Rating: 
Summary: The Best Ever
Review: This one started it all. There would be no "summer blockbuster" if it were not for this marvel. Speilberg managed to put an intense fear of the ocean in the entire population, i still have a twinge of fear walking into the breakers.The shark effects are brilliant. The anticipation that builds up before you can even see the shark turns into amazement when you get your first glimpse. The film crew did a fantastic job on "Bruce" the mechanical shark (unlike Jaws 2, 3 and 4). I would have loved to see what speilberg could do with this movie using todays advancements in computer generated technology. This movie still terrifies, even 25 years after its release. Ben Gardner's head popping out of the hull of his boat still gets me to this day. Little Alex Kitners death at the beach is as disturbing as ever. Jaws has everything from top to bottom. It is truly a great movie.
Rating:
Summary: Where's Richard?
Review: Richard Kiel is truly one of the leading thespians of the Twentieth Century. How the Academy was able to overlooked him for Oscar contention for his work in the Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker is shocking. When I heard that he would be starring in a new action film--as the titular head, no less (ala Shaft)-- I was thrilled. Then I watched the movie. Much like the titans in the poorly titled Titanic, Richard was not to be found in this film. How could Jaws end up on the cutting room floor of a film entitled Jaws? It's most perplexing. As any fan of Richard's work can readily attest, the man has experience working with sharks, so it is difficult to see how he could not have fit into this movie, which, surprisingly, is mostly about a shark. Perhaps the film editors forgot about Richard's fatal fight with the Bull shark in The Spy Who Loved Me. I thought it was unforgetable. But, as is so often the case in this day and age, it appears that I am wrong. Oh well. Surprisingly, though, once I got over the shock and grave dissapointment of Richard's absence, I warmed up to this movie. This Spielberg guy might have potential. My nurse told me that there are other Jaws movies: Jaws 2, 3 and 4. I expect Richard will play a prominent role in them.
Rating:
Summary: First of the Speilberg Summer Blockbusters!
Review: I was only 6 when Jaws premeired in 1975, and my parents would not let me see this one, so it was not until 1981 that I viewed this one(on BETA! ), and I recently purchased the THX Widescreen version which kicks!The John Williams score does it again. Shaw, Dreyfuss, and Schieder are perfect(it is these scenes with the three of them on the ORCA that are best). What I want to know is was that shark video game seen during the 4th of July scene a real game or was it constructed just for this film?Followed by medicore sequels(although JAWS II was decent).
Rating: 
Summary: Great movie. Lousy video presentation.
Review: I love the movie JAWS, and I agree with the AFI that it's one of the 100 greatest American films of all time. But this particular video presentation does not present the movie in it's original form. This DVD does not contain the original, oscar winning sound effects. Instead, this DVD contains a bunch of newly re-recorded sound effects. To me, this is the equivalent of re-writing Shakespear's plays, re-writing the novels of Dickens, or tearing up the Mona Lisa and painting a new one. Besides, the DVD format allows for up to 8 different audio track to be included, so even if they did record a new one, why not also include the old one? I guess George Orwell was right. History is indeed being re-written. What a shame. Hopefully someday they will issue a DVD that contains the origianl soundtrack to this movie.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best
Review: This is, quite simply,one of the best horror films ever made.Spielberg effectively meshes stark terror, a bit of realism,and a little humor to create this excellent film version of a rather horrible novel. I'm sure everyone knows the plot,so no need to go into that.Superb acting,superb direction,superb score,almost everything worked about this film. As a refreshing change,Spielberg chose to present each of his characters as completely fleshed out human beings, and not just fodder for the shark.Truly excellent filmmaking.This movie really scared me really,REALLY bad as a child,and as a result I think the PG rating is a bit lenient. It really should have been rated R.It really is too intense for young kids.
Rating:
Summary: "That's a 20 footer!" "25. 'Got 3 tons on him"
Review: One of the greatest movies of all time and the best horror/suspense of all time. I saw this when it first came out. People quibble about why it was so successful, but I tell you, it is just a brilliant film. No other movie puts the chills up a persons back better. With all the advances in technology today, this still outclasses them. The acting was terrific. The music was unforgettable. To this day whenever someone starts humming the music, it means something bad is going to happen. How many other films have that distinction? The best of the best of it's genre.
