Friday, August 15, 2014

JAWS 1975 (UNIVERSAL)

One of the most terrifying films ever made.

I can safely say that, as I saw this on it's original run and haven't been in the water since. I wish movies had this kind of effect now.

Steven Spielberg directed this colossal hit based on the best selling novel by Peter Benchley. Off the coast of a small New England coastal town called Amity, a huger great white shark moves in and makes it a feeding ground.

After several deaths the local Sheriff, Brody played by Roy Scheider wants to close off the beach, but wealthy real estate men want it left open for the big 4th of July celebration. They decide to hire someone to kill the shark, and a bunch of stupid rednecks show up and actually kill a tiger shark, but as a scientist tells them, it's no where near as big as the actual killer they are looking for.

Richard Dreyfuss is the scientist Matt Hooper and expert shark hunter, Quint is played by Robert Shaw. The performances from the three leads is flawless and Quint is a no nonsense man who knows exactly what he is doing hunting sharks, but even he begins to realize that this one is a bit different.

The shark isn't shown much, but when it is first seen clearly it is NEVER forgotten. Plain and simple, this is one of the best examples of quality film making and a textbook on how to scare an audience and still have great character development as well.

If you haven't seen this film shame on you. The rest of the cast includes Lorraine Gary as Brody's wife, and Murray Hamilton as Vaughn, the rich real estate man who wants to cover everything up.

The John Williams score is also one of the most impressive ever written for film. God, if only film makers today knew how to make films like this. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

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