor of the city - just a prelude, creating intrigue. The marine alpha predator for a long time remains behind the scenes, managing even in moments of attack not to show its nose from the water, but in the end it will definitely demonstrate itself in all its glory, and at the same time will stun such an experienced fisherman as Quint with his strength.
It is impossible not to notice that in addition to the shark, Jaws are beckoned by the constant presence of the sea in the frame. Azure water in combination with the magnificent music of John Williams causes a strong desire for summer, when you can plunge into cool waters without fear of hungry predators. The ocean is vast, and whatever monsters lurk in its depths, water is the cradle of life. Perhaps it is this thought, in the last moments visiting the main characters - the main one in the film. Despite all the dangers and the resulting skirmishes, quarrels and unfortunate situations, the ocean is beautiful. All this gives "Jaws" even some stunning resemblance to the story "The Old Man and the Sea".
The cast of the film is great. From Roy Scheider came an excellent sheriff, dedicated to his cause, and always looking for a reasonable way out of any conflicts. Richard Dreyfuss brilliantly played Hooper, an aspiring oceanologist eager to prove to everyone that he is worth respecting. Inimitable, sarcastic and gained a lot of experience Quint wonderfully played by Robert Shaw, the character seems to live on the screen. The due should also be given to "Lorraine Gary" and "Murray Hamilton". Although they did not appear so often, they managed to reveal their characters well.
The film is filled with the simplicity that the blockbusters of the 2010s lack, and that’s another reason Jaws is forever in cinematic history. Is it worth thinking about how to evaluate this masterpiece?
10 out of 10
Jaw film is one of the first films for which Steven Spielberg , but to me, despite the large fan base, it seemed uninteresting and inconspicuous. The plot of the film begins in a small resort town, where the attacks of a killer shark begin. Subsequently, the local sheriff Martin Brody, together with a local fisherman and an expert from the Institute of Oceanography, go to catch / kill this shark.
Plot. Despite the fact that this film positions itself as a thriller, it does not have the charm that is present in most films of this genre. It only shows us a couple of inconspicuous deaths, but the rest is left behind. However, it is worth praising the film for its beautiful graphics, because for that year, it was really very beautiful and believable.
Characters. Most of all, I did not like boring and uninteresting dialogues, during which you sit with a stone face, not knowing what to do.
I never understood why so many people liked the soundtrack. As for me, this is the usual pressure, which is in any horror.
It is worth noting that this film is the discoverer of such films. After it, came out a bunch of films, shot literally “on a template”.
After this film began the mass extermination of sharks, which entailed a lot of deplorable consequences. As Steven Spielberg himself later commented: If I had known about this before the film was made, this film would hardly have been released.
Total. I think that if I had been at the time when the film was first released, I would have liked it more, but with a lot of baggage of such films, I can not call it the best.
6 out of 10
P.S. All the above is a purely personal and biased opinion of the author of the review.
It was tonight, there was nothing to do. My girlfriend and I just watched the 2016 feature film Shoal. Afterwards, my friend told me she liked shark movies. We began to remember all the familiar and not so much films on this subject. And came to the conclusion that in addition to "Jaws" (1975) and "Deep Blue Sea" (1999) really good films about toothy sea killers there is not at all. Therefore, we decided to walk through the classics and began with the legendary Spielberg Jaws.
Project:
The history of the films revolves around the confrontation between the Sheriff of the island town and the cannibal shark. On the eve of the holiday season, a bloody hunt of a marine predator for people unfolded within the bay of Emity Island. As the story unfolds, our brave sheriff has to fight not only the shark, but also the money-hungry city administration, which does not want to disrupt the holiday season due to a questionable threat from the ocean. When people start to die, the sheriff has to be a scapegoat in this situation. He is accused of negligence by residents of the town, and he blames himself for not being able to resist the Mayor and allowed the opening of beaches. Meanwhile, shark specialist Matt arrives in town. Together with Sheriff Brody and hunter veteran Quint, they go on a dangerous voyage to kill a giant white shark.
About the characters of the film
Sheriff Brody played by Roy Schaider, oceanologist Matt played by Richard Dreyfuss and Captain Quint played by Robert Shaw is a wonderful acting trio, which was interesting to watch. Your heroes are the ones you care most about throughout the hunt. I would also like to mention Ellen Brody performed by Lorraine Gary and shitty Mayor Larry performed by Murray Hamilton.
And a special Royal Fat plus for an excellent mechanical shark.
