I'm guessing most of those who "hated" it...

Rating: 9/10 (8 November 2005)

...only saw it as a rental. One critic even pointed out that this is a movie that needs to be seen in a theater. WELL, DUH!!! I saw it during it's first theatrical release, and to see this as a DVD or VHS rental is a waste of time. The only way to enjoy it the first time is in a room full of other virgin viewers while seeing it on the big screen. The initial view of the shark (along with the "head" shot preceding it-you know the one I'm talking about) got such an incredible reaction from the theater...people literally screamed and laughed from the release of pent-up adrenaline following those scenes. You can't possibly re-create the feeling, even on a 60" HDTV. Spielberg tapped a vein when he picked his villain---we're not talking some imaginary fiend like Godzilla or King Kong. Viewers in '75 could relate here because these things did (and do) exist. A thriller works better when one can put themselves in the place of the lead actors.