Jaws: Movie Review

"Jaws" is an iconic film through and through and we still get why its considered as one of the greatest films ever made even more than four decades after its release. It redefined how the Hollywood business itself but time hasn't been too kind on some of its aspects.

During a late-night beach party on Amity Island, a young woman goes swimming and disappears. The next morning, her partial remains are found and a shark attack is confirmed. Police Chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) wants to close the beaches but Mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) overrules him thinking the girl was killed in a boating accident and also wanting to protect the island's once a year summer festivities. But when another fatal shark attack occurs shortly after, a bounty is then placed on the shark and shark hunter Quint (Robert Shaw) offers his services for $10,000. Chief Brody and oceanographer Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) join him to make sure that the insatiable beast is stopped for good.

"Jaws" is still a terrifying film, we won't deny that. In its key moments especially the last half of the film, it still shines. But more modern audiences may struggle to keep up with the rather slow buildup in its first half. If you thought this will be all out action from start to finish, "Jaws" won't be. Partly, we get it that its feeds off what likely might have happened in real-life, that the townsfolk ignore the threat for the sake of monetary gains, but it was also frustrating to see the film struggle to move from its initial plot to the actual terror piece. The biggest flaw for "Jaws" though is how it felt that characters were just disposable. People will die but their deaths don't mean much in the grand scheme of things. Technologically, Jaws the great white shark was still impressive but it is showing its age. Overall, "Jaws" is still an enjoyable film to watch but expect it to be not as adrenaline-packed as what you are used to in the 21st century.

Rating: 4 reels





Why you should watch it:
- the film shines when the great white shark finally shows up

Why you shouldn't watch it:
- the film's first half was a slog