10 Best Jaws Moments
2. “Too many captains on this island.”
During a community meeting, Quint makes himself known. The sound of his nails scraping, high-pitched and sustained, cuts through the hubbub of people worried about livelihoods more than lives.
While he speaks with a working man’s brogue, he is wise and knowledgeable. He alludes to the power struggles amongst the town leaders and the trouble that will bring. This is a brilliant introduction to a thoroughly unlikable character the audience will grow to love.
1. “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.“
While chumming the water, Brody comes face to face with the shark. Finally.
The creature is enormous, with its mouth gaped open and prominent dead eyes (like a doll’s eyes). Any notion that the men know what they’re doing falls away as they realise exactly what they’re dealing with. Their ill-preparedness is shown by a flash of canvas sneakers as the infamous score builds.
And, of course, even with all the dramatic tension there is time for Quint and Hooper to continue squabbling over how long their nemesis is.
There’s also a subtle piece of foreshadowing as Quint lies to Elaine Brody on the land. He is not about to accept help, share progress or victory, he has a personal mission. His own ambition and drive now endanger the men as much as the shark does.
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Jaws has long been considered one of the most important films ever released, its debut birthing the trend of the blockbuster we now enjoy on a yearly basis. Through the techniques mastered by Steven Spielberg on this film, we got Jurassic Park and five decades of award-winning films beyond.
But what are your thoughts on Jaws? Which moments do you love the most? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to follow @thefilmagazine across social media – including on Facebook and X (Twitter) – for more insightful movie lists.
Great choices! To this day it’s a movie my dad and I can pretty much quote word for word to each other.