ADDITION: Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray (August 2012): Universal have really made up for the previous weak, greenish, DVDs with a wonderful restoration for Jaws. The fear was over-digitization, but aside from some very infrequent waxiness - this looks like a huge triumph.  Colors are more vibrant and true, details rises, skin tones warm and move from their 480 orange hue. Contrast is subtle and not overbearing on the image (an easy thing to do in restoration), artifacts that plagued the SDs have been removed - as shown in the included featurette. Depth is rare but exists. I think most viewers will be highly impressed with the resulting 1080P visuals housed on a dual-layered Blu-ray disc with a solid bitrate.

Audio is equally improved with a strong DTS-HD Master 7.1 at a whopping 4893 kbps. The separations have aggressive tendencies and subtle mixes are appreciated. John Williams score never sounded more dynamic and builds the tension as the film progresses. Depth is seething in its power which, when tested, thunders to life, but in a restrained expression. All good. There are optional subtitles on the region FREE disc.

Supplements also go the extra mile. We get the full 2-hour, and excellent, The Making of Jaws documentary as found on the 2005 Anniversary DVD. It is worth re-watching - even in 480i. I also liked the 10-part The Shark is Still Working: the Impact and Legacy of Jaws that runs a lasting 1 3/4 hour. New is an interesting piece on the restoration - lasting 8.5-minutes and the previously seen From The Set: An insider's look at life on the set of Jaws, featuring a never-before-available interview with Steven Spielberg and the Deleted Scenes + Outtakes that run shy of 15-minutes. The Jaws Archives take a peek inside the Jaws production files including storyboards, production photos, and marketing materials, as well as a special segment on the Jaws phenomenon. There is a trailer - also only in SD. The disc is My Scenes capable as well as Ultraviolet and Digital copies on a second disc.

The massive legions of Jaws fans will be very pleased with this incredible Blu-ray - highly impressive a/v and bonus extras. One of the better packages of the year to date. Strongly recommended!

***

ADDITION (Universal - 30th Anniversary) DVD - 2005 - well, if its not the exact same image as the 25th Anniversary NTSC then it is as close as 'dammit' is to swearing. I wonder if every 5 years that Universal will come out with a 'new' edition using the old transfer ... and leaving in the artifacts of DVDs gone by. Differences from the older NTSC edition are:

1) Less extras on the 'film' disc for the newer editions (see details below)

2) More extras in total on the 30th Anniversary as there is a 2nd disc with a new full length documentary.

3) More audio options (5.1 , DTS and original mono) in the new 30th as well as two 5.1 Dubs.

4) Addition of Spanish optional subtitles adding to the English and French

5) Clearer and brighter font subtitles in the 30th Anniversary edition.

6) Inclusion of the Commemorative Photo Journal (see and enlarge photo below)

BOTTOM LINE: Although the image still has a slim black border on the right and left edges (hindering full horizontal resolution) and the artifacts remain as prevalent - the package is an appealing purchase as well as for those keener on 5.1 than DTS (playability). The feature documentary in the 30th extras is quite good and the commemorative journal is stunningly beautiful - one of the nicest extras I have ever seen in a DVD package. You can buy now of wait for another 5 years - it will be in HD by then... or maybe even 3-D, probably the same transfer flaws though.

Comments on the first 2 in the comparison (25th Anniversary editions): By today's standards, these DVDs are not up to par. The image is grainy, lacks sharpness in details, and there are several places throughout the film, where artifacts is so visible, it almost looks like birds in the sky (look image #2).

Sadly all editions lack the original mono track, which had a unique sound mix. The 2.0 DD surround is very centerbased, but is no match. The choice between 5.1 DD and DTS goes clearly to the DTS track, which is very impressive. The DTS LFE is tight and especially the score comes to full effect here.

The biggest disappointment about this anniversary edition is however the butchering of the documentary, which originally appeared on the laserdisc in 2-hour length, but for the anniversary DVD was edited down to 50 minutes. However, this is still, even in its reduced length, one of the best documentaries made.

Wishlist for the 30th anniversary edition in 2005 would be a 2-disc edition with the original mono track, a remastered version of the film and the original documentary restored. In short, We gonna need a bigger DVD.

 - Henrik Sylow

JAWS - When Universal released JAWS, they knew the book was a hit, but had no idea the film would be the most commercially successful natural disaster film since Alfred Hitchcock's THE BIRDS, another Universal release. Since Spielberg was using the Hitchcock playbook at the time, that makes sense. Now that Spielberg's WAR OF THE WORLDS is due out, the darkest commercial action film he's made since the JURASSIC PARK films, it makes sense for a more complete JAWS to finally get issued on DVD. The uncut original documentary will no longer be held prisoner on the 12" LaserDisc box set and the great DTS remix is included. The picture has also been restored, as shot by the unsung hero of the film, cinematographer Bill Butler. Butler was in his prime in the 1970s, previously working with Spielberg on his haunted house telefilm SOMETHING EVIL starring Darren McGavin, which has not been out since an early VHS edition. He later shot the great police action drama HICKEY & BOGGS, Francis Coppola's brilliant THE CONVERSATION, creepy Sci-Fi flick DEMON SEED, underrated sequel DAMIEN: OMEN II, megahit GREASE, hit thriller CAPRICORN ONE and camp classic CAN'T STOP THE MUSIC. They all looked great and were shot exceptionally well like JAWS. Maybe a DTS DVD release of SOMETHING EVIL is in order, like DUEL. The new JAWS DVD looks as good as any of them, restored and looking like it did in 1975.

Nicholas Sheffo from FulvueDrive-In.com