Film opinion: Jaws - an all-time classic Spielberg feature
Steven Spielberg’s Jaws remains a timeless archetype for filmmakers and horror fraternity to look to for inspiration and enjoyment.
What makes it an all-time great film, and what is it about the original feature that the fandom admires so much?
Film News Blitz’s Ellie Jackson is here to discuss the groundbreaking staple of the horror genre.
What makes Jaws the innovative and trailblazing feature that it is?
Jaws is considered the first summer blockbuster due to its groundbreaking success, innovative marketing, and iconic fear factor that remains an original staple of its genre.
Jaws was a massive hit and set a precedent for future blockbuster films.
The unprecedented feature became the highest-grossing film of its time, demonstrating that a summer release could attract huge audiences.
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The film's success showed that summer could be a profitable time for big-budget releases.
The film's marketing campaign was extensive and unprecedented for its time, creating a buzz and anticipation that propelled the film to meteoric box office success.
Jaws left an indelible mark on popular culture, from its iconic villainous shark, memorable score, and suspenseful storytelling becoming ingrained in film fans’ collective consciousness.
What is the historic feature about?
The film is a compelling story about a shark terrorising a beach town
Memorable characters such as police chief Martin Brody, marine biologist Matt Hooper, and shark hunter Quint add critical depth and character development to the overall plot.
What are the technical elements that went into and occurred throughout the creation of the film?
Artistically avant-garde of its generation, the feature consisted of multiple innovative cinematography techniques such as the dolly zoom.
The animatronic shark malfunctioning led to improvisation and character development on set, resulting in the film's suspenseful atmosphere and the shark's iconic appearance.
The feature became a landmark in special effects, including animatronics, rubber models, and stunt people to create shark attacks rather than relying on CGI.
The highly influential and inventive film score
John Williams’ iconic score, particularly the two-note motif, is instantly recognizable and synonymous with fear and suspense.
Contributing significantly to the film's lasting impact, the score became a cultural phenomenon due to its simplicity, relentless repetition, and ability to evoke a sense of unease and impending danger.
The revolutionary score furthermore became a sonic shorthand for the shark's presence, leaving an unforgettable cinematic experience.
Jaws is Spielberg’s masterpiece
Spielberg created a masterful blend of suspense and realism, famously using the camera as the shark's point of view.
His ability to create a sense of realism, even with a fictional shark, is a key factor in the film's enduring appeal.
Spielberg's work on Jaws aided him significantly in establishing himself as a major filmmaker, launching his now revolutionary career.
Despite being released in 1975, the film's story and themes still resonate with modern audiences, making it a timeless oceanic masterpiece.
