Go back in the water...

Rating: Null/10 (17 April 2007)

The inhabitants of a small fishing and summer resort town are terrorised by a shark and a group of men set off to catch it and kill it.
When Steven Spielberg first saw the script for Jaws laying on a desk the thought it was a sign to make the film, as Duel his hit TV movie had the same amount of letters in the title.
Jaws created what has become the film clichés you see today, a sleepy town, greedy town officials, the doubted hero and the older wise guru. It was all there in Peter Benchley's novel, however, Spielberg made a few changes for the better and what you end up with is a thrilling suspense movie.
Peter Benchley has mentioned that if he had known about the actual behaviour of sharks, he would have never written the book. Also maybe Steven Spielberg may not have made the film as the shark (named "Bruce" after Spielberg's lawyer) was never tested in salt water and caused a troubled and prolonged production. Fortunately this added to the films tense atmosphere and in the sharks case, less is more, as the actors get to show their stuff as the film builds up to a gripping finale.
John Williams most memorable score gels the movie together. The acting is fantastic and also from the supporting cast including Murray Hamilton's Mayor, to Quints silent partner. The leading trio are on top form - Roy Scheider proves his performance in the French connection was no fluke, Richard Dreyfuss career was saved with his performance as Hooper and set up his future film work and finally Robert Shaw steered his performance away from a Captain Ahab rehash, to a sailor with a haunted past, Quint's tale of the USS Indianapolis will forever be one of the best speeches in movie history.
Watch this movie and experience for yourself why the tagline read 'don't go in the water'