Top 25 Countdown — No. 8


Today I continue my Top 25 countdown with one of the older entries on this list.

No. 8 — Jaws (1975)
Starring: Richard Dreyfuss, Roy Scheider, and Robert Shaw
Director: Steven Spielberg
Quote: "I'm not going to waste my time arguing with a man who's lining up to be a hot lunch." — Hopper
About: Spoiler alert, this is neither the oldest film on this list or the last Spielberg film on this list. That gives you something to look forward to. But in terms of the No. 8 film on this list, what can I say other than this is an absolute classic. This is the original summer blockbuster, and it's a movie I watch yearly on the Fourth of July. The first "Jaws" film I ever saw was "Jaws 3," a film that is still nearer and dearer to my heart than it ought to be, but it doesn't compare to the Spielberg original. Everything about the production of this film was difficult. The documentary on the making of "Jaws" is a fascinating watch on its own. But all that difficulty manifested in the best possible way, making an iconic film. The performances are great, the story is great, and the filmmaking from Spielberg is brilliant. Some of it was forced by technical problems, but they've become the hallmarks of what it takes to make a great, suspenseful film. And those who've read the book will note that the movie is not only radically different, it's a great improvement in terms of character. Brody (Schneider) and Hooper (Dreyfuss) become buddies in the film, and it greatly improves the story and makes a lasting impression. "Jaws" is the quintessential monster movie and summer blockbuster. It's a movie that, more than 40 years later, still has people leery of the water.
Rating: PG

Top 25 Countdown
9. Gettysburg (1993)
10. Up In The Air (2009)
11. Die Hard (1988)
12. Doubt (2008)
13. Way of the Gun (2000)
14. Heat (1995)
15. The Paper (1994)
16. Watchmen (2009)
17. LA Confidential (1997)
18. Serenity (2005)
19. Children of Men (2006)
20. Miller's Crossing (1990)
21. About Schmidt (2002)
22. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
23. The Matrix (1999)
24. Independence Day (1996)
25. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

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