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?   February 8, 2008
 26 out of 26 found this review helpful

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.   May 13, 2005
 23 out of 36 found this review helpful

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"

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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)
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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:

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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.
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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.)

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From The Set An insider's look at life on the set of Jaws, featuring a never-before-available interview with Steven Spielberg.
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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.

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Deleted Scenes
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These were on the previous DVD.

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Outtakes
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So were these.

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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.
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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.