1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- Schindler's List

#894- Schindler's List (1993)
Starring: Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes
Directed by: Steven Spielberg


Plot Summary: In 1939, the Germans move all Polish Jews into the Krakow Ghetto as World War II begins. A member of the Nazi Party, businessman Oskar Schindler arrives in the city and through bribes is able to acquire a factory to produce enamelware. Schindler seeks the aid of Itzhak Stern to help run his business, while also maintaining a friendly relationship with the Nazis. In an effort to be more cost effective, Schindler hires Jewish workers, with Stern securing as many workers as possible to ensure they aren't sent to the concentration camps to be killed. When a new concentration camp is built, Second Lieutenant Amon Goeth orders the Ghetto to be liquidated, with Schindler seeing many Jewish people hunted down and killed. Affected by the extermination in the Ghetto, Schindler moves his focus from making money to saving lives, while also keeping his friendship with Goeth at a distance. After being charged with a huge bribe from Goeth, Schindler and Stern create a list of people to be transferred to Brinnlitz, thus saving them from being shipped to Auschwitz.


It kind of sucks to end the year on such a sorrowful note, but there had to be a time when I approached Schindler's List and I thought now would be as good a time as any to cover it. This movie was a serious game changer for Steven Spielberg, covering the tragedy of the Holocaust and Oskar Schindler's attempts to save the lives of Polish-Jewish refugees. I saw this film last year when I was in film class, as a project to rank Spielberg's best pictures and it found its way near the very top of the list. However, I will blatantly acknowledge it's not a film I would go out of my way to watch over and over again. That's not saying it's bad, don't get me wrong. The problem is in the film's content, which can range from visually stunning to completely disturbing. Still, it can't be denied that Schindler's List is a masterpiece of filmmaking and will go down as one of the greatest movies in Spielberg's legendary career.

Liam Neeson stars in the iconic role of Oskar Schindler. At the time of production, Neeson was cast because he wasn't the star he was today. When actors like Kevin Costner and Mel Gibson auditioned for the role, Spielberg chose Neeson so audiences wouldn't be distracted by the star power of an A-list actor. Nowadays, he's known for Taken and stuff like that, but this was his big breakout role. Schindler doesn't exactly start out as the hero we're expecting. He's cocky and flashy and flaunts his wealth and status around. It's only through the events of the Holocaust that he is actually driven to do something meaningful to rescue the Jews. As you see him transition, you really grasp onto him and find him likable. You see his generosity prosper and a good person is developed. One of the film's biggest highlights is near the end where Oskar completely breaks down in awe of what he has accomplished and still believes that he hasn't done enough. It's moments like that that really prove Schindler's worth as the film's hero. Even more fascinating is how he's able to do all these things while being so close to the Nazis, making him look like a mastermind and the Nazis look like complete schmucks.

Schindler does a lot of the outside work though. The real MVP of the Holocaust in this film should be Itzhak Stern, played by Ben Kingsley. Stern assists Schindler on all his decisions during this time and is even thrown into a lot of the peril of the Holocaust. He's a pair of eyes within the concentration camps, and you can see the personal hell he is undergoing, and you can only imagine how many actually suffered during this time. Kingsley does a good job at playing Stern as both meek and stubborn when he needs to be. We mostly see him meek during the Holocaust, but he holds his own very well alongside Schindler, and even gets mouthy and sarcastic. As the film progresses, you can definitely see and partnership and friendship develop between the two and it's very rewarding to see since both have undergone the same tragic events, just from different points of view. In the end, Itzhak Stern should receive as much credit as Schindler for actually undergoing personal sacrifice for the safety of his people.

