Jaws DTS is available on a separate disc (the original release reatures DD 5.1). Is the DTS version worth the upgrade? I can find it relatively cheap online.

DTS version came out simultaneoulsy with DD version.

I haven't heard the DD version, but the DTS version is very good.

If you don't already have the DD version, then upgrade to the DTS. If you already own the DD... then forget it.

Screw DTS,I want the original excellent amazing,lively,intense,atmospheric Academy Award winning original mono mix!!! ;D

They better include it if they ever rerelease this film!

Get the DTS. It even has the same extras as the DD version.

Get the DTS version...same extras...same transfer...the DTS track owns the DD...I owned both...

Julie, was that a joke? Do all these people who want original mono tracks also not own any CDs cause they want the original hissy sound of vinyl albums? Did you not bother with cassette tapes because you were perfectly satisfied with the 8-tracks? Why'd you even bother getting DVD since your fondness for limitation clearly makes you ideal candidates to stick with VHS. You people kill me.

If the movie was originally mixed in mono, remixing for 5.1 is an alteration akin to colorizing a black and white movie. In most cases, the remixing merely involves moving the audio from speaker to speaker in an annoying and distracting fashion.

Mono is not a deficiency in the sound. It's the original sound design, which won an Oscar as Julie correctly mentions. The DVD does not bother to provide the original soundtrack.

People who insist on "upgrading" all movie soundtracks to 5.1 so that all of their speakers get used are no better than those who insist on cropping the movie picture to fill their TV screen.

I'd also question his implied assertion that CDs are automatically superior to vinyl. I know a lot of audiophiles who'd debate that strongly, but I myself am not equipped to do so.

Here's a question ... why is they make a big deal about who supervises the picture transfer, but they never mention anything about anybody supervising the sound transfer? *Especially* in the case of "updating" like this, where you'd really think that they'd need Spielberg (or at least the guy who originally did the mixing) to supervise, to make sure nothing gets changed?

Go with the DTS release, it sounds amazing, especially for such an old film.

Exactly. And, not only has the mono been remixed to 5.1, but they also re-recorded some sound effects (explosions, etc.) to give more "ooomph!" to the sound.

In cases like that (Jaws, Superman, Vertigo), I ALWAYS want to have the original sound mix as an option.


Comparing mono sound to 8-track tapes? You may want to think about the flaws in that analogy.

Exactly, and this film is screaming for a 2 disc SE. And with the price drop on this disc, it makes me wonder if that's a possiblity...

*Cough*Cough*Full documentary*Cough*Cough

I was going to jump in here and correct Admiral7 but you guys pretty much did it all. I too am hoping for a better release of Jaws. One with the whole documentary and the original mono. In the meantime I've got my CAV laserdisc that only cost me $9.99

Yes I never understand people assuming 'mono=inferior'. Nope it depends on how well a film is mixed that makes it inferior or not.

Jaws in its original mono is an amazing mix. It is perfect,needs no 'upgrade' at all. It is beautiful,loud,lively,full of atmosphere and tension. It is just a great example of great mono mixes.

I would also used AnchorBays SE release of Crimes of Passion as another amazing mono mix,that blew me away.


I think some of the people with 5.1 systems always complaining that mono sounds to 'low' or whatever on their systems,should attempt to fiddle with the settings(turn to dolby pro-logic for example)..or just use your tv speakers. You will get great loud,audible mono sound most of the time. Unless they obesse over 'why isn't their any sound coming from the other speakers? Arggggghhhh'.

But then they will use the lame excuse of 'i didn't buy this $10,000 sound system for MONO! Are you nuts? I want ALL my speakers filled,that is what I paid for dammit!". With that,I would say,stick with NEW films then,don't expect older films not made in 5.1 to be 'upgraded' to 5.1.

I have to completely agree with Julie on that!...

I was thinking the other way around before...

But after a few triouts of good mono tracks...I was quite impressed and pleased with the "non artificial" effects, because some "remastered in 5.1" tracks are quite disturbing and badly designed...

So something improves upon itself and people complain? I don't get it. So actually, you all must be furious that Das Boot is in 5.1 DTS sound, because when it aired on TV back in 1981 (?) it was probably in mono or Dolby 2.0 at the most.

