Why do people like Jaws?

[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.

[Hedji]

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

[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.

[megoapesnut]

When I was a youngun' back then my grandparents had a vacation home in Lewes, Delaware and we were there most weekends and for a full week or two during the summer. Lewes was (and still is for the most part) a very sleepy little beach town that resembles Amity quite a bit, even down to the ferry. My aunt took my brother and I to see Jaws in the tiny theater they had in town. Up until then, I had been an avid ocean swimmer, going out as far as the lifeguards would let me. That was the end of that. I didn't let the ocean water TOUCH me the rest of the week. and didn't go past my ankles the rest of the summer. To this day I am much more cautious in the ocean. How many movies can you say still affect you 40 years later? However, having said that, I still love the ocean and Lewes bay and I love ocean movies. In fact, I watch 3 movies every year sometime soon after Labor day, when summer is officially over for me as the pools and the lake closes and the beach seasons wind down. They are Lifeguard, Zuma Beach and California Dreamin". All three take place at the beach during the summer and end with the beach season winding down and kind of get me through the depression of knowing I have to wait another 9 months for summer.

[HardyGirl]

Coincidentally, look what t-shirt one of my boy dolls is wearing:

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[Hexigore]

My dad took my brother and two sisters to see it when I was 4. It scared the crap out of me. I spent most of the movie with my eyes covered. My brother would antagonize me by putting up shark posters in our bedroom. But I came to love the movie. It is one of my favorites because of the suspense, humor, terror, and the cast was perfect. It is a fantastic movie! My son and I watched it recently (he is 12). It was the first time he ever saw it and he actually screamed at a couple of parts. It is good to know a 40 year old movie can still scare kids today. That is a testament to a good horror film.

[Hedji]

It's got a great movie poster too.

I'm going to see it on Father's Day this weekend in the theater for it's anniversary release, and I can't wait.

[thunderbolt]

Its a big *** shark eating people, what's not to like? Throw in the excellent cast and its the perfect monster movie.

[FETT1]

'CAUSE ITS A awesome MOVIE....

[mego maniac mark]

How can anyone not love it?????

[LonnieFisher]

Did you see it when it was first released?

Yeah, I was nine.

[Mikey]

I don't think Dreyfuss and Shaw actually hated eachother

I think Shaw was just a major ballbuster and Dreyfuss was the perfect mark.

[great_chandel]

Aside from the excellent acting, directing, writing, and music (which deservingly won an Academy Award), I also loved the behind-the-scenes information: I never knew how much Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw hated one another -- which they did. Yet, they were terrific in the film together. What can you say? It is a classic.............

[HardyGirl]

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.