If you thought Ralph Fiennes was a crazy and psychotic villain as Lord Voldemort, you ain't seen nothing yet. As Second Lieutenant Amon Goeth, Fiennes plays an absolutely fascinating character. Goeth is so charismatic, yet so diabolical in his actions. There are so many times where you cannot hold the man to his word because he will say one thing to the Jews and do another. There's an actual scene (the "I pardon you," scene) where Goeth is told by a young boy (looks to be teenage) that he failed to do a task, he pardons the boy, sends him on his way, and then shoots him anyways. WHAT THE HECK?!!?!? But the worst is when he has a fixation towards a Jewish woman Helen Hirsch, played by Embeth Davidtz. He treats this woman like garbage, objectifies her, and is constantly battling his feelings for her. Can you say HYPOCRITE!?!?! There's no method to his madness, and the worst part of it all....is that there is STILL something engaging about his character. Whether you love to hate him, or just straight up hate him, Amon Goeth is definitely a character that you will leave this film remembering.

If you've seen Schindler's List before, or are watching it as you read this review, you're probably feeling REALLY uncomfortable about what you're seeing right? That's because Spielberg does such an amazing job of creating an atmosphere that sticks the audience right in the middle of the Holocaust. The events that play out for the next 3 hours are absolutely gruesome and really opened a lot of eyes to the horrors of the Holocaust. I'd rather not go into detail for two reasons: the first being I try my best to avoid spoilers unless absolutely necessary (and it isn't here), and the second being that there are too many shocking scenes to choose from that I wouldn't know where to start. I will take the time to point out one little factor that helped create atmosphere: color. As you can see, the film is primarily in black and white. Yet here, we see a little girl in a red coat. That's there for a reason. Without giving too much away, Schindler sees this girl early on in the film, and sees the coat again later (make of that what you will). From there, it's really the turning point for Schindler as a character. It motivates and kicks him into a higher gear to save as many Jewish people as he can. It's through the color of this coat that the events finally begin to feel real to him. The coat is also the subject of many discussions over its true symbolism, ranging from innocence, to the blood spilled during the Holocaust, to Spielberg's social commentary of how the United States knew about the Holocaust and did nothing to stop it. Whatever the reason, the use of color is definitely one of the film's most iconic qualities for setting the proper tone.

Schindler's List really elevated Spielberg's game to being a more serious director than previously credited for. At this time, we knew him mainly for his sci-fi and fantasy films. So along comes such a gritty and enticing depiction of one of the darkest periods in history, that it stuns audiences and critics. The film was considered a cinematic accomplishment that won Spielberg his first Academy Award for Best Director, as well as winning Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Score. Needless to say, the film was considered a huge success. It is from this point onward that Spielberg was able to make both his whimsical family films, as well as compelling historical dramas. Without Schindler's List, we would never have War Horse, or Saving Private Ryan, or Lincoln (we'll get to those two next month). You can only imagine at the time how surreal it must have been for audiences to witness the man who made E.T. releasing an epic Holocaust drama. I hope no parents saw his name attached and thought it was a family picture.


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

There aren't many films like this that can generate so many responses from me as a viewer. It's beautiful and disturbing, tragic and epic, inspiring and deflating all at once. With over 3 hours in length, Schindler's List isn't the kind of film I would imagine general moviegoers watching over and over again, but it is definitely worth watching at least once by everyone who considers themselves a movie buff. Bonus points if you make out during it and don't feel bad about yourself (and if you don't get that Seinfeld reference...I pardon you).

Schindler's List and movie images are copyrighted by Universal Pictures

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- War Horse

#1145- War Horse (2011)
Starring: Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, Peter Mullan
Directed by: Steven Spielberg


Plot Summary: A young colt is bought at an auction by Ted Narracott for 30 guineas. Spending more money than he had trying to outbid his landlord Mr. Lyons, Ted and his family must now come up with enough money to pay the rent on their farm. Ted promises Lyons that he will meet the deadline and plans to use the horse to plow his entire turnip field by autumn. The horse is too young and energetic to train, so Ted leaves the horse in the care of his son Albert. Albert forms a deep connection with the horse and names it Joey. They are able to plow the field by the deadline, but a treacherous rain storm leaves their crops ruined. With the start of World War I, Ted has no choice but to sell Joey to the war effort. Since Albert is too young to enlist in the war, he cannot accompany his pet into battle, but Captain James Nicholls, the officer Joey is sold to, promises Albert that Joey will be taken care of and hopefully returned to his owner when the war ends.


