Jaws (30th Anniversary Edition) Reviews

• Far be it from me to jump on a bandwagon, but...

  
  By A7QWU8LDC57X9 on 2005-05-21
  I have invested, over and over again (I guess I should have learned by now) in DVDs that were eventually rereleased in so-called "Special Editions"--the list is long.
  
  Now, I haven't seen this version (at the time I'm writing this, it hasn't been released), but I did buy the LAST "Special Edition" of 'Jaws'. Little did I know that it wasn't the REAL "Special Edition".
  
  I guess the studios think we're all stupid. Perhaps we are. After all, we end up shelling out the extra cash to buy the latest edition. Here's an idea: let's stop buying initially released films on DVD. Let's wait a year or two for a "Special Edition".
  
  The most recent egregious example was "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind". It was released in a single disc edition, only to be released again a few MONTHS later in a two-disc edition. Of course, I'd already bought the first disc. Scandalous!
  
  Please stop, studios. We all know you're losing money, but that's because of the overall poor quality of your product. Stop sticking it to those of us that are the biggest movie fans--those of us that are creating a DVD library. It really needs to stop.
  
  "Jaws" gets 4.5 stars. Studio money-grubbing gets zero stars.
  
  Edited to respond to those who say "get over it". Sorry, not made of money. I would love to have every single version available. Calling me cheap is wrong and silly. Why not debate the facts rather than resort to name calling?
  
  

• Bait and Switch...two fangs down!

  
  By A39HIDLK3NNICM on 2005-05-06
  Pardon the pun, but I am tired of the bait and switch moves by film distributors when it comes to DVD releases. You buy the 25th anniversary disc and low and behold, they release a 30 year version, with nary a tempting extra. Those reviews that give this a 5 star or close to it, you're suckers, all of ya! This release hardly has anything the 25 year version didn't. Maybe a longer featurette. And then there will be the 35 year version, with one extra deleted scene, I bet ya. Anyway, save your money, buy the 25 year unless you can't find it. And by the way, I give the movie itself 5 stars for sure!
  
  

• I'll catch him and kill him for ten

  
  By A2GLFKM6IBYRP7 on 2000-04-28
  'Jaws' is a landmark, and very important piece of movie history. Spielberg put his magic, along with a strong cast (including Scheider, Shaw and Dreyfuss), and a script which was original at its time (ok, since we've had the sequels, Lake Placid and numerous other 'when animals attack' type movies) to make a film which everybody in the World has at least heard of, and which had incredible success at the box office.

  The script by Peter Benchley, was actually loosely based upon a series of shark attacks which rocked a east coast American beach in the early 1900's (Yes, history has left enough crumbs to assume that the 'rogue' shark theory is not only possible, but very probable). Benchley, wrote about the Great White shark, and there is good reason why they choose this type of shark. The Great White is the most impressive living creature in the planet today; it is the true master of its domain, a perfect killing machine.

  The music by John Williams really adds to the tension, and delivers maximum suspense. The shark does look a little dated when compared to 1999's 'Deep Blue Sea' (a fun film), but this has a lot more to offer. It's a pity Spielberg didn't do to 'Jaws' what Lucas did to 'Star Wars', using the kind of effects used in 'Deep Blue Sea'.

  This film is in my all time top ten, and always will be. It still has me checking the water before I swim in the sea.
  
  

• Has it been thirty years?

  
  By A1TMAVN4CEM8U8 on 2008-02-08
  Jaws DVD
  
  Roy Scheider plays the police chief of Amity Island, a resort town somewhere in New England, which is being terrorized by a Great White Shark (GWS).
  
  We were just sitting on the beach drinking beer and smoking pot when someone decided to go skinny dipping in the ocean. Bad idea!
  
  The excellent music composed by John Williams will always make me think of JAWS.
  
  
  The police chief, played by Roy Scheider is suspicious that it is a GWS but the mayor, of course doesn't want to believe him until it conclusive, which it is fairly soon. The police chief wants to close the beaches, but that would costs too much in economic terms so he is vetoed.
  
  All-in-all an enjoyable movie, but not right before you go on vacation at the beach.
  
  
  Throughout the movie the GWS is anthropomorphized so that we / the movie makers give him almost human intelligence.
  
  Not recommended for anyone who wants to swim in the ocean. For me it's swimming pools from now on, Baby.
  
  Gunner February, 2008
  
  
  

• Beware false marketing.

  
  By A2TDK8D4HEMUYW on 2005-05-13
  Like all of you I dished out for the 25th Anniversary Edition of JAWS, and was disappointed in the features. The transfer was nice but the extra features weren't fantastic.
  
  This is the second time they've double-dipped, though, with no real great content.
  
  JAWS: 25th Anniversary Dolby 5.1
  JAWS: 25th Anniversary DTS 5.1
  JAWS: 30th Anniversary "Special Edition"
  
  --
  Available subtitles: English, Spanish, French
  Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (DTS 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
  --
  
  So they've given us the DTS and Dolby this time. How nice. But I must ask - why not the first time? Why must we wait through three different editions for something we should have had the first time?
  
  On top of that this new "30th Anniversary Edition" doesn't have a new transfer or new sound mix, they just put the stuff from the previous versions and stuffed them all on here.
  
