Jaws (1975) 3D Theatrical Re-Release Review

Jaws has finally come back to the theaters. But this time, it's got an even bigger bite by not just being released on the big screen, but also in 3D and IMAX (not IMAX 3D, unfortunately). I don't know why Universal wouldn't wait till the films 50th anniversary in a few years to do this. But none the less, it's a real treat to get to see Jaws on the big screen. Now, you're probably wondering whether or not you should go for the IMAX or the 3D version. That's a bit beyond the 3D Dinosaur's expertise. Instead, we're just going to review the 3D version and see what you think after that. So without further ado, let's get onto the review.

For those of you who have somehow missed it over the last 50 years, Jaws is a 1975 action thriller about a shark who begins eating people swimming at Amity Beach. At first, the mayor tries to downplay the severity of the threat. But when people start discovering for themselves how dangerous, and hungry, this shark really is, it's up to Chief Brody, a shark biologist Matt Hooper, and a shark hunter named Quint to track down this shark and get rid of it for good.

I don't know what more I can say about this film that no one else has. This is without a doubt the greatest shark horror movie ever made, and nothing else in the genre even comes close to it, even after the film being around for nearly 50 years. And it continues to stand the test of the time for a lot of great, but pretty simple reasons. For starters, the terror remains absolutely top-notch. With films nowadays relying on excessive gore and mindless jump scares to get a reaction out of the audience, films like Jaws remind us that often times, less is more. We never even see the shark fully until we're almost an hour into the movie. And even then, only three people in that time get eaten. But because of the way the film plays with the fear of the unknown, it makes your stomach start churning anytime you see anybody in the water. Everyone knows this film's technique. So why doesn't anybody in our day and age tend to use it? (We get a few exceptions like A Quiet Place, but still)

Another reason this movie has stood the test of time so well is, and this is a big one, because of its memorable characters. Chief Brody is the guy who wants to do what's right, but can be mentally conflicted with the surrounding circumstances at times. It's because of that he feels like a real character who the audience can relate to. His marine biologist friend Hooper has a few more know-hows and is quite more expressively determined than Brody is. But he's still a straight thinking person. Quint might be slightly more disconnected from the audience as he feels often times like a stereotype of sailor men. But he's still entertaining in every scene he's in. And of course, that monologue he has is pretty memorable. A pretty big factor in these characters is that besides the bad guy, no one really is shown making bad or dumb decisions like we see in so many other films of the genre. It's pretty obvious, of course. But the simple fact that good, well-thought out, rational characters makes the overall story more interesting and engaging still manages to get lost on many modern filmmakers nowadays.

What else can I say about Jaws? It's a simple yet cleverly crafted, terrifying, and thoroughly enjoyable shark movie. It's quite disappointing to see most shark films nowadays become complete parodies of themselves when films like this show just how amazing they can be when given the proper care and attention. I guess you can't catch lightning in a bottle twice. But I'd like to see someone at least try. Anyway, if you're one of the few people on earth who hasn't seen this movie yet, I highly encourage you to do so. It's a shark movie at its absolute best. And if you haven't seen it in a long time, give it another watch. It remains just as entertaining on the first viewing as it does the tenth viewing.

OVERALL FILM RATING: 5/5

Now when I first that Jaws was going to get converted to 3D, two things came to mind. One, I thought about how hard it's going to be to say Jaws 3D without some people confusing it with Jaws 3-D of 1983. I haven't seen Jaws 3-D (or Jaws 3), in 2D or 3D. And because of its reputation as a cheesy shark flick that disgraces the original, I don't plan to (though I might one day maybe to compare the 3D of both that film and this one). The second thing I thought was this: unlike Jaws 3-D, Jaws, like any other film made in 1975, wasn't filmed with 3D in mind. And it's setting and story didn't really seem to demand for the 3D treatment either. So I went in without really high expectations. So how does a film about a shark without much shark in it fare with the 3D conversion?

The answer: wayyy more than you'd think. That's right, this movie not only works in 3D, but is pretty exceptional in it too. The 3D depth throughout the movie remains lifelike and deep. And when you watch it on the big screen, that effect is only enhanced. The ocean looks like it goes on for infinity in every scene. And it becomes especially mesmerizing in the last half of the movie. But even on land, every setting looks virtually exactly like how it would in real life. The buildings in town all are big and have clear separation between them. The insides of the building are less interesting, but they still retain good enough depth to make it still an interesting watch. The beach itself is much noticeably larger in 3D. And even the people and close up objects all retain proper shape and volume. What's most surprising to me is how interesting Quint's boat appears in 3D in the last half of the movie. You wouldn't give it a second thought in 2D. But in 3D, the many aspects of his boat from the windows to the poles to the wires to the claustrophobic interior all look much more interesting. And when the camera is standing from the top of the boat looking down, you feel as if your looking down.

