Army of Darkness (Steelbook)

Finally a decent DVD version of Evil Dead 3: Army of Darkness! I was ecstatic originally when the first Director's Cut of the film came out on a 2-disc edition (the second disc being the US Theatrical Cut - I wasn't so bothered about that version). Of coarse, as I'm sure many of you came to realise as I did, that "edition" wasn't so special after all. It just felt like Anchor Bay released someone's bootlegged version (a title the Americans had used) from some cheap VHS cassette. The picture was poor for the extended scenes and even the sound on the final battle was extremely ropey. I fobbed the DVD off rather rapidly afterwards. Right, anyhow. Now, Optimum has stepped in and finally done something about it and what we have... is another DC of the film, yes, but with better sound and picture quality, well as better as it can get for AoD. This is it; this is the version that is a definite keeper. The extended scene in the mill doesn't add much to the film admittedly, just a couple more giggles but the final battle has changed considerably and, to my mind, is a little more exciting with a few more antics in it. Plus they have kept the much favoured "apocalyptic ending". All in all this is the version of the film (since the European Cut) I'm going to stick with, and hope all you fellow AoD fans can enjoy just as much as I have. My only tiny gripe really is the lack of special features (which include the rather stupid "happy ending" - sorry to those who liked it, hail to the king baby!), but it's the film that matters.

Excellent

To fans of the Evil Dead films this DVD is no doubt a godsend; it contains two versions of Army of Darkness, the cinema release and a director's cut, each with different endings. In this respect the latter wins; Sam Raimi's intended last shot is a funny, bitter punchline. The studio approved finale's also good - it has a neat fight scene - but Raimi's is better. The studio were right about one thing though: Raimi's cut is too long. There's a lengthy action climax that doesn't suit a madcap film; the plot's just a clothesline on which to hang comic set pieces and special effects, so the swordplay grows pointless. The heroes and villains are caricatures, so why do they need an epic battle? It's like if Airplane! ditched the jokes during its third act and became a serious action film. The studio cut is also better-looking; its effects scenes are much clearer, but I think that's because Raimi's unused cut wasn't cleaned up for general release (or maybe, as another review suggests, it was poorly transferred from someone's VHS copy). The plot is very simple: after a prologue covering Evil Dead 2 we pick up where that film left off, with Ash (Bruce Campbell) in 1300AD, where he's surrounded and almost killed by Lord Arthur's (Marcus Gilbert) men. After he shows off his shotgun and chainsaw they make a deal with him; if Ash brings them the Book of the Dead they'll use it to send him home. Ash messes this up, and in doing so raises an army of the dead which he'll lead Lord Arthur's men against. The angelic Embeth Davidtz plays a love interest, and in a great scene she and Ash parody how fantasy heroes fall for each other. Army of Darkness' tone is almost the polar opposite of Evil Dead's, and though Evil Dead 2 was a comedy it's still much grimmer than this second sequel. Army of Darkness is a bit like if David Lynch directed a Three Stooges short. It's compellingly strange at times, but through it all is a light and jolly romp which aims for humour rather than tension. Campbell, who was an average slasher hero in Evil Dead, gives a brilliant comic performance here. He's a great physical comedian; he has a few slapstick scenes which are surreal and hilarious. It would be unfair to say that everyone else phones it in, but that's kind of how it feels. Apart from a couple of villains the others aren't memorable; they're basically enacting cliches for Ash to banter with. All in all, Army of Darkness is a weird, light-hearted fantasy adventure filled with imagination. Raimi rightly doesn't worry about plot, focusing instead on slapstick, parody and awesome visuals. This is a shamelessly outlandish film which doesn't care if you get it or not; for those who do get it, it's a hell of a ride.

Best funny film

Bought this as I’m a massive fan of the Evil Dead films with this one being my favourite. The 4K never released in the UK so I had this imported from the US, the 4K works great but the other Blu rays are region locked so if you’re interested in the bonus features then maybe don’t get this unless you have a region free dvd player. 4K looks amazing, the best this film has ever looked. Steelbook looks cool as well, well worth the extra £3.

OK. I received this and it was smashed up beyond what is acceptable. Sorted out sending this back and got a full refund. Got the disc from another vendor. The disc itself it magnificent and you must know the film already and this is the best it had ever looked. Worth it!

loved this film but not as good as the first evil dead film that was released many years ago.

