The Shark is Still Working: The Impact and Legacy of JAWS

[hack slash]

http://www.sharkisstillworking.com/default.asp?c=newtrailer

click on link and scroll to bottom of page

[WesReviews]

Is this movie EVER going to come out?

[Just Jeans]

Not likely. Universal continues to cock block it. I'm guessing they may release it around an anniversary or Blu-ray release of the original.

[WesReviews]

Not likely. Universal continues to cock block it. I'm guessing they may release it around an anniversary or Blu-ray release of the original.

What's the issue with Universal? Aren't they producing or co-producing in some capacity?

I could see The Shark is Still Working making a pretty awesome bonus feature on a Jaws Blu-Ray set with 1-4, if Universal is in the mix.

[The Dream Master]

I don't think you're likely to see a Jaws BD set at all; ever notice we never got one on DVD? I heard it was because Spielberg didn't want the original to be associated with the sequels. Could be internet bullshit, but how many other series can you think of that didn't get a set?

For the record, I don't think Universal had anything to do with this at all. Completely independent production; they should buy the fucker and release it...negative pick-up guaranteed to turn a profit if there ever was one.

[i am SAW]

wouldn't The Shark Is Still Swimming be a more appropriate title?

[The Dream Master]

No, the title refers to the fact that the animatronic shark hardly ever worked while they were filming Jaws. ;)

[WesReviews]

For the record, I don't think Universal had anything to do with this at all. Completely independent production; they should buy the fucker and release it...negative pick-up guaranteed to turn a profit if there ever was one.

Indeed. How can they agree to let the filmmakers use footage from the movies, but then let another company release it? Just wouldn't make much sense. Besides, all the production work has been completed. All they would have to do is buy it, market it, and release it. Not a great deal of effort required, really.

[The Tall Man]

Universal needs to nut up and release this and "Great White" in a dual-DVD set.

T.M., Esq.

[WesReviews]

Universal needs to nut up and release this and "Great White" in a dual-DVD set.

T.M., Esq.

Quoted for truth.

[God of Thunder]

Universal needs to nut up and release this and "Great White" in a dual-DVD set.

T.M., Esq.

Fucking god, yes!!!!

Speaking of Great White, have you seen recent prints of it???

Holy shit, you can actually see underwater now, without watching the film in pitch black. The shark's head exploding was almost completely obscured by terrible picture on the infamous Japanese VHS print, which just about every bootleg used.

Speaking of it, is Universal's injunction on the movie even still in effect? Wasn't it only supposed to last 25/30 years or so?

[WesReviews]

Over a year later and this still isn't out.

On the bright side, Jaws on Blu later this year, so maaaaaaybe someone will take a chance on it?

[God of Thunder]

wouldn't The Shark Is Still Swimming be a more appropriate title?

:lol:

Sorry man, had to.

[The Dream Master]

Over a year later and this still isn't out.

On the bright side, Jaws on Blu later this year, so maaaaaaybe someone will take a chance on it?

Seems like a no-brainer extra feature, really.

[Just Jeans]

Yeah, my money is on this being tagged onto the Blu-ray release in August. That's what I've been hoping for anyway. If not, then maybe Universal will release it separately at the same time.

Incidentally, if the Blu-ray sells really well, who else thinks Universal will green-light a JAWS remake for 2013/2014?

[The Dream Master]

Something tells me that Universal would have already done it (or at least got the ball rolling); Spielberg is going to be the one that gives that green light.

(And, yes, I know, Universal owns it outright--but there's no way they're proceeding without Spielberg's blessing--dude's got too much pull and we've already seen them cater to him when it comes to Jaws.)

[Just Jeans]

In 2015, JAWS is 40 years old. I reckon that puts it in the "acceptable remake" wheelhouse. I think it's about time we get a new, good JAWS film.