If it was only avialable in DTS then I would complain about Das Boot too. Luckily it is available in its original format. Not that I don't enjoy the remix, I enjoy the remix of Jaws too, but I am annoyed that I don't have the option of the original as well.

I think the "option" of being able to listen to the original audio mix is what is important.

On another note, I'd have to say that I prefer 5.1 remixes almost every time over original mono. After listening to 5.1 DD and DTS Saving Private Ryan mixes and then going to a James Bond mono mix...yuk! But, I still think the option is important.

Also it does not matter how many speakers sound comes from to make it 'effective'. It is all in how the sound is mixed. Hence why mono films can sound beautiful in mono...and the same goes for movies made in 5.1.

5.1 does not always 'improve' an older mono film,much of the time it actually takes away from a film by sounding inferior to the original mix!

Just because 5.1 exists today,does not mean all mono or even 2.0 stereo films should be remixed into 5.1.

Just because widescreen tv sets exist,does not mean all fullframe films should be cropped to widescreen when they were not intended for that aspect ratio.

Also I think people should stop kidding themselves by expecting all mono to 5.1 remixes to sound as if they were made today. You won't get Armageddon like audio from I Spit On Your Grave.

But sadly alot of people clueless fall for the 5.1 DTS etc option listed on various older film dvd releases.

AnchorBay UK for example releases plenty of 5.1 only dvds of mono films. For example Last House on the Left is one of them. The R1 MGM release is mono only and sounds beautiful in its restored form. Alot of detail can be heard compared to past releases. It is the best way to view the film.

Yet what do many people do? "oooooooooooo the region 2 release has DTS,i am getting that,screw the mono only R1 release!"..and what do they get when they get that 'souped up' DTS mix of Last House?

A very bad annoying mix,where the dialogue sounds like it is coming out of a tin can,the music sounds shrill and unnatural...and you don't get much surround action anyway,since it was a mono film recorded in mono. But they try to add as many music,sound effects and dialogue directional effects as possible and it all sounds like pure crap which makes for an annoying experiance.

What do you get when you listen to the MGM mono release? Natural sounding dialogue,natural sounding music and sound effects which create an engulfing experiance that is very effective. But some will kid themselves into thinking the DTS mix is 'better' just because it is DTS.


Very rarely does a 5.1 remix 'improve' upon the original. At the very least,studios should have a policy written in stone,that no matter what. The original sound mix must be included at all costs if a remix is done.

So while the SE of Blazing Saddles may be cool. I am going to keep my original dvd for the original awsome mono mix..which is sadly missing from the 'revamped' dvd. Sure some reviews have praised how the beans scene sounds in 5.1..but i am sure it won't sound as natural and funny as the mono mix.

A similar example is The Simpsons dvd releases. The 5.1s are worthless,but anyway Barneys trademark burp sounds terrible in 5.1 as they attempt to get some surround action from it. It is obviouslly rerecorded and does'nt sound right. Meanwhile the original stereo mixes,the burp has a loud jarring hilarious vibe to it,that makes it funny. Meanwhile the redone 5.1 sounds tinier,less raw,less real and not funny.

Just unplug all your speakers except the left one -- then you'll have "advanced mono" sound.

While I don't agree with your views on remixes,I do agree that the original track should be made available. And if a film played theatrically after the 50's then it should be matted, as films never played fullframe theatrically after that period..

They did in Europe!

I realize that you're kidding a bit here... but statements like that are said by many people completely ignorant about film sound.

They had to completely remix the soundtrack to get the 5.1, including (and I can't stress this enough) rerecording NEW sound effects. Unplugging all of your speakers except one does not fix that. Nor does it fix Vertigo. Or Superman. Or any of the other classic films that have souped-up 5.1 tracks that required newly-recorded sounds that were never in the original film.

I don't think anyone here is advocating that they shouldn't include 5.1 remixes for those who enjoy them. But when doing so creates a situation where you have radically departed from the original film, they should always include the original mix.

People get all bullshit about any changes made to Star Wars or Indiana Jones... yet somehow are silent about new sounds added to Jaws. I guess as long as all 5.1 channels are firing, most people don't care.

The review you're referring to was being sarcastic.