Jaws (1975): One of Spielberg's earliest films still might be his best. He defined the summer blockbuster with this little movie that became an enormous pop culture phenomenon. Looking back at this (and "Raiders of the Lost Ark," which we'll get to soon), the tangible, substantive quality of the effects is striking, even quaint -- especially after having seen so many soulless, CGI spectacles. And of course, his killer-shark tale was scary as ... more 

Jaws (1975): One of Spielberg's earliest films still might be his best. He defined the summer blockbuster with this little movie that became an enormous pop culture phenomenon. Looking back at this (and "Raiders of the Lost Ark," which we'll get to soon), the tangible, substantive quality of the effects is striking, even quaint -- especially after having seen so many soulless, CGI spectacles. And of course, his killer-shark tale was scary as hell; even then, Spielberg knew how to do a lot with a little, and that's especially true of John Williams' deeply haunting, minimalist score. He made us feel nervous about making ourselves vulnerable in a place that should be so happy and safe: the beach at the height of summer. What he didn't show, what he merely suggested, was more frightening than the torture porn that became so popular over the past decade. less