[ Opinion | Off the Cuff ]
Sam Quint and Robert Muldoon are iconic characters, representing similar “hunter” roles in their respective films, with past experiences that give them reason to loath the forces of nature that they eventually confront and lose to. Quint’s story is recounted by him in chilling detail to Hooper and Chief Brody, a great example of when “telling” can be more effective than “showing”. Muldoon’s setup takes the opposite approach, “showing” the audience the horrific incident that (likely) led him to despise Velociraptors.
Fight Round One: More Impactful Character
Both Quint (Jaws) and Robert Muldoon (Jurassic Park) are memorable characters in there respective movies, but I think that Quint played a more critical role in his film overall. If you take him out, there is no Orca (his boat) and no third act of Jaws.
If Muldoon was taken out of Jurassic Park, things would likely have played out differently, but it is at least possible that many of the main story beats could have played out without him. The poor InGen worker could have still perished without Muldoon shouting “shoot her!”, still acting as the inciting incident that brings the main characters to Isla Nublar. Dr. Sattler would have still likely gone to the Tyrannosaurus paddock, without a Muldoon, to search for survivors, finding Dr. Malcolm. It can be argued, however, that she would have likely becoming a raptor meal without Muldoon’s “clever girl” demise, which would have saved Tim from being electrocuted, but would have also meant that Jurassic Park would remain without power or phones.
Winner: Quint
Quint wins this round, being a more critical component to his movie’s story and plot progression.
Fight Round Two: More Memorable End
Both characters meet similarly grizzly ends by their respective nemesis’s, both forces of prehistoric nature. Though each demise is memorable in its own right, I personally think that Muldoon’s has the edge over Quint’s for a couple of reasons. First is the difference in setup. Before Quint slides into the “Jaws” of death, it is obvious that the heroes of the movie are in peril. Hooper is hiding somewhere underwater after the Great White destroys his “anti-shark” cage and the Orca (Quint’s boat) is beginning to sink, with Quint and Brody on it. The shark eventually tips the back of the boat, causing Quint to slide into biting distance.
The lead up to Muldoon’s death, on the other hand, is less of a progression to “hopelessness” and more of a tension-filled moment (Muldoon getting into position, slowly removing his hat, extending the shoulder stock of his gun, and taking aim at a raptor), each phase making it seem more probable that Muldoon will overcome the danger. Then, the tension is broken and hope instantaneously evaporates as another raptor appears to the side of Muldoon, just giving him enough time to utter the memorable phrase “clever girl” before he is dispatched.
It is theses famous last words that represent the second, less important, reason why I think that Muldoon’s death-by-raptor is a more iconic movie moment than Quint’s death-by-shark. Not only is it memeable, but it effectively associates the scene with a memorable line. A “clever girl” is all it takes to bring you back to that final moment.
Winner: Muldoon
Both characters meet their maker in memorable ways, but Muldoon slightly overtakes Quint for the win in this category both because of the buildup and line.
Conclusion: Battle Thesis, Winner Quint
Though each character won one round, assigning a heavier weight to the “More Impactful Character” category as well as giving the edge to Quint’s motivational setup (why he kills sharks) as a tie breaker, Sam Quint wins this matchup.