As far as Spielberg is concerned... well, we've got Ridley Scott back in the Alien universe after all this time, so I guess anything is possible. I'd like to see Spielberg executive produce a new JAWS film. Whether it's a remake or spiritual successor with a completely different cast of characters/plot matters not to me.

[Freddy Krueger]

In 2015, JAWS is 40 years old. I reckon that puts it in the "acceptable remake" wheelhouse. I think it's about time we get a new, good JAWS film.

As far as Spielberg is concerned... well, we've got Ridley Scott back in the Alien universe after all this time, so I guess anything is possible. I'd like to see Spielberg executive produce a new JAWS film. Whether it's a remake or spiritual successor with a completely different cast of characters/plot matters not to me.

Meh, no need for a remake. Sure, Spielberg's film deviated from Benchley's novel in many areas, but there's nothing to build upon. Nothing to make better. I'll take a sequel though that ignores 3 and the abortion that is Jaws the Revenge.

[Just Jeans]

Meh, no need for a remake.

There's no need for any film, based on a book, remake or otherwise. They're a luxury, not a necessity.

I want a remake because I want to see a new JAWS movie in the theater, I enjoy films with killer sharks in them. And about the only way we're ever going to get another good one is if the JAWS franchise can be resurrected by someone with real talent. Like Spielberg.

And after 40 years and three sequels of diminishing quality, they may as well reboot from naught.

[The Dream Master]

As far as Spielberg is concerned... well, we've got Ridley Scott back in the Alien universe after all this time, so I guess anything is possible. I'd like to see Spielberg executive produce a new JAWS film.

Oh, I don't even know if it would even get that involved with Spielberg. If he were to actually produce and oversee the project, it'd be gravy, but I imagine Universal is just sitting on the idea, waiting for The Beard to say "go ahead." I'd be shocked if that weren't the case, but it could be just as likely that they haven't entertained the idea. (Actually, having typed that...no, I can't fathom that someone at Universal hasn't been like, "hey, let's do something with Jaws.")

As for what it would be, I dunno. I'd say they could go back to the original novel, but, to be honest, just about every change the movie made was an improvement. I'd be interested to see if they did keep the original plot elements and see if they could make them work in some way. I think something like a Jaws redux would be like the biggest thing that could make me morbidly curious because there's like a 99.9% chance there's no way it'd top the original (it would literally have to be one of the top ten movies ever to pull that off), but I'll be damned if I wouldn't be watching.

But no matter what form it takes, they shouldn't use the Spielberg movie as the launching point. Shit, they should just act like it doesn't exist.

[God of Thunder]

In 2015, JAWS is 40 years old. I reckon that puts it in the "acceptable remake" wheelhouse. I think it's about time we get a new, good JAWS film.

As far as Spielberg is concerned... well, we've got Ridley Scott back in the Alien universe after all this time, so I guess anything is possible. I'd like to see Spielberg executive produce a new JAWS film. Whether it's a remake or spiritual successor with a completely different cast of characters/plot matters not to me.

Fuck that. I NEVER want a Jaws remake. Ever. Fuuuuuuck no.

















Especially one with a CGI shark.

[Just Jeans]

Yes, GoT. We get it: CGI is the worst thing since the genital itch. :)

[God of Thunder]

:D

:P

;)


In all seriousness - a JAWS remake would just crush me....

[Freddy Krueger]

There's no need for any film, based on a book, remake or otherwise. They're a luxury, not a necessity.

I want a remake because I want to see a new JAWS movie in the theater, I enjoy films with killer sharks in them. And about the only way we're ever going to get another good one is if the JAWS franchise can be resurrected by someone with real talent. Like Spielberg.

And after 40 years and three sequels of diminishing quality, they may as well reboot from naught.

I hear you, Jeans, but why even bother remaking the film if there is literally no chance of it topping the original film? I can dig a sequel that just ignores everything that happened previously, but the idea of a remake of my favorite film of all time just makes me shudder. If Universal wants to make a good, new killer shark movie, they should probably get the rights for Meg.

