 | |  |  | | Media: | HD/SD Combo DVD | | Region: | 1 (USA) | | Studio: | Universal Studios Home Video | | Cert: | Unrated | | Discs: | 1 |
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| Review Scores | | Movie |  | | Picture |  | | Sound |  | | Extras |  | | Overall |  | | Review Verdict | Ok, you do have to come to Army of Darkness with a certain mindset, don’t expect a grinding horror, but do expect to have a great time. Campbell is at his ‘hero’ best in this film and uses the vehicle to outshine the film itself.
As an HD DVD Universal have put together a pitiful package, with the shortest version of the film and no extras, neither the excellence of the picture nor the mediocre sound can save this one as a wasted opportunity. | | Overall score : 3 | | Movie | | Army Of Darkness | | Date | 1993 | | Genres | Comedy
Adventure
Fantasy
Action
Horror | | Director | | Sam Raimi | | Stars | Bruce Campbell
Embeth Davidtz
Ian Abercrombie
Marcus Gilbert |
 |
Screen captures are for illustration purposes and may not originate from the item reviewed. | | Army Of Darkness Review| HD/SD Combo DVD review written by Simon Crust, published 31st October 2007 | Supplied for review by  | Welcome to a small season of shorter reviews of older discs that have been on the shelves now for some considerable time, but help to fill the back catalogue HD material. As it’s Halloween I thought I’d start off with a scare. Please note that this combo disc has been replaced by a singe sided HD-15 disc.
Sam Raimi’s Army of Darkness is the third in his Evil Dead Trilogy (even though it’s really the second part of the Evil Dead II) and picks up where the second part left off. Nearly. After a very quick retelling of the events in the second (and first) film (but completely ignoring the final shot) Ash (Bruce Campbell) finds himself in medieval times, chained to a renegade and about to be cast into the pit. His survival ensures he is rightly confirmed as the ‘chosen one’ able to retrieve the Book of the Dead and return the Deadites from whence they came and thus save humanity. Cue some botched incantations and Ash find himself leading the fight against the Army of the Dead, lead by his evil self, while trying to figure away back to his own time.
Which every way you look at it Army of Darkness is a great fun film. There is an argument to be made whether or not it is a fitting horror conclusion to the Evil Dead, but really that was for a time long ago. It is a terrific comedy with a smattering of horror. Campbell is on top form as Ash getting some of the all time great ‘hero lines’ (“Gimme some sugar” , “Groovy” and “Well hello Mister Fancypants. Well, I've got news for you pal, you ain't leadin' but two things: Jack and shit... and Jack just left town” being just three) and delivering them with an over the top sincerity that just oozes style. The whole film is about him and told by him, and frankly Campbell is the only man up for the job. Raimi having already proven he can direct horror, and horror comedy, goes straight for the funny bone and hits it full on. His love for the three stooges is evident throughout and such is his skill that even though I abhor that particular blend of humour Ramai still has me in stitches every time I watch.
There have been several different versions of Army of Darkness, TV versions, Director’s cuts, unrated Japanese version, theatrical cuts, European cuts and probably a few more. Most of which have found their way to DVD at one time or another. With the extra space and capabilities of HD I was expecting an ‘ultimate’ edition of sorts, one that contains all the different variants of the film, plus a bucket load of extras. Unfortunately this is a very long way from what we get, which is basically the theatrical cut of the film and that’s it. Even the menu is as basic as can be. This is a huge disappointment, especially when you have seen the various other incarnations and deem them to be a better version than the theatrical cut. Such a shame and this bare bone edition actually devalues itself accordingly.
Movie score : 8 | | 542 word review written by Simon Crust. |  | To comment on this review, click here and post a reply.
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| 1 Army Of Darkness |  | 1 USA | HD/SD Combo DVD |  | 26/06/07 | | | 7 | 5 | 0 |
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