Blu-ray Review: Restored ‘Jaws’ Gives Your Blu-ray Player Purpose

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CHICAGO – I’ve long argued that the main reason that Blu-ray sales didn’t instantly take off like purists argued that they should have was because too many people’s favorite movies weren’t even available on the format. Universal has gone a long way to fixing that problem in 2012 through their 100th Anniversary line of Blu-ray releases and today sees the company unveiling for the public what is unquestionably the Blu-ray of the year. “Jaws” is back, digitally restored in a way that’s truly difficult to put into words. You need to see it. You need to own it. Or your Blu-ray player isn’t doing its job.

Rating: 5.0/5.0

As for the movie itself, there are some films that I adore for which I’m open to debate or discussion about their potential flaws. “Jaws” is not one of them. The movie is PERFECT. It’s one of those flicks that I simply have to watch every time it’s on cable and I get something new out of it every time. This release gives fans a wealth of that “something new to appreciate” sensation because, as cliched as this sounds, you’ve simply never seen “Jaws” like this before. From the moonlight on the water in the opening scene to the way the red of the blood looks just a bit brighter to the stubble on Roy Scheider’s face — the level of detail is astonishing. And yet it’s never overly polished. There was a time when films from the ’70s and ’80s often came to Blu-ray with a plastic look. That is not the case here. It is quite simply one of the best HD transfers in history (and there’s a great mini-featurette about how it was accomplished — going back to the original film and polishing it up and color correcting it frame by frame by frame).

One of the best movies ever made with one of the best HD restorations in history should be MORE than enough reason to rush out and buy “Jaws” (or, even better, click on the link below and do so through your favorite site). But you need more? Want some special features? How about hours of them filled with details that even this Spielberg historian didn’t know about and a digital version, DVD version, and Ultraviolet version so you can get your “Jaws” on wherever you may be?

The highlights of the special features are the feature-length documentaries “The Making of Jaws” (which was previously available on DVD but is still a spectacular document on the history of the film) and the newly available “The Shark is Still Working: The Impact & Legacy of Jaws.” Storyboards, production photoes, deleted scenes, outtakes — Honestly, “Jaws” is one of those Blu-rays that makes a critic regret having given 5 stars in the past because most of those releases weren’t this good.

Jaws was released on Blu-ray on August 14, 2012
Photo credit: Universal

Synopsis:
Directed by Academy Award winner Steven Spielberg, Jaws set the standard for edge-of-your-seat suspense quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon and forever changing the movie industry. When the seaside community of Amity finds itself under attack by a dangerous great white shark, the town’s chief of police (Roy Scheider), a young marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss) and a grizzled shark hunter (Robert Shaw) embark on a desperate quest to destroy the beast before it strikes again. Featuring an unforgettable score that evokes pure terror, Jaws remains one of the most influential and gripping adventures in motion picture history.

Click here to buy “Jaws”

Special Features:
o The Shark Is Still Working: The Impact & Legacy of Jaws
o The Making Of Jaws
o Jaws: The Restoration
o Deleted Scenes and Outtakes
o From The Set
o Storyboards
o Productions Photos
o Marketing Jaws
o Jaws Phenomenon
o Original Theatrical Trailer

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com