‘Jaws’ was boffo box office—and bad news for cinema.

Weekly Standard ^ | June 21, 2010 | John Podhoretz

[C19fan]

The movie that changed Hollywood more than any other in its hundred-year history opened 35 years ago this week. Jaws was the second film made by a 28-year-old named Steven Spielberg. During the distended production period of his adaptation of Peter Benchley’s enormous bestseller about a shark attack on a beach resort, Spielberg had reason to fear he might never work again. The design team had built a mechanical shark that malfunctioned; costs ballooned; everything that could go wrong did go wrong.

[C19fan]

Jaws just accelerated what would of happened. With advances in home video technology and the explosion of satellite/cable TV Hollywood woud of been forced to produce a product that drew people to spend the money for the big screen experience.

[P.O.E.]

I’ve always claimed that Spielberg ruined movies. Now every movie has to be a roller-coaster ride. Unfortunately, when the ideas ran dry they’ve devolved into potty jokes, sadism, slut-ism, etc. Just like a junkie who needs to up the dose to feel the jolt.

[raybbr]

Yeah, now every movie, TV show, etc. has to have the "shaky camera" to keep your attention. I can't tell you how much I hate that.

Never saw the shaky camera when watching movies till the "no attention span" generation came around.

[FDNYRHEROES]

Hey Spielberg....”Smile, you S.O.B”...

[FDNYRHEROES]

Peter Benchley’s enormous bestseller about a shark attack on a beach resort,

We're gonna need a bigger beach resort...

[ken5050]

We were in Ft Lauderdale that weekend. We caught the 1PM show..only a few people in the theater..By the time we left, the lines were around trhe block.....what was even funnier was the next day..you could see pictures of all the Florida beaches..thousands on the sand..hardly anyone in the water..

[FDNYRHEROES]

Peter Benchley’s enormous bestseller about a shark attack on a beach resort,

Actually, we're gonna need a bigger bestseller about a shark attack on a beach resort...

[Mopp4]

Unfortunately, when the ideas ran dry they’ve devolved into potty jokes, sadism, slut-ism, etc

Amen....this new movie Grown Ups looks to be a perfect example of that. Plus look at all the remakes that completely SUCK along with the movies that are a complete overdose of special effects to where you can't even follow what's going on.
In my opinion the last real movie with great acting, an actual story line and no "amazing special effects" was THE STING.

[abb]

A thread that begs for your participation...

(Just kidding!!)

[P.O.E.]

About two months ago, I put a power strip on my TV/Cable/DVD etc. set up (as a cost saver). Since it takes about 3 minutes to warm up / reset, I find I turn it on very seldom - never seems worth the wait.

TV is like a little kid jumping up and down saying “Look at me! Look at me!”

[FDNYRHEROES]

In my opinion the last real movie with great acting, an actual story line and no "amazing special effects" was THE STING.

Paul Newman's character, the great Henry Gondoff, comes up with an unbeatable hand at poker out of thin air, and you claim there were "no amazing special effects"? Seriesly?

[stinkerpot65]

I disagree with the article. From 1965-1975, movies had become depressing, cynical left-wing propaganda like “Billy Jack” or “Three Day of the Condor”.

“Jaws” and “Star Wars” brought conservative values back to the movies.

[Mad Dawgg]

I saw a Doc on the making of Jaws the other night and several of the production crew Including Spielberg and some of the actors and couple of critics all said that if the Shark prop had worked as it was supposed to (actually that should be shark props there were many) the movie would have been a very good horror movie that made a nice profit.

BUT, because the shark didn't work right over half the scenes where they would have had this shark chewing on people and seeing them chomped to bits they had to instead use the camera and just reactions of the actors most of the time. They placed the camera with the lens right at water level were part would be underwater and they would show legs and arms moving and murkiness. With the awesome music and that effect it just kept you on the edge of your seat waiting for that damn shark! The movie was like riding a roller coaster in the dark. you knew some scary stuff was coming but you couldn't see it coming!

The start of the movie was supposed to have the shark shoot up out of the water and chomp Crissy and parts of her fall out of its mouth. But instead they used ropes tied to her under water with guys pulling her back and forth violently and then had her react.

That was one of the most chilling scenes in movie history for my money. Still gives me the willies when I watch it at home on my big screen with the sound cranked!

[Le Chien Rouge]

Everyone should stop looking at Hollywood for great movies.

There are TONS of Independent movies along with plenty of foreign movies that are FANTASTIC.

I got Netflix, and I find plenty of good flicks to watch.

[agere_contra]

Well said.

Oh man, ‘Zabriskie Point’.

[cydcharisse]

Agreed, Jaws just accelerated what would have happened.

[mewzilla]

Meanwhile....

Summer box office sees its worst Memorial Day weekend in 17 years

Note to Hollyweird: My offer to go through your slush piles is still open :)

[garyhope]

I thought that “Jaws” was one of Spielberg’s better movies. I’ve pretty much hated everything he’s done since.

As I’ve said before,...nothing is too corny for Americans and nothing is too pretentious for the French.

[oh8eleven]

That was one of the most chilling scenes in movie history for my money.
Jaws was so real - so scary, there are people who still haven't gone back in the water 35 years later.
And those who have think about Jaws every time they do.

[Dansong]

“shaky camera”

LOL, I can't stand it either; chop-chop editing born of the MTV age drives me nuts, too. I suppose fifty years from now they'll look back and see these as a tacky sign of our age...