Monstres de films N°46 : "Les dents de la mer 3" avec @LaSuitedeTrop et @nerdypictures57

Summary

Analyse du film Les Dents de la mer 3, incluant un résumé de l'intrigue, une critique des effets spéciaux et de la musique, ainsi qu'une discussion sur la production du film avec ses problèmes et son impact sur la qualité finale.

Takeaways

• 😱 The third Jaws film aimed high with its premise of a giant shark getting loose in a SeaWorld park, but production issues and cost-cutting hampered the final product.
• 🎥 Alan Landsburg, the producer with a TV background, clashed with the creative team and made choices that hurt the film, like cutting big chunks of footage.
• 🦈 The film pioneered some visually impressive animatronics and effects, but budget limits often forced cheaper solutions that didn’t work well.
• 🎶 The score leaned heavily on Igor Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring since the producer didn’t want to pay for John Williams’ shark theme.
• 🌊 Shooting mainly occurred in a massive freshwater tank that allowed for expansive underwater filming.
• 😬 The cast was unimpressed with the final film, critiquing shoddy effects and script issues.
• 💰 On a $20 million budget, it earned $87 million, turning a profit but still disappointing compared to the first two films.
• 🦷 The premise introduced novel ideas like a shark pup and viewing inside the shark’s mouth, but absurd concepts too.
• 🎥 Attempts to show more ambitious shark action didn’t fit believably, like having it swim backwards.
• 🔚 The film aimed higher than the sequels but production headaches and cost-cutting resulted in unfulfilled potential.

Q & A

What was the initial concept for Jaws 3?

The initial concept was for a comedic parody called "Jaws 3 People 0", directed by Joe Dante. But Steven Spielberg said if they did that parody, he would walk away from the project. So they changed course and made a more serious Jaws sequel instead.

How big was the giant shark in Jaws 3 compared to the other sharks?

The giant shark in Jaws 3 was 35 feet long, making it the biggest shark in the entire Jaws franchise. The other sharks were around 25 feet long.

Why does the giant shark swim backwards at certain points?

It's unclear why the giant shark swims backwards. The script likely intended for it to be pushed by currents, but that doesn't align with dialogue stating the pumps were drawing water into the tunnels. So there doesn't seem to be any logical explanation.

What happened with the original visual effects company PSE?

PSE was originally doing the visual effects with video compositing. But producer Alan Landsberg fired them with only 10 weeks left until release. So the film had to start the effects over from scratch without enough money or time.

How did the cast react when they first saw the finished film?

The cast hated it. They felt their careers were over and that the film was awful. Lea Thompson said she wanted to punch the producer.

What practical effects were used to create the sharks?

They used animatronic shark replicas, miniatures, stop motion, matte painting, and green screen compositing. The third film mixed more techniques than others in the series.

How did Alan Parker's score differ from John Williams' score?

Alan Parker reused big sections of Igor Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, which inspired John Williams' score. But Williams composed more original music, while Parker relied more on Stravinsky's compositions.

Why does the giant shark look so unrealistic at times?

They used both a full-sized animatronic and a miniature version, sometimes compositing them poorly. This makes the proportions look wrong in certain shots when characters interact with it.

Did Jaws 3 perform well at the box office?

Yes, it made $87 million globally on a $20 million budget, so it was considered a financial success. But it made less than the previous films domestically.

What was the main issue that hurt the film's quality?

The desire to go bigger and more absurd with sequels ultimately hurt Jaws 3. If they had stuck with the more grounded initial concept, the franchise may have gone in a very different direction.