Jaws

Martin, it's all psychological. You yell barracuda, everybody says, "Huh? What?" You yell shark, we've got a panic on our hands on the Fourth of July. This will be very similar to my Evil Dead II review in that Jaws on the big screen = best movie ever made. There isn't really too much to say that hasn't been acknowledged to death by now, perfect dialogue, very suspenseful, perfect performances/casting, just an overall beast (shark?) of a movie. The thing I think I appreciated more on re-watch is the presence and development of Mayor Vaughn as he continues his push to keep the beaches open, eventually succumbing to shock when his own children were within reach of the predator. Of course, the main three performances are completely exceptional, but I think Murray Hamilton deserves to be acknowledged among them as he is just as effective and impressive in the first half. He's a bit more than just "money loving politician"; he clearly cares about Amity, just in a mistaken way, and his interactions through this reflect that and feel very real, I really enjoyed that. Great movie to watch for the fourth.