I'm an older guy. Unlike Homer though, I don't believe rock music ended in 1973. Film didn't either.

But, I just bought the 2 disc version of Jaws. Interview with Spielberg, etc.

Good package. As Ireland is in recession you can pick up this and similar for less than a fiver. A bargain, even in a miser's books.

The thing about it is three things. Not four...

Roy Schneider. RIP. What a fucking actor. John Williams. Without that music, duhhnn du. Duhhnnn Du. Dunh Du.

What a tune.

And then there is Robert Shaw.

Thing I love about Jaws is it ain't just about a shark. It's about a police trying to keep people safe against the will of the council and authorities more keen to cop dollars with complete disregard for safety.

Ooops. There is also Richard Dreyfuss. That guy, I tell ya.

I thoroughly recommend. It does look seventies sometimes. But the tension, the fear of the primeval beast below the surface. It still has power. I think it always will. Nothing has topped it yet. One of the best horror movies there is.

Duhhnnn Duh.

Amazing. In so many ways. No wonder Spielberg became one of Hollywood's biggest players. With this under his belt, how could he fail?

Genius.

R ox

Quoted from rendevous It does look seventies sometimes.

With the exception of the hairstyles and bathing suits, etc, one would never guess how old this movie is.  The special effects still hold up and are better than many of the CGI effects in today's movies.


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe With the exception of the hairstyles and bathing suits, etc, one would never guess how old this movie is.  The special effects still hold up and are better than many of the CGI effects in today's movies. Phil

Ah, I always suspected you were one of the sharper tools in the box. And I mean that in a good way.

It does reek of seventies, occasionally. Until you get on the boat. Maybe they shoulda gotta bigger one.

I'm tired and I wanna go home
I'm tired and I wanna go bed
I had a little drink about an hour ago
And it went straight to my head

I knew it'd be good. But I never thought it would still be that good

R ox

My favorite movie of all time. Saw it at the cinema in 1976. Me and my mates were shit scared to go swimming in a fucking dam afterwards!!!

Took you awhile to get the deluxe DVD RV (try saying that after a night on the turps...), it's been out since the 30th anniversary in 05.

The acting makes this movie. The shark sometimes looks dated though it's funny how the half shark - from the pond attack - looks exactly like a real Great White.

Robert Shaw deserved an Oscar nomination for this. He wouldn't have beaten Jack but shoulda been up there.

A lot of what made the movie so good was done spontaneously.  Bruce, the mechanical shark, didn't always work on cue and some improvising needed to be done.

The first shark attack (the college girl at night) was originally supposed to include the shark.  But Bruce wasn't working, so they ended up showing the girl being dragged around.  In this instance, mechanical failure was a good thing.


Phil

I saw this movie when I was seven years old. Scared the living shit outta me. Still does. I don't even like going in the pool to this very day. I always put this movie in the same league with The Exorcist; brilliantly made, as shocking and effectual on the fiftieth viewing as it was on the first, and spawned a series of unbelievably stupid sequels. Damn Hollywood.  >:(

Plus Spielberg was not happy afloat. If it's not true, it's a good bloody story.

We need a bigger boat.

The detail is the devil, and it's there. Complete down to the small town mentality, a concept I'm over familiar with here, right down to The Man wearing a coat with anchors on it.

Chief Brody. His family. Why do we care? Because they are as real as we are. As are Dreyfuss and Shaw. I just watched it.

Know what? I'm gonna watch it again. There is nothing at the mo better to watch. I love Fincher, but do I really watch the Social Network tonight? Nah. Later. I'll watch the proper cut of Alien 3 and The Game first.

Then I'm gonna watch Full fucking Metal fecking Jacket again. How tall are you soldier?

Then 2001. Again.

I might watch The Best Film of All Time [cough] Chinatown again too. [another cough].

Then I'll watch The Fecking Social Net Fucking Work.

Do I have to? Can I please watch Jaws again. Oh, go on, please...

R xo

Quoted from MC saw this movie when I was seven years old. Scared the living s*** outta me. Still does. I don't even like going in the pool to this very day. I always put this movie in the same league with The Exorcist; brilliantly made, as shocking and effectual on the fiftieth viewing as it was on the first, and spawned a series of unbelievably stupid sequels. Damn Hollywood

I agree completely. I remember one with Michael "Just say no! Please, for the love of God" Caine. Bejehususbegegarrah it was shite.

Never mind Matt, I got the original on DVD. I suspect if I stop wanking I may wear it out. Hang on, I shoulda phrased that better. Er, oh fuck it. You know warra mean.

R xi

Quoted from Matt Chisholm and spawned a series of unbelievably stupid sequels.

and inspired dozens of cheap knock-offs.


