"Come On Into The Water" We Did And Survived, But Only Just.

Rating: 10/10 (9 December 2008)

I have been too the cinema a lot in my day, "JAWS" in my opinion was the best ever film too sit through with unintentional audience participation and worth the money alone for that, the screaming and gasp I heard from the audience is something I have never ever experienced again in any other film I saw at the cinemas.
The lining up around the block just too get into see the film all added to the tension, it sometimes took 4-5 hours to get in, (I kid you not.)
You had too be their early in fact the queue was so long more often than not had to wait for 2 sittings before it was anywhere near your time to get in.
The banter outside was good whilst you were waiting to get in, people whispering too others how many times they had seen it and telling those willing too listen how horrific it all is. Those who had'nt seen it where craning the necks too try listen into other peoples conversations about what they were about too witness, after all it had been all over the media and the first summer blockbuster I believe.
Others had bought their flask, radio so we were entertained with disco music every now and again, cars were going passed honking at us and gaping at the long queue and pointing, some kids in the queue were wanting the toilet whilst the adults insisted they hang on for fear of loosing there place.lol.
Every now and then a man would walk up and down,(Usher.)wearing a burgundy hat on and gloves all very posh counting and pointing with his finger to those that were in the queue silently to himself, he never ever said anything which added to the mystery.(I was only young.)
Their were people fainting mainly old ladies wearing hats it was a hot summer old ladies still wore hats in those days, well the ones in Manchester did. There were also people that appeared to faint and then somehow managing to make there way stumbling and staggering towards the front of the queue head in hand then making a miraculous recovery. (How people appeared to get better once nearer to the front of the queue I shall never know.) And still remains a mystery. lol.
A few youngsters selling badges with JAWS on would saunter up and down the line "get your JAWS badges 25p" followed swiftly by the souvenir Brochure sellers all eager to sell there wares, cinema goers were eager to buy the Brochure eager to get a glimpse of the shark,those that couldn't afford the Brochure asked others if they could share looking at the pictures with you over your shoulder, most were happy too oblige.
Once in the Cinema the lights are dimmed the music starts, (you could hear a pin drop, and we had all built ourselves up.)instantly and menacingly your thrown under water, (choking for air,)brushing passed sea plants,(I thought if that shark pops up now I will surely die.)
I have never seen the sea so big and powerful like this on the screen,so green and blue, dark yet clear, rushing through seaweeds and plants I thought we were going to bump into he shark, then we're back on land,(phew! big sigh of relief from the audience a few nervous giggles here and there.) Then a soothing sounding mouth organ starts playing, everyone is sitting around the camp fire nice and cosy drinking and relaxing.
The first scene of Chrissie running up the sand hill "Where you going?" "Swimming" then Chrissie shouts "come on into the water" (More shuffling of feet and general nervousness from the audience,a few "Oh no's" and peeking through fingers you could feel the dread in the air.) Back too the film where we see Chrissie's drunken boy friend she just met trying too take his boots off and falling down in the process saying, "I can swim, I just cant walk" (The audience erupted in laughter,Then were all thrown back into that menacing sea.) too see Chrissie splashing around, then out of nowhere the music plays up, Chrissies naked body is seen in silhouette, ) the music we were all dreading and had all heard about on the News and on the Radio, I thought, Oh my god here we go its here! it was and the rest is history as they say and I held my breath.
I enjoyed it so much I went too see it 16 times I loved the audience participation inside and outside of the cinema I couldn't help it. It has to be seen on the big screen for full effect as I did at the ABC Deansgate Manchester England in 1975.