When I was getting ready to watch War Horse, I had the WRONG perception of the film. I kept saying, "My Christmas review is going to be on a film about a boy and the bond he has with his horse." Needless to say, that was a very close minded view on a much deeper concept. True, there is an established relationship between a young man and his horse, but it doesn't end there. They're actually split up by the events of World War I and the audience spends more time following the horse on his journey during all these little adventures. Since the film plays out like an anthology of events in the life of the horse named Joey, I'm going to focus on the events of those stories and the characters in those stories, making this review a little more unique than my usual format of "main character this, supporting character that, music this, settings that, legacy this..etc." While a little long in time, it seems to fly by with all these stories and I'm sure most of you will find some of the subplots in War Horse more compelling than the others. I know I did.

During the early point in Joey's life, we not only see his developing relationship with his owner and trainer Albert Narracott, played by Jeremy Irvine, but we also see Albert's relationship to his family. The bond between Albert and Joey is obvious and what the audience would come to the movie to see, but what really had me compelled in the first act of the film was the strained relationship Albert has with his father Ted, played by Peter Mullan. What keeps the son estranged from his father is his father's drinking habits. His mother Rose, played by Emily Watson, whom he does have a strong relationship with sheds light on WHY the father drinks heavily. She reveals to Albert his father's past in the Army, including showing him his father's regimental pennant (a symbol that travels with Joey throughout the film). This opening act is full of classic Spielberg whimsy, including the developing relationships and a conflict that would need to be solved by means of a miracle (in this case, Albert properly training Joey to plow an entire field by a certain deadline).

With the start of World War I, Joey is sold to a British Army Captain named James Nicholls, played by Tom Hiddleston. From there, Joey is taken to the warfront alongside Nicholls and is partnered with a black horse named Topthorn. Topthorn is commanded by Major Jamie Stewart, played by Benedict Cumberbatch. It's Hiddleston and Cumberbatch that drive this part of the film. They are both really good at playing roles very different from what the nerd culture is used to seeing them as. It's here that Hiddleston plays a man of honor and dignity and Cumberbatch plays a cocky and proud braggart. It's strange since we know Hiddleston as Loki (Asgardian God of Mischief), and even when Cumberbatch plays the villain he makes sure to give them a sense of class and charm. Here, they're nearly opposites from who they usually play and it's refreshing.

There are three stories that follow that serve as a good middle portion for moving Joey and Topthorn around Europe during the war. The first is a short but sweet story of two brothers in the German Army that use the horses to try and escape from the war. Next, is a story where the horses are found by a French farmer, played by Niels Arestrup, and his granddaughter Emilie, played by Céline Buckens. This one has a lot of heart, but it's primarily from Emilie and her grandfather than it is Joey, who is mostly just there as a window for the audience to see this relationship. Joey and Topthorn then find themselves back in the German Army pulling heavy artillery and in the care of Private Friedrich Henglemann, played by Nicolas Bro. His compassion for the two horses is actually pretty captivating since he seems to be the only one in the Army to empathize with the animals. This one is also kept pretty brief but it is definitely memorable since it paints at least one (three if you count the two brothers in the earlier story and four if you count one that I will talk about in the next story) of the German soldiers in a sympathetic light that we aren't used to seeing in the movies.

My personal favorite side story is the scene where Joey is caught in barbed wire and a British soldier Colin, played by Toby Kebbell, and a German soldier Peter, played by Hinnerk Schönemann agree to a truce while they help free the horse. Both men are entranced by the horse, and it is through saving him that they have a bond, even though they are on opposing sides of war. It is in this scene, and indirectly thanks to Joey, where we get a taste of the British and German armies realizing they aren't too different from one another. A very powerful scene in an already powerful movie.