  The special features aren't too overwhelming either:
  
  --
  The Making of Jaws For the first time ever on DVD, viewers will get a complete glimpse into the making of Jaws with this 2-hour documentary.
  --
  
  Wow, a two-hour documentary versus the one-hour documentary that chronicled everything about the making of the film from pre-conception to post-production featuring interviews with the star and director that was available on the previous DVD... I can't wait to shell out $20 for a documentary that they should have included on the previous release, but didn't, and instead included a shorter but equally comprehensive one! (End of sarcasm.)
  
  --
  From The Set An insider's look at life on the set of Jaws, featuring a never-before-available interview with Steven Spielberg.
  --
  
  This is where you've gotta be careful. As a DVD consumer with over 460 titles on my shelves, I've seen this happen before: "a never-before-available interview with Steven Spielberg."
  
  Technically speaking, "interview" could be a three-second clip of Steven Spielberg saying "yes" to a question. It doesn't say new interVIEWS with Spielberg, it says interVIEW. And it's part of a documentary, which means -- you guessed it -- it's not anything to go hog wild over.
  
  --
  Deleted Scenes
  --
  
  These were on the previous DVD.
  
  --
  Outtakes
  --
  
  So were these.
  
  --
  Jaws Archives Take a peak inside the Jaws archives including storyboards, production photos, and marketing materials, as well as a special segment on the Jaws phenomenon.
  --
  
  Hmm, I smell a fish. Storyboards were on the last DVD, as were production photographs. Marketing materials means trailers and TV spots - that was on the previous DVD, too.
  
  It's another case of the manufacturers re-wording previous content to make it appear fresh and new. By using words like "marketing materials," you're being duped into thinking it's something that it's not.
  
  Overall this DVD is a waste. It has less special features than the previous disc, which included another documentary, a trivia game, and one or two other small features.
  
  On top of that, the artwork on this case is identical, only darker, and it has the words "30th" instead of "25th." If they were truly trying to satisfy the consumers, they'd have released JAWS: The Definitive Special Edition 2-Disc Set, with new documentaries, new interviews recorded exclusively for the DVD, an inner essay/booklet (like Criterion does), new artwork, a new branching version of the film (that includes the deleted scenes instead of putting them under special features), and commentary by someone, maybe the cast or a film historian. (As Spielberg is greedy and refuses to do commentaries on his films.)
  
  This is getting on my nerves because I like Spielberg but he's not helping to refute claims that he's greedy here. He releases about a gazillion special editions of each of his films, and never releases DTS and Dolby together on one disc. (E.g. Saving Private Ryan, Saving Private Ryan Collector's DTS Edition, and D-Day Commemorative Edition, which didn't even include the DTS track!)
  
  It's clear as day that the companies are just after money, and Spielberg's popularity is letting them do this.
  
  Be wise, investigate before buying this new DVD.
  
  
• Don't go in the water... Don't go in the water...
  By A2KQO3RSLSSRHA on 2000-02-21
  Is this Spielberg's finest film? Well, it's my favorite of his, that's for sure. It is brilliant in every way, and shows how a movie doesn't have to sacrifice plot and character for action and suspense. Spielberg should've watched "Jaws" before directing his "Jurassic Park" travesties. Imagine how great those films could've been if the characters were half as interesting and combustible as Brody, Hooper and Quint. Even the minor characters, like Mayor Vaughn, and Brody's wife Ellen, as well as Mrs. Kintner, come to vibrant life on the screen that in a way that is often absent from current blockbusters.

  "Jaws" touches a primal fear in humanity--that the sea is an alien planet and there are things beneath its placid surface that want to eat us. When I was a kid it was one of those films that was inescapable--before I saw I was worried for week, wondering if you could die of fright (I was 7, forgive me!) It did scare me, but it also exhilirated me, and inspired my deep and lasting love for movies.

  By showing the shark in as few scenes as possible Spielberg allows the tension to rise to unbearable heights. Having such colorful characters allows us to escape into the film. The climax is terrific, a blueprint for later action movies. This film is proof that escapist entertainment need not be mindless or offensive by appealing to the lowest common denominator of so-called film fans. This film is a classic--although it is regrettable that people see great white sharks as monsters; any documentary on them on tv shows that this is simply not accurate. Still, I won't even go into a swimming pool at night!
  
  

• We need a bigger boat
  By A2ODBHT4URXVXQ on 2004-09-16
  
  Have you seen the film? If so, you'll recognize that line. This guy is scooping chum into the water to attract the shark, talking over his shoulder, and when he turns back to face the sea, the open maw of a giant white shark is all he sees, and the critter is about to take his arm off. He gives it that significant silent pause, then says, "Hey, guys? We're gonna need a bigger boat."
  It's SO PERFECT.
  I loved this film when I first saw it a billion yrs ago, back when the earth was cooling, and I love it still. It's about a big shark that these guys are stalking so their peaceful little tourist town can resume business as usual. But then things turn hairy and scary when they realize that, actually, the shark is stalking them. Benchley's original book is pretty faithfully rendered in Spielberg's screen version. Especially well done are the scenes that pit the scientists and level headed sheriff against the politicians who just want all this nonsense downplayed so they can start making money again.
  I slept just fine after watching it, but my husband had nightmares about sharks coming thru the bedroom walls all night for the next several nights, so...viewing discretion advised for those of tender sensibilities. It IS a little gory in a few spots.
  
