Jaws, The Movie.

[JoeinAR 1,949]

Jaws

Curiously I saw a recent summer film called Jaws. To the common man it is a tale of man vs. monster, akin to King Kong. Yes the common man enjoys the film on that level unaware that there is more here than meets the eye. A Renaissance man however views the film on a completely different level. I’m of course speaking of the psychological and sociological aspects of the film. There is a fascinating class struggle going on here. Chief Brody, a transplanted New Yorker, and every man, plus his wife, are unsure how they fit within the community. It’s more than just class or money, they do not fit financially or socially within this community. Ellen Brody longs for acceptance but she can never be an islander, a permanent outcast from the inner circle.

In the meantime natures accident has left a girl dead at the hands of a shark. A specialist is called in. Matt Hooper is a shark expert, an elasmobranchologist as it were. Clearly Hooper is aware of how he fits the island community of Amity. He’s old money to be sure. He’s got little time for inept local government bickering. He knows the source of the danger both from within and without.

Again as before natures accident has left a child dead at the hands(proverbially) of the shark. This time the child’s mother offers a reward and we are introduced to another protagonist in the form of local fisherman Quint. As he says you all know me, know how I earn a living. The town folks of Amity view Quint with a slanted eye. He’s a tolerated member of the town best not spoken of. He offers the town a solution and is promptly ignored.

A towns lifeblood based on tourism is a fragile thing, and when on the Fourth of July holiday natures accident strikes again taking another of the towns own the town's cash source is in serous jeopardy.

All this forces the three males types together into a social and psychological hodgepodge. The three agree, reluctantly, to work together. Quint would prefer to work alone. Hooper wants to go as a chance to research a rouge killer great white. Brody just wants to end what has become a nightmare that has affected his work, his town, and his own family.

Quint antagonizes Hopper based on his social status and manliness, while he torments Brody with his almost suicidal approach to defeating the shark. The three men remain at odds until finally confronted by the shark which does not react as expected. Only then do the trio act as one. By then it is too late and all thoughts of social status and class warfare end and the struggle to survive begins. Quint, clearly damage from events of World War II, admits he is at a loss as to what to do and yields to Hooper. Hooper attempts to remedy the situation but is unable and is apparently lost to the shark. Quint and Brody attempt to save him in vain and it is Quint whose most hidden fear is realized and is taken by the shark which sinks the boat. Only by sheer Providence Brody survives as the everyman often does. The common man of the bunch becomes the hero. Almost as an afterthought Hooper reappears. He barely escaped the shark. The two socially miscast members of the doom expedition swim to shore as credits role. A tale of man vs. monster, but who is the monster? Clearly in the intervening years since Jaws 38 years ago it was man.

I thought it was a fun little effort and it's as worthy here as any other review!

Jaws btw has clearly stood the test of time. In 1975 the top movie would have been considered One Flew Over the Cookoo's Nest. I think Jaws is every bit as good.

[Quintus 5,399]

Good review and I've always appreciated that alternative reading of it, but for me Jaws is an entirely different movie to the one in this review.

[JoeinAR 1,949]

I agree, but when approached this way you see this film can stand toe to toe with Cookoo's Nest. what a great 3 man ensemble, four if you throw in Mayor Vaughn played by Murray Hamilton. Jaws has always been underappreciated for the acting until recent.

[Quintus 5,399]

Even as a straight-up classical Moby Dick retelling (my preferred take) it still stands up effortlessly to that sublime Jack Nicholson masterpiece.

And that's just the second half. The taut political thriller of Jaws' first half is as tightly orchestrated and as effective as that of movies featuring Robert Redford and a snitch in an underground car park.

[JoeinAR 1,949]

Jaws is our love indeed.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Spielberg has made several stunning films.

Jaws and E.T. is where its at.

Jaws for the technical perfection,. A master-class in making a suspense/adventure film. E.T. for the heart.

[Mr. Breathmask 555]

Don't forget Raiders of the Lost Ark, probably the best adventure film ever made.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

True. But that's a refinement of Jaws in many ways. And possibly more a Lucas film then a Spielberg one.

[Mr. Breathmask 555]

Still amazeballs awesome though.

[Quintus 5,399]

I can only sense the life forces of Kasdan and Spielberg in Raiders. Lucas was a great pitcher, but he was never strong with the force.

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

Bah. LAST CRUSADE holds up better.

[Quintus 5,399]

Raider's holds up best in terms of proficiency imo, but the other two ain't no slouches.

Especially compared to The Scorpion King et al. Or that other movie with Ford and LeBeouf pratting about in front of green screens whatsitcalled.

