Customer Reviews

The Evil Dead/Evil Dead 2 - Book Of The Dead Collection

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Evil Dead -
Sam Raimi's "The Evil Dead" is an amazing start off to a trilogy of horror and three stooges slapstick. I have never seen a horror movie so many times, heck I've never seen any movie so many times. Sure the special effects are discouraging but who could of better been cast as the reluctant hero than Bruce Campbell? It has cheaply thrown in nudity and unusual amounts of blood which give it that early 80's horror film feeling. It's easy to pick out flaws and inconsistencies throughout the films, but thats not the point. The point is to make you laugh, and then scare your pants off.

Evil Dead II -
The first Evil Dead film was pure horror. The third is pure comedy. Sam Raimi's "Evil Dead II" is a mixture of both horror and comedy - which is why it works so well. The film manages to make you go "Urgh! Gross!" AND laugh at the same time. Here's an example: in one scene there's a zombie trying to get out of a cellar through a trap door. Two men try to keep the trap door closed by standing, lying and jumping on it. But the zombie's head sticks out at the same time they're jumping on it. Whaddya get? A squashed head. And whaddya get when that happens? An eyeball that pops out of the head - one that goes flying across the room and goes straight into a screaming woman's mouth!!! HAHAHAHA. This film is hilarious! And the "possessed hand" scene is awesome.

The "Book of the Dead" edition of The Evil Dead features:
1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
English DTS-ES 6.1
English Dolby Digital 5.1 EX
English Dolby Surround 2.0
French Dolby Digital 5.1
Audio Commentary by Director/Writer Sam Raimi and Producer Robert Tapert
Audio Commentary by Actor Bruce Campbell
Theatrical Trailer
4 TV Spots
Poster And Still Gallery
Talent Bios
"Fanalysis" documentary
"Discovering Evil Dead" featurette
Behind The Scenes Footage & Outtakes
24-Page Collector's Booklet

The "Book of the Dead" edition of Evil Dead II features:
Hi-Def Divimax Transfer
1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
English Dolby Digital 5.1
English Dolby Digital 2.0 surround
Audio commentary with director/co-writer Sam Raimi, actor/co-producer Bruce Campbell, co-writer Scott Spiegel, and special make-up effects artist Greg Nicotero
"The Gore The Merrier" featurette
"Evil Dead II: Behind The Screams" featurette
Theatrical trailer
Bonus trailers: "Man with the Screaming Brain", "Dead & Breakfast", and "Evil Dead: Regeneration (video game)"
Photo & poster gallery
Cast & crew filmographies and biographies

Ok. Just for the record, the Evil Dead Trilogy is the best trilogy of all time... However, tend to agree that there are far too many versions of these movies coming out, without anything new to say. The new ED2 doesn't really add anything except a nice box, and it is a nice one but nothing new! And now to have it repackaged with an ED Book of The Dead seems a little like just going for the cash dudes! Especially as this is now a different version of the ED Book Of The Dead cause by the look of the image, its the same size as the new ED2 and thats smaller than my original ED Book of The Dead. Its nice packaging so I kinda feel if I don't buy it somebody else will buy it for me! Sad, I know but I want it!

In terms of the AOD version, as far as I'm aware - Anchor Bay are already talking to Tom Sullivan about designing one so yep, we'll have another version of that with another boxed set, yadda yadda yadda. Its a money making machine...

And just to stick my oar into the previous reviews, ED was shot on 35mm which means the full size TV version actually shows more than the widescreen version. I'm a widescreen champion normally but the original ED is better than this new widescreen version, there's a lot of nice touches missing because of the top and bottom of the screen being blacked out (eg the elastiplast box floating in the blood towards the end).

And don't think that this will make a great deal of difference with whether we get an ED4 or not... Sam & Co. aint really that connected to Anchor Bay other than getting the odd cheque and can't see another cheque making that much difference to Sam "I've got plenty of money now that I made Spiderman 1,2 and 3" Raimi.

Hey there...if you're reading this review, then you've come to the right Evil Dead Movie Critic. This Combo offers you an excellent insider's look into the Evil Dead 1 & 2 film legacy with great bonus features, commentary, photos, and more. Moreover, the sound quality is crisp and digitally remastered...so the shrieks and screams sound more real and brutal than ever. If you're a diehard Evil Dead/Bruce Campbell/Sam Rami/Whatever Fan...or if you're an Evil Dead Virgin, then this Special Edition DVD Combo will exceed your ghoulish expectations and desires. Plus you get Free Shipping...Try and beat that!

To everyone complaining that there are way too many versions of the Evil Dead movies, stop complaining. To date, there have been 9 region 1 versions of Evil Dead produced, 6 of which are out of production and there have been 6 region 1 versions of Evil Dead 2 produced, 2 of which are out of production. The dvds included in this set are not new releases; the version of Evil Dead is a re-release of the now out of production Book of the Dead and the version of Evil Dead 2 is the newly released Divimax version of the Book of the Dead 2. So while you complain that they keep releasing new versions of the dvds just to make money, (yes, production houses like to make money), it is completely unfounded. This is a limited edition due to the fact that they are