jaws essay

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“Jaws”, is a 1970’s classic, directed by one of today’s most accomplished directors, Steven Spielberg. This legendary film is amongst the most enduring action suspense films of all time,

staring Roy Schneider as Chief Brody. The main protagonist struggles to undertake the task of ending the torment of a Great White Shark feeding on the locals. “Jaws” was filmed in 1975 on the coast of the very elegant Amity Island. Steven Spielberg set “Jaws” during the two or three advancing days prior to 4th July, America’s Independence Day as that is the time a location like Amity Island would be at its busiest, due to its strongest industry being tourism. This meant various families would be arriving down for a holiday in Amity as it is a beach resort with many recreational facilities. There is however a substantial problem, these innocent families have not got a clue that a vicious Great White Shark is in the ocean constantly waiting for its next defenceless victim to feast vigorously upon. During the forthcoming days, hundreds of innocent tourists will be visiting the beach, with a vast percentage of them intruding the shark’s current territory at some time or another.

Consequently, there is a sense of dramatic irony because the audience are aware that there is a menacing Great White Shark pursuing the seas and are conscious of the strengths the disastrous creature possesses. Unfortunately the hundreds of visitors attending the beach in the film are unaware that in the sea a mighty, corrupt and baneful shark is present.

        “Jaws” first hit the screens in 1975 and was an instant blockbuster, a phenomenon and today it is still among the highest grossing films in motion picture history, acclaimed by both audiences and critics alike.    

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When “Jaws” was realised the spectators may have been hugely intimidated by some of the eerie and frightening scenes. Several individuals may have even attained a phobia for swimming in the sea, since no shark film had ever been screened, which came to Jaws in terms of reality. Jaws may well have been awarded a higher age certificate in 1975, than what it is at present, as the encounters the victims in the film experienced in the company of the shark would have a repulsive spectacle for the viewers. The realistic encounters which Steven Spielberg exhibits in Jaws, would have ...

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