Friday, April 11, 2014

JAWS and Game of Thrones

Source: Wikimedia Commons

As I mentioned in my "E is for Edgartown" post, Stephen Spielberg's 1975 blockbuster JAWS was filmed on Martha's Vineyard, a fact that made the movie much more frightening to me when I first saw it. JAWS was re-released when I was about 12 years old, and it absolutely terrified me. I spent more time covering my eyes than I did actually watching the screen in the movie theater.

In the years since I've seen JAWS more times than I can count as I always stop on it when I'm flipping channels and see it on television. I love seeing the scenes of the Vineyard.

The fishing shack owned by Robert Shaw's character Quint was located in one of the my favorite places on the island, the fishing village of Menemsha.



I've always loved the long shot of Menemsha as the Orca heads out to sea to do battle with the shark.

A few years ago before visiting the island I read about a rash of shark sightings in the area. I can't deny I immediately thought of JAWS. I was happy to stay on the beach instead of going in the water.




Since today is Friday, it's time to Celebrate the Small Things with Vikki at Scribblings of an Aspiring Author. If you'd like to join in on the hop, visit Vikki's site here.

This week I'm celebrating the return of my favorite show Game of Thrones. I love this show so much even the opening theme makes me excited. :D



I can't wait for Season 4 to unfold.

Happy Friday and weekend, all!




My A-Z of Martha's Vineyard theme is inspired by my book, The Ghosts of Aquinnah, which is set on the island. Click here for all the info on the book.

42 comments:

  1. JAWS is scary enough - I can't even imagine knowing the place where it was filmed. Eek!

    Oh, and I always stop on the movie, too, if I'm flipping through the channels…even though I have it on DVD. Can't help it. :)

    Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption
    Minion, Capt. Alex's Ninja Minion Army
    The 2014 Blogging from A-Z Challenge

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  2. So many of the buildings were real? Almost makes it eerie.

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  3. Jaws scarred me for life. BUT I wouldn't mind strolling through the quaint town. :)

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  4. Anyone who has watched JAWS will always remember it. I thought of it immediately this week when the World Junior Surfing Championship in Ecuador was suspended for the day after the appearance of a shark. My grandson is in the GB Surfing Team.

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  5. I covered my eyes through most of Jaws too! I still have a hard time watching it now...I'm surprised there's any people left in
    Game of Thrones...just kidding...

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  6. We were lucky enough to visit the island when the two car ferry was still running- we all got such a kick out of being one it, as if we were visiting the set of the movie.

    And yes- GoT rocks my world! Squee!

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  7. @Madeline, it's funny how that movie never gets old, even though the shark looks very silly now LOL.

    @Alex, yeah, I think all of them were.

    @LG, you would love strolling through it, I have no doubt.

    @Bob, oh gosh, how scary!

    @Cathy, I think seeing Jaws as a kid put me off gory movies for the rest of my life. I was so freaking scared LOL.

    @Bev, I'm squeeing with you! :)

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  8. Jaws is one I've never seen the whole thing of. It's a little too scary and gruesome for me. And I've also never seen Game of Thrones, though I'm pretty sure I'd like it. Even with all the "not seeing" I still enjoyed your post! lol! :)

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  9. It's many years since I watched 'Jaws', and now I have the best reason to watch it again.
    I'll have to watch out for 'Game of Thrones' when it comes to the UK, unless we have the wrong provider.

    Did you ever believe that the Challenge could turn into a Groundhog Day? We're both losing the will to live!

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  10. Jaws!! I have 4 older brothers, so you can imagine how this movie series was received and heralded. I had no idea where it was filmed, but that's awesome!

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  11. I didn't realize Jaws was filmed in a real place! It was scary enough seeing it as an adult. I can't imagine being 12 and watching it - I might have stayed out of the ocean for life.

    GoT...I have to wait probably another year before season 4 is sold on DVD. Waaah!

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  12. I have a healthy shark phobia. I have a few stories or two:)

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  13. That was a scary movie. I remember the shark warnings that would come on every now and then when I went swimming off the Jersey shore years ago. Everyone hurried out of the water. Lots of excitement!

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  14. @Ava, thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it! :D

    @Fanny, LOL, I hope we both make it through. :D

    @Crystal, oh yeah, they must have loved it.

    @River, yeah, I laugh about it now but I was genuinely terrified when I saw it.

    @Jennifer, I do think it's a healthy phobia to have.

    @Inger, oh, I think I remember reading that the novel was based on an incident in New Jersey years and years ago. How scary!

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  15. Yes Game of Thrones! Yes, yes, yes! Game of Thrones! :D...oh and I've never watched Jaws...never thought I could "handle" it lol I guess now is a good time eh?

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  16. @SK, yay for GoT! And honestly Jaws probably wouldn't even seem scary now, the mechanical shark is cheesy looking by today's standards LOL.

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  17. Oh I was scared and still won't go in the ocean unless they tell me it is aok and there is a reef-natural barrier. I recall being here and seeing this port and they show Jaws all the time-at least back when I was there(1995)

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  18. Jaws certainly leaves a lasting impression!