Our impression:
"Jaws" is a classic of the genre. Watching it was interesting and exciting. Even by the standards of modern cinema, this is a very high-quality film. We really liked him. We recommend everyone to watch it again.
“If you cry barracuda, no one will pay attention, but if you only whisper a shark, then immediately panic will break out.”
It was 1975, when at that time the little-known director Steven Spielberg after a number of good creative works was invited to the film adaptation of the novel by Peter Benchley about the history of the great white shark, terrorizing the resort town at the beginning of the tourist season. Having called the film Silence in the Water at the time of filming, Stephen began to create a work that would later affect the entire film industry, which will be studied and imitated by many directors. It is unlikely that Spielberg thought that after the release of his creation called “Jaws”, a whole world cult was born, which continues to this day.
A small resort town of Amity. Before the local sheriff Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) after the appearance of a shark in the resort area, there is a difficult choice either to close the beach or leave everything as it is, since the summer season opens and the local authorities do not intend to lose tourists. However, after a series of deadly attacks, a difficult dilemma resolves itself. Brave team in the face of charismatic and experienced fisherman Quint (Robert Shaw), brave and reckless oceanologist Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and Martin himself, driven into the sea by a sense of duty, go on a hunt. And this will not be an ordinary fishing, not a sea walk, not a picnic for the Boy Scouts - this is a deadly fight with a very cunning predator, a man-eating shark.
The seemingly simple plot, in fact, is such, since the picture is straightforward in its narrative and is not replete with plot twists and turns. Being simple and understandable in its content, it is also incredibly real in the events shown. And this is an important aspect of it, because if the viewer, even for a second doubted what is happening on the screen, it would not have such a strong impact on the viewer’s perception, with which Spielberg, as an experienced psychologist, flirts, gradually whipping up an atmosphere of fear, when there is no doubt about the reality of the shown, and there are no questions about the actions of the characters at all.
The opening scene on the beach, when the sheriff watches the swimmers, sets the seriousness of the story and shows the level of directorial ability to create tension that chills the soul. But at the same time, most of the film to the viewer is practically not shown a single bloody scene, nor the shark itself, and reflex fear is played out exclusively on the musical accompaniment, enchanting montage and the feelings of the audience towards the heroes. The director, due to the skillful combination of these components, creates a unique atmosphere when the anticipation of a shark attack even in a sunny scene reaches an incredible nervous tension. The viewer, in fact, is in the place of the sheriff, watching and trying to understand where to expect danger.
Subtly feeling each of his characters, Spielberg introduces them to the public and gradually reveals them to her. For the heroes of Scheider and Dreyfus you really worry, for the hero Shaw, really want to go to sea. It is not scary and sometimes it can be much more frightening than the same shark. And, despite the fact that the producers decided not to involve stars of the first magnitude in the project, in order not to distract from the priority shark theme, but all the acting parts turned out to be very strong and the characters are fully revealed. Fears were not justified, and the picture turned out to be unified in its perception, nothing superfluous not distracted from the holistic viewing.
At the same time, from the technical side, the picture for the 70s was a very difficult task to implement. So that the same predator did not seem like a puppet dummy, not only inspiring fear, but also causing a smile, it took a financially large investment, which affected the budget of the film, which grew to a huge size. In the absence of computer graphics in those years had to get out due to creative vision and the ability somewhere to deceive the viewer with another non-standard visual decision and move. Justified at the same time by its phenomenal commercial success, the picture now raises no doubt about the reasonableness of the funds invested in it, but at the time of production everything looked quite complicated and problematic.
Finding a balance between a live and an artificial shark, and skillfully manipulating the audience’s consciousness, Spielberg creates a full sense of the monster’s reality. Musical accompaniment remains the primary component of success, but the shark itself, after so many years, looks very impressive, which indicates incredible visual effects for the time. And where she could not appear in the frame due to technical capabilities, the director used an ominous melody, hinting at the invisible presence of the monster in the frame and warning about the approach of danger. Alfred Hitchcock used a similar technique in his paintings, when the viewer himself completed the picture of fear in his head, and the director only threw the rod and indicated the paths of tension movement in accordance with the direction he needed.
“Shark”, shown in the film and challenged not only the characters of the picture, but also, as it turned out later, the entire film industry as a whole, for its time was the first to overcome the box office milestone in the hundred million mark. Having collected a fabulous amount, Jaws changed the industry in addition to the technical component and from a financial point of view. The colossal success could not but affect the money-hungry producers, who came to understand that such a profit is quite possible, and who have since begun to build a new advertising campaign for their future films. Therefore, the picture, among other things, is considered innovative in this part.
