Reel Review Mom

Bigger boats are DEFINITELY a good thing….

Watching Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story left me floored by the sheer brainpower, ingenuity, and borderline stubborn determination that went into making Jaws back in 1975. The research. The innovation. The problem-solving. The “we’re doing this, even if it kills us” energy.

And honestly? Too many movies today just… don’t have that. Sure, there are exceptions, but Jaws was lightning in a bottle—one of those rare, era-defining masterpieces. The same can be said for Star Wars, Alien, Psycho, Titanic, and Jurassic Park. But more often than not, modern blockbusters feel like they’re piggybacking on the creativity of their genre’s pioneers.

I get it—you can’t always predict when you’re making a masterpiece. But you can tell when you’re phoning it in. As the saying goes: “You get out what you put in.” And lately, Hollywood feels like it’s in a sprint—maximizing profits with the biggest stars, the biggest budgets, and the fastest production timelines, without leaving room for originality or, dare I say, magnificence.

Thankfully, there’s always that one rebel—the director, producer, or writer who dares to step over the safety line, ruffle feathers, and try something truly new. That’s the spirit that made Jaws… well, Jaws.

So here’s my plea: to whoever’s brave enough to break the mold—kudos to you. I’m anxiously awaiting your next masterpiece. Just make sure it’s big enough to scare us out of the water all over again.