Surprisingly, for a movie that wasn't filmed for 3D from the beginning, the 3D conversion lends itself to some pretty memorable moments. For starters, the scenes on the boat in the last half of the movie are where the 3D is at its best. The constant moving up and down of the boat helps give you the impression that you're actually there. The separation between characters and objects make the place feel all the more immersive. When one person has to step out onto the side of the boat and tiptoe to the front or back and the camera is right on the platform, the 3D actually makes the shot all the more riveting. The ocean itself also lends itself well in 3D during this section of the movie. When you have to follow some barrels moving across the sea in 3D, or anything else for that matter, the view and focus is made all the more engaging. There are also parts when the shark jumps out at you, especially in the showdown, that end up looking much more intimidating than the 2D version, even if it only protrudes the screen ever so slightly (maybe it helps that it was on the big screen, but still). Guns and harpoons also pop out a good amount. SPOILERS: The big explosion of the shark at the end of the film looks awesome in 3D, with blood and shark debris coming up out of the screen, above water and underwater. END SPOILERS.

But just because the last half of the film looks great in 3D doesn't mean the first doesn't have some good use of 3D also. What the third dimension does really well, especially at the beach scenes with lots of the people, is put you in the water with the surrounding characters. Sometimes, the camera is just above water and ocean surface looks like it's stretching into the auditorium. We also get plenty of water splashes during these scenes that leave the screen a good amount. Other times, the camera is underwater, through Jaws's POV, going and coming up to the characters' legs, allowing for some fun underwater shots and also some good pop outs. In fact, the opening shot of the film, in spite of the opening credits it starts out with that leap off the screen, is a view of underwater foliage from the shark's POV. It's not as mesmerizing in 3D as you might expect. But it's still fun to see. Also, you remember that scene when Hooper is exploring the remains of a sunken ship and gets jump scared by a dead guy? Well, even though the corpse doesn't exactly protrude the screen, his presence in 3D space certainly adds an extra dimension of terror to the shot.

On land, 3D is also utilized surprisingly well. During the more mundane scenes like during a dinner or an autopsy report, the depth still remains present and continues to give the film an interesting look. And when the we see a window looking out to the ocean or to other surrounding buildings, that's a bonus. Outside, the separation of objects remains apparent and mesmerizing in 3D. That scene I mentioned earlier with the sunken boat looks fascinating with fog, a spotlight, and various moving objects. And during the day when we're at the beach or in town, we still get plenty of fences, people, buildings, sand, cigarettes, and other related elements in the frame that look more interesting in 3D than their 2D counterpart. There's even a scene where Chief Brody and the mayor take a ferry from one place to the other, but the camera remains in the same position on the ferry allowing only the background the move. It's one of the examples of 3D taking something 2D has already made fun to watch and enhancing it.

If I had any complaint about the film, it would probably be that it can look pretty dark in a few scenes, which isn't really helpful by the dimness of the 3D glasses.

All in all, Jaws was a very pleasant surprise in 3D. I wouldn't put it up there with the likes of Kung Fu Panda 3D or Wizard of Oz 3D. But the sheer amount of depth here turns Jaws into something that looked like it doesn't really need a conversion (and it probably didn't) and creating an experience superior to the 2D version in most every way. In fact, I'd even say the overall product is up there with Jurassic Park 3D. And if you've seen that one before, you'd know that's saying a lot. So I'm giving Jaws a 3D rating of "Excellent." If you haven't checked this film out yet in 3D, I strongly encourage you to do so. You may have liked Jaws before, but you'll love it like this.

3D RATING: EXCELLENT

Other sources that review this movie's 3D (the opinions expressed in these review may not always match up with mine. But if you want a second opinion on this movie's 3D, these are some places I recommend checking out):

Cinemablend's To 3D or Not Review: https://www.cinemablend.com/3d/to-3d-or-not-to-3d-buy-the-right-jaws-ticket

Stoned Gremlin Production's Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5MnAb3O4gM

FINAL THOUGHTS:

The fact that Jaws is out on the big screen means that you should see it no matter what format it's available in. Of course, the big question still remains: should you see it in 3D or IMAX? Personally, I say both is good. But if it has to come down to one, I say it depends on the person you are. If you aren't all that into 3D, you'll probably like what you see, but you might also wish you went for the bigger screen and much louder and deeper sound system available with the IMAX showings. But if you're a 3D loyalist, definitely see this film in 3D while it's still out. Not only is it a much better experience than the 2D version in ways you wouldn't expect, but it also sends a message that we want 3D to stay around. While I'm still bummed out I didn't see Lord of the Rings get re-released in all its 3D glory, nor any of the other movies on my list of film that need a 3D conversion, Jaws 3D (not Jaws 3-D) can remind us that sometimes, great 3D films can come in places we don't expect. In case I haven't made it clear, get your 3D glasses, grab your cherry red ICEE, and check out Jaws 3D. You certainly deserve it.

DID YOU LIKE "JAWS" (1975) IN 3D

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DO YOU LIKE "JAWS" (1975) DESERVES A 3D BLU-RAY RELEASE

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