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe A lot of what made the movie so good was done spontaneously.  Bruce, the mechanical shark, didn't always work on cue and some improvising needed to be done. The first shark attack (the college girl at night) was originally supposed to include the shark.  But Bruce wasn't working, so they ended up showing the girl being dragged around.  In this instance, mechanical failure was a good thing. Phil

This is so strange, just 3 days ago we watched this film again -- I'm not the biggest Jaws fan; never have been -- & we laughed at this scene.  I couldn't find it plausible.  This shark is the size of 4 Buick's.  It's huge.  This girl had spindly little legs.  There would be no dragging here about in the water back and forth.  It actually looked rather absurd the way she was bobbing back and forth.  I mean, really watch this scene and see just how it doesn't jive.  Then she goes to the bouie in the water, as if the shark let her go and she still had her leg(S).  C'mon now.  

I did find one scene rather visceral, though.  The scene where the leg floats to the bottom of the ocean floor.  Looked very real.  All in all, though, I think this movie is one of the many that fails to live up to its legacy.

Jaws is godly. I think anyone who criticizes Spielberg needs to take a moment to reconsider. I know. I've done it myself from time to time. Despite his shortcomings (and let's face it, he's got his share), the dude knows how to tell a story, plain and simple, and in a way no one else can.

Pure cinema. As much as I'd like to commend it for brilliant filmmaking, I can't. It'd be a disservice to the film. You don't notice the shots, the editing, etc. because the story is so immersive. But it's immersive because of the filmmaking.

Not gonna mention the acting. Some things just go without saying.

The shark looks like junk. It's always looked like junk. It's looked like junk since I started watching the film when I was six years old. But you know what? It looks just good enough for you not to care. Spielberg and co. do the rest.

Jaws has been one of my all time favorite films for as long as I can remember and one of the best from as much of an objective standpoint as I can place myself. Just about as flawless as any other mainstream film that's considered among the greatest.

The making of the film is remarkable as well. Anyone who doesn't know it should look into it. The DVD's got a terrific documentary about it.

Quoted from James McClung Jaws is godly. I think anyone who criticizes Spielberg needs to take a moment to reconsider. I know. I've done it myself from time to time. Despite his shortcomings (and let's face it, he's got his share), the dude knows how to tell a story, plain and simple, and in a way no one else can. Pure cinema. As much as I'd like to commend it for brilliant filmmaking, I can't. It'd be a disservice to the film. You don't notice the shots, the editing, etc. because the story is so immersive. But it's immersive because of the filmmaking. Not gonna mention the acting. Some things just go without saying. The shark looks like junk. It's always looked like junk. It's looked like junk since I started watching the film when I was six years old. But you know what? It looks just good enough for you not to care. Spielberg and co. do the rest. Jaws has been one of my all time favorite films for as long as I can remember and one of the best from as much of an objective standpoint as I can place myself. Just about as flawless as any other mainstream film that's considered among the greatest. The making of the film is remarkable as well. Anyone who doesn't know it should look into it. The DVD's got a terrific documentary about it.

Rumor has it this is the same guy, Spielberg, who will fart, yes actually fart, on your script if he doesn't like it.  Well, that's the rumor.  Joe Eszterhas kind of touches on this in one of his books.  I believe it to probably be Speilberg.  He looks like he could be capable of this.

Spielberg can fart on my scripts anytime. If only I could get them that close to him to do it.

Don't be too hard on the sequel, Jaws 2. I had a great childhood memory on that. When I was over at my best friends house and Jaws 2 played on HBO, whenever a hapless teen got snatched, he would go to the dismay of his mother and sisters :

"Bye Bye BAYYYBEE!"

True story.

Anyway, to me, the first Jaws is a classic. Not just the characters, but the way Spielberg had it shot. Lots of depth and psychological shots (the shot where the Mayor, Brody and Hooper stand in front of the defaced billboard is a prime example. Actors are placed in a trinagular formation, with the one "expert" - Hooper- is made to look inferior and losing out on his argument) I sure miss those dynamics in most of today's films.

And THAT------>

Yeah. I had that.

Quoted from DarrenJamesSeeley ..True story. Anyway, to me, the first Jaws is a classic. Not just the characters, but the way Spielberg had it shot. Lots of depth and psychological shots (the shot where the Mayor, Brody and Hooper stand in front of the defaced billboard is a prime example. Actors are placed in a trinagular formation, with the one "expert" - Hooper- is made to look inferior and losing out on his argument) I sure miss those dynamics in most of today's films. And THAT------> Yeah. I had that.

Had that too. Scariest bit for me was an ad lib. When Drefuss went down to the boat. And a head popped out.

Woah. Then I knew I watching something special. Knowarrameanlike?

Roxu

I think I had that toy.  I remember playing it.

My mother used to tell the story of when she saw Jaws in the theater, with my father.  She had read the book and wasn't expecting any surprises.  When the head popped out of the boat, she went to grab my father's arm.  Instead, she grabbed the arm of this guy on her other side.  And this guy's wife grabbed his other arm.

Explains a lot about me, don't it?


