We're going to need a bigger Blu-ray player

Spielberg's iconic blockbuster Jaws takes a bite out of Blu-ray in September

Universal Pictures has confirmed that Steven Spielberg's iconic summer blockbuster Jaws will be hitting Blu-ray in the UK on September 3.

The film is one of 13 movies being specially remastered and restored for Blu-ray as part of the studio's centenary celebrations, and here's what Universal has to say about the process in the official press release...

'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, the Universal Studios Sound team up-mixed the iconic Jaws soundtrack to DTS-HD Master 7.1, optimising the sound on the Blu-rayTM for the latest home cinema 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'.

An example of the kind of extensive print damage the team encountered can be seen in the image below, followed by the restored version of the same frame...

The BD-50 Blu-ray release will also house two exclusive new bonus features. The Shark is Still Working: The Impact & Legacy of Jaws is a feature-length documentary featuring never-before-seen footage and interviews with cast and crew including Steven Spielberg, Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider. Meanwhile Jaws: The Restoration promises an in-depth look at the restoration process.

In addition, fans can also look forward to a host of features that appeared on previous DVD editions. These include the two-hour The Making of Jaws documentary, Deleted Scenes & Outtakes and the Jaws Archives. The Blu-ray will also come bundled with an UltraViolet Digital Copy of the film.

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