Finally Watching Jaws at 50: A Fresh Perspective on a Cinematic Classic

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As a movie enthusiast who’s spent the past decade diving deep into the world of film criticism, it’s been an incredible journey. However, despite my best efforts, I can’t claim to have seen every single movie out there. In fact, even with my profession, there are timeless masterpieces like Steven Spielberg’s groundbreaking Jaws, that somehow slipped through the cracks for me, due to various reasons, and remain unseen. I can’t wait to finally experience this cinematic classic!

Despite being 50 years old and myself almost reaching that age, I had never encountered “Jaws” before. With the Fourth of July weekend here and the golden anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s famous film, it felt appropriate to rectify this cinematic gap. So, I activated my Peacock subscription and finally watched “Jaws”, and truthfully, I’m grateful for the delay.

I Never Watched Jaws Because I Felt Like I Already Had

It’s quite possible that one reason I didn’t watch Jaws as a child was because, despite not being labeled as such at all times, Jaws is essentially a horror movie. The enormous shark in it plays a role similar to Jason from the Friday the 13th films, creating fear and terror. To be honest, I haven’t watched many of those movies either since they don’t really appeal to me.

As I got older, one reason I never felt inclined to watch Jaws was because it seemed familiar, as if I had already experienced it. Given how deeply ingrained this film is in popular culture, even those who haven’t watched it might be able to recount the main plot points and even quote some iconic lines from Jaws.

Last week, if the film Jaws had arisen in our discussion, I would’ve confidently feigned experience and undoubtedly managed to dupe anyone into thinking I was familiar with it. However, since watching it myself, I’ve come to understand that a substantial part of the movie was already etched in my memory.

Jaws Plays Out (Almost) Exactly As I Thought

Before settling in to watch Jaws, I scribbled down a summary of the plot based on what I thought would happen, and also created an overview of the main events with the details I assumed were involved, organized chronologically. For the most part, my predictions turned out to be accurate.

As a movie buff, the one detail I was left wondering about was the location of the shark cage scene within the storyline. I thought it might have occurred earlier in the movie instead of being part of the climax, but aside from that, I managed to place every other scene correctly in sequence. What’s the prize for this film-savvy sleuth?

Initially, I had such a strong feeling of familiarity with the plot that I questioned whether I might have watched Jaws previously and merely forgotten about it. Yet, there were distinct parts of the movie that made me certain I hadn’t seen it before – the minor character interactions, like when Roy Scheider’s character and his son are dining together. These less-frequently replayed scenes solidified for me that this was indeed a new film experience.

Given the significance some people attribute to spoilers when watching movies, you might have expected that I didn’t truly enjoy my first viewing of “Jaws“. If I had known every plot twist beforehand, how could the experience have been enjoyable? However, knowing all the key events actually made the viewing experience more intriguing because it prompted me to approach “Jaws” in a completely different manner.

Because I Knew The Story, I Focused On Other Things

As a film enthusiast, I must admit that the claim “Steven Spielberg is an exceptional director” isn’t exactly groundbreaking. However, witnessing the mastery in ‘Jaws’, I experienced a realization of this truth that was previously elusive to me. Although I haven’t had the pleasure of watching every film he’s directed, I have seen the majority. It’s clear that Spielberg is an extraordinary director, but it wasn’t until I watched ‘Jaws’ that I truly understood the depth of his talent.

40 years ago, I might have been more captivated by the plot of Jaws, but this time around, my engagement was less due to knowing the outcome at each point. Instead, I found myself focusing on the cinematography and how the story was presented through editing. While I knew what would transpire, I was intrigued by the unique way it was depicted for the audience.

Typically, when a film’s editing stands out during my initial viewing, it usually means there’s an issue that’s taking away from the story’s impact. I prefer to be drawn into a narrative like everyone else, and while I might notice minor filmmaking aspects on first watch, they’re often more subconscious.

In this instance, I found it evident why “Jaws” won the Oscar for Film Editing – an award that truly fits its merit. The editing methodically constructs a palpable tension around a rarely-seen killer shark, thereby maximizing its impact. Additionally, John Williams’ score, beyond the iconic “Jaws” theme, was captivating to listen to.

Jaws Has Reinforced My View On Spoilers

I found myself thoroughly captivated by the tale of “Jaws“. Despite being familiar with the narrative and having watched numerous scenes throughout nearly 50 years, there were still many fresh aspects for me. Some lesser-known sequences turned out to be my favorite parts of the movie, and they seamlessly combined to create a captivating story that lives up to its esteemed reputation.

At my work, it’s quite common for me to be familiar with movies ahead of time. I seldom step into a big-screen hit without having some clue about its plot twists. However, even though I knew almost everything that was going to unfold in Jaws, it didn’t diminish the pleasure I derived from watching it.

Unpredictability in a movie keeps things exciting, and a dash of the unexpected never hurts. Sometimes, you might already know the plot twists, but if the filmmakers have executed their work skillfully, it won’t diminish your enjoyment. It’s not just about the events themselves, but how they are presented that truly matters. And even after half a century, the quality of Jaws remains impressive.

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2025-07-04 16:10