  
  
• Where's Richard?
  By on 2000-06-30
  Richard Kiel is truly one of the leading thespians of the Twentieth Century. How the Academy was able to overlooked him for Oscar contention for his work in the Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker is shocking. When I heard that he would be starring in a new action film--as the titular head, no less (ala Shaft)-- I was thrilled. Then I watched the movie. Much like the titans in the poorly titled Titanic, Richard was not to be found in this film. How could Jaws end up on the cutting room floor of a film entitled Jaws? It's most perplexing. As any fan of Richard's work can readily attest, the man has experience working with sharks, so it is difficult to see how he could not have fit into this movie, which, surprisingly, is mostly about a shark. Perhaps the film editors forgot about Richard's fatal fight with the Bull shark in The Spy Who Loved Me. I thought it was unforgetable. But, as is so often the case in this day and age, it appears that I am wrong. Oh well. Surprisingly, though, once I got over the shock and grave dissapointment of Richard's absence, I warmed up to this movie. This Spielberg guy might have potential. My nurse told me that there are other Jaws movies: Jaws 2, 3 and 4. I expect Richard will play a prominent role in them.
  
  
• Finally On DVD
  By A1GN8UJIZLCA59 on 2000-07-12
  Jaws was Stephen Spielberg's first hit and after his initial reluctance to release his movies on DVD, it finally makes its DVD debut. We all know the story, a great white shark terrorizes the waters off of Amity Island. The movie is based on Peter Benchey's best-selling novel. This is one of the rare instances where a movie is actually better than the book it was based on. In Mr. Benchey's novel, there is are some extraneous sections such as an affair between Ellen Brody and Hooper that really don't add to the story. The movie streamlines the book and the changes made bringing it to the screen actually improve on the book. The performances of three stars are superb. Roy Scheider plays Chief Brody as an everyman. We can all relate with him as he is just trying do his job and the right thing but is caught in the middle. He wants to close the beaches to catch the shark, but the people he is protecting want them opened as the water is the source of their livelihoods. Richard Dreyfus adds some comic relief to the film as the wise-cracking oceanographer, Matt Hooper. The late Robert Shaw takes what could have been a cartoonish role of the shark boat captain Quint and turns him into an obessive, vengeful man in the mold of Captain Ahab. The real star of the film could be its score by John Williams. The music adds tension and fear to the suspense much like the music from Psycho. The DVD contains some extra material including deleted scences, trailers and best of all a documentary on the making of the movie. This is a must see for all fans of the film. We learn of all the problems the crew experienced while filming on Martha's Vineyard, some original casting choices and other behind-the-scences tidbits. These are nice bonuses, but the movie's first appearance on the DVD format is reason enough to buy it. After 25 years, this movie remains a classic.
  
  
• A Modern Adventure Classic!
  By ALR35EFI69S5R on 2000-05-25
  This movie is a credit to everyone associated with it, from the stellar cast of actors and actresses to the direction by Steven Speilberg to the original story (a novel) and screenwriting by Peter Benchley. This is a riviting tale superbly told, with excellent cinematography and special effects, and a scary soundtrack that builds the edge of mystery to a crescendo each time it musically announces the shark's appearence.

  The idea for the movie is deceptively simple; a great white shark with a fond taste for the sweet taste of human flesh is patrolling the water off Amity Island (read Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard)and terrorizing the summer tourist population. Inject into this some interesting and novel subplots regarding a burned-out city cop and unlikely undersung hero, a brainy, affable but basically misunderstood young marine biologist, and a wonderfully crusty old mariner turned professional shark fisherman and you have the recipe for an entertaining rollercoaster ride.

  This movie is a modern classic, one with a young Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, and the late Robert Shaw. Watching their characters interact is an afternoon's entertainment well deserved, one that is durable and repeatable. It also is one that translates very well into the DVD mode. One caution; don't view it anytime before going for your summer vacation. You may really be afraid to go back into the water!
  
  

• Jaws: A Classic in Action and Horror Genres
  By A4Y233WXK7DQ3 on 2000-06-08
  There are few sounds more terrifying than hearing someone screaming "Shark!" at a beach or from the water, whether it be in real life or the movies. A young Steven Spielberg went out and milked that scream for help for all it is worth and more: made a classic Adventure-Horror movie. "Jaws" is great in every department. The acting is flawless, with Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw "bonding" in their search and detroy mission of the ultimate great white shark. So powerful is Jaws that almost any picture since has taken little bits from it, unable to escape from its enormous shark shadow. Spielberg, from the opening night sequence shocks us(one of the most terrifying in history) when we don't even see the shark, but see the first victim from the shark's eye view and John William's brilliant soundtrack telling us the terror is just starting. Spielberg has made many great movies, but none scarier than Jaws, none that has its combination of terror, adventure, high spirits, great acting and superb technical achievement of editing, cinematography and sound. With this masterpiece, Spielberg, at a young age, set the bar higher for horror and adventure films, and showed he was a genius in making action movies. It still holds up well, much better than digital movies that are pale in comparison, sloppy and incoherent compared to the great unity of Jaws. Steven Spielberg might have made movies after Jaws that were as good but none better. Jumping beyond its genre , it is on my list of top twenty movies ever made.
  