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

I was thinking post-9/11.

[Quintus 5,399]

Oh Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a LOT more fun than United 93, I agree.

And that's just the blimp scene, obviously. The rest is WAY better.

[Ollie 1,059]

Close Encounters is also a masterpiece from Spielberg.

[Quintus 5,399]

Is Schindler's List?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Schindlers List is NOT Jaws!

[JoeinAR 1,949]

Is Schindler's List?

I'd say it was a masterpiece. But as Stefan said it's not Jaws.

[chuck 154]

Nothing is.

[Naïve Old Fart 9,554]

O.K. so we have established that "Schindler's List" is not "Jaws", but is it a masterpiece?

IMO, "SL" is a (very) compenently made film, but it does not capture my imagination in the same way that "Jaws", "CE3K", ao "ROTLA" did.

Is it better than "When Time Ran Out"? Answers on...

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Schindlers List isnt out to capture your imagination, of course.

[Naïve Old Fart 9,554]

As it is a film, its first intention - its raison d'etre - is to entertain, to put arses on seats, to make money for Universal. Whatever it does after that is a bonus.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Cynical nonsense.

[Quintus 5,399]

Schindler's did capture my own imagination, being that WWII history, social behaviour in that era and the Holocaust are deeply fascinating to me.

It's an outstanding film, but it doesn't feel as filmically 'perfect' as the likes of Jaws and E.T.

[JoeinAR 1,949]

no it does not.

However it's clearly a film from the same director, it has SS written all over it. It is a masterpiece. It says much about man.

[Quintus 5,399]

It says that he's the most convincingly versatile film maker the world has ever seen.

[Melange 446]

..... it has SS written all over it.

Oh, Spielberg. I get it now.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Sigh...

[Melange 446]

[JoeinAR 1,949]

..... it has SS written all over it.

Oh, Spielberg. I get it now.

I did not mean to say it in that fashion, but it does scream Steven Spielberg.

but it's funny that Jaws has a more lasting impact.

[Bespin 8,484]

And if you watch the movie backwards, it's a movie about a shark that keeps throwing up people until they have to open a new beach.

[Naïve Old Fart 9,554]

Don't forget Raiders of the Lost Ark, probably the best adventure film ever made.

Breath, I'd take out the word "probably"...

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

It's the weakest of the first three films.

[Quintus 5,399]

Okay.

[Bespin 8,484]

It's the weakest of the first three films.

I remember that we've studied Raiders in my Cinema course at school... that was long time ago :-)

That's my favourite too.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Okay.

Don't attempt to interact with him. Just leave him be for a while...

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

Okay.

Don't attempt to interact with him. Just leave him be for a while...

LAST CRUSADE is the masterpiece. Funny, exhilarating and profound. It's far more than just an action-adventure. Watching RAIDERS afterwards, one realises how shallow, juvenile, and downright racist it is. CRUSADE holds up better in the post 9/11 world.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Racist?

[Quintus 5,399]

Not to worry - he approaches Indiana Jones from a post 9/11 world, hahahahaaaa!

He'll cringe at himself in a few years, bless.

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

Not to worry - he approaches Indiana Jones from a post 9/11 world.

Like all period films, they say more about the time they were made than when they were set.

Racist?

The iconic sword vs. gun scene. It's too callous now.

[JoeinAR 1,949]

It's the weakest of the first three films.

what a stupid comment.

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

It's the weakest of the first three films.

what a stupid comment.

what a stupid reply.

[Melange 446]

Don't attempt to interact with him. Just leave him be for a while...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfx5zrkEqTI

[JoeinAR 1,949]

It's the weakest of the first three films.

what a stupid comment.

what a stupid reply.

YOU made such an ignorant comment about one of the great films of all time, one of Spielberg's all time best, people laugh at idiots like you when when you say moronic shit like that. But considering the utter garbage you've been typing out on here lately it's not a big surprise.

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

YOU made such an ignorant comment about one of the great films of all time etc.

I stated my opinion which is unorthodox, but by no means ignorant or trolling. It's fanboy fascists like you that gives franchises like these a bad name.

Please take a Xanax and calm the fuck down.

- Yours truly

[JoeinAR 1,949]

you're making me laugh when I want to feel sorry for you, like when people put a litter of kittens in a bag and drown them in the lake.

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

unorthodox, really, WRONG more accurately, please do us a favor and go play in very busy traffic. as for the drugs, why don't you take a whole bottle, or two, perhaps three.

How about you run through No Man's Land like a good horse, eh?

Run Joey! Run!

[JoeinAR 1,949]

let me put my (horse) shoes on.