We see Albert's development scattered throughout the film, eventually enlisting with the British Army. Once Joey makes his way over to the British side once again, it's only a matter of time before these two are reunited. It's the culmination of their reunion that perfectly embodies Spielberg's utilization of war drama and vintage whimsy. We have seen this friendship established and tested through the wartime, and we all know how the movie is going to end, yet there are tons of suspenseful scenes where their eventual reunion is in question. It's arguably one of the most obvious and telegraphed endings you could think of for a film, but of course, the audience is fully sucked in to all the drama of whether or not they will be reunited. It takes a real visionary like Spielberg to keep the audience anticipating a heavily telegraphed and obvious finale, yet here we are buying into it hook, line and sinker. Bravo Steven Spielberg. Bravo indeed.


Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

War Horse is a wonderful blend of Spielberg's historical and whimsical films. If you can make it through the 2 1/2 runtime, it's definitely worth the watch to witness a modern classic from one of the most iconic directors of our time. If you love Spielberg, war movies, or movies for the family, this is one worth owning in your collection.

War Horse and movie images are copyrighted by Touchstone Pictures

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

#704- E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Starring: Henry Thomas, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore
Directed by: Steven Spielberg


Plot Summary: When a group of aliens are collecting plant samples on Earth, government agents appear in an attempt to catch the extra-terrestrials. They depart and head back to their home planet, but leave one little alien stranded on Earth by mistake. The alien wanders to some homes in the California suburbs and encounters a 10-year-old boy named Elliott. Elliott hides the alien, whom he refers to as E.T., in his home and tries to keep his identity a secret. Along the way, Elliott shares the discovery of E.T. with his older brother Michael and his little sister Gertie. E.T. begins to learn a lot about Earth's customs, including the ability to speak English, and has also formed a telepathic connection with Elliott. On Halloween night, E.T. and Elliott head out to the woods to try and make a call to E.T.'s home planet. When E.T. goes missing the next day, Michael finds him close to death from an illness. To make matters worse, Elliott is also dying from the same disease, and government agents have invaded their home to quarantine Elliott and his new alien friend.


I'll never forget the first time I saw E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial: I didn't like it. Let me add some context by saying I didn't grow up with E.T. like most kids have since the '80s, so by the time I had finally seen it I didn't have that childhood nostalgia that most have with this film. With that being said, I recently re-watched it and I finally had a solid appreciation for what I was watching. Looking at what I've reviewed of his so far, I'm more partial to the magical side of Spielberg, as opposed to the historical Spielberg we're used to seeing in his modern projects. Magical Spielberg was able to captivate audiences by putting real-world people in out of this world experiences; whether that be a giant killer shark, a theme park full of vicious dinosaurs, or a young boy's encounter with an alien being far from home, Spielberg always had a vision that he would put on film and leaving audiences stunned in amazement, and that is definitely present in E.T., a film that was definitely responsible for making Spielberg a name in family entertainment.

The little alien himself is E.T. He is mainly voiced by Pat Welsh, but is mostly composed of various practical effects. E.T. is so beloved thanks to his innocence and his curiosity. Thank goodness for that too, because in terms of looks E.T. isn't exactly the cutest of alien designs. Regardless of that, E.T. is one of the most memorable aliens in film history, so much so that fans were outraged when Spielberg released a more up to date version of the film with CGI models of E.T. replacing the original in various scenes. Fans spoke for themselves, they did not want their classic character design tampered with, so both versions are out there to watch at the viewer's discretion (I'd personally recommend pursuing the original in all its glory...forget about the version that replaces the guns with walkie talkies).

E.T.'s little human buddy Elliott is played by Henry Thomas. One of the things that is found in a lot of Spielberg's earlier films is the use of child actors. Everyone knows that child actors make or break your film based on their acting ability. With a character like Elliott, it's even more crucial, since he is one half of the protagonist duo that he be a kid character we're invested in and can follow. Thankfully, Henry Thomas does a great job as Elliott. He's not only our gateway to E.T., but he's also E.T.'s gateway to knowing what our world and culture is like. You can definitely see the bond he has for E.T., since we don't see him have too many (if any) friends in the picture. My favorite bits between E.T. and Elliott involve their telepathic connection, meaning that whatever E.T. would see or feel, it would affect Elliott in return. The greatest bit involves E.T. drinking a beer while Elliott's at school and complete anarchy ensues for Elliott and his class. I'll just leave it at that...

