Why do people like Jaws?

[huedell]

Great thread! I agree with what most are saying. Speilberg's quest to conquer JAWS' many production obstacles resulted in a wonderfully structured film---and, just a dang good time!

JAWS could have been the greatest "grower movie" for me, probably because as a kid I didn't enjoy anything remotely horrifying

IMHO, Jaws is a movie that's worth a few "forced" watches before giving up on it.

[Gorn Captain]

Jaws is just about a perfect movie.
The suspense, the characters, it's Spielberg at his peak, and I wish he'd look back and take a few lessons from his younger self.
I think the stress behind the camera really helped to make it a better movie. Not having all the means at your disposal makes you have to work that much harder, resulting into something special. I'm glad the shark "was not working" most of the time. These day, you'd get a fake CG shark and none of the tangible suspense.
I feel that the actors also kind of played what they were in real life, that is why Shaw and Dreyfuss locked horns both on and off screen. And it worked perfectly. Shaw was a difficult man, and so was Quint. Perfect casting.

[Hedji]

Lonnie, I have to say, you're the first person I've encountered who didn't like it.

[daz71]

my favourite film.saw it at the cinema with my dad when i was 4 then went back the week after and saw it with my mum.love the story the acting the characters the music and can watch it over and over and never get bored of it.

[Mikey]

I have another question.

Name your favorite Jaws sequels in order.

Mine would be ...

Jaws-4
Jaws-3
Jaws-2

Call me crazy but Jaws 2 never blew my skirt up

[wayne foundation 07]

It's got everything, humor, suspense, horror, drama, goofy singing, ( ) And even though it has nothing to do w/ the shark, I love the scene where Brody's little son is copying his every move. It's touching.

YEP ! what she said

[Bruce Banner]

Certainly one of my all time favourite movies. Absolutely love it.

[drquest]

Jaws is one of my favorites, it just has always hit a home run with me. It's just so well put together, shot well, dialogue is spot on. I love all of the characters and their interactions in the town.

I wonder how much we would have liked the movie had the shark worked better for them? I love suspense, and this movie delivers, but they had to create the suspense and be elusive because the main star wouldn't cooperate. I wonder if it would have been as much of a classic?

[Boy_Wonder_1978]

The tension that Spielberg as a director at the age of 26 created with no prop (shark) was phenomenal. Add to that John Williams' simple, but VERY effective score and it's a winner.

It's a simple straight forward story with great characters that was beautifully executed and has stood the test of time.

[YoungOnce]

Jaws is just about a perfect movie.
The suspense, the characters, it's Spielberg at his peak, and I wish he'd look back and take a few lessons from his younger self.
I think the stress behind the camera really helped to make it a better movie. Not having all the means at your disposal makes you have to work that much harder, resulting into something special. I'm glad the shark "was not working" most of the time. These day, you'd get a fake CG shark and none of the tangible suspense.
I feel that the actors also kind of played what they were in real life, that is why Shaw and Dreyfuss locked horns both on and off screen. And it worked perfectly. Shaw was a difficult man, and so was Quint. Perfect casting.

I agree with every bit of this.

[palitoy]

This thread is like asking "why does everyone like Pizza?" knowing full well you hate meat, tomato sauce and are lactose intolerant.

If you don't like Mafia movies, the Godfather would suck too.

[palitoy]

PS i think Jaws is a good example of something that rose above it's subject matter. On paper, it's kind of a standard pot boiler but thanks to the director, actors and the problems they faced they created a perfect storm of a movie.

Every sequel shows that it's almost impossible to replicate.

[Gorn Captain]

I wonder how much we would have liked the movie had the shark worked better for them? I love suspense, and this movie delivers, but they had to create the suspense and be elusive because the main star wouldn't cooperate. I wonder if it would have been as much of a classic?

That is a good question.
What if the shark had worked perfectly? Would they have used it more? Probably.
Would that have hurt the impact of seeing the beast, diminish it? Probably.
These days, with CG, that shark would be tapdancing and smoking a pipe at the same time...

[mego]

Great tension, excellent storytelling, Robert Shaw... what's not to like?!?

[madmarva]

Really can't say anything more than what's been said, but Jaws is a great film. I looking forward to seeing it again on the big screen this Sunday with the limited re-release.