You'll Need A Bigger DVD Player! (Jaws 25th Anniversary (DVD))

Member Name: carolinesite

Product:	Jaws 25th Anniversary (DVD)
Date:	08/03/01 (122 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Always a classic, tons of extras on the DVD

Disadvantages: None

In 1964, Peter Benchley wrote a book about a killer shark. He got the idea after a huge Great White shark was caught just off the shores of Long Island.
When Steven Speilberg read the book in 1973, he commissioned Benchley to write the screen play for the movie. Along with another writer and actor, Carl Gottlieb, they came up with script for 'Jaws'.

Many of you saw this on the big screen, way back in 1975, and many have seen it on numerous occasions since, on video and TV. It has become 'cult viewing'. Now it's back! With more bite than before, on DVD.

The star of the film is a huge, 25ft long, Great White Shark, that prowls the shores of the little Island community of Amity, looking for it's latest meal.
Human stars include Roy Schieder (Chief Brody), an excellent choice for the part. He plays the Chief of Police of the Island, and tries to do the right thing.
Lorraine Gary plays Ellen Brody, the Chief's wife. Not filled with beauty, but an excellent actress nonetheless.
Richard Dreyfuss plays Matt Hooper, the Marine Biologist, called to the Island by Brody after suspecting that there is a shark on the loose. Another well suited actor for his part. His character brings humour to many of the scenes.
Robert Shaw is cast as Quint, the obnoxious shark fisherman that is eventually hired to catch Jaws. Shaw reminds me of an American Anthony Hopkins, and is also an excellent choice for the part. In fact, Spielberg has done extremely well with his casting in general. Peter Benchley even has a small part as the Interviewer.

The basic plot of the film is that there is a hungry shark eating people, and the holiday season is about to open. Brody wants the beaches closed until it is clear that the shark has been killed, but the Mayor does not want to loose tourist income. In the end, Brody, Hooper and Quint set off on Quint's boat, the Orca, in search of this hungry scavenger.



The DVD has many features:
LANGUAGES
SUBTITLES
SCENE SELECTION
EXTRA FEATURES
MOVIE

EXTRA FEATURES:
DOCUMENTARY - The Making of Jaws
This is the 2nd best part of the DVD. I learnt quite a few things about the film and it’s actors from this section. It has interviews with all the actors, Peter Benchley and Steven Spielberg. I realise that it was made 25 years ago, but seeing how much these people had aged since then was surprising.
How the film had come about. This tells the story of how Benchley first decided to write the book and how Spielberg decides to use it for a movie.
How the scene at the beginning of the movie involving Chrissie was done. This is one of the most famous scenes of the film, and Susan Backline, who plays Chrissie, tells us how her scene was shot and what effects were used.
Where the location of the movie took place. They decided to shoot at Martha's Vineyard, so this part tells why it was chosen and how the locals reacted to a movie being made on their doorstep.
The fun they had in making the film. There are many funny stories told during their making of the film, and one has to be the soundman's story. I won't spoil it - watch it.
Why Spielberg chose the actors that were used. Here, Spielberg tells us why he used those particular actors and actresses.
What they did in the end to complete the film, after their mechanical shark broke down. With the film being hampered so many times by their mechanical shark breaking down, they had to think of something quickly, in order to complete the film on time. So that's why they used those yellow barrels!
And a scene in which Spielberg cut out, because he thought it was in bad taste. One scene was deleted because Spielberg thought it was too horrific. You do get to see it, but I don't agree with him about it being in bad taste. Make your own mind up.

DELETED SCENES
A few deleted s
cenes, but mainly pointless pieces that the film went ahead without. Extra talking scenes, Quint visiting a shop to buy piano wire and so on.

PICTURE GALLERY
This shows the original drawings and story board taken from the novel and opening credits. Many of these were changed for the movie. Spielberg did not want anything too gruesome too early in the film.

THEATRICAL TRAILERS
These would have been shown in the cinema prior to the films release, so you may have seen one.

OUT TAKES
Not as many as I had hoped for. 2 in total! That’s a poor show, don’t you think? One is where Brody's gun refuses to fire and the other is of Quint, when he is in the jaws of the shark; this is actually quite a funny out take.

I rented this DVD, but I hope to add it to our collection very soon.

Summary: