Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		2.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.0

Jaws 3 3D Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman December 16, 2016

If there is any movie franchise that's ripe for a 3D installment, it has to Jaws. Even if it's all gimmick, which this movie is, and a far cry from the brilliance of the original film, the material just lends itself to 3D. What could possibly be scarier than a shark bearing down on the audience, literally chomping at the bit to get a piece of the viewer? Even Back to the Future II recognized the terror of a shark making a leap for the viewer, that one holographic but still, the point holds. Jaws 3 makes no allusions of being anything more than a gimmick movie. Leaner than Jaws 2 and much more focused on the task at hand of three dimensional chills, jumps, gore, and teeth, it's a fun little movie that might not have much to do with the universe established in the first two films but that's essentially a haunted house thrill ride on, and under, the water.

Orlando's SeaWorld destination is getting a facelift and a fancy new attraction, but it's attracted an unwanted guest: a great white shark. The park's aquatic creatures are afraid to leave the safety of their cages. The humans are growing impatient. Several turn up dead. SeaWorld's manager Calvin Bouchard (Louis Gossett, Jr.) isn't going to let anything get in the way of his grand opening. Michael (Dennis Quaid) and Kay (Bess Armstrong) begin to piece together the truth, but can they convince the powers-that-be that SeaWorld isn't a safe family attraction but rather a sharp-toothed death trap just waiting to shed blood?

Story is clearly an afterthought in Jaws 3...which in this case isn't a bad thing. The movie finds that harmonious, and rarely tread, middle ground between brain-dead plotting and satisfying its needs at the same time. Its focus is the 3D craftsmanship, which is very fun and impressively presented (see the video review section below). Yet even as characters are flat and the greater story around them can't hold a candle to Spielberg's masterpiece, the film winks and nods its way through and is unafraid to, in a roundabout way, acknowledge that the franchise's best days are behind it, that it represents a new guard and new (cheesy) ways of doing things. That shark has sailed, had its bite, its day in the sun, its stay in the public conscience, its reign of terror and run of horror. This shark is where it's at now, this style of movie is the way forward. Jaws 3 doesn't try to best its predecessors or even connect all that closely to them. It's a movie built on a name and 3D photography. It capitalizes on its best assets, never looks back, and entertains in all its hammy glory.

Much like in Jaws 2, the movie spends too much time -- even with a runtime reduced by around 20 minutes from its predecessor -- building up a few characters and side plots that don't really matter much when there's eye-popping 3D gore and shark scares to be enjoyed. It's necessary in the greater construct of movie-dom, which is what keeps this a movie and not a tech reel, but three cheers for not pushing the side stuff too far or for too long. The movie does try to keep up its visuals-first appearances and allure by inserting some random shots of "cool" 3D effects into the movie, a cut here or there of some undersea creature or something. A few effects inorganically play to the gimmick, like when a syringe is filled and its contents then shoot out all over the screen. Still, most of the 3D effects are very enjoyable, particularly the more grisly ones (a severed arm, a chewed-up face) and they, and the movie, hold up quite well as cheesy 80s nostalgia.

Jaws 3 3D Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Jaws 3's Blu-ray 3D presentation may be imperfect, but it's a whole lot fun and makes some of the best raw use of pop-out effects the format has seen. It impresses right off the bat with the Universal logo and opening titles. Reinforced by Superman-ish 3D red lines behind in support, letters leap right off the screen and the title card itself, complete with some shark teeth, practically bites the viewer's nose off. It's the first of several effects so good they have that delicious "reach out and touch them" facial presence going for them. Several grisly details appear to float out in front of the screen, including a fish head and a human arm. A disfigured face sticks out of the screen exactly an hour in, though it looks more distorted than anything else. Some well-staged environments and odds and ends present a good, tangible sense of depth, dimensionality, and shape as well, including a fabric maze and carefully arranged items on a kitchen table during breakfast. Underwater photography is appropriately well defined in depth, and land and water's surface shots sprawl into the back. Distance between elements is frequently obvious, and various objects both organic and inorganic in the film take on a nice, realistic shape. On the down side, crosstalk can be quite severe. It's not constant, but that "ghosting" effect is plain as day in a number of places. Fortunately, the raw 3D visuals are so good that, most of the time, it's more a minor annoyance, though a few scenes are ruined by it.

The movie's more traditional components are fine, and any shortcomings are more or less overcome by the quality 3D work. Grain is a bit uneven, thick in spots but thin elsewhere and occasionally yielding a fairly flat image. Details aren't overly exciting, but the image handles the basics like skin and clothing textures as well as a few environmental niceties well enough. Mild smearing is evident across a few corners and backgrounds. Colors are decent, well saturated for the most part -- particularly the bright red opening titles -- and offer enough punch on clothing and grass to please. Black levels don't wander too far from true and flesh tones appear good to go. The 2D-only image is a drastic step down. Grain is much rougher and spikier, details less solid, black levels significantly more murky. The image does feel a little cramped in the wider aspect ratio; the 3D imagery screams for a larger canvas, but overall the presentation fares rather well. The movie is best enjoyed in 3D, and by a wide margin.

Jaws 3 3D Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Jaws 3's DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack delivers a basic but qualified and role-fulfilling listen. It's meager and straightforward with musical spread out to the sides earning a decent sense of width. Clarity is never amazing, but basic definition more than satisfies. Light ambient effects likewise push a bit out to the sides, though there's no true sense of environmental immersion; the track is content to simply recreate the sounds for support, not effect. Heavier action elements likewise fall into a similar category. Splashing water and such doesn't generate much power, and even if a wider and more immersive track would have been preferable to play in conjunction with the 3D material, the 2.0 presentation offers just enough front side space and depth to get by. Dialogue is clear and well prioritized, naturally pushed towards the middle and remaining grounded there for the duration.

Jaws 3 3D Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

All that's included is the Jaws 3 Theatrical Trailer (2D, 480i, 1:23). Note that the 3D version of the film is listed under the "Extras" tab as well.

Jaws 3 3D Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Jaws 3 joins the ranks of gimmick 3D movies (another fun one being Friday the 13th Part 3) as one of the best of the bunch. The 3D is very enjoyable, the plot not so much, but the movie knows its place, plays to its strengths and its audience's wants, and delivers a movie that's leaner than its predecessor. What it lacks in serious story development and greater Jaws universe continuation it more than makes up for with spirit and a seemingly endless string of nifty 3D visuals. Universal's Blu-ray is good in terms of its 3D presentation. Audio is fairly routine and supplements are essentially nonexistent, but the disc is worth a buy for the enjoyable 3D experience alone. Recommended.