Phil

Quoted from JMC The shark looks like junk. It's always looked like junk. It's looked like junk since I started watching the film when I was six years old. But you know what? It looks just good enough for you not to care. Spielberg and co. do the rest. Jaws has been one of my all time favorite films for as long as I can remember and one of the best from as much of an objective standpoint as I can place myself. Just about as flawless as any other mainstream film that's considered among the greatest.

I can always trust someone here to say it beter than I could. One of the reasons I stick about. Spot on, son. Absolutely bang on. Well done, my son.

R xasuio

I wouldn't say the shark looks like junk.  Keep in mind that, when this movie came out, CGI was still ten years away.  The SFX, here, looks better than the SFX from Deep Blue.


Phil

Quoted from rendevous Then I knew I watching something special. Knowarrameanlike? Roxu

I knew it was something special when we were introduced to Quint. We knew it was a damn masterpiece when we find out Qunt is a modern day Ahab looking for his whale- and his obsession lies within one of the best monologues ever put on film. You know the one.

Quoted from dogglebe I wouldn't say the shark looks like junk.  Keep in mind that, when this movie came out, CGI was still ten years away.  The SFX, here, looks better than the SFX from Deep Blue. Phil

Now, now, as much as I love JAWS...I will defend Renny Harlin's Deep Blue Sea to the max. I thought that film kicked ass. And, hey, pony up. Sam Jackson's character was a surprise death, wasn't it?

I loved Sam Jackson's death, but Jaws gets my vote for best shark film.


Phil

I'm going to reserve judgment on "the best shark film" until I have a chance to see Shartkopus. But would that really count as a shark film if it's only half-shark?

I will defend Jaws on the merits of there being an actual prop, opposed to not.  I find movies, any movie, that relies too much on actors acting against thin air and Chromakey screens to be absolute garbage.  Everything was better when we had actual props and make-up and blood work.  Latex and Animatronics.  At least it was physically on set and could be interacted with.  It lent itself to some form of believability.

I hate that they are now going away with all of the talented SFX guys for C++ programmers who would be better suited at making videogames than creating a really real world atmosphere.  

CGI blows goat nips and porks chickens in the butt... Sorry.

Quoted from Matt Chisholm I'm going to reserve judgment on "the best shark film" until I have a chance to see Shartkopus. But would that really count as a shark film if it's only half-shark?

I will beat you....


Phil

Quoted from Matt Chisholm I'm going to reserve judgment on "the best shark film" until I have a chance to see Shartkopus. But would that really count as a shark film if it's only half-shark?

Just to think, Chris Tukcer's salary for Rush Hour 3 helped the plug to be pulled on MEG.
>:( >:( >:(

Quoted from dogglebe I think I had that toy.  I remember playing it.

Playing with toy sharks in your thirties??? Yes, that does explain alot about you.

James

Quoted from jwent6688 Playing with toy sharks in your thirties??? Yes, that does explain alot about you.

Only a fool would play with a real one...


Phil

I saw a "Making of Jaws" documentary on A&E.  The story behind the making of that movie is almost as entertaining as the movie itself.  Spielberg came very close to a complete nervous breakdown during filming, because the shoot went ridiculously overbudget due to the shark never working and the rigors of shooting a movie on the ocean.  They shot it maybe a mile or so off the shore, so every time another ship or sailboat came into view in the background, they had to shut down and wait about twenty minutes for the ship to drift out of shot.  Robert Shaw and Dreyfuss apparently couldn't stand each other and nearly came to blows on several occasions.  On the night they were supposed to shoot the famous USS Indianapolis speech, Shaw was so drunk they had to carry him on board, then he slurred his words so bad they had to reshoot that entire scene the next night.  

Spielberg originally had planned to showcase the shark much earlier in the film, in fact the very first scene.  They couldn't do it because the shark kept malfunctioning.  So, as Roy Scheider put it, Spielberg changed it "from a monster movie to a Hitchcock movie."  He suggested the shark's presence instead of showing it directly.  So when the shark first appears in the "bigger boat" scene, the psychological impact is incredible.

This movie is an example of catching lightning in a bottle during filmmaking.  Perfect script, cast, director and production.  And of course the theme music.  Try and imagine the movie without the shark's theme.  Everything about this film is epic.

Will you feckers with the animated avatars please stop it.

I was just dreaming about having a nervous breakdown on a beach while a huge big fuck off shark swims by, near sun drenched kids.

Then this bloke who looked like an anchor came up to me telling me not to shut the beach. I kept telling him I need more barrels. Barrels! You barstard anchor man, you. BARRELS. More. Now, ya daft twat.

Er, I think I should be on the "Weirded Out By Summat" site instead.

R1 is about right. Epic. Now there's the word. Also a song by FNM.

R xo

EDIT: I'm in my forties and still play with toys. Mind you, they usually buzz and are very pleasurable. Er, I've been weirded out by my own petard. I'll get my batteries, I mean coat.