Jaws

Tension: Will they catch/kill the shark? Will the shark kill them? Will the mayor actually listen to them? Theme: Pride leads to downfall. Writing: Really good at building up bigger and bigger, you wonder how a shark attack can do that more and more but it really does and has a lot of tension. I think an important note is I watched this on a big screen, and I feel like that made a really big difference. Characters were well introduced, like the screeching nails on a chalkboard to get attention. Or a guy trying to get the chief’s attention that we stay on. I think I had a little bit of a sense that the fisherman was going to die because somehow the scared cop had to rise triumphant as the protaganist. And he did. Dang that scene where he was getting eaten was gruesome. I mean, all the scenes of the shark were. And the characters were pretty smart in all the ways they went about trying to get the shark. I definitely could not have killed it. The explosion really did feel like the only way after seeing it get harpooned and shot so many times. The fact that this shark could destroy their boat was pretty crazy. And I liked that they made the shark smart too. The cage part felt a little stupid to me since I would never in a million years go for that route, but I get how it was necessary in their minds. It was also interesting how everyone had different stakes with the shark at some points. Like wanting a picture and asking someone to risk their lives by being in the foreground for comparison. Or breaking the radio station so nobody takes your $10k reward. I liked the one-upping with scars only for there to be one that was pretty sensitive and had to do with the historical context of the film. Acting: I really liked the main characters acting. Although the one Irish guy I didn't get most of his monologue because his accent was so thick. Cinematography: There were some amazing shots in this film that I felt like were even once in a lifetime. Like that shot that looks up to the mast and title down to another guy looking off into the distance. Doesn’t make up for it writing it down. I loved the way they'd frame within the shark jawbones in the collection. The beginning with the girl swimming had some beautiful yet terrifying cinematography. One of the last shots with the shark falling apart full of so much blood was kinda crazy. Production Design: Shark wasn't cheesy to me, big screeen probably helped. Man, it would be so hard to film around or in water. And carrying around a huge shark. Sound: Iconic soundtrack, and sound was important for creating suspense and little jump moments. Editing: It's getting a little farther back for me to remember.