Jaws: A Thrilling First Blockbuster

                

 This weeks blog post I will be sharing my thoughts on the movie Jaws (1975).  Widely considered to be the first blockbuster, Jaws (1975) is an adventure/thriller film that was released in 1975 and is directed by Steven Spielberg.  Going into the movie, I had high expectations considering that it is the first blockbuster film, making it the first of a long line of movies that is still going today, and it did not disappoint.  One of the strongest parts of this movie is when there is tension/suspense in a scene or when a scene is building tension/suspense.  From the first scene of the shark taking its first victim, the audience is already on the edge of their seats, intimidated by the beast.  Spielberg was also smart not to show the shark too much in the movie either, as it would have devalued the scariness of the shark, as well as not make him as mysterious.  Furthermore, the score in the film is also fantastic, and it further elevates the suspense in the film.  John Williams, the music composer of this film, elevates every scene that features his score whenever music is used.  Without John Williams' score in the film, this is a completely different movie.

The characters in this film are another strong suit.  There are three central characters in this film, but they all get their chance to shine in the 2nd half of this film.  They all complement each other very well with their differing personalities, which helps them work together as a team.  Robert Shaw's character is more of the brave, tough-nosed guy that takes nothing from anybody, Richard Dreyfuss' character is the more of the smart, expert character that knows a lot about sharks and the water, and Roy Scheider's character is more of a leader and negotiator character that brings everybody together, and wants everyone to be safe.  This all culminates for a great 2nd half of a film with iconic scenes, iconic lines, and great character moments.  The only downside of this film is that the pacing of the 1st half of the film can drag a bit after the first scene, but it also makes the climax of the film that much more satisfying.  Jaws lives up to its title as the first blockbuster and is a true classic in the art of film.