JAWS 3

US, 1983, 94 minutes, Colour.
Dennis Quaid, Bess Armstrong, Lea Thompson, Simon Mc Corkindale, Louis Gossett Jr.
Directed by Joe Alves.

Jaws 3 is a sequel to Jaws and Jaws 2 - whereas Jaws 2 was simply a remake. The film has some links with the original - Dennis Quaid, the hero, is the son of Roy Scheider. He and his brother reminisce about the past experiences.

However, the focus is on a Sea World in Florida and its inauguration -dangers and echoes of the past. There are some good shark sequences. The suspense is reminiscent of the original - although the story is much more straightforward. There is emphasis on ecology, preserving marine life, the skills of photography underwater.

Dennis Quaid and Bess Armstrong are a vigorous leading couple. Bess Armstrong was also vigorous in High Road to China. Louis Gossett is the owner of the Sea World.

The screenplay was written by Carl Gottlieb who co-wrote the original screenplay - here he is joined by Richard Matheson, author of The Incredible Shrinking Man, Roger Corman's version of Poe's stories and many thrillers with the supernatural touch. The film was photographed in 3-D process - very good of its kind.

1. The impact of the original? The quality of the sequel? This film using the original, linking with it? Continuation? Exploitation? Audience expectations? Differences?

2. Panavision photography? The focus on Sea World and its technology, engineering, opening up the wonders of the deep for audiences? Florida? Technology? Media? Action sequences? Editing, suspense and shock? The musical score? The quality of the 3-D process? Various actions and shocks designed for 3-dimensional screening?

3. The film capitalising on the atmosphere of the original, the presence of sharks, danger, menace? The link with the effect on Mike and Sean?

4. The Sea World and audience interest, the building and its size, underwater technology, engineering, the fish and the displays, the tanks, the focus on the dolphins and their performances, the presence of the shark and the deaths? The water-ski practice? The opening? Ballyhoo and Americana? The qualities of surveillance, safety precautions? The decisions that had to be made for people's safety?

5. The conventional plot: Sea World, the threat of the shark, the deaths, the capture of the small shark, the death, the menace of the mother shark, disaster, last-minute efforts, destruction and saving of people?

6. The focus on people: Mike as a pleasant and vigorous hero, son of his father, engineering skills. ability to fix things? Sean and the practical jokes? Catherine and the relationship with Mike? Her skill in her work, the question of going to Venezuela, priorities for each? Catherine and her skill with the dolphins? The capture of the shark? Her handling of the crisis?

7. The variety of sub-plots: Sean and his being scared of the water, the romance with Kelly. the scare in the water with Mike and Catherine, Kelly being bitten? The variety of staff in the Sea World? The guides and their training? Their calm in helping people? The water-skiers? The poachers and their deaths?

8. The background of ordinary people, visitors, those caught in the Sea World, being saved?

9. Philip and Jack and their reputation, skill in photography, theories, the capturing of the shark - the explosives? Philip and his vanity? Jack and his loyalty? The luring of the shark? Philip's death? Jack's grief? The irony of Mike using Philip's explosives to kill the shark?

10. Calvin as entrepreneur, his business associates, the ballyhoo of the opening, his decisions? The death of the small shark? The final attack?

11. The picture of the sharks themselves, the death of the worker on the gate, the poachers? The deaths and the shocks? The impact of the final attack?

12. The plausibility of the plot? Characters in this situation? Abilities to cope? The audience and the vicarious experience with the shark and its dangers?