JAWS is Brilliant

[DarkLene]

In its 50th year. Fraught with filming issues to the extent Steven Spielberg thought he’d shot his burgeoning career to pieces. But… it just fucking works.

If I wanted to I could find fault with a couple of scenes, but ultimately- it’s superb!

The main fault would be that stupid people genuinely thought great whites were the antichrist and killed them en masse. That makes me sad.

Considering how hard it was to make and the fact the mechanical shark seldom worked - and that Spielberg still gets anxiety dreams about making it - it turned out so great!

Absolutely the dolly shot on Chief Brady- amazing cinematography.

Ive seen Jaws many times over the years but the first time I saw it as a mother gave it a different slant. You can feel that cold finger of fear in the Mum when everyone’s child is safely out of the water except hers.
And then when she slaps Brody.
I couldn’t understand that as a child.
As a Mum I feel her devastation.
Brilliant film.

Favourite film. My brother who is 57 hasn't been in The sea since he watched it as a child 🤣

"Smile you son-of-a-bitch!"

"Here's to swimmin' with bow -legged women"

"Cage goes in the water, you go in the water, sharks in the water...our shark"

"Farewell and adieu you fair Spanish ladies..."

It's my favourite film of all time; the dynamics between the 3 main characters are fantastic.

“You all know me…. how I earn a living”

It’s a masterpiece.

I went to watch ‘the shark is broken’ a few weeks ago - highly recommend! It’s based on Robert Shaws diaries of the filming and the dynamic between the 3 main actors. Ian Shaw plays his father. Loved it.

I was 18 when it first came out and queued at the cinema (remember that!) to watch it. I didn't think it would be my scene. I expected a sort of tacky horror type movie but it was so, so good. It's one of the best films ever made and I honestly don't find any of it dated (except for obviously the clothes). It's far more about the human condition than sharks.

My dad died a few months ago and one of my best memories of him was when he took me and my brother to Glasgow to see it when it came out. It was showing at one cinema only, one big screen, on Sauchiehall St. We joined the end of a huge queue. Then it started to move - and stopped when the cinema was full. We had to stand in line for the entire duration of the film until we got in at the next screening. Crazy! But everyone was so keen to see it.

Yes, we saw this back in April. Very clever and funny play.

In fact they had so many technical problems with the shark that they weren't able to have it in as many scenes as they had wanted. However, this adds greatly to the tension in the film and makes the shock factor so much greater when it does appear.

It was the first big summer blockbuster film, but many people weren't at all sure of it would be a success or a flop. In the play Robert Shaw says he knows it's going to be a hit, because when he asked them for a share lf the box office as his fee, they said no!

And the music. God. Doing so much with two notes.
I thought John Williams got a bit samey in the 70s. Superman, Star Wars and Raiders (also ET?) are all very similar but he knocked it out of the park with this one

I love it - especially the mayors suit with little anchors on it.

I've been swimming in the sea recently....nervously keeping my eyes open for a great white.
I often dk the same in swimming pools!

Saw it a few weeks ago when DS1 decided to put together a list of classic films and watch them.

I saw it when i was young and could not even go in the bath for years so I really did not want to watch it again-- but boy what a GREAT film! Massive fan now I am 52 and so is DS to the point I got him merch for his birthday.

Peter Benchley who wrote the book was apparently so heartbroken at the impact on Great White Sharks after the film came out (widespread fear and hysteria) that he devoted a large part of his life to shark conservation.

https://www.peterbenchley.com/

Absolutely terrified me as a child and still does now. The music brings me out in a sweat. Watched it with the kids a few years ago, think I managed about 10 minutes before leaving the room. Kids thought it was hilarious.

I begged my dad to take me to see it when I was a kid. I was so scared, I wouldn't let him go to the toilet 🤣 Don't think I've seen it since, I'm obviously scarred for life 😆 Should probably give it another go.

It sometimes comes around in cinema again and omg if you get the chance to watch it there do it. Think I went for when the film turned 40!

the audio book is also epic

I also loved the relationship between the parents. And the dad with his son. And the men on the boat singing ' had a little drink about an hour ago'. They all had this great camaraderie and community. Lot of love for that.

And that famous line right, gonna need a bigger boat.

My parents had a terrible marriage and got divorced but one of my happy childhood memories was of the Spielberg films- when an Indiana Jones or Jaws etc was on, it was one thing we all wanted to do i.e. watch together.

My mum would usually suggest it and my dad would be on board. Then my mum would do homemade pizza, with fucking anchovies, no less. I'd pick the anchovies off the very doughy pizza and watch Spielberg while sitting on the floor (we had a sofa but that was just the preferred place). I'd then hide behind sofa cushions as the scary parts.

Great memories. We never really watched Disney, we were Spielberg fans all the way.

I love the film but hate how it has instilled such fear of great whites. Amazes me that people actually think they hunt people, humans are not their prey 🙄

I was scared of deep water into my 20s and 30s haha.

I actually don't think about it now at all, think scuba diving changed that for me. Wierd how it lasted so long and has now just gone. I wonder if kids who never saw Jaws don't have the same fear.

But as a child I didnt even like the deep end of the pool.

I came here to say this! I love the film too but this audiobook is brilliant. It’s read by the British actor Henry Goodman, who does all the characters and makes every single one a real, believable person, including Brody’s wife 😄 I’ve listened to it so many times, I love it.

im going to see the film at the IMAX in London at the end of this month. I’ve watched it on tv but never on the big (big!) screen - can’t wait.

It’s been years since I watched it but I remember the lovely slow pace of a long, hot summer where it felt like nothing was happening and then all of a sudden, everything did. I might have to watch again now. Thanks for the reminder OP.

We watched it in 3D a few years on the front seat 😆 It was brilliant to see it on the big screen

I love Jaws, particularly the hidden message.

If you watch it in reverse, it's actually about a benevolent shark who swims around helping profoundly disabled people by returning their missing limbs. Such a feel good movie 😊