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  19. That's so neat about Jaws. And yay for Game of Thrones! The premiere was awesome. Have a wonderful weekend. :)

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  20. Every time someone mentions Jaws, I hear the sound track and get chills. Great tense movie.

    I'm watching Game of Thrones on Netflix and after the first few episodes, am beginning to like it.

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  21. @Birgit, oh geez, that's kind of strange that they show Jaws so often there!

    @Sherry, no doubt.

    @Christine, I totally loved the premiere. :)

    @Lee, I thought GoT just got better and better as it went along. And yeah, I don't know if Jaws would have been nearly as scary without that soundtrack!

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  22. Could not get into the game of thrones, but Jaws, wow, what a movie! And to see the place it was made, what fun, but I would not go in the water!

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  23. I saw the movie in 3D when I was young. I have totally blanked it out. I couldn't tell you a single thing that happened in that movie. Other than a huge shark and people screaming and bleeding - and that's not even from my memory.

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  24. I was 17 when I first saw Jaws, so luckily I was old enough to not be scarred for life. I love that Game of Thrones is back, too :)

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  25. Jaws was scary. I was so scared to watch it as a kid. I have seen an episode of Game of Thrones on YouTube.

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  26. @Yolanda, definitely not LOL.

    @Nana, back when I was a kid I wished I could have blacked it out.

    @Sara, yay for another GoT fan. :)

    @Rachna, it really is one of the scariest ever I think.

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  27. Hi, Julie,

    Jaws scared all of us at the time! LOL. Now I kind of laugh because the shark looks so fake... But the tension is always there.

    FANTASTIC opening scene. I can see why you're so happy.

    I'd like to someday read these books. I understand there is SOOO MUCH going on that it gets confusing, so I'll need a clear head.

    Have a great weekend... SPRING IS FINALLY HERE! Sunny and almost 60 today in Chicago!

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  28. The opening to Game of Thrones is so artistic and captures the sense of the books. Excellent.

    I will never forget Jaws. Ever.

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  29. Wow, I had no idea Jaws was filmed there. Universal studios had a Jaws demo that was pretty scary back then...as was the movie!! A true classic today.
    Shells–Tales–Sails

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  30. Lol, I "watched" Jaws with my eyes covered, too! Menemsha is one of my favorite places, too. I hope that's the topic for M day!!!

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  31. I love Game of Thrones, I'm so glad it's back!
    I don't blame you for being extra scared of Jaws, I think I would be too!

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  32. Knowing JAWS was filmed on Martha's Vineyard, I would never had been able to dip a toe in the water there. lol

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  33. Except for Yolanda, I'm the only weirdo who squees for Jaws and not GoT. I loved all the characters, brilliantly played by Dreyfuss, Scheider and Shaw. What a movie!!!!!

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  34. @Michael, LOL, yeah, honestly the shark is comical now. Thanks, I hope you have a great weekend too and enjoy the weather!

    @Susan, doesn't it? I just love it so much.

    @Sharon, I think I remember reading about that demo. I'm sure it would have scared me to death LOL.

    @Liz, Menemsha is definitely one of my fave places!

    @Laura, yay for GoT! :)

    @Chrys, it's hard LOL.

    @Lexa, I totally agree, in addition to being so scary it's just such a good movie with great acting.

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  35. My sister made me visit the JAWS exhibit in Orlando, since I made her see the Terminator show at Universal Studios. She still remembers the movie fondly. It scared her, too. We vacationed in Florida often, where sharks do show up on occasion.

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  36. I've avoided watching JAWS. One of my friends said that she wanted to be a marine biologist when she was younger (like age 7) and her dad told her, no, you don't. After she insisted that yes, she did, he sat her down for a viewing of JAWS. Now she's terrified of all encounters with water. She even hates the shower.

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  37. Hi Julie,

    I never knew that was the location for Jaws. I might not go for a swim there, then :)

    We get Game of Thrones in Britain. In fact, there was an episode on a couple of hours ago.

    A great show to balance out the fact y'all sent us Duck Dynasty :)

    Enjoy your weekend, Julie.

    Gary

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  38. Did you see the video of the cat singing the Game of Thrones theme? :P It was cracking me up at work yesterday, so much so that I actually had tears streaming from my eyes. It's ridiculously silly, but still made me laugh until my face hurt. :P

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  39. Jaws also scared the daylights out of me! It is exciting that the movie was filmed in one of your favorite summer destinations, though it would've frightened me even more! Game of Thrones was off to a great start on Sunday. Peter Dinklage is my favorite, and they better keep him out of harms way!

    Julie

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  40. @DG, I think I saw part of that exhibit when they did some kind of traveling thing. The mechanical shark looked so funny.

    @Lori, oh no, your poor friend. I'm glad I never thought about the shower with it LOL.

    @Gary, LOL, how long are you going to hold Duck Dynasty against us? :D

    @Trisha, no but now I have to look it up immediately LOL.

    @Julie, I thought it was a great start too! I love Tyrion too but Jon Snow is the one I insist be kept out of harm's way LOL.

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  41. Hurrah to fave shows returning!

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