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Jaws: ***

Release Date: 1975
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Steven Spielberg
Well put together summer blockbuster, and in general a good movie, just not a great one.  Engaging, well-acted and marks the turning point in Spielberg's career.  Focus was on the shark over the human characters, but the plot is original for it's time.  Could have used a slightly bigger boat on the character developmental side of things even for all it's rave reviews.  Today regarded as a classic.

Jaws 2: ** 

Release Date: 1978
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Jeannot Szwarc
Sequel made for money following the whopping success of the original.  Actors feel reluctant to be in their roles.  Nearly knows what to do to piece together a summer popcorn flick, but only gets as far as sequels to big time hits go.

Jeremiah Johnson: ****

Release Date: 1972
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Sydney Pollack
Serves as a western and a survival story, but also as a personal tale about one man.  Remains today as one of the most overlooked great films in cinema history.  Filmed splendidly in the Rocky Mountains; Redford delivers the most accomplished performance of his career.  Baleful, aphotic, and masterfully completed.

Joe Kidd: **

Release Date: 1971
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: John Sturges
Short, pointless and senseless Eastwood western star vehicle.

John Adams: ****
Release Date: 2008
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Tom Hooper
Actually a 7-part TV miniseries, but deserves to be viewed as an epic-length movie.  Masterfully executed, very well acted and outstanding direction/production value.  A very ambitious and successful project that is based off the book by David McCullough.

John Q: ** ½ 
Release Date: 2002
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Carried by a touching and poignant story about parents willing to do anything to save their kid, and really compelling acting.  But sure enough becomes a big advertisement for health care; pounds this idea into the audience during the film's second half.  In the end cynical.

Jurassic Park: *** ½ 

Release Date: 1993
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Steven Spielberg
Top of the line special effects and great characters make this a thoroughly entertaining watch.  Makes the honest mistake in showing too much of the dinosaurs, even though they appear towering and threatening and look great on the screen.  One of the most memorably entertaining, cinematic expierences committed film.

Jurassic Park III: **

Release Date: 2001
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Joe Johnston
Feels like an adventure theme park ride.  Special effects remain visually awesome, but employs tired and well use plotlines and characters.  Lightweight, forgettable and wholly unnecessary.  Jurassic Park franchise has been withered down to this.