“Jaws” is a milestone in the history of cinema, a legendary picture that became a trendsetter of the genre, followed by a triple sequel, many imitators thrillers on a maritime theme and not only. And even if she did not set certain goals, the subsequent large number of outgoing clones, trying to match their legendary brother, cemented this status for her. The picture became a kind of prototype of the whole genre of “enimal horror”, in which the characters are confronted by various animals. But at the same time, if we consider “Jaws” as a separate movie, abstracted from all these regalia and reasoning, it is primarily a first-class adventure thriller from one of the most outstanding and successful directors in the history of cinema.
Cult film. Classic genre.
On a quiet resort island, the attacks of a man-eating shark begin. Alarmed Sheriff Martin Brody calls in from National Oceanographer Matt Hooper Institute. All indications are that the people eaten were the victims of a giant white shark that first appeared in the area. The sheriff hires shark hunter Quintus in order to destroy the sea predator.
Oddly enough, I watched this movie relatively recently. As a child, when all the boys exchanged videotapes with endless sequels of this film, I was not interested in this topic. But when I saw the original for the first time, I got so excited that there probably isn’t a shark movie I haven’t seen. As it turned out, the topic of marine predators is still close to me.
The only thing you can say about the movie is that you have to see it yourself. Just incredibly exciting plot, drags on from the first minutes and does not let go until the very end. It would seem that no new topics have been invented. Just people, just a shark. But it is so immersed in its atmosphere that the impressions of the film remain for a long time. No special effects, special technical tricks (except for the shark itself), just the confrontation between man and wildlife. It’s probably one of the few movies that doesn’t have anything to do with it. It's perfect.
Bravo Maestro Spielberg!
1975 was a turning point in the creative career of Steven Spielberg. This year, the director shot the thriller “Jaws” – a film about a man-eating shark terrorizing a small tourist town called Emity.
The success of this film made Steven Spielberg truly famous and gave the director the opportunity to choose the plots for subsequent projects. Having grossed more than $100 million at the box office, frightening millions of people to death, this movie became the first ever "summer blockbuster". The summer of 1975 was probably not marked by a large number of long-distance swims.
The first inhabitants of the Amity were put in danger by the American author Peter Banchley. In 1974, he wrote a novel of the same name that remained on the bestseller list for 44 weeks. Feeling afraid without leaving your comfort zone is a great offer for us. The book is certainly worthy of the attention of an avid reader. Written in a simple syllable, it tells an interesting and frightening story. There are more confrontations, spiritual contradictions. If in the film the shark is for the most part a tangible killer, a clear negative character, then in the book it looks like an excuse, a big problem, the attitude to which will make it clear who is who of the characters. But the described scenes of shark attack in the book do not leave indifferent. They are painted red and give another reason not to leave the shore.
The screen adaptation of the novel by Peter Banchley turned out to be artistically attractive and super technical.
The cameraman, Bill Butler, captured the frightening movement of a shark underwater. You can try to feel how this marine predator works. We're hungry. By picking up vibrations in the water, we are signaled to attack. As we move our fin, we quickly swim towards the victim. You who swim on the surface will not be saved.
In the film "Jaws" was first patented camera reception approximation of objects in the background without changes in the front. Such a technique conveys a certain narrowing of thought, concentration of excitement and horror of a hero.
On the technical side of the picture, a lot of work was done. Specially built, stuffed with electronics, a mechanical shark-man-eater, although it brought a lot of problems to the film team, but it fulfilled its task. Visual perception is not corrupted by anything. It doesn't look cheap or caricatured. In addition, the competent distribution of its screen time does not allow us to doubt the improbability of the shark.
It's impossible to pass by the soundtrack written by the consummate John Williams. He was able to voice the very danger lurking in the deep sea. The first two notes became classics.
The film "Jaws" should not be understood unilaterally. Yes, it is called such loud words as “horrors”, “thriller”, “blockbuster”. All these genres are undoubtedly present in this picture. But the basis is psychological, moral background. As mentioned above, the shark, to a large extent, is the personification of an abstract problem that has fallen on the heads of all citizens. And the question before everyone is whether to turn a blind eye to her before she touches you or to take part in preventing the threat? A good example is the Mayor of Amity. It embodies a branch of government that, by all means, must preserve the semblance of prosperity by misinforming its citizens and exposing them to greater danger. One authoritative word of the mayor and the couple Jones, hugging their children and an inflatable mattress, voluntarily plunge into the water, waiting for the possibility of a shark attack.
