Posted Tue Apr 10, 2012 at 09:55 AM PDT by Tom Landy
The landmark film that still makes people afraid to go into the water is getting the royal Blu-ray treatment in August.
In an early announcement to retailers, Universal Studios says 'Jaws' will have a Blu-ray release on August 14.
One of the most influential motion pictures of all time and nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award®, 'Jaws' stars Oscar® winner Richard Dreyfuss and Oscar® nominees Roy Scheider and Robert Shaw. Produced by legendary filmmakers Richard D. Zanuck and David Brown, the film earned an Oscar® for composer John Williams’ instantly recognizable minimalist score, as well as Oscars® for Best Editing and Best Sound. When it was first released in 1975, JAWS smashed box-office records and became the highest-grossing film of its era, earning Spielberg a reputation as a Hollywood visionary. Today, it remains one of the highest-grossing films in motion-picture history and is largely considered the film that launched the summer blockbuster.
'Jaws' is one of 13 classic Universal films to be digitally remastered and fully restored from 35mm original film elements as part of Universal’s ongoing 100th Anniversary celebration. The 'Jaws' restoration began with researching and evaluating the existing film elements to determine the best means to restore the film. Over the course of several months, skilled technicians at Universal Studios Digital Services meticulously balanced color, removed dirt and scratches, and repaired any damage to the film elements shot by shot and frame by frame. Following the picture restoration, Universal Studios Sound team up-mixed the iconic 'Jaws' soundtrack to DTS-HD Master 7.1, optimizing the sound on the Blu-rayTM for the latest home theater technology. The entire restoration process was conducted in conjunction with Steven Spielberg and Amblin Entertainment’s post-production team to ensure the integrity of Spielberg’s original vision remained intact.
“'Jaws' holds a unique place, not just in Universal Pictures’ history, but in global pop culture,” said Craig Kornblau, President of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. “It is only fitting that this phenomenal film should be given the extensive restoration needed to ensure that long-time fans as well as newcomers can enjoy this unforgettable cinematic achievement for generations to come.”
The Blu-ray/DVD/UV Digital Copy will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Two-hour The Making of Jaws documentary; Jaws: The Restoration; From the Set; Jaws Archives that features "storyboards, production photos, and marketing materials, as well as a special segment on the Jaws phenomenon"; deleted scenes; outtakes; original theatrical trailer; and the all-new The Shark is Still Working: The Impact & Legacy of Jaws feature-length documentary.
Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.98.
You can find the latest specs for 'Jaws' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's now indexed under August 14.
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