JAWS: A parent's guide to shark thriller
Hello, Islanders,
PREFACE: Whenever Jeffrey Kramer meets a young fan, he asks them how old they were when they first saw JAWS. If it was at a really young age (ages 6-9) he usually jokes that he is going to report the parents to social services.
A question I’m often asked is “how old was your son when you first showed him JAWS?” The answer is 8. My two oldest grandchildren are 9 and 7. Both have seen the film multiple times. I remember posting this on Facebook about a year ago, “Grandkids are staying the night and we’re trying to decide what to watch. Hudson (age 6 at the time) said, “I think we can all agree on JAWS!” Both he and his older sister, Harper, were actually introduced to the film by their father at an early age. They are well aware of my love for the film, and I love the fact that the film is something we can enjoy together. My newest grandson, Hayes, just turned three-months old so it may be a little longer before he gets his first peek.
After much hand wringing, JAWS received a PG rating, meaning Parental Guidance is Suggested. This was back in the days before Gremlins and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom brought about the now familiar PG13 rating. Producer David Brown made it clear to the ratings board that “that is what sharks do.” To appease the ratings board, JAWS also carried the warning “May be too intense for younger children,” both on its print advertising and mass media. Today, in this age of mass social media, it may be hard to keep youngsters away from much. However, if you’re curious, here is my Parent’s Guide to watching JAWS, broken down in the Content Labels you see when you watch something on television (at least in the stares):
D – Sexual or suggestive dialogue – Really a not going on here in the film. Had they followed the plot of the novel more closely, including Matt Hoopers affair with Ellen Brody, it would definitely be a more adult-themed film.
L- Coarse or crude language – Again, not a lot here. You get the word “ass” a few times, and of course “son of a bitch” and a couple more sprinkled in. No “F” bombs of course, though now you can use that word twice in your film and receive a PG13 rating if it is not used in a sexual manner. So really nothing here a youngster probably hasn’t already heard at school.
S – Sexual situations – Really not a lot of sex going on in Amity.
V – Violence – From the opening scene and the attack on Chrissie Watkins to the blood-spitting demise of Quint, the film’s violence is both implied and actual. Depending on your views, you may want to keep the smaller ones eyes covered during certain scenes.
All in all, it’s up to the parent to make their own decision. They are welcome to come to my house and watch it!
Words by Michael A Smith. Michael is co-author of Jaws 2: The Making Of The Hollywood Sequel. You can order the book by contacting Michael at OsFanMike@aol.com.
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