Army of Darkness [Screwhead Edition] [$5 Halloween Candy Cash Offer] [Blu-ray]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

The third in director Sam Raimi's stylish, comic book-like horror trilogy that began with The Evil Dead (1982), this tongue-in-cheek sequel offers equal parts sword-and-sorcery-style action, gore, and comedy. Bruce Campbell returns as the one-armed Ash, now a supermarket employee ("Shop Smart...Shop S-Mart") who is transported by the powers of a mysterious book back in time with his Oldsmobile '88 to the 14th century medieval era. Armed only with a shotgun, his high school chemistry textbook, and a chainsaw that mounts where his missing appendage once resided, the square-jawed, brutally competent Ash quickly establishes himself as a besieged kingdom's best hope against an "army of darkness" currently plaguing the land. Since the skeleton warriors have been resurrected with the aid of the Necronomicon (the same tome that can send Ash back to his own time) he agrees to face the enemy in battle. Ash also finds romance of a sort along the way with a beautiful damsel in distress, Sheila (Embeth Davidtz), and contends with his own doppelganger after mangling an important incantation. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Number of Discs: 1
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Audio: Dolby Digital Stereo
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (Theatre Wide Screen)
• Features:
  • Creating the Deadites - Explore the groundbreaking visual effects work that created the ghastly legions of undead
  • Alternate ending
  • Blu-Ray exclusives: U-Control
  • Production photos

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Bruce Campbell - Ash (Ashley J. Williams)
       Embeth Davidtz - Sheila/Evil Sheila
       Marcus Gilbert - Arthur
       Ian Abercrombie - Wiseman
       Richard Grove - Duke Henry
       Michael Earl Reid - Gold Tooth
       Timothy Patrick Quill - Blacksmith
       Bridget Fonda - Linda
       Patricia Tallman - Possessed Witch
       Theodore Raimi - Cowardly Warrior
       Deke Anderson - 1st Tiny Ash
       Andy Bale - 1st Lieutenant

• Director:

  Sam Raimi

• Producer:

  Robert Tapert

• Screenwriter:

  Ivan Raimi, Sam Raimi

• Cinematographer:

  Bill Pope

• Composer (Music Score):

  Danny Elfman, Joseph Lo Duca

• Editor:

  Bob Murawski, John Travers

• Production Designer:

  Tony Tremblay

• Co-producer:

  Bruce Campbell

• Set Designer:

  Michele Poulik

• Costume Designer:

  Ida Gearon

• Special Effects:

  William Mesa

• Casting:

  Ira Belgrade

REVIEW:

• An excellent tongue-in-cheek horror film that's loosely a sequel to the cult favorite Evil Dead pictures, this larger budgeted follow-up fails to capitalize as well as it might have on its delightful high-concept premise. That's a criticism targeted strictly to non-horror buffs, however; true genre fans probably won't even notice, given the accepted paucity of intelligent plotting in most horror outings. Besides, an abundance of dandy dialogue, pop cultural references, and imaginative action sequences nearly enough makes up for a story that occasionally disappoints. Bruce Campbell returns in the role of the heroic Ash, a part that the actor performs once again with panache, reminding his followers and non-fans alike what a shame it is that the likable, square-jawed B-movie impresario hasn't been elevated to A-list leading man status as of yet. Director Sam Raimi takes it a little easier on the stylish camera work, seamlessly blending the visuals into his story telling, maturing as a filmmaker, but still a gleeful enough fan himself to inject some stop-motion critters straight from the Ray Harryhausen school of special effects. The film's other credits are impressive: music from the great Danny Elfman and a supporting cast that includes classy actress Embeth Davidtz of Schindler's List (1993), of all people. It's not for everyone but for the heavy metal-rock & roll-loving, horror movie-devoted populace, Army of Darkness (1993) will satisfy their jonesing for a good cinematic time. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi