Product Description

Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 01/08/2008 Rating: Pg

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1137 in DVD
• Brand: Universal
• Released on: 2005-06-14
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish, French
• Dubbed in: French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 124 minutes

Amazon.com essential video
In the vastly overrated 1998 book Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, author Peter Biskind puts the blame for Hollywood's blockbuster mentality at least partially on Steven Spielberg's box-office success with this adaptation of Peter Benchley's bestselling novel. But you can't blame Spielberg for making a terrific movie, which Jaws definitely is. The story of a Long Island town whose summer tourist business is suddenly threatened by great-white-shark attacks on humans bypasses the potboiler trappings of Benchley's book and goes straight for the jugular with beautifully crafted, crowd-pleasing sequences of action and suspense supported by a trio of terrific performances by Roy Scheider (as the local sheriff), Richard Dreyfuss (as a shark specialist), and particularly Robert Shaw (as the old fisherman who offers to hunt the shark down). The sequences on Shaw's boat--as the three of them realize that in fact the shark is hunting them--are what entertaining moviemaking is all about. --Marshall Fine

On the DVD
It's odd that the cornerstone of the new edition is a 10-year-old documentary. Shot for the laserdisc release (the unofficial 20th anniversary edition), the 2-hour "The Making of Jaws" is an excellent telling of how this film was made and became the top grossing film (and launched the career of extras filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau). An hour-long edited version appeared on the 25th anniversary DVD. Here's what else different from the 25th anniversary DVD: an interesting a 9-minute vintage featurette shot for British TV that has never been seen in the States; a few additions to the extensive "Jaws Archives" (production stills, storyboards and the like), and a few new fragments in the deleted scene roll. The image is the same excellent transfer as before but this time you can get the DTS and Dolby sound on the same disc plus a nice 60-page photo journal. A seaworthy set but hardly worth trading in your old DVD. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews

FABULOUS
JAWS is probably the best film ever made in a century besides Citizen Kane. Otherwise, Jaws still frightens millions of people.

Spielberg At His Absolute Best
When future generations examine the Steven Spielberg canon, two films will stand out: "Schindler's List" (1993) and "Jaws" (1975), the director's breakthrough thriller. More than 30 years later, the picture remains a textbook example of storytelling and characterization - somehow managing to transcend Peter Benchley's source material. Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss make a formidable ensemble while Spielberg keeps a tight grip on the watery suspense. No matter how many times you see it, "Jaws" still packs a powerful cinematic punch.

You ruined my life...
I like to call this my favorite movie. I think it's because its the first movie that impacted the rest of my life. I couldn't swim in a pool without getting the creeps. Forget the ocean. After 30 years, I was finally able to swim in the ocean this past summer without thinking a shark was going to get me. I realize I'm 38 year old but this movie scarred me for life. I won't let my kids watch it for fear it will ruin our beach trips. Thanks for ruining the beach for 30 years, Spielberg!

P.S. The novel stinks. Stick with Spielberg's version.