‘Jaws’: Not your average fish tale

WARNING:The following review may contain spoilers.

Jaws, the first summer mega-hit in America, laid out a blueprint for summer blockbusters that has been followed ever since.
Jaws, the first summer mega-hit in America, laid out a blueprint for summer blockbusters that has been followed ever since.

Steven Spielberg’s thriller Jaws is a suspenseful, yet slightly comedic play on shark attacks. Chief of Police Martin Brody, played by Roy Scheider, moves to a small town that a great white shark has made his feeding supply. The story takes us on an emotional roller coaster of drama and thrill while having a comedic touch to keep viewers interested. The comedy in this movie is all about the dialogue. An example is the scene where a lot of men are going out to catch the shark after a little boy has been killed. The men overload a boat, and they brush off the warnings people give. One man on shore says to himself, “They’re all going to die.” Comedy is the reason we fall in love with characters, but it isn’t the reason we stay in love with them. When I watch movies, I search for a character who is personal or real. We relate to Brody because he is the family man always trying to do what’s right for everyone. It’s proven when he lets go of his fear to get on the boat. Another thing I like, but also dislike, is the editing. In most scenes, the camera follows people as they are moving and doesn’t make many cuts to another shot. An example is when the mayor and Brody are on the boat being taken near some Boy Scouts. It starts as a wide shot, and the actors move to the camera as the conversation gets more serious. While not my favorite, the sequence is good because it doesn’t give you the chance to focus on a cut, on where someone went or how he or she changed. Special effects also make this movie one of a kind. Jaws was considered really high tech in 1975. An example is the shark’s third victim. There is an overhead shot of a man getting knocked off his boat into the water. An open-mouthed shark might seem unrealistic to us now, but during the ’70s, it was a scary image to see on screen, and it drew people in. An example is when you see the entire shark for for the first time, which actually is a special- effect shark on the boat. They are rolling the line to the barrel, and the shark tries to attack while they are only a few feet away from the water. Now we see the special effects, but during the time, it was a scary adrenaline rush. After the second shark attack, Brody jumps when his wife surprises him from behind, symbolizing in a way all the sneak attacks coming up throughout the movie. Another example of symbolism is that Quint’s boat is named ORCA. Orcas are known to be more deadly or violent to sharks; in fact, they are known to kill sharks. It symbolizes the man who has killed so many sharks that he has their jaws on his walls. Overall, Jaws holds your attention with its thrilling plot. The combination of drama, special effects and comedy makes it a must-see classic.

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