This is still my all-time-favorite film, and it will probably remain so until my dying day.

Getting this on Blu-ray equates to one of the greatest joys I’ve ever achieved via a TV set. The completely restored film looks and sounds gorgeous, reminding viewers that this was an expertly shot and crafted film by the then-little-known Steven Spielberg. Producers thought they were getting a B-movie horror show with this, and they wound up getting one of the greatest, most-pioneering films ever made.

The underwater shots really show the beauty and wonders of the high-definition transfer. The shark-cage sequence has never looked better, and that shot of the raft boy being pulled down to his bubbly death is strangely beautiful. The shark itself remains one of the best-looking practical-special-effects monsters ever created.

The late Roy Scheider, who embodied the everyman in the role of Chief Brody, brought a true sense of grace to that role; he was the anchor in between Richard Dreyfuss’ Hooper and Robert Shaw’s Quint. They were the perfect film trio.

Richard Zanuck passed away last month, a few years after the death of co-producer David Brown. I owe a lot to these two men. They are the guys who put together the package that ignited my passion for film at a young age. They certainly knew the makings of movie greatness.

This movie wouldn’t be what it is without the work of editor Verna Fields, who, by some accounts, was a saving force on this picture. This was the last film she edited, and what she does here is masterful. Her other credits include American Graffiti and Paper Moon. The woman knew how to cut.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Jaws fanatics know of the existence of The Shark Is Still Working, the ultimate documentary on the making of the film that has played in festivals, but has never gotten a theatrical release. We finally get it here (albeit in a shortened version), with none other than Scheider narrating. Most of the principal players are involved, including Spielberg, Dreyfuss and both producers. You also get deleted scenes and outtakes, and the terrific documentary that appeared on prior DVD releases. All in all, there are nearly four hours of documentaries on this disc. This is a sure contender for Blu-ray of the year. It would be a lock if they could’ve coaxed Spielberg into doing a commentary; the man refuses.