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DVD Shopping Bag: Army of Darkness Screwhead Edition
You'll Be Blu about being Screwed By
Robert T. Trate
September 22, 2009
Bruce Campbell Vs. The Army of Darkness on Blu-ray
© Bob Trate
Last week Universal Studios released Sam Raimi’s now classic film Army of Darkness on Blu-ray. I won’t lie to you; I was really looking forward to this one. After all, I have loved these films since I first saw Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn on “Up all Night” on the USA network years ago. I went opening night when the Army of Darkness premiered back in 1993. I have stood in line for hours to get Mr. Campbell’s autograph, a nice fellow by the way. To really show my admiration for the film I got the local art house cinema to screen the film on 35mm and then run the alternate ending on DVD. I can safely say I am a big fan. What I am not a fan of is this Blu-ray “Screwhead Edition”.
To get right to the heart of it this was Universal’s big chance to really let out a no holds barred definitive edition with the best sound and picture quality to date. With the space that is available on a Blu-ray disc Universal could have packed it with tons of special features and all four versions of the film including the 96-minute director's cut, the 81-minute U.S. theatrical version (the only one on the disc), the 88-minute international edit and the 88-minute U.S. television version. Blu-ray technology could have also allowed us to watch multiple versions at the same time. The use of this technology is clearly seen in the Sin City Blu-ray (see review). The High Definition transfer is breathtaking. The colors pop as if you were on set with Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell. Richard’s yellow flags glisten in the sun light. There is a brilliant hint of green slime on Ash’s shirt which was long forgotten. The oddest highlight for Blu-ray transfers maybe the fact that each and every actor looks as if they have a sun burn. This is the “HI-DEF MOVIE” experience for the sound as well. All the creaks, swooshes and bizarre screams are ear shattering, in a good way. What really shatters the heart are the special features.
What is included in the special features is probably the best rendering of the alternate ending ever, the one Universal found too depressing. There is also a brand new twenty one minute Hi-Def Documentary called “Creating the Deadites”. Here we are given a retrospective about a time when CGI effects were still in their infancy and the call for real world effects was needed. Make-up artists and craftsmen discuss their joys with working for Raimi and many on set moments are revealed. The best of which included Raimi, though not in the documentary for comments, is seen on set taunting and joking with the puppets and puppeteers. The documentary moves pretty quickly and could have easily been expanded upon. Then you are done with this “Screwhead Edition”, because there is nothing else.
Anchor Bay is known for releasing a new version or edition every so many years for all the Evil Dead films (see my review of Evil Dead the Ultimate Edition). So much that many people, including Bruce Campbell have made fun of it. You know what? Anchor Bay knows what they are doing with this property. My two disc limited edition version, circa 1999, might not look as good as the Blu-ray but there is commentary for the director’s cut, numerous deleted scenes and a behind the scenes featurette narrated by Bruce Campbell himself. I hold in my hand one of the 30,000 copies released of this limited edition and still see it has the definitive one.
Now many of us have sob stories as what has happened to our copies of Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness. Unfortunately many of us share the same ending in that we have lent it out and never had it returned. If you have misplaced it or need to replace your copy of Army of Darkness then the “Screwhead Edition” is good enough, for now. You have probably seen or know everything that would have been on more special features anyway. It is worth picking up if you need just a copy of the movie. If you are a die hard fan like me hold out for just a little while longer for the next edition. It is only a matter of time before the property falls back into Anchor Bay’s hands or Universal wises up and we get the limited edition re-released on Blu-ray. Regardless “Hail to the King Baby!”
Mania Grade Movie: A+
Mania Grade Special Features: C-
Mania Grade Blu-ray Transfer: A+
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Fear Of The Dark ~ Kevin Zegers
Gangs Of The Dead ~ Enrique Almeida, Howard Alonzo, and Reggie Bannister
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Rage ~ Steve Buscemi, Eddie Izzard, Jude Law, and John Leguizamo
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Naruto Uncut Box Set 16 (3pc) (Full Dub Spec)
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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - The Tenth Year ~ Mariska Hargitay, Christopher Meloni, Richard Belzer, and Dann Florek
The Mentalist: The Complete First Season ~ Simon Baker
Star Trek The Original Series: Season Two [Blu-ray] ~ William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, and James Doohan
Taxi: The Complete Fourth Season ~ Judd Hirsch, Danny DeVito, Andy Kaufman, and Tony Danza
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles - The Complete Second Season ~ Lena Headey, Thomas Dekker, Summer Glau, and Brian Austin Green
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Star Trek: Original Motion Picture Collection ~ William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, and James Doohan
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Wrath of Khan is out on Blu-Ray?!? Shit.....I may have to get it.