Elliott's family also play a crucial role in the film's plot...at least, once they each discover the alien that is. Elliott's older brother Michael, played by Robert MacNaughton, is very sarcastic and has a group of friends that all bully and give Elliott a hard time. Their connection as brothers really comes into full effect once they share the secret of housing E.T., with Michael standing up for Elliott more and the two of them begin acting like a team. Elliott's little sister Gertie, played by a very young Drew Barrymore, is actually the one that teaches E.T. how to speak. She's also responsible for a handful of cutesy one-liners only a little girl could get away with. It's also just a lot of fun to see a young Drew Barrymore appear in one of the most well-known films in history. The only thing I never really liked was Elliott's mom, played by Dee Wallace, because of how inattentive she was about her kids keeping an ALIEN in the house. It's a freaking ALIEN. You have three kids, constantly doing weird stuff recently, and acting like they're hiding secrets and you don't investigate?!?!?! I get she's a single mom, and that part really does suck to see, but take an interest in your children's odd behavior for crying out loud. What if it had been drugs? Not an alien, but drugs? I'll just end it there before I go off on too much of a rant...

So now we come to the villains of the movie...the government. Led by an agent known as "Keys," (watch the film and I bet you'll figure out why) these agents do nothing but harass Elliott and his family in search of E.T. In fact, if you watch the beginning of the film, there is proof that the government are solely responsible for the entire film's conflict happening. Without them, E.T. would not have been stranded on earth, and granted wouldn't have a movie to begin with, but still those government agents are so irritating. They certainly know how to make an entrance...three times. We first see them in the dark of night searching for aliens, with the only light coming from their flashlights. Their silhouettes are as haunting to us as they are to E.T. Then, when they pop up later, it's through a few agents following Michael as he tries to find E.T. Watching these adults follow a kid on a bike while they're in a car is just plain unsettling. Finally, they invade Elliott's home in SPACESUITS! WHAT!?!??! But of course, by the end of the film, they are made to look like complete fools thanks to a few kids, some bikes, and one magical little alien.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial will forever leave a legacy on film thanks to the number of magical moments Spielberg created. For example, who doesn't know the shot of Elliott and E.T. flying across the moon on the bike? That symbol was so iconic, that it became the logo for Spielberg's production company Amblin Entertainment. Who doesn't know the film's iconic theme song courtesy of John Williams (who else could it possibly be?)? And who doesn't know the line "E.T. phone home?" This will forever be one of the films that is synonymous with Spielberg's career as a filmmaker, and I'm sure he doesn't mind that one bit. It's amazing to see how much magic Spielberg is able to create in his films, and we haven't even scratched the surface yet.


Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

It's films like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial that display why Spielberg is one of the greatest directors of all-time. It's a film full of fun and family friendly magic, while also having some elements of drama and suspense. It's really hard to find people who can't find something to enjoy with this one, so it's one I'll say everyone should own in their DVD collection.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and movie images are copyrighted by Universal Pictures

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- The Color Purple

#763- The Color Purple (1985)
Starring: Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey
Directed by: Steven Spielberg


Plot Summary: Celie Harris is a young woman who has already lived an abusive life at such a young age. After birthing children from her father and have them taken away, she is married off to an older man named Albert Johnson. A wealthy widower, Albert, whom Celie knows as "Mister," treats Celie like a slave and has his eyes set on Celie's sister Nettie. When Nettie refuses Albert, he banishes her from his house with her promising that "nothing but death can keep me from her." For decades Celie tolerates the abuse and continues to try and live her life day by day, but there are times where the abuse is too much for her. There are only three real things that Celie finds strength in, her stepson's wife Sofia, who continues to stand up for herself against abuse that comes her way, Albert's old flame Shug Avery, who takes a fascination to Celie, and of course Nettie, in hopes that she will fulfill her promise and returns.