Rating:
Summary: Classic action/adventure film...and great filmmaking
Review: Say what you will about Steven Spielberg, but a lesser filmmaker would have been far less gutsy about this film. Can you imagine a film being made today about a killer shark...and having the filmmaker resolutely refuse to show you the shark until the film was 2/3 done? That's what makes "Jaws" so effective - we don't know anything about the shark at all. It's a complete mystery. That makes it a true protagonist in a dramatic sense...and a great counterpoint to today's action films, in which silly one-liners and overacting count as great villainy. It shows great faith in the intelligence of the moviegoer on Spielberg's part. "Jaws" has other charms as well. The performances are excellent, especially Robert Shaw's turn as the crusty, slightly crazy and ultimately very likeable Quint. The scene in which he describes his experience with the sinking of the USS Indianapolis is absolutely riveting. The John Williams score is a classic, and it's a tribute to the craft of the filmmakers that very few of the film's special effects (including the shark) look the least bit dated today. All in all, this is a classic, but I don't need to tell you that...you've probably already seen it a few dozen times yourself.
Rating:
Summary: Shark still looks fake...
Review: ...This, the first summer blockbuster, is possibly one of the most tense film ever, alongside Duel and Jurassic Park. An example to budding 'monster' flick directors of today, it shows how premature revelations can ruin all pretension to the coiled spring effect. It also shows nobody does it better than Spielberg. However, this differs from the action/scare flicks of today, in that it does have a plot, is better than the book, has depth and characterisation, has dialogue that doesn't merely amount to a witty one-liner, and it isn't easy to predict who's going to survive. The DVD is very good, but like the Jurassic Park DVD there's no director's commentary. I'm starting to think Spielberg believes he's too good for the likes of us. Anyway, still template for all films to come. Now come on, you know how it goes.... Der-nah! Der-nah! Der-nah der-nah der-nah.....
Rating:
Summary: The Standard Has Been Set
Review: Let me get right to the point. "Jaws" is a classic, a masterpiece, the standard by which all modern horror and action thrillers are measured. Spielberg's 1975 adaptation of Peter Benchley's celebrated novel may well have ignited a new era for the movie industry at that time: the era of the "Summer Blockbuster." Sadly, it's an era that seems more intent upon marketing commercial products and visual effects over substance and innovation, as many of Hollywood's bigwigs (Spielberg included) have sold out to produce brainless, demographically inspired trash like "Con Air," and "Wild Wild West." Remember when going to the movies was fun? Remember when you could expect a healthy blend of crisp and original storytelling, attention to character development, and a plot that didn't insult your intelligence? "Jaws" manifests each of these essential ingredients to a quality movie-going experience, and the result is one of the greatest films of all time. The residents of Amity Island, Massachusetts have one thing going for their livelihoods: summer tourists and beach goers. So what do you do when a great white shark threatens to bring an untimely end to the summer season, not to mention the lives of several unfortunate bathers? This is the dilemma that's brilliantly played out between the rational-minded sheriff (Roy Scheider) and the politically motivated town mayor (Murray Hamilton). The quarrel is finished when a series of tragic events compel that the shark be killed by any means necessary. Enter the best shark-hunting trio ever assembled. Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw formulate such perfect chemistry that we can't peel our attention away for even a moment. In fact, the movie's final hour may be one of the finest ever filmed in terms of drama, suspense, and sheer horror. All performances are commendable, the dialogue at times is brilliant, and the mechanical shark (Bruce) is as terrifying as any "computer generated" effect from that moronic film "Deep Blue Sea." John William's score ranks among the best ever composed, on a par in terms of ground-breaking significance with the themes from "Star Wars," "Gone With the Wind," and "West Side Story." The movie was followed by three sequels, each increasing exponentially in banality.
Rating:
Summary: This is not a boating accident!!
Review: My first encounter with Jaws was back in 1978 when I saw Jaws 2 as a 7 year old. A year or two later I got to see the original Jaws when it was re-released during the summer. I was genuinely enthralled by this landmark classic as a kid and to this day Jaws hasn't lost any of its bite! It's simply amazing what Steven Spielberg pulled off despite the legendary problems that was faced throughout the production of the film. This adventure/horror story based on Peter Benchley's original novel, is exciting, terrifying and even funny. Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss and the late Robert Shaw made a unlikely but highly memorable team as they went about hunting down a 25 ft 3 ton Great White Shark named Bruce. Jaws is filled with memorable images and scenes from the opening credits to the very end. One that always stands out to me is watching the Orca set sail through a set of shark jaws hanging over a window in Quint's studio. A combination of skilled direction and editing, terrific acting, and a highly charged and unforgettable music score by John Williams create of the greatest films of all times. This upcoming DVD looks to be the definative edition to watch this groundbreaking film for many many years to come. Jaws still delivers the goods 25 years later.
| 