  
• One of the most frightening films ever made.
  By A36L1F0YECOAW8 on 2001-02-15
  Steven Spielberg's ultimate shocker still holds up great after all these years for the exact same reasons it was a huge box-office hit back in 1975: amazing score, powerful performances from an extremely talented cast, great special effects, and perfect direction. It's simple story of a shark terrorizing the waters of a small beach may not be the most compelling material ever to come out of Hollywood, but the attention to character and the sheer terror of the shark attacks more then makes up for it. There is something undeniably terrifying about the thought of being dragged underwater by something huge, something you can't even hope to escape from, and the very first attack scene is true nightmare fuel. As is the most memorable scene in the film, Robert Shaw's speech about his experiences after surviving the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, a World War II cruiser that sank and left hundreds of sailors floating in shark-infested waters for more than four days. Shaw's delivery of the scene still chills to the bone and stands as one of the greatest moments in film history. The DVD edition of JAWS has been long-awaited and fails to live up to it's potential. The lack of audio commentary by the director and a handful of out-of-context deleted scenes are major let-downs. But a superb 'making-of' documentary and an extensive art and design gallery are nice additions. Still, this is the definitive version of a classic film, one that deserves to be viewed multiple times both on the screen and in your darkest nightmares. Have fun swimming in the ocean after this one!!!
  
  
• Great picture, great DVD, but probably not worth the upgrade
  By A3K8OWCZYJBJ1E on 2005-06-14
  Five years ago, Universal commemorated the 25th anniversary with an excellent DVD release, loaded with extras. Two versions were actually released (one had a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, the other had a DTS 5.1 mix), but everything else was the same.
  
  Now, five years later, they've released the 'definitive' DVD edition for the 30th anniversary...
  
  So what's different? Not the video transfer - it's the same as the 25th anniversary DVD.
  
  The 30th anniversary DVD DOES have more audio options: it includes BOTH the Dolby Digital AND DTS 5.1 mixes. Even better, it includes the original mono soundtrack, which has never been issued on DVD before. It also has 5.1 mixes in Spanish and French, and it has new subtitle options, also for Spanish and French.
  
  As for the rest, there are more bonuses. The 25th anniversary edition was a single DVD - this 30th anniversary edition is two DVD's, and the extra disc can now accomodate the full-length "Making of JAWS" documentary that originally ran for two hours when it was first released on the LaserDisc edition of JAWS (which is long out-of-print). A truncated, one-hour version was used for the 25th anniversary edition. It's an excellent documentary, worth seeing in its entirety, but if you're already well-versed in the making of JAWS, you may be underwhelmed. Furthermore, you can probably rent the bonus disc on this 30th anniversary DVD through Blockbuster of Netflix, so if you're only going to see it once, that's the way to go.
  
  Also new is a 9-minute featurette "From the Set," included on the first disc. Produced in 1974, you get a few words from the cast, crew, and Spielberg as they film JAWS, but it's not very interesting. There's also a nice 60-page commemorative booklet (the 25th anniversary edition had a very skimpy booklet), an added movie poster gallery on the bonus disc, and a new bonus feature called "The JAWS Phenomenon" that looks at how JAWS was marketed around the world. They also add one extra deleted scene (very minor, it features Quint, shortly before they set sail in search of the shark), which is placed on the first disc with the other deleted scenes.
  
  Some of the minor bonuses from the 25th anniversary edition have been ditched for this new edition, including a trivia game, a "Shark World" educational piece, a screensaver, etc., but otherwise everything else on the 25th anniversary edition was carried over to this new edition.
  
  So, who should buy this new, 30th anniversary edition? Purists who absolutely prefer the original mono mix, viewers who are much more comfortable with Spanish or French, viewers who want JAWS on DVD but do not own it yet, and die-hard fans that already own countless editions of JAWS for the sake of collecting. For everyone else, if you already own the 25th anniversary edition, save your money and skip this.
  
  
• Spielberg's Monster Shark!
  By AI55O49KO9DZ0 on 2003-02-10
  There probably hasn't been a single movie in the last 30 years that has changed the psyche of moviegoers more than JAWS. As I recall, people literally did not want to go back into the water! Speilberg tapped into this fear and tapped into it rather well.

  As someone who had a certain fear of water, watching this movie on the big screen as a kid, you bet I was horrified! Today, JAWS still remains a classic.

  To those who say that the shark looks fake and that a CGI one would've looked superior, well, I wish they would stop looking at movies through CGI-colored glasses. Personally, I think Speilberg's Great White (though mechanical in close-ups) was truly interesting. It had a certainly personality. IMO, many computer-animated creatures today are rather uninspired creations.

  Besides, JAWS is much more than just about a shark. The story of greed at the expense of human life is truly interesting to see. It also boasts some great characters as well, namely, Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss and especially Robert Shaw as Quint, the old shark hunter with a Captain Ahab syndrome. And what can I say that hasn't been said already about John Williams now timeless score. It's just magnificent!

  Yes, JAWS does contain its fair share of frights, but Speilberg was wise in inserting genuine moments of humor as well to relieve that certain tension. A movie shouldn't be all fright, all of the time. Certainly, that scene with Chief Brody at the dinner table with his young son copying his every move was both humorous and quite touching. It gave the movie heart.

  JAWS was the first movie to crack the one hundred million dollar mark. Today, many movies seem to crack that mark with ease. Yet, many of them are nowhere near as good as JAWS. Has the movie-going public been dumbed-down as to watch anything and make profits for these lesser movies?

  With all of this success, there was a downside. JAWS did to sharks what another great monster movie, KING KONG did to gorillas - it gave these poor creatures a bad image and thus many were slaughtered. Like I said, this movie really changed the psyche of people, in terms of fear of the water and a huge dislike for sharks.
  
  

• Classic action/adventure film...and great filmmaking
  By AURZ4YQ270W3T on 2000-06-20
  Say what you will about Steven Spielberg, but a lesser filmmaker would have been far less gutsy about this film.

  Can you imagine a film being made today about a killer shark...and having the filmmaker resolutely refuse to show you the shark until the film was 2/3 done?

  That's what makes "Jaws" so effective - we don't know anything about the shark at all. It's a complete mystery. That makes it a true protagonist in a dramatic sense...and a great counterpoint to today's action films, in which silly one-liners and overacting count as great villainy.

  It shows great faith in the intelligence of the moviegoer on Spielberg's part.

  "Jaws" has other charms as well. The performances are excellent, especially Robert Shaw's turn as the crusty, slightly crazy and ultimately very likeable Quint. The scene in which he describes his experience with the sinking of the USS Indianapolis is absolutely riveting.

  The John Williams score is a classic, and it's a tribute to the craft of the filmmakers that very few of the film's special effects (including the shark) look the least bit dated today.

  All in all, this is a classic, but I don't need to tell you that...you've probably already seen it a few dozen times yourself.
  
  

• 5 stars and the dvd is a bargain
  By A13NZZR8IA5782 on 2000-07-13
  Well, I bought the DVD dts and I think you'll like the extras such as the outtakes, deleted scenes, and especially an excellent documentary. You'll get the behind the scenes from Spielberg, the actors, photographers, and the producers. In today's film world this movie could be made rather easily, but back then you'll see the tremendous undertaking that went into this production. The movie itself, of course, is just amazing. At one point Spielberg says that the shark is the star, but the scenes on the boat will show you 3 stars at the top of their game. The sound quality is outstanding and exact, but I do have one complaint.... on the 5.1 DTS their isn't much activity from the back 2 speakers. The sound coming from the front 3 is great, but they could have done more. This movie is just as suspenseful as when I saw it in the mid-seventies. I hadn't really watched it in awhile and I had forgotten the outstanding acting performances by Scheider, Dreyfuss, and Shaw. Shaw's USS Indianapolis speech is about as good as it gets, while Scheider's everyman performance really rings true. You'll enjoy this DVD and it's at a good price. A good bargain. Buy it!
  
  
• Great movie. Lousy video presentation.
  By A225FDE3UJ5EX4 on 2000-06-26
  I love the movie JAWS, and I agree with the AFI that it's one of the 100 greatest American films of all time. But this particular video presentation does not present the movie in it's original form. This DVD does not contain the original, oscar winning sound effects. Instead, this DVD contains a bunch of newly re-recorded sound effects. To me, this is the equivalent of re-writing Shakespear's plays, re-writing the novels of Dickens, or tearing up the Mona Lisa and painting a new one. Besides, the DVD format allows for up to 8 different audio track to be included, so even if they did record a new one, why not also include the old one? I guess George Orwell was right. History is indeed being re-written. What a shame. Hopefully someday they will issue a DVD that contains the origianl soundtrack to this movie.
  
  
• Just when you thought it was safe...
  By ALGOKDN4YWGYP on 2005-04-19
  ...to purchase a new edition of "JAWS" on DVD, Universal STILL cannot get the cover right! This is a terrific film with a legion of fans who deserve better. Why is it, the legendary original poster artwork had been utilized for all VHS, BETA and laserdisc editions, pre-2000, but suddenly Universal has chosen to erase this memorable artwork in the past five years? Same goes for the sequel DVD releases. I am tired of studios screwing up a good thing, it seems to be a trend with DVD. Warner Bros. is certainly the exception to that rule, as they have been the only major studio and the most consistent in maintaining original film artwork for their releases. Naturally, the 5 stars represented here go for the film itself, and not the packaging.
  
  
• Don't have the 25th...
  By A298Y0CYJBENVW on 2005-06-01
  For the previous member who mentioned that there isn't much on this one that wasn't on the 25th anniversary, I have only 2 things to say: 1- You don't HAVE TO buy the 30th anniversary edition. 2- I don't have the 25th anniversary edition, so your comment is useless to me and to the other people who don't have it, but will get the 30th. I am tempted to buy it, though, just because you call the people who love it and want it suckers... :) (And I don't care if they come up in 5 years with a 35th anniversary set, I won't buy it.. or if I do, I'll sell my 30th first)
  Enjoy the movie...
  
  
• Yet another special edition of this film with NO COMMENTARY?
  By A1D74I7DDPC58Q on 2005-06-14
  All the hoopla about this being a DVD that consumers must have, but it's not good enough for any cast/crew member or critic to provide commentary? Pathetic.
  