I know what many of you thinking: "Steven Spielberg made this?!?!" I had the same thoughts when I discovered this, but yes...in 1985, Steven Spielberg made a film adaptation of Alice Walker's iconic novel about African American culture in the early 1900s, The Color Purple. At the time of this film's release, this was a HUGE detraction from the Spielberg audiences knew. The man had made Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and E.T. (we will get to those last two eventually) movies that were huge with both the critics and the box office, so in the annals of history we have here a Spielberg movie that flies under the radar a lot, but it really laid the groundwork for the Spielberg we know today: the one who nowadays captivates audiences with periodic pieces on an epic scale. So in terms of my viewing experience...what went wrong? I thought The Color Purple was fine, but it seemed to be lacking in what I was expecting from Spielberg.

Whoopi Goldberg stars in one of her first movie roles as Celie Harris Johnson. This was a rather shocking thing to see since I'm so used to Whoopi being a great comedian. There was a certain level of respect I had to give her for starting off her movie career with such a serious role. Celie's development comes through some of the biggest hardships a woman could go through at the time, and her neverending will is honorable. She adapts through the times and is able to find the thinnest shred of humanity that remains her hope for a happy ending (which I'll get to later).

Celie's husband Albert Johnson is played by Danny Glover. Again, this was kind of shocking to see because I generally enjoy Danny Glover in most of his movie roles. Albert is an absolutely detestable and abusive husband character for about 90% of the movie. While he has his moments from time to time where he displays a general care for Celie, he usually reverts. For the love of humanity, he has an OPEN declaration of feelings for an old flame that his wife is very well aware of and somewhat accepting of...how awful is that? All I could think of when I saw Danny Glover act this way was "Murtaugh NO!!! What would Riggs think?"...which of course, would open the door for infinite Mel Gibson jokes, but let's not go there.

One of the most fascinating characters in the film is Sofia, played by Oprah Winfrey in her film debut. Now, this was before her talk show ever premiered on TV, so who would imagine that Sofia from The Color Purple would go on to be one of the most iconic and influential women in all of media? Sofia is still a really great character to follow because she is so high strung and in her ways that her character growth is from her "remembering her place." She is quite the fighter, and like Celie, we really root for her...but maybe that's a bias factor since it's freaking Oprah.

The film's tone hits some of the most depressing notes that I've ever seen on film. Celie endures so much crap throughout the movie and you see her develop so much throughout the movie that you're hoping she gets some light at the end of the tunnel. The ending tries to give the audience that happy ending, but after 2 1/2 hours, the question that remains is whether it's too little too late. I've often heard people theorize that you can throw a lot of hardships and depressing moments in a story, as long as it has a happy ending. BULL. CRAP. By the time Celie got her happy ending, I had lost so much interest. If we were able to shave a half hour off the film, then I'd almost say it would've been more satisfying simply for the runtime, but this movie is LONG and drawn out so by the time the ending hits, I'm already so bored that I didn't really care how it ended, just that it did.

There's a big elephant in the room with the idea that this doesn't look like the kind of film Spielberg would direct. The obvious reason is for the subject matter and the focus on the African American community in the early 1900s, but the more I thought about it, the more I started to see why it shouldn't be a weird choice. The film is critically acclaimed (nominated for 11 Academy Awards, and walked away with nothing), it's a period piece (something Spielberg would be very well known for later in his career), and it's adapted from a groundbreaking novel. So, with all those in check, maybe The Color Purple does fit the conventions of Spielberg's movies. Although, as much respect as I have for Quincy Jones and his collaborations to music, John Williams was very much missed as the film's composer (he and Spielberg go together like Tim Burton and Danny Elfman).


Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Whether or not you enjoy The Color Purple depends on if you believe the ending is "worth it." If you're a fan of the book and can stomach the hardships, it might be worth a watch, but it wasn't really my flavor of film. It may take me another opportunity if I ever get a chance to read the book and re-watch the film, but right now I'd put it at a weekend rental at best.

The Color Purple and movie images are copyrighted by Warner Bros.

