The Dorsal Fin

Snagfilms.com in agreement with National Geographic has made the documentary “Great White Shark: The Truth Behind the Legend” available for free online viewing. The documentary, originally released in 2000, focuses on comparing myths about white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) to facts about the species. The documentary features late “Jaws” author Peter Benchley, National Geographic photographer David Doublet, and white shark attack survivor Rodney Fox. It also features the use of National Geographic’s “Crittercam” on a white shark.

While the film shows somewhat shows its age, it’s still stands on its own as a solid white shark documentary. To watch the film in its entirety, head on over to Snagfilms.com.

DiscoveryNetworks YouTube Channel has released another round of promotional videos from Shark Week 2011. The clip is taken from “Killer Sharks: The Attacks of Black December” and portrays a rather gruesome shark attack reenactment. For anybody familiar with the film “Jaws,” there are more than a few noticeable similarities between this clip and the Alex Kintner scene.

Another clip from “Rogue Sharks” (also a part of this year’s “Shark Week”) features even more blood and gore. The clip from “Rogue Sharks” is narrated by the victim of a white shark attack who recounts his encounter. The victim was bitten twice and after the second bit the shark remained latched on to his leg.

Discovery’s “Shark Week” has faced criticism in the past for this kind of programming, and it seems that these types of shows are in the minority for this year’s “Shark Week.” So, do you think the style of programming seen in the clip above belongs on “Shark Week” or not? You can share your opinion the comments section.

HowItShouldHaveEnded.com (known for “re-writing” popular movie story lines) recently parodied “Jaws” and added it to their YouTube channel.

If “Jaws” had played out like this, it probably wouldn’t have been a summer blockbuster and generated all the often-times unnecessary fears of sharks at the beach. It probably also wouldn’t have generated all those awful sequels, either.

NECN.com is reporting that three great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) sightings have been reported in the Cape Cod area, including two sightings off Chatham, Massachusetts. NECN also reports that interest in the sharks has resulted in an increase in tourism in the area. Tourists are visiting Cape Cod beaches in hopes of catching a glimpse of a white shark. Local businesses have been trying to capitalize on the interest in the sharks by carrying shark-related products.

All in all a fairly objective report on the great white shark presence in Cape Cod, if you ignore the cliché “Jaws” reference from the anchorwoman.

Oddly enough, the same day that a modern-day animatronic shark shows up on YouTube, so does a 1976 commercial featuring a shark with some not-so-special effect, courtesy of YouTube user OldTimeSportsFan.

I’m not really sure what the underlying message is behind this Colt 45 commercial (I prefer the Billy Dee Williams era Colt 45 ads, personally). Apparently, if a shark eats your table out in the ocean, a woman will deliver some Colt 45 to you. I’m thinking the advertising minds were trying to cash in the recent success of “Jaws” and just wanted to put a shark in the commercial.