The Meaning of J

 Re-evaluated: Pitch Black (2000)    It's fascinating to look at what a famous actor's first works were before they became the acting and box office powerhouses we know them to be today. Most actors start their film careers as minor, supporting, or lead characters in low-budget horror films. Examples include acclaimed actors such as Jamie Lee Curtis ( Halloween ), Johnny Depp ( A Nightmare on Elm  Street ), Tom Hanks ( He Knows You're Alone ), and Leonardo Dicaprio ( Critters 3 ). However, out of all the horror film debuts of such recognizable and acclaimed actors, Vin Diesel will be the subject of this review. Let's look at the 2000 David Twohy sci-fi action-horror flick that introduced audiences to the mega action star  Pitch Black .    Vin Diesel is one of the most recognizable action stars of the last two decades, emerging as one of the most bankable stars of the new millennium. He earned boatloads of millions at the box office, appearing in m...

Re-evaluated: Halloween II (1981) Awesome poster art by Matthew Peak   I don't believe horror sequels are worthy enough to earn coverage in an episode of Revaluated, as I only desire to cover standalone films. There are a plethora of movies waiting to get the retrospective treatment they deserve. However, I ultimately decided to cover sequels on Revaluated , albeit doing so for special occasions or by request from followers; sequels will be few in this series, only being featured should I find them worthy enough to get the revaluation treatment. With Halloween just around the corner, I thought of making a special episode of Revaluated to celebrate the holiday of All Hallow's Eve, and what would be a great way to honor the holiday than to cover the sequel to one of the all-time classics of horror cinema,  Halloween II (1981). Director John Carpenter ( The Fog , Starman , Escape from New York , They Live )   In 1978, John Carpenter gave us a classic horror film for t...

 Re-evaluated: Cruising (1980)   I never considered reviewing an erotic thriller on Revaluated , less a film that I've never heard about before discovering it in any other media. However, with home media distributor Arrow Video releasing many cult films on excellent blu-ray releases, I may have found a plethora of movies to cover from their massive library of films. With Arrow Video providing plenty of great material to cover for this series, I decided to look at the 1980 Al Pacino erotic thriller Cruising.    Cruising was directed by William Friedkin, one of the figures of the "New Hollywood" movement of the 1970s, an era of filmmaking where young directors had complete creative over their films. Back then, film studios never intervened in the production, nor did they dictate mandates the director had to conform with to meet expectations. Friedkin had previously directed The French Connection (1971) and The Exorcist (1973), both films winning him acclaim from criti...

 The Last House on the Left (1972)    Wes Craven (1939-2015) was an innovative horror director that left a lasting impression that endures in the world of horror cinema. He gave us one of the most enduring horror icons of the genre, in the form of Freddy Kruger, and gave us numerous horror classics such as A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), The Hills Have Eyes (1977), and Scream (1996). His pioneering work in the horror genre included a brilliant blend of humor and cliches, oftentimes these films were satirical in nature, as evidenced in the Scream series. I never considered covering his work in one of my reviews, but I eventually decided to celebrate the great horror director by reviewing his directorial debut, and the lasting impact it left in the horror genre, The Last House on the Left (1972).    To offer some insight, The Last House on the Left came out at a time when exploitation flicks were all the rage in drive-ins and movie theaters. These movies exploi...