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Just when you
thought it was safe to put a DVD into your
player again….
(I know… I know… I just had
to.)
I’m not sure there’s anyway
I could write any review of the movie “Jaws”
without saying things that haven’t
been said a thousand times before. It was
the film that made Steven Spielberg a household
name and kept countless people from swimming
in the ocean since 1975. To be honest, as
I was 12 years old when I first saw “Jaws”,
it scarred me so much that I wouldn’t
even go swimming in a lake for several years.
I realize how that sounds, but the one time
I tried swimming in a lake about a year
later, I freaked out because I couldn’t
see what was beneath me and I have way too
active of an imagination. I didn’t
care if there was no such thing as a lake
shark.
“Jaws” still stands out as one
of the most frightening films ever made.
Few consider it to be a horror film, but
in many ways it is.
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People are being terrorized by a huge man-eating
shark of the coast of a small New England town.
If anything, it was the fact that it could happen
(and has happened) that made it so terrifying.
No matter how many times I’ve seen it over
the years, the opening sequence alone still makes
me slide down in my seat to hide my face.
Steven Spielberg, no matter what the critics used
to say about him is a master craftsman when it
comes to filmmaking. His films have a distinctive
look to them, even back when he was a fledgling
director. And as for directing actors, there’s
no question that he can create multi-dimensional
people out of even the flimsiest written character.
I still consider the roles played by Roy Scheider,
Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw to be amongst
the best of their careers.
It seems like only a few years ago that “Jaws”
was getting the Special Edition treatment for
it’s 25th anniversary… well, I guess
that was only a few years ago. Now Universal is
going the extra mile and releasing an all-new
30th Anniversary Edition. Now before most of you
start crying out about the studio’s double-dipping
their DVD releases, just know that every now and
then a film is re-released for all the right reasons.
When the 25th Anniversary edition came out back
in 2000, it was a fairly good release. It had
its fair share of extra features, but overall
just wasn’t packaged well. There were two
separate editions and each came with its own set
of soundtracks. One version had the Dolby Digital
5.1 Surround Sound, while the DTS edition had
the DTS 5.1 Digital Surround Sound track. This
new 30th Anniversary set comes with both plus
adds an original Dolby Digital 2.0 track. Most
consumers might not care about this, but DVDphiles
will love it.
As for the extra features, this new version carries
over most of them from the earlier edition including
a set of deleted scenes and outtakes, and even
included an extra scene. They also kept most of
The Jaws Archives intact, which presented storyboards
and photos. They did drop the Trivia Game and
Shark World featurette, as well as the production
notes. These are not included on this new set,
but they really aren’t missed.
But to make up for what is gone from this new
set, Universal has included the complete “Making
of Jaws” Documentary. It was originally
included in a shorter version, but is now back
and fully restored to its glorious two hour running
time. It is a terrific documentary and covers
every aspect of the film. This documentary was
created for the earlier LaserDisc release, and
for some reason it was cut on the 25th Anniversary
DVDs.
To make a great DVD set even better, Universal
has also added a short featurette that was produced
in 1974 that features interviews with Spielberg
and some of the members of the cast and crew while
at work on the set. They also added a few more
items to The Jaws Archives, including a look at
some of the promo materials from around the world.
But wait… there’s more!! (I always
wanted to say that…) If you’re into
books, you’ll find a 60-page Commemorative
Photo Journal enclosed in the package.
There are so few films that really stand up to
the test of time, especially when you get into
the realm of horror. Audiences have been so desensitized
over the years that few films from years ago really
frighten the younger people today. But “Jaws”
is such a terrifically crafted film that I guarantee
it will scare the heck out of even the most MTV-muddled
audience.
Directed by: Steven Speilberg
Starring: Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert
Shaw
Extras: 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,
From The Set An insider's look at life on the
set of Jaws, featuring a never-before-available
interview with Steven Spielberg, Deleted Scenes,
Outtakes, Jaws Archives Take a peek inside the
Jaws archives including storyboards, production
photos, and marketing materials, as well as a
special segment on the Jaws phenomenon
Specifications: Widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1
Surround Sound, DTS 5.1 Digital Surround Sound,
Dolby Digital 2.0
Studio: Universal
Release Date: 6/14/2005
Region 1
MPAA Rating: PG
Website
We'll give Jaws: 30th Anniversary Edition an
A.
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