Evil Dead SE?

[nickyvicar]

Evil Dead (Anchor Bay) SE is available from Streetsonline, R2, Anamorphic Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 1.78:1, £6.99.

Also from CD-WOW!, R1, Non-Anamorphic, Aspect Ratio: 1.33, £12.99.

As they are both the anchor Bay Special Editions, are they actually the same film and if so, which of the quoted aspect ratios is correct or the better version?

Many thanks in advance,
Nick

 

[Bruce123]

I have the Elite Entertainment 'Special Collector's Edition' R1 which is presented in 1.33:1. It states on the box that this edition was personally supervised by Sam Raimi and is the original aspect ratio. It also has a new DD5.1 soundtrack, two audio commentaries and 20 min of alternate takes.
I see that Future Entertainment have the 'Complete uncut 20th Anniversary Edition' for £12.99 with an anormorphic transfer and DTS plus the same extra features.
Of particular note I see it has a running time of 85mins. Mine is 82mins. Maybe that justifies the 'uncut' title. Looks like the one to go for IMO.
Hope this helps.

B

 

[wicky1]

Bruce. I have the "Book of the dead" version from Anchor Bay, I too have the Elite version. Hold onto it. It is in its original ratio-it was shot full screen. The picture on the elite version is imho a little less grainy.
Admittedly it's non-amamorphic, being full screen, but it is uncut and I think a very good disc.

 

[buns]

As noted, the region 2 version is anamorphic widescreen...... but the original (as the director intended) wasnt...... personally i dont really care, i hated the film, but purists would stick away from R2

ad

 

Originally posted by buns
As noted, the region 2 version is anamorphic widescreen...... but the original (as the director intended) wasnt...... personally i dont really care, i hated the film, but purists would stick away from R2

ad

Anchor Bay were originally going to release it in 4:3, but Sam Raimi asked them to release it in widescreen because he wanted to reframe the movie, Raimi got Bruce Campbell to supervise the reframing to widescreen.

 

[buns]

Apologies, maybe i should rephrase to 'originally intended'. Why did he want a reframe?

ad

 

[the thing wnn]

apparently he always intended for it to be matted to a widescreen image, his choice of film stock dictated the 4:3 format, and since it was only run in a few theatres originally was targeted at a more video audience.
After seeing the original DVD release, he decided to go back to his original plan of a matted widescreen print for the book of the dead re-issue.
So both versions have their plus and minus points.
If you watch the film carefully, certain shots were obviously framed for a matted print originally, too much room above actors heads etc...

so completists buy the original Elite release and the new book of the dead.

6 of one, half a dozen of the other if you ask me...

(I've got the BOTD version though, mainly for the cool packaging!! )

 

[buns]

Sounds like one of the more logical convoluitons i have heard recently!

Does the botd have the dts es track?

ad