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- Jaws

#628- Jaws (1975)
Starring: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss
Directed by: Steven Spielberg


Plot Summary: When a young woman is attacked by a killer shark, panic begins to spread along Amity Island. Not wanting to interfere with the incoming tourist season, the mayor decides to not close the beach. When the shark returns and kills a young boy, Police Chief Martin Brody goes on a manhunt to kill the creature before it attacks the town again. In order to properly track the monstrous shark, Brody enlists the help of marine biologist Matt Hooper and shark hunter Quint. After they've been out on the water for a while, the shark reappears and it is there that Brody realizes they are going to need a bigger boat.


When you talk about greatest filmmakers, it's not too long before you find Steven Spielberg's name inching towards the top of the list. He's one of the most celebrated directors of all-time thanks to his imagination and dedication in bringing so many memorable visions to life. The man has brought us historical pieces, movies on aliens, giant dinosaurs, and so much more. Our topic of conversation today is a killer shark in the film that was Spielberg's first hit film and has been called one of the first summer blockbusters in history: Jaws. This film broke box office records (in fact, it was the highest grossing film at the time) and without it, Spielberg would never be the household name he is today.

The film may be titled after the shark, but it actually follows three humans who try to hunt the shark, including Police Chief Martin Brody, played by Roy Scheider. We get a very early impression of the kind of man Brody is thanks to some short interactions with his family and his dedication to his job. He may not be an expert on sharks like the other two protagonists, but his top concern is making sure the townsfolk are safe from the killer shark. Even when he is told that the beach won't be closed, he is held responsible (both by himself and some of the townsfolk) when the shark kills a kid. Then, when he imagines the danger his family could be in, he can't take it any longer. He's such a noble character and the audience is able to root for him since he's out there to do the right thing. And of course, he delivers two of the films greatest lines, the obvious being "you're gonna need a bigger boat," but my personal favorite being "smile, you son of a..."

In order to track the shark, Brody enlists the help of Quint, played by Robert Shaw. Quint has arguably one of the most memorable moments in the movie by giving a monologue about the shark's eyes, and he's just an enigma to see on film. From the way he dresses, to the way he talks, Quint is an aesthetically memorable shark hunter that goes along perfectly with the Jaws folklore. He also has the sharpest tongue of the three mains, always able to have some form of insult or criticism ready to go, which might surprise a lot but remember that he's an expert on hunting sharks so he believes he knows best.

Richard Dreyfuss plays oceanographer Matt Hooper, who originally thinks he knows better than Quint and makes him look like a hotshot. Thanks to a really well done scene where the swap stories about scars, there's a real sense of fellowship on display with these three characters that I really enjoy. Quint adds a lot of quirky humor to the discussion scenes with Brody and Quint. Of the three main characters, Quint is the least memorable but he offers a lot of fun character moments. He is also certainly the voice of reason in trying to inform Brody and the mayor the amount of danger the city will be in unless the shark is taken care of. He's almost like a spokesperson for the shark, heightening the danger that the shark brings with him.

The actual shark is a pretty dated special effect, but it's the thought that counts. The shark is introduced in one of the most iconic opening scenes in film history. Thanks to the camera shots that prove less is more in showing the shark, and a haunting theme by the great John Williams, the shark was able to make an immediate impact and scared audiences to the point where it was pretty understandable if they wanted to stay out of the water during the summer of '75.

Jaws really had a lasting impact on film and is a real game changer since it introduced Spielberg to the general public. Even if you've never seen the film, you know the basic premise of the killer shark that terrorizes the ocean for a small town. There are tons of memorable scenes and lines that moviegoers should be able to appreciate and discuss, and the only negative about the film was that it set the bar so high for Spielberg that it was difficult for him to top himself with every film. There are tons of films he has made though that are synonymous with his career that are featured on this list, and even a few underrated flicks on display, so let's continue the next two months by diving into one of the most important movie portfolios in history and celebrate the career of Steven Spielberg.


Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Don't be too critical of the dated shark effects, and Jaws should be pretty enjoyable to watch. The human characters are engaging enough, and there is a definite feeling of fear that audiences can latch onto since there is a chance it could happen in real life. If you love Spielberg, horror, or film in general, this is one worth checking out and owning in your DVD collection.

Jaws and movie images are copyrighted by Universal Pictures