Do. Do Do. SHARK!!!! During the summer months we hear of shark sightings, well-just about everywhere. "JAWS", the movie, seems to continue to haunt us even though it was released in1975. Peter Benchley's novel of the same name is the fictional account of survival when a massive Great White Shark terrorizes a beach community. If that doesn't start the goose-bumbs bumping, this shark cannot be destroyed. We are temporarily put at ease at the end of the movie as it seems the MEN, (no women heroins here) blow our aquatic beast into smithereens.
Steven Spielberg directed "JAWS" and most of the shark scenes were shot on the North Eastern Atlantic Coast. As all the 'real' sharks were busy maiming, mince-meating, mailing and munching, ol' Steve had a huge, fake Great White on hand. I was fortunate enough to have a friend, who had a friend, who was an "extra' in the movie. She was part of the hundreds, fleeing here there and everywhere as this shark did his shark-thing. She saw the huge fake shark and even met the actor Robert Shaw. When asked to describe her experience, she said, "Cool."
Marine Biologists tell us that sharks, as a whole, are relatively safe. Most of the shark species don't care for MacManwiches, and the littler ones just need a good bop on the nose if they get too near. Now truly, would you rather swim/frolic in the ocean or ride in a Fiat? Would you rather swim/frolic in the ocean or chew gum in downtown Singapore? As you can now see, shark attacks shouldn't be something we lose sleep over.
As I said, the monster didn't really die at the end. "Jaws" 2, 3 and 4 came along and we were again privileged to watch some maiming, mailing,...( you've got the picture.) Will there be a "Jaws 5" and will the larger-than-large Great White earn his due? And, will people continue to scan the water for dark fins that torpedo past? Do. Do Do.