[Just Jeans]

I don't think MEG is every going to happen, and even if it does, the premise is B-grade horror schlock. I suppose they could tweak the story, make the characters more interesting and invest time in building them as real human beings rather than cannon fodder, but in a film about a giant glowing killer shark, do you really think character will be the focus?

At least with a reboot of JAWS you've got a strong template to work with. You can go in different directions without degrading into a SyFy killer animal flick.

[Freddy Krueger]

I don't think MEG is every going to happen, and even if it does, the premise is B-grade horror schlock. I suppose they could tweak the story, make the characters more interesting and invest time in building them as real human beings rather than cannon fodder, but in a film about a giant glowing killer shark, do you really think character will be the focus?

It's possible, yes. The characters in Benchley's JAWS were on the whole unlikeable (and I freaking love that book). But Spielberg was able to take them and flesh them out and give them personalities. Whoever pens MEG can have a chance to do the same thing.

[The Dream Master]

Yeah, Jaws on paper is the definition of horror B-movie schlock, which is why 99% of its imitators are exactly that. They took the concept, but not the execution. And, really, Benchley's novel is MORE schlocky with its extramarital affairs and mob dealings. Big time pulp.

[Just Jeans]

The characters were unlikeable, the plot was pulpy, but the plot still focuses on those characters. The shark is a problem they're dealing with, not the entire focal point of the book.

[The Dream Master]

I would argue that Richard Harris's character in Orca is the focal point of that movie on paper, but it's also got a splattering orca fetus and a whale literally blowing shit up. It's all in exactly how you choose to surround the characters and direct the drama. Spielberg actually strips a lot of the character drama from the novel, but they're very well acted and very much lived-in, plus everything is so elegantly directed (even though Jaws is a lot more gratuitous than people like to think--even Spielberg himself said he got greedy with the severed head). Jaws is totally a B-movie wearing A-movie clothes, a pure exercise of perfect execution. Just look at the sequels to see what happens when it sheds said clothes.

I'm obviously not saying that Meg could ever be on the level of Jaws, but I wouldn't dismiss it on the basis of it just being a B-movie. If (when) Jaws is ever revisited, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if it's just reduced to junk (I just hope it's at least fun junk like Jaws 2 is).

[Just Jeans]

It's weird, I spent a lot of time hoping MEG would happen. The further I read into the series, the less excited I got about the prospect of a film franchise. It feels like it flies off the rails in the third entry. Just like the JAWS franchise, oddly enough.

It's not that I've got anything against Alten's writing style*, it's just I think they'd have to change the book a lot to make it a successful film, and I'm not convinced they'd do that. I think MEG is destined to be a mindless popcorn flick, which is fine. Deep Blue Sea was a great mindless popcorn flick, it's possible to make them. I just want more from a film with the JAWS name attacked.


*You know, it's just occurred to me that I really ought not be Mr Picky here. Considering the only thing I've ever had published was released alongside Alten in a schlocky short story compilation about giant B-movie monsters, I'm hardly in a position to be demanding better from my creature-themed horror stories. :lol:

[The Dream Master]

Didn't Alten once post on the old forum or something? I completely get what you're saying--shit, when I think about a story involving a huge ass prehistoric shark, my mind automatically thinks "yeah, that's gonna be a big time popcorn movie." But then I get to thinking that Jaws really is just a popcorn movie itself, only it's so damn good that it fools you into thinking otherwise. Maybe the ultimate example of material being elevated way higher than it has any business being.

BIG TIME COINCIDENCE: Jaws was screened in 35mm tonight in Austin, a fact that forced me to realize I'll probably never see it in that format. :(

[Just Jeans]

I think the popcorn movie has changed a lot in the last 40 years. JAWS was the first big summer blockbuster, but you know a studio now, in 2012, wouldn't greenlight a film like JAWS and not demand all sorts of aesthetic changes to the final project. Spielberg likes to talk about how the shark not working was a blessing that helped the movie; in today's market, that sort of happy accident would never happen. They'd find a way to put the shark on screen as much as humanly possible.

