Regardless that being an expert movie critic is a part of my job, it’s unattainable to see each film. Not solely have I not seen each film for the last decade I’ve been doing this job, however there are quite a few “classics” that, for one purpose or one other, I’ve merely by no means gotten round to seeing. A type of movies is Steven Spielberg’s iconic Jaws.
I do know, I do know, I’m not totally certain why I by no means noticed it both, however regardless that Jaws is 50 years outdated, and I’m nearly 50 years outdated, the 2 of us had by no means crossed paths earlier than. With the Fourth of July weekend right here, and the golden anniversary for Steven Spielberg’s iconic movie, it appeared like the precise time to take care of this cinematic oversight. So I fired up my Peacock subscription and eventually watched Jaws, and truthfully, I’m glad I waited so lengthy.
I By no means Watched Jaws As a result of I Felt Like I Already Had
I may definitely guess that one of many causes I didn’t see Jaws after I was younger was that, whereas it might not at all times be thought-about such, Jaws is mainly a horror film. The large shark is actually taking part in the position Jason does within the Friday the thirteenth films. I haven’t seen a lot of these movies both as a result of they simply don’t curiosity me.
However as I grew older, I feel one of many causes I by no means bothered to observe Jaws is that I felt like I already had. The film has turn into such a ubiquitous half of popular culture that anyone who hasn’t seen it in the present day nonetheless may most likely describe all the important thing moments of the plot and even drop some selection Jaws quotes.
If Jaws had come up in a dialog final week, I’ve zero doubt I may have pretended like I had seen it and completely fooled anyone into believing I had. Now that I’ve seen it, I notice simply how a lot of the film I already knew by coronary heart.
Jaws Performs Out (Virtually) Precisely As I Thought
I made a number of fast notes earlier than I sat down to observe Jaws. I jotted down a short plot description as I believed it to be, and in addition put collectively an overview of all of the story’s main beats with all the main points I understood to be included, within the order through which I believed they came about. In almost each element, I acquired it proper.
The one factor I didn’t know was the place the shark cage sequence came about within the narrative. I might have guessed it occurred earlier within the movie moderately than being a part of the movie’s finale, however apart from that, I acquired each second within the right order. What do I win?
I had all of it locked down so effectively that I truthfully started to marvel if possibly I had seen Jaws earlier than and had merely forgotten. Nonetheless, there was sufficient of the movie that I used to be certain I hadn’t seen earlier than, the smaller character moments. For instance, whe Roy Scheider’s character and his son are taking part in on the dinner desk. These are the moments that don’t get endlessly replayed, confirming this was a brand new film to me.
Contemplating how necessary some individuals assume spoilers are to seeing films, one might need assumed I didn’t truly take pleasure in watching Jaws for the primary time. If I knew every part that was going to occur, how was the expertise any enjoyable? However truthfully, understanding all of the plot beats was nice as a result of it prompted me to method Jaws in a really completely different manner.
As a result of I Knew The Story, I Centered On Different Issues
I notice that saying “Steven Spielberg is an unbelievable director” isn’t precisely a revolutionary assertion, however watching Jaws, I feel I got here to know that fact in a manner that I by no means actually had earlier than. Whereas I haven’t seen each Steven Spielberg film, I’ve seen most of them. I do know simply how unbelievable a director he’s, however I actually noticed it whereas watching Jaws.
I used to be most likely much less engaged by the plot of Jaws than I might have been if I had watched it 40 years in the past, particularly as a result of I knew what was going to occur at mainly each flip. As such, I discovered myself actually watching the digicam, following the best way it advised the story. I paid consideration to the best way the story was put collectively within the edit as a result of whereas I knew what would occur, that didn’t imply I knew every part about how that story could be proven to the viewers.
Usually if I discover myself desirous about the edit of a movie on my first watch, it’s as a result of one thing is horribly improper with it and it’s turn into distracting from the story. I wish to be engaged by a story identical to all people else, and whereas I’ll typically decide up on little filmmaking particulars on a primary watch, it’s typically extra unconscious.
Right here, I used to be capable of actually see why Jaws gained the Oscar for Movie Enhancing, a prize that’s clearly deserved for the best way the edit builds the strain round a killer shark that famously didn’t work more often than not, and thus is never seen. I loved John Williams’ rating, which is a lot greater than the Jaws theme everyone knows and love.
Jaws Has Strengthened My View On Spoilers
I additionally actually loved Jaws as a narrative. Whereas I knew the plot and had seen a big portion of the film in varied scenes over nearly 50 years, there was loads extra that was new to me. A few of the scenes that don’t get endlessly replayed have been amongst my favorites within the movie, they usually all come collectively to inform a compelling story that’s actually wonderful, as its fame signifies.
In my job, getting spoiled on films is par for the course. I hardly ever stroll right into a blockbuster movie with out some form of an thought of what’s about to occur on display. But regardless of understanding nearly every part that was about to occur in Jaws, it didn’t make the film any much less pleasant.
Not understanding what’s going to occur subsequent in a film is nice. Slightly shock definitely doesn’t damage. However even when you realize what’s about to occur, if the filmmakers have achieved their job proper, it gained’t matter. It’s not about what occurs a lot as how effectively it’s achieved. Every thing in Jaws is effectively achieved, even 5 many years later.