BoatU.S. - January/February 2010

The eternal question remains unanswered:
Can Hollywood really make
a feature film that accurately
captures the boating lifestyle?

It’s worth asking, considering the millions of

dollars spent on today’s new releases and the vast array of special effects at directors’ fingertips. Still, a rundown of hit movies that have anything to do with boating, sailing or fishing is rather small when you eliminate the

obvious fantasy flicks such as “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Waterworld” or the James Bond high-speed chase scenes. One assessment of what boaters think are the best boating movies to date will come from an online survey currently posted at BoatUS.com. Click on the home page box and take the survey. The results will be reported in the next issue. For now, we’ve selected some of the modern classics that top our own special categories (not currently recognized by the Academy Awards). You’ve got all winter to watch them — take a break from your boat repair projects for now and fire up the DVD player.

Most Thrilling Charter Fishing Trip...
Jaws

(1975) Directed by Steven Spielberg; Stars Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider

“This was no boating accident!” proclaims Richard Dreyfuss. Over three decades later, “Jaws” still sets the standard for a downright frightening thrill ride of a movie. Who can hear the theme song and not get the slight-est shiver at the back of the neck?

I’ve probably seen the whole movie, or parts of it, a dozen times over the years and still get sucked right in. It has aged well, likely due to the brilliance of Steven Spielberg who, as a brash young director, pulled out all the stops in finding ways to manipulate the most basic fears of the audience. Fear of the water, fear of the unknown and, of course, a fear of humongous sharks.

By today’s standards, the special effects are rudimentary compared to the computer graphics we see now, but in a way, it’s often what you don’t see that is the scariest. The director lulled us, shocked us and strung us along for full effect and it still works.

Even though “Jaws” spawned “Jaws II”, “Jaws the Revenge” and “Jaws III”, nothing beats the original. With so much attention on the state of today’s oceans, and sharks under increasing threat from man, the irrational fear the movie generated is the only unfortunate legacy of one of Hollywood’s greatest fish stories.