{"product_id":"9781839023637-jaws","title":"Jaws","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA study of Steven Spielberg's \u003ci\u003eJaws\u003c\/i\u003e (1975) in the BFI Film Classics series, publishing to tie in with the film's 50th anniversary.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis study of \u003ci\u003eJaws \u003c\/i\u003e(1975) examines how Steven Spielberg’s breakout film not only redefined the thriller but also pioneered the summer blockbuster, cementing his reputation as a master filmmaker. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAgainst the odds of a catastrophic location shoot, 27-year-old Spielberg delivered a film so effective that it became the highest-grossing movie of its time, transforming Hollywood’s approach to event cinema.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAdapted from Peter Benchley’s best-selling novel, and Steven Spielberg's second feature, \u003ci\u003eJaws \u003c\/i\u003ebecame a cultural phenomenon, its story of a great white shark terrorising a New England beach town striking a primal chord with audiences. Under extreme pressure on a catastrophic location shoot, Universal's 27 year-old prodigy crafted a thriller so effective that for some time \u003ci\u003eJaws \u003c\/i\u003ewas the highest-grossing film of all time. It was also instrumental in establishing the concepts of the event movie and the summer blockbuster.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eJaws\u003c\/i\u003e exerts an extraordinary power over audiences. Apparently simplistic and manipulative, it is a film that divided critics into two broad camps: those who dismissed it as infantile and sensational - and those who saw the shark as freighted with complex political and psychosexual meanings. Antonia Quirke, in an impressionistic response, argues that both interpretations obscure the film's success simply as a work of art. In \u003ci\u003eJaws, \u003c\/i\u003eSpielberg's ability to blend genres combined with his precocious technical skill to create a genuine masterpiece, which is underrated by many, including its director. Indeed, Quirke argues, it may be his finest work.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn her foreword to this new edition, Antonia Quirke looks back on \u003ci\u003eJaws\u003c\/i\u003e, its compelling power and its contemporary resonances fifty years after its release.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55279857959286,"sku":"9781839023637","price":12.06,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/orig_34585291.jpg?v=1750223288","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9781839023637-jaws","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}