Jaws

Review: Jaws

          In the small beach town of Amity Island, an unexpected swimmer disappears when she enters the ocean. Unbeknownst to the community, the reason behind the young girl’s disappearance was due to a great white shark, an animal that rarely appears so close to the shore. However, due to Amity Island’s tourist draw in during the fourth of July, the mayor disregards all warnings from sheriff Martin Brody and holds the yearly event. Tragedy strikes when the shark returns and kills a young boy, prompting immediate panic and the uprising of fisherman on the island. Brody, with the aid of marine biologist, Matt Hooper and local fishermen Quint, go out into sea to capture the shark. After many failed attempts and the death of Quint, the two finally kill subdue the shark by exploding an oxygen tank into its mouth.

         Everyone knows of Jaws either by Brody’s, “we’re gonna need a bigger boat” line or the infamous theme. The music in the film by John Williams is spot on to the suspense almost, horror genre of the film. When the beach goers are enjoying their holiday and you hear that music, your first reaction is to move to the edge of your seat because something is coming. The way the music was written definitely worked. The camera work’s involvement with said music helped a great deal as well. At one point in the film, the audience becomes the eyes of the shark as we see a young child swimming carelessly. Again, it gives the viewer that notion that something is about to go down and they’re about to experience it. 

          I’ve been viewing Jaws for years and it’s only flaw, on the screen writer’s part, is the ending. The shark gets blown up and that’s the end of the movie. I watch this movie every couple of years and I always forget that’s how the movie is and I’m left wanting more. I would have liked to know if that was in fact the shark and how the townspeople reacted to its killing (granted, I haven’t seen the sequels so maybe my questions were answered there).