I'm going to admit that Jaws, for as big a movie buff as I considered myself, was a film I avoided in adulthood. After all, it's just a movie about a shark killing a bunch of people, that sounds just like a slasher film, right? Wrong!
For starters, let me address how awesome this film, that was made in 1975, looks in present day via the Blu-ray version: Like it was shot yesterday. You'd think Robert Shaw was sitting in your living room slurring his words, it looks just that lifelike. Secondly, the film really does hold up 40 years later. For those who haven't seen it, this is a film about a small town known as Amityville, home to a police chief Brody, played superbly by the late, great Roy Scheider, who grows increasingly concerned after a teenager is killed by a shark attack late one night. Later, a more paranoid Brody is watching the beach with fear, wondering when the shark will turn up next, and just when he thinks he's wigging out a little too much, it returns and spares no sympathy for the kids in the water. In the end, the character of Hooper, played by Richard Dreyfuss is brought in to help Brody to investigate what kind of shark is causing bloodshed in and around the beaches at Amityville. It's later decided by Brody and Hooper, that the only person who has the experience and knowledge in killing sharks is Quint, played by Robert Shaw. All the while the mayor of Amityville refuses to want to shut the beach down in fear of losing money and tourists, and gives the film an added theme of how corporate greed could care less about innocent people.
Towards the end of the film the three main characters of Brody, Hooper, and Quint, are out at sea, on a small fishing/hunting vessel and are truly at the behest of the killer shark. Even though it's obvious at some points the shark is fake, and has a rubber shell, it's the perfect acting from all three actors that convinces the audience they are indeed in a dire situation. My favorite moment during the last act is as Quint is riding the engine of his boat too hard, and burning it up, he begins to sing his favorite sea faring song, all the while laughing and winching, knowing the three of them are basically screwed.
The acting in this film is truly what carries it from being just an average film about a deadly shark, to that of a best picture quality feature film. I can't underline that enough, and it's obvious why the sequels never had the same impact as the original did. If you've seen this film before, but really want to see what it would have looked like back in 1975 with a clean print, get the Blu-ray edition. If you're simply a home theater enthusiast and want to see an old film look like it was shot yesterday, get the Blu-ray! This may be one of the best remastered projects the home-video world has ever seen, it's just that good.
Nuff said.
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