Happy 25th to the scariest movie of all time!

Rating: 10/10 (13 July 2000)

It's a miracle that it's been 25 years since this film has been released. I unfortunate didn't get to see this in the theater (I was born a year later), but countless viewings on video, cable, television, laserdisc, and now DVD has made this my second favorite film of all time. What's rather ironic, is that Steven Spielberg consider this film his "nightmare" not because it scares him, but because it was a nightmare to make. With "Bruce" (the mechanical shark) keep breaking down, Spielberg went over budget and schedule to complete this film. He might call it a nightmare, I call it a blessing in disguise. Because of not showing the beast until over a hour into the film, it's a Hitchock element that even Alfred himself would be proud of. And the characters, the timid and aquaphobic Amity police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider). The scary, experienced, and strong-headed fishman Quint (Robert Shaw). The excited, knowledgeable, and brave marine biologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss). The community concerned as well as economic minded town mayor, Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton). And also the loving, worried, and tender wife and mother, Ellen Brody (Lorraine Gary).
The story is very complex, from a problem that Mayor Vaughn will continue to ignore, until it swims right up and bites him in the.... well, you know. The police cheif from New York City, who moves to a more quiet and relaxed community, only to find that he has more problems in Aminity than he does in the big city, not to mention being afraid of the water, and living on a island. When it's only a island when you're on the water. The scruffy fisherman that is the town terror, who torments everyone from a child playing the clarinet to the entire town in a meeting. Plus not to mention the gigantic 25 foot and 3 ton great white beast that snacks on anything that swims. Because of this movie, it has influenced me a lot in life. First, it has open my mind with movies, not to make exciting movies, but also excellent movies. Second, it has helped me gather research on Steven Speilberg, which I find this to be his best film, above E.T. and RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (although those films are also classics!) Third, to confront my fears, I am like Chief Brody and am terrified of the water, and seeing that bloody shark doesn't help me. But by watching this film, it encourages to stand up against my fears and face them. And finally, it is just as exciting to watch the first time just as much as it is to watch it the one millionth time. This is the movie that introduced the world to Steven Speilberg, not E.T., not SCHINDLER'S LIST, and not JURASSIC PARK, it was JAWS. Because of JAWS, the entire planet has seen this director evolve from doing films that are from the imagination of a child to doing serious films with important meaning. Countless people label this film the first "summer blockbuster" I label it the classic films for the new generation. From STAR WARS to PERFECT STORM, JAWS was the first film to have big special effects, big budget, exciting action scenes, and a excellent story. This film will forever be a timeless classic. ***** (one of the best movies of all time!)