Shark Night 3D is a good example of this. Sharks on screen all over the place, but almost no gore, and even less character and plot.

As for Alten, I do believe he may have posted once or twice on the original forum. It's been years though, I can't remember.

[God of Thunder]

I would never, ever, ever call Jaws a 'popcorn movie.' That's a term that belongs to B movies, and Jaws is not a B movie in any way, shape or form.

(I'm really not meaning to come off as a cynical douche bag giving people shit, by the way, sorry if it comes off that way.)


And honestly - not that I'd ever change Jaws - but I really don't think it would have turned out that much worse had the shark been fully functional all along.

However - I'm going to have to call total bullshit on the idea that Spielberg was going to use the shark as much as he wanted to. I've never bought that story for an instant.

[Just Jeans]

Maybe so, but JAWS was the very first summer popcorn flick. It started the whole shebang. But like I said: the summer popcorn flick has changed a lot in 40 years.

[The Dream Master]

Dude, Jaws is totally a popcorn movie--in fact, it's probably the best pure popcorn movie of all time. Nothing wrong with the term--I'm not even remotely using it in a denigrating manner; in fact, Jaws is the reason I hate it when people tell me to turn my brain off and accept bullshit like Transformers 2 simply because "they're popcorn movies." Well, no shit, but so are Jaws, Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Halloween, Superman, etc., all of which are legitimately good movies.

I think the popcorn movie has changed a lot in the last 40 years.

No doubt; that's why I said I get where you're coming from, plus, like I said, if Jaws is ever revisited, it could easily be turned into junk (i.e. full of shark attacks and lesser characters). But it'd still be coming from the same starting point, essentially.

[God of Thunder]

"Turn your brain off" - no THERE is a phrase I can't stand. Why not something more like "Stop being a fucking asshole, enjoy the movie!" (Of course that one would probably be directed at me, bitching about all the CGI at play :lol: )

[WesReviews]

Yeah, Alten used to post all the time to update the status of MEG's movie development. I always thought it was really random that he happened to post at the F13 forum. Did someone invite him? Or did he do a massive online horror forum campaign where he posted at all of them to try generate buzz?

[Cody]

Jaws was screened in 35mm tonight in Austin, a fact that forced me to realize I'll probably never see it in that format.

I think it's achievable, it's floating around out there. I've seen it three times; at an indie theatre revival screening in 2002, during a horror marathon in 2006, and my favorite viewing was in 2010 at a drive-in all-nighter, where it was immediately followed by Tentacles.

The print used for those last two screenings was beat to hell, but it did the job.

[WesReviews]

I saw it in 35mm in Lexington a few years ago at The Kentucky Theater (our closest thing to an arthouse theater).

People cheered and stuff when Bruce blew up. T'was awesome. :sniffle:

[The Dream Master]

I think it's achievable, it's floating around out there.

That's what one of my buddies on Twitter said last night...now I just need to move to a place that will show one of these prints because it won't happen within a few 100 miles of here, ever.

[Freddy Krueger]

It's weird, I spent a lot of time hoping MEG would happen. The further I read into the series, the less excited I got about the prospect of a film franchise. It feels like it flies off the rails in the third entry. Just like the JAWS franchise, oddly enough.


Yeah, I hear what you're saying there. I liked Meg: Primal Waters myself, but it was definitely a change from Meg and The Trench in terms of style and character development. Hell's Aquarium though left a lot to be desired. Ever since he did his research for the Shell Game, Alten hasn't been able to keep his personal politics (politics I don't necessarily disagree with, but that's besides the point) out of his novels and it showed in that book. It also appears that he's switched editors since The Trench, since his new novels frequently have typos all over the place.