Jaws [1976]

On the DVD: For a Steven Spielberg movie and an all-time classic, this 25th Anniversary Edition release is impressive, but not all it could be. The anamorphically enhanced 2.35:1 ratio picture is superb, as is the re-mixed Dolby Digital 5.1 sound (the film was originally released in mono). It is a joy to see the film's picture and sound quality rescued from years of television and VHS screenings, offering a reminder of what all the fuss was about in the first place. The deleted scenes are quite interesting, offering more background on Brody, Hooper and Quint, including the latter's bizarre vocal duel with a boy playing the recorder! The four photo galleries are good, but some captions would have helped enormously. Disappointingly, there's no director's commentary, the best extra being a 50-minute documentary, "The Making of Jaws". This is excellent, and quite different from the BBC television production, "In the Teeth of Jaws". Even if you've seen that, there's much more to learn here. --Gary S. Dalkin

For me, this was the film that brought Spielberg to my attention. Incredibly taut direction, cinematography and editing means there's hardly a wasted shot in the film - every sequence adds to the story. In this sense, the only other film I rate as highly is Heat - and that doesn't have as good a story, or such great characters as this.

Watch it once and be scared out of your wits. Then watch it again. And again. Every time you watch it, you'll notice another fantastic shot that hadn't caught your eye previously. There are so many simple, but beautifully-framed shots that set the scene perfectly. And every time you watch, you'll marvel at how a 30-year-old film with a notoriously-unreliable and patently unconvincing mechanical shark can have such an effect on you.

The central characters are sheer genius. The cantankerous and worryingly self-confident captain (Robert Shaw's greatest performance, in my view - a brilliant caricature), the Chief who's scared of the sea at the best of times (Roy Scheider plays this very well - always just a LITTLE too nervous for comfort!) and the diminutive but well-informed scientist (Richard Dreyfus in another great role - a hugely underrated actor).

Put these characters in a Hitchcockian 'trapped in a wide-open space' situation with a terrifying adversary, add the superb direction, and you have one of the greatest films of all time.

If you'd never thought of this in 'cinema greats' terms before, buy it. And after a couple more viewings, you'll see what I mean.


Jaws   November 8, 2004
 0 out of 2 found this review helpful

Steven Spielberg's original Jaws is the best film I've ever seen. There may be some errors in the making of the shark Bruce and the film but whilst your having a enjoyable time watching Jaws, the error are invisible. I think Steven Spielberg made Jaws one of the best films by there being not so quick untill the death of the shark unlike the sequels which weren't directed by him. If Jaws 2,3 and 4 were directed by him, they would be as good as the original. Roy Scheider was a good actor to play Brody because his personality is nearly the same as Brody's. Richard Dreyfuss really looked like a true marine biogilist by the way he argued (playing Hooper) with Quint about the lenght of the shark. Who could have been a better Quint than Robert Shaw? Shaw is a good actor especially in Jaws and can act as Quint really well.
Errors are sooooo invisible and there's lots of good efects, the shark looks completely real from the snout of it's head to the tip of the tale and Steven Spielberg should win lots of awards. If I was Spielberg, I would be pleased with this terrarizing film of danger and trouble for it has become popular and has been around for qiute a long time now.
The actors and actresses who play the people on the beach of Amity Island and can release the fear to make you feel scared of the sea and never want to go in it or near it again.


The greatest film ever made!!!!!!   May 13, 2004
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

A bold statement? Think again.

This is film-making at it's finest. Sure, it's pure popcorn, but WHAT popcorn!!!!

Still don't believe me? Okay, I'll try and convince you, do you remember the first time you saw this film? Think about it, you were probably, like me, a young whippersnapper. How scared were you? Ask anyone, every single human being who has seen this film can never look at the sea in quite the same way. It implants a potent, deep rooted fear in everyones mind. No exceptions. How many films move their entire audience that way? None I can think of!

It's the helplessness of the sharks prey. They can't run/swim fast enough - it's coming (Cue THAT music!!) and there ain't nothing you can do!

That alone would warrant a five star review, but what seperates this from other blockbuster/shockers is the sheer quality of the acting and the script.

The script is tight, with barely a wasted line. It feels real, like being zapped back to the 70's. It feel like it's happening. The cast are note perfect in the performance. Roy Scheider conveys desperation and exasperation with such ease that you cheer when he at last prevails. Richard Dreyfuss is sparkling, the moment at the very, very end made me whoop with joy the first time (and a silent whoop every time since). Robert Shaw though is something else, Quint is a brilliant character. I defy anybody to hear him say that US Indianapolis speech without getting goosebumps - it gets me every single time.

Still not convinced? How about the director? This is Spielberg's finest hour, yep ET,Jurrasic Park,Schindler's List et al are great films, but this is a hungry young Spielberg. He'll never better this. Never. (In truth I'm not a huge Spielberg fan, i mean, what was Hook all about, but i think that kinda lends further weight to my point)

Well, that's my case - simply put. Convinced? Well then you know what to do; just click on the button that reads 'Add to Basket Now'. You wont regret it!

Not convinced? Well, I tried.

Think it's rubbish? You have my sympathy....


Power Of The Herb   May 5, 2004
Genius, everywhere you look.

SS created what remains the scariest film ever. Beautifully scripted, impecable acting and stunning use of location are blended together to create a masterpiece of film making. The casting is immaculate and the speed at which the story is told is perfect. For those that have read the book, it is a brilliant reflection of the story told and the decision to drop the needless sub-plot of the Hoope/Ellen affair is justified and not missed at all.

The book JAWS was the first and only that I have read cover to cover in one sitting, literally reading throughout the night - the film is the only one that I have watched back to back. It is that compelling that you have watch repeatedly to gain the true quality of the film. Buy this, get a duvet, curl up and be prepared for a true masterpiece of cinematography.

The acting by the lead roles is perfection, as is the length and direction of the story. There are too many memorable moments to mention, but when Quint is telling the other the reason that he no longer wears a life jacket, you cannot fail to notice the hairs stand up on the back of your neck!!

BUY THIS TODAY!!!