  
• Jaws is a fine example of film at its finest.
  By A2HU94KJ4SUFR0 on 2000-03-15
  Jaws is nearly perfect in every way. It was the first real summer blockbuster, and to this day it's still the best. Unlike most of today's blockbusters, Jaws was blessed with a superb cast, a fantastic director, and a good screenplay.

  Most of Jaws's success can be attributed to Steven Spielberg's masterful direction. He brilliantly utilizes the Hitchcockian method of showing less, thereby giving the audience more. By not showing the shark for the first hour of the movie and only showing the evidence of its strength and the aftermath of its attacks, Spielberg triggers the audience's imagination making the film all the more thrilling.

  Peter Benchley and Carl Gottlieb's screenplay is well written. Now granted, this is not a brilliant character study but the script is more character driven than most of today's blockbuster scripts. Evidence of the screenplay's strong characters can be found in the extraordinary chemistry between them and their motives for their actions.

  The cast does a fantastic job at giving life to the characters of the script. Roy Scheider wisely underplays his character, Martin Brody, making him very believable. Robert Shaw is absolutely wonderful as the sea-worn fisherman, Quint. Richard Dreyfuss is very convincing as the energetic, young scientist, Matt Hooper. Lorraine Gary gives a very naturalistic performance as Brody's wife, Ellen. Murray Hamilton does a nice job at playing the greedy mayor of Amity; the town endangered by the shark.

  Many people complain that the shark looks too fake. Do sharks really look all that life-like to begin with? I personally think the shark effects could have been much worse; they weren't that bad.

  Bill Butler's cinematography is first-rate. He brings the ocean right into our laps by placing the camera at the water's level.

  Although there are a few continuity errors, Verna Fields's editing is very fast paced. Despite the fact that the shark is not seen for the first hour of the film, the movie still manages to be suspenseful and interesting.

  John Williams's musical score, for this film, has reached legendary status for good reason. His simple use of a few notes to characterize the shark was ingenious. He brings the suspense/action scenes to life with his energetic score.

  All of these fine qualities are why Jaws has remained one of my favorite films for quite some time.
  
  

• A One-of-a-Kind Experience!! 10 STARS EASY!!
  By A1FDW1SPYKB354 on 2001-07-21
  You simply have got to admire Steven Spielberg's tenacity while mired in this seemingly endless project. He just wouldn't quit until he had created the classic known as "Jaws". And he pulled it off. We hear in the making-of documentaries of how the mechanical shark would always be on the fritz! And of the actors waiting for hours, or days, to complete a given scene! It must have been hell! Especially considering the locales! But this, in the final analysis of this landmark picture, actually proved to ADD to the suspense of the final cut! Because the darn maneater refused to eat, Steven was forced to shoot many a scene (intended to include the predator) without the shark...proving once more the theory: the scariest things are the things we CAN'T see! And when we finally see those huge jaws opened for the first time....WOW! What an impact! I still jump when I see it!
  
  This film has all elements that make up a classic thriller: tension beyond belief, suspense, great acting, and the occasional "Oh Jesus!" surprise shocks. I wonder how many people who have seen this movie were scared to death at the very end when the camera follows Brody & Hooper toward the shore...thinking, just maybe, another "bite" was coming! (I know I did!) Ever wonder what Jaws would look like if made today featuring all the advanced computer imaging?? Might have been interesting. But it certainly would NOT have had as much suspense as the 1975 Jaws, because no doubt the shark would have popped his head out of the water much earlier in the film. Nah....You can't improve on a Classic anyway! And Jaws is definitely that!
  
  The Universal Home Video DVD has some very nice Bonus Features on it too -- a great "Making-Of" feature, some deleted scenes and outtakes, trailers, and more.
  
  The Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer on the "25th Anniversary" DVD Edition is first-rate as well. Rock solid. The Dolby 5.1 audio is of high quality too.
  
  DVD Recommendation Of The First Order!
  
  "Hooper!! Ya idiot!!"
  
  
• Farewell and adieu, you ladies of Spain
  By A1EBJ93E1T50RT on 2005-07-20
  This review is not a critique of Universal's questionable DVD marketing strategies. I only bought this summer's "Special Collector's 5th Anniversary Edition of the Last DVD Release" version of "Jaws" because... well, five years ago, I bought the 25th anniversary edition of "Jaws" on VHS.
  
  *crickets chirp*
  
  At any rate, having previously seen most of the specials features on this set courtesy of the electronic miracle of the video cassette player, I didn't spend a lot of time on the added extras. I bought "Jaws" on DVD because it's "Jaws". On DVD. And I didn't have it before. True, I'd have preferred some sort of text trivia track, or a cast and production crew commentary, even if Spielberg wasn't going to contribute. Surely there were some audio interviews with Robert Shaw that could have been located and incorporated?
  
  The movie itself remains one of my enduring favorites, even though I discovered it relatively late, through repeat airings on Turner basic cable in the mid to late '90s. "Jaws" is atypical for a blockbuster in that the second half of the movie is basically a stage play with a cast of two scenery-chewing masters, a mechanical shark, and Roy Scheider. Witness (several times) the nine-minute sequence set in the cabin of the Orca, which begins with Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw comparing scars... then transitions to Shaw's captivating speech about the U.S.S. Indianapolis (which he reportedly wrote himself)... followed by a slightly drunken sing-along... interrupted by a shark attack in mid-chorus. Spielberg was only 26 when he filmed this, and it's easy to see why he stuck around.
  
