73. Jaws

Jaws (1975)
Directed by Steven Spielberg

Its odd to say I view Jaws in the same way that I view Emperor’s New Groove and Wallace and Gromit, but like those films, Jaws is a simple story populated with well rounded and interesting characters, and its just pure fun to watch it. It’s just that instead of being animated, Jaws is a thriller…and features a gigantic shark that savagely eats people.

I recently re-watched Jaws and was surprised by just how enjoyable the film is. The characters that inhabit this film are all memorable and delightful, including a surly Quint played by Robert Shaw and an avid scientist played by Richard Dreyfuss. The setting is perfectly captured and the story is a classic mix of thriller and horror.

A special mention has to go to all the shark sequences, especially the opening one. Every scene makes great use of the camera (who can forget those underwater perspective shots?) and great use of the musical score. Honestly, the sea sequences are so well shot and staged that I could swear I feel the sun on my face, salt on my lips, and the palpable terror of an animal that is stalking me. Who would want to live in a world without that?

Enjoy the original 1975 Trailer