This is the best version it's the UK and USA versions put into one film so much more in the film now more funny moments and more action it runs only about 5 mins longer but more is better in this case amazing well worth it . I have the UK Blu-ray and USA Blu-ray and this version not on them

Étant fan de ce film le steelbook me va parfaitement merci

Der einzige Überlebende des Tanz der Teufel-Massakers muss sich im Mittelalter mit einer Armee von Untoten rumschlagen. Bruce Campbell im dritten Teil der Kultreihe. Zum Film: Gerade noch kämpfte Ash (Bruce Campbell) in der Waldhütte gegen finstere Dämonen, da wird er auch schon, mitsamt seinem Wagen, einer Kettensäge und einer Shotgun durch ein Wurmloch gezogen und landet im tiefsten Mittelalter. Als der Auserwählte erkannt, hat er nur ein Ziel: Zurück zu kehren in seine Zeit. Doch nur das Necronomicon allein kann ihn zurück bringen. Und das muss erst von einem finsteren Friedhof geholt werden. Von einer bösen Macht und seinem bösen anderen Ich traktiert, erweckt er - aufgrund eines falsch ausgesprochenen Wortes - auch noch die Armee der Finsternis. Eine Horde Untoter, die sofort gegen die Welt der Menschen mobil macht, um das Buch der Toten zurück zu erobern. Für Ash und die Burgleute beginnt ein dramatischer Kampf ums Überleben. Ach, hätte er nur die Worte richtig ausgesprochen: Clatoo Verata Nectu!! Die Armee der Finsternis ist der 3. Teil und bisherige Abschluss der kultigen Horror-Reihe "Tanz der Teufel". Die anderen beiden Teile zu kennen, wäre hilfreich, ist aber nicht Voraussetzung, denn die Geschehnisse des zweiten Teils werden durch den Prodagonisten am Anfang noch mal kurz zusammengefasst. Die vorliegende Version ist der ungeschnittene Director 's Cut - wurde auch schon öfters hier erwähnt - und der Film ist - vermute mich mal - so zu sehen, wie der Regisseur ihn ursprünglich haben wollte. Die neuen Szenen sind - leider - in Englisch, mit deutschen Untertiteln. Ein großer Unterschied gegenüber der Kinofassung ist das Ende. Hier wurde DAS Ende genommen, das ursprünglich gedreht wurde (Stichworte: Ash schläft zu lange) Mir persönlich ist das Ende lieber, denn es passt besser zur Grundstimmung des Film. Zur Blu Ray: Die Bildqualität ist die meiste Zeit ausgesprochen gut. Besonders in den hellen Szenen ist eine gute Schärfe auszumachen, und die Farben sind sehr bunt und strahlen zeitweise aus dem Bild. Die dunklen Szenen hingegen weisen teilweise eine leichte Unschärfe auf und zeigen mehr Filmkorn, das aber sehr gut wiedergegeben wird und nicht stört. die neuen Szenen im Directors Cut. sind jedoch eher auf DVD-Nivau, was aber nicht weiter stört. Der Schwarzwert und der Kontrast sind die meiste in Ordnung. Tonformate liegen in Englisch und Deutsch in Stereo vor. Bei den Extras gibt es ein Audiokommentar von Sam Raimi, Ivan Raimi und Bruce Campbel, ein deutschen Kinotrailer und eine Bildergalerie mit seltenem Werbematerial. Ein Wechsel von DVD auf Blu Ray lohnt jedenfalls!!

Advertencia: si has llegado hasta ésta opinión a través de la edición en cuyo título pone Bruce Campbell vs. Army of Darkness, no estamos hablando de la misma edición. Ésta es la Screwhead Edition, como indica la portada, y no pertenece a UK como indica la ficha de Amazon. Ésta es la edición USA, y puedo confirmar que lleva español latino en 5.1 y una pista en DTS-HD master audio 5.1 en versión original, que la edición española no lleva (aquí tenemos un mísero 2.0). Ya sólo por eso vale la pena. Los subtítulos son es en latino, pero casi no se nota, y además están presentes en los extras, que son el final alternativo y una featurette sobre los efectos visuales. En definitiva, una buena edición, mejor que la española, pero con ausencia de escenas eliminadas.

Was as described by the seller. Fun film. Great buy.

Llegó la película en excelente estado como debe ser para este clásico de culto de terror.