JAWS

Critically acclaimed and widely loved by audiences everywhere, Jaws has become a staple movie in film classes (and for a good reason).  Jaws focuses around Amity, a New England area that becomes invaded by a shark.  The movie follows Martin Brody as he, along with friend Hooper and local fisherman Quint, try to take down the Great White and save the beaches of Amity Island.

A lot of people don’t realize that Jaws was a breakthrough in the editing world.  The editorial decisions, such as transitions and when to place cuts, really add suspense to a film that is already about a topic that people are hesitant about – sharks. Jaws also used a large number of complex animatronics. Three large animatronic sharks were created in order to instill the fear into the audience.  However, problems with water damage and the hydraulic system caused the shark footage to be used less than would be ideal in the film.  While these may sound like a bad thing, Spielberg used it to his advantage, creating a point of view from the shark and using it frequently throughout the film.

Jaws is one of the many films that has put Spielberg on the map as one of the greatest directors of all time.  He reinvented the horror movie in a way that had never been done before with quick edits and transitions that made you uneasy about what was going to happen next.  His decisions as a director are what make him so successful, even in today’s film industry.