tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post8011211181915073093..comments2024-03-27T15:16:57.305-05:00Comments on F This Movie!: Reserved Seating Jumps the Shark: JAWSPatrick Bromleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00771837625286775607noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-36445695495870760552018-06-06T23:14:23.802-05:002018-06-06T23:14:23.802-05:00I think that the main things that get me with Jaws...I think that the main things that get me with Jaws actually weren't mentioned. The first is the structure. It's basically two movies that are perfectly put together...the first movie on land is an increasing amount of little things that lead inexorably to the BIG thing, them on the boat. And the big thing is more increasing little things until the REALLY BIG THING finally happens right at the end. To me it's beautifully simple but secretly elaborate storytelling at it's purest. The rhythm of it always delights me.<br /><br />The second you eluded to is Quint's death. The fact that he kicks...that his character survived the very real Indianapolis terror...and fucking Jaws gets him. It really moves me and is still one of the most horrifying movie deaths I've seen.<br /><br />Great article! Jawing about Jaws is always worthwhile.<br /><br />Also my grandfather looks like Max Von Sydow.Will Bensonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-29837751187146874302018-06-06T10:10:31.478-05:002018-06-06T10:10:31.478-05:00Thanks, Tim! Great comment. Thanks, Tim! Great comment. Rob DiCristinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13402698333999727219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-51207144235866182812018-06-05T22:04:23.325-05:002018-06-05T22:04:23.325-05:00Jaws is a perfect movie. I was lucky enough to see...Jaws is a perfect movie. I was lucky enough to see a pristine print last summer. The film curator of the museum where it was shown said it was an original print from 1975 that was one of the best prints he'd ever seen of any old filmer, and that it had just absolutely meticulously preserved. It was the cleanest, most beautiful version of the film (visually) that I can imagine. The bluray looks great, but that print, pause for effect, blows it out of the water. It was one of those movie theater moments I will never forget (and it was on a double feature day with JP, so it was a pretty great day in general).<br /><br />As Rob says, the transformation of the book to the film is a stunning; the storytelling instincts of Spielberg and company clearly were so right on. I was so shocked at, to use your word, schlocky it was. The film transforms Hooper into such a great character by dropping both the affair and the "Hooper is a rich boy local" angle.<br /><br />There are two things that I'd say are huge for me. One, which is related to the adaptation of the novel, is how simple the story is. It is so efficient and so uncomplicated. I imagine that the film had to draw some comparisons in the mid 70s with the disaster movies, and those films are all varying numbers of ridiculous plotlines. Jaws' plot is as simple and effective as the shark itself.<br /><br />Second is John Williams' score. I recently watched the documentary Score, and someone (I forget who) talked about how the shark's theme is like an engine and how the only time it shows up is when the shark is about to do something. I'm a soundtrack nerd and it's on my subway playlist, and I am always tricked by the main theme into thinking my music has stopped because it starts so quiet, and then ramps up. And then Brody's theme gets woven in. It's almost cliche at this point, because the Jaws theme is so deep into our collective pop culture psyche, but that movie doesn't sound like anything that came before or since. It's like a second version of the narrative supporting the main part of the visuals, dialogue and sound effects.<br /><br />Also, Adam, I sympathize with you because fish terrify me. They are, collectively, the worst.Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05847028304101424396noreply@blogger.com