We all live in Amity and we all know a mayor like that. It remains to be decided what to do with the shark terrorizing us.
You have to think about a good movie. It always carries a valuable message.
“You’re willing to close your eyes to the problem until the problem comes up and kicks your ass.”
8 out of 10
The movie is brilliant. Genius in every sense - beautiful special effects (or rather the shark itself), actors, plot, staging an idea. Let me explain everything in order:
1. The shark is very realistic. I couldn’t believe that all the “terrible” moments were made by a shark made of metal and stuffed with electronics. Of course, now it does not seem so scary (although when I first saw it, I was only afraid of surprise). I even rewinded some of the moments where she appeared in all the “beauty” back, as it was creepy (the irony came out) interesting to look at the shark, its movements, etc. I have already given 10 points for the shark.
2. The actors, I don't know any of them, but they're well-chosen and they're fine. I read that Charlton Heston auditioned for the role of Brody - I think I would even approach, I wish I had played.
3. The plot is simple but not boring. Maybe the film did not cause horror but kept in suspense. Most modern horror movies are disgusting, not terrifying. A real horror movie should scare and keep in suspense. Jaws are constantly kept in suspense, and in my opinion, if not a horror movie, then the thriller is great.
Idea and meaning - The film shows well human characters. Maybe it wasn’t originally intended by the creators (Spielberg himself said he removed a lot of stuff from the book to focus on the shark itself) but it is. For example, tourists, only seeing the shark fin, which eventually turned out to be a prank of children, were ready to crush each other to quickly get to the shore. One man even threw the children off an inflatable mattress to reach shore. And the main characters pursue their goals, hunting for a shark - Sheriff Brody - a simple policeman who wants to return calm to the city and protect it; Fisherman Quint - a half-witted veteran of World War II, seeking to make more money by catching a shark; Matt Hooper is a funny oceanographer who wants to explore the shark because it is huge and represents the interests of science.
Bottom line: a well-directed film keeping in suspense with a well-crafted plot.
I have heard about this film since early childhood. But I avoided watching. I was. But after many years, I realized that cinema is just a movie, a specially made fictional story. And so I remembered about the existence of this film, and it became interesting what is so done in it that it is so impressive to many.
The result is this. Overall, it's a pretty impressive movie. Not everywhere insanely interesting and dynamic, but with a well-recreated tense and eerie atmosphere and a few really terrifying moments. A nightmare in an American seaside town. And it is not so much what is happening, although it is scary, as the consequences of the mercantility of the mayor of this town, who did not want to close the beaches, so as not to lose profit from the tourist season. Had he fulfilled his human duty, other victims could have been avoided after the first attack. When power is in the hands of such people, this is really scary.
This story is frightening in its realism in terrible moments. The film gives a real picture of what happens when a shark is attacked. That's a painting. And yet its main strength is not in the eerie scenes, but in the tense atmosphere of growing horror. And of course, the scene of the final battle with the shark deserves special attention, very tense, terrible and strong when every nerve is pulled. And it strikes the frivolity of people in the film, in light of everything that is happening, still climbing into the water just because they came to the coast for this.
As for the characters of the film, we see ordinary people facing trouble, confused and frightened. The actors managed to convey this to the viewer convincingly and reliably. That’s all I can say about them.
In general, this film will be useful to anyone interested in this topic. This is a special category of thrillers and horror films, in our time somewhat lost its relevance, now horror films are shot of a completely different plan. But this film is undoubtedly a classic of this genre, so it is worthy of attention now. Very strong and impressive film.
Alas, the cult film of early Spielberg about the shark attack on the human beach “Jaws” I did not like. And all for a trivial reason, he's terribly boring and uninteresting.
It is difficult to call this movie a thriller. There is no suspense or intrigue here, and the shark attacks people, but still, it did not produce an atmosphere of any horror or threat on me. People here seem to be trying to kill a shark in the plot, but it all looks boring and trivial, there are no genius ideas, there is no particular danger to people. There's a lot of talk and unnecessary chatter. Especially at the end, when the three go out to sea, I'm waiting for them to attack the shark, and they're chatting and talking about it, and it's not interesting dialogue at all, it's boring chatter.
You can't call it a horror either. No doubt, the shark really turned out to be scary and in those moments when it appeared was really creepy, but otherwise, since it appeared most often only as a fin, then again it was mostly boring.
Conclusion: "Jaws", with all due respect to Spielberg, turned out to be a boring, uninteresting, not a bit scary film. Watch the movie "Deep Blue Sea", also about sharks, only this film turned out to be a really exciting thriller and something horror.