Jaws Critique

JAWS Critique

            Considered one of the best movies of all time Jaws is obviously a favorite by many in the film community. But what is it that really makes critics and movie lovers’ alike love this film? Lets start with a summary of the film. What could be better then the beach on a hot summers day in New England. Probably nothing but when people start disappearing from the waters around Amity island the beach may not be the best place. A great white shark seems to be the culprit of these fatalities and it is up to Chief Brody a part time police officer, a marine biologist named Hooper, and a season fisherman Quint to catch the Great White shark haunting the beaches.

            As stated in the Kruleshov Effect: it is “not the content of the images in a film which is important, but their combination.” I think that the best part of this film is the editing. The way that the suspense builds and the action shots leave you scared to keep watching but drooling for more is amazing. This works in direct correlation with the varying shot sizes (close-ups, medium, and long shots) and also the shot angles used in the film. The acting was quite impressive, and every person seemed as though they were apart of something real, like a real shark killing and hunting the people of a small town. I think there could have been some better color correction but then again I’m used to HD and in 1975 when this was released this may have been the best editing available. 

            Although Spielberg was said to not really know what to do going into this film I think he knew exactly what he was getting himself into. He did an amazing job as a director and it really yielded an amazing film. He was able to strike fear into the hearts of Americans that honestly still scares people today. However what I found to be the most interesting part of Spielberg’s directing skills was how he was able to reverse the roles of high and low angle shots. Usually in film when the angle is looking down on something, it means that that subject has lesser power then the POV or talent. This works vice versa for low angle shots looking up at more powerful objects. Spielberg was able to make what people were looking down at, a shark, a very powerful thing. And when people in the movie were being looked up upon, they were usually the next victim. Now although subject to be afraid of is a giant great white shark, it is funny how he was able to reverse the roles of what is usually normal of a camera’s gaze. This is just one single example of how Spielberg was able to change the standards of directing forever.