  The first half of the movie has almost no relation to the last, but even in different tempo, Spielberg captures the bucolic intensity of Amity Island with a master's attention to detail. In any other film, Murray Hamilton would have stolen the show as the earnest, buffoonish, soon-to-be-deflated mayor who insists on keeping the beach open even after two people are dead. And even in the midst of the comic actions of the islanders, Spielberg still pushes Ben Gardner's disembodied head through a boat hull when the audience least expected it (and repeated the trick 20 years later with Samuel L. Jackson's arm in "Jurassic Park").
  
  While Lorraine Gary is given a bit of a thankless role, and drops out of the movie halfway through, it's amazing that she had time to make an impression at all, what with Shaw and Dreyfuss trying to outdo each other in every scene -- both successfully. And even though the nominal hero, Roy Scheider, seems to be lagging 15 seconds behind Shaw and Dreyfuss (watch the cabin sequence again and see how passive he makes Chief Brody), he still saves the day when Shaw's working-class fisherman act and Dreyfuss's hi-tech gadgetry both fail to stop the great white.
  
  It's great to see "Jaws" still kicking hard 30 years later, in the way that "War of the Worlds" probably won't do in 2035. From the recent "MythBusters" special on "Jaws", which even took time to debunk the deleted scene with Shaw buying piano wire... to Bryan Singer's effortless rehabilitation of Scheider's nonsense line, "That's some bad hat, Harry", I would find myself watching "Jaws" on DVD even if the Special Edition had nothing on it but the movie.
  
  Even so, put together that audio commentary so I can buy the Commemorative 5th Anniversary Edition of this current release in 2010.
  
  
• The Standard Has Been Set
  By A24ZSL01CO4BBG on 2000-06-16
  Let me get right to the point. "Jaws" is a classic, a masterpiece, the standard by which all modern horror and action thrillers are measured. Spielberg's 1975 adaptation of Peter Benchley's celebrated novel may well have ignited a new era for the movie industry at that time: the era of the "Summer Blockbuster." Sadly, it's an era that seems more intent upon marketing commercial products and visual effects over substance and innovation, as many of Hollywood's bigwigs (Spielberg included) have sold out to produce brainless, demographically inspired trash like "Con Air," and "Wild Wild West." Remember when going to the movies was fun? Remember when you could expect a healthy blend of crisp and original storytelling, attention to character development, and a plot that didn't insult your intelligence? "Jaws" manifests each of these essential ingredients to a quality movie-going experience, and the result is one of the greatest films of all time.

  The residents of Amity Island, Massachusetts have one thing going for their livelihoods: summer tourists and beach goers. So what do you do when a great white shark threatens to bring an untimely end to the summer season, not to mention the lives of several unfortunate bathers? This is the dilemma that's brilliantly played out between the rational-minded sheriff (Roy Scheider) and the politically motivated town mayor (Murray Hamilton). The quarrel is finished when a series of tragic events compel that the shark be killed by any means necessary. Enter the best shark-hunting trio ever assembled. Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw formulate such perfect chemistry that we can't peel our attention away for even a moment. In fact, the movie's final hour may be one of the finest ever filmed in terms of drama, suspense, and sheer horror. All performances are commendable, the dialogue at times is brilliant, and the mechanical shark (Bruce) is as terrifying as any "computer generated" effect from that moronic film "Deep Blue Sea." John William's score ranks among the best ever composed, on a par in terms of ground-breaking significance with the themes from "Star Wars," "Gone With the Wind," and "West Side Story." The movie was followed by three sequels, each increasing exponentially in banality.
  
  

• needs more extras, but what a show!
  By A2VGO33ESR017J on 2000-07-07
  When I hear the words collector's edition, I expect the dvd to be packed with great stuff. Jaws does have some great extra: a 12 question trivia game, deleted scenes, and a few outtakes; but I really wanted to hear commentary. This is one of the few faults I found, along with substandard subtitles. The movie is a classic, however, and worth every penny.
  
  
• You definitely want the DVD widescreen version
  By AEQMXKCI6NTOQ on 2000-08-09
  A lot of people I know criticize widescreen format videos and DVDs. They say it looks like part of the movie is cut off. JAWS is the film I use to convert them. I show them the video I own in pan-and-scan mode, usually a scene where the shark pops out of the water when Brody, Hooper, and Quint are on the boat. Then I show them the DVD widescreen version.

  What a difference! In the first version, you can only see most of the shark's head and one of the people on board. In the widescreen, you see everyone. Spielberg has a terrific eye and knows how to compose a frame. And the widescreen format is the only way to do justice to this fun and scary film.

  The new DVD also has terrific and rich color. The sound is great and will remind you why John William's soundtrack is famous 25 years later. But you can also hear other sound effects Spielberg stuck in, like a muted dinosaur roar when the shark is sinking at the end. This, along with many other interesting tidbits, was revealed to me with a behind-the-scenes featurette that comes with the extras on the DVD. There's interviews with the cast members today, as well as a fun trivia game. I also found the deleted scenes interesting, although I'm glad Spielberg didn't use them. The extras gave me a glimpse on how a film is made. When I rewatched the film, I had a new outlook to what went into it. The outtakes and the photo gallery were useless, but don't let that stop you from buying this. If you're a fan of the film, you will want to own this.
  
  

• Jaws Anniversary Collector's Edition a "Big Disappointment"
  By A2RE5V9QNZ6GU2 on 2000-09-18
  Jaws is one of my favorite movies . I regret purchasing this DVD movie addition. The movie is not complete as I saw it originally at the movies and also on TV years ago. The deleted scenes are in the original full lenth movie. Why call this a collectors addition and take out the original scenes and then say they are bonus materials.This is a edited movie version and not the original. This is not a collectors addition. Just a big disappointment.
  
  
• Jaws
  By AP0R9UZK7W5UB on 2000-11-28
  Based on Peter Benchley's bestselling novel, Jaws centers around the events depicted in Benchley's book where a great white shak terrorizes the beach resort of Amity Island. Its up to local Police Chief Martin Brody, icthyologist Matthew Hooper, and salty shark fisherman Quint to kill the beast. Easily the best shark film ever made, Jaws was a box office blockbuster and placed rightly so on the American Film Institute's 1OO Greatest Movies.

  In the lead role, Scheider rightly underplays Chief Brody, displaying admirable charisma with a sense of darkness. Richard Dreyfuss brings in much of the film's comedy as a bright but somewhat naive Oceanographic Institute student sent to help deal with the problem. Robert Shaw is simply excellent as Quint, giving off a sense of ruggedness and intimidation. He emits a commanding presence especially during the Indianapolis and courtroom sequences. Lorraine Gary does a fine job as Ellen Brody, and Murray Hamilton portrays stubborn mayor Larry Vaughn just right.

  Spielberg's direction is excellent, he was snubbed at the 1975 Oscars when he didn't receive a Best Director nomination. The script by Peter Benchley and Carl Gottlieb is occasionally spotty but overall well done. Bill Butler's cinematography is beautiful, it captures the suspense and the terror very well and was suprisingly not nominated at Oscar time. Joe Alves' production design is small-scale but simply brings out the aura of an old-fashioned town like Amity. The soundwork by John Cater and Robert L. Hoyt won the Oscar as well as Verna Fields' sensational editing. I can remember in the documentary in the special edition saying that the sound crew's boat was sinking once and one of the crew members was yelling to save the equipment.John Williams' music score is one of his best work along with, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the Star Wars films, and the Indiana Jones films. It brings out the horror and suspense perfectly while displaying beauty and genius.

  My favorite scene in the entire movie would have to be the night sequence on the boat with Quint's USS Indianapolis speech, the exchanging of the scars and singing, and the gut-wrenching finale with the shark pounding the boat. The end-shot is beautiful, with the boat silohoutte, the water sparkling, and the music and the shooting star. Overall, Jaws is Spielberg's best film and is my second favorite film of all time. Highly recommended.
  
  

• What a film..oh...you cheap bastards....
  By A6KJG27ZC7TZ8 on 2005-05-22
  Greatest movie ever made....
  Man...tons of people upset about buying another Jaws...
  from the 25th to the 30 anniversary...
  
  Its only 16 dollars if you purchase on Amazon...
  Get over it ya cheap bastards...and buy the best movie ever,,,
  later
  
  
• First-timers & hard-core fans: this is the version you want
  By AWXBY70IZVIML on 2005-06-09
  So this version marks the 30th anniversary release of Jaws. It only seems like 5 years ago that we had the 25th anniversary edition...
  
  For those of you complaining about the turnaround on this title, consider how many people have DVD players today that didn't five years ago. It is a worthwhile re-investment to hardcore fans like myself who found that the previous edition actually came up short on features compared to the lavish 1996 laserdisc box set that had a US$ list price of $130. That version featured the original mono soundtrack, and the complete two-hour documentary (abridged on the 25th anniversary DVD), and the lack of these features was a sticking point to expectant fans of the first release. This has finally been rectified for the new version, and for folks like me who were disappointed in the remixed/re-recorded soundtrack and the abridged documentary, this disc is well worth the double-dip.
  
  Few people ever really complained about a re-marketed VHS title, simply with new box artwork, and possibly some cross-promtional tie-in material. The content potential of DVD has become a plus and a negative to the modern home video consumer at the same time - "why couldn't they include this feature last time", etc. Some titles get even re-issued with less content to bring the price down, so there is no win-win situation. You have to be your own judge.
  
  Disney was notorious for re-issuing its animated classics every 7 years both theatrically and on home video for a new generation of potential fans, so don't be so quick to judge any studio that uses a number to re-issue a classic film for a new generation of consumers.
  
  Universal is shortly re-issuing The Blues Brothers in a dual-cut edition (Theatrical and extended on the same disc), and I'll be investing in that, too, because while the expanded version was interesting, I still like the flow of the original. It's what I prefer.
  
  

• Jaws 2
• Jaws 3
• Jaws - The Revenge
• E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial (Widescreen Edition)
• Jurassic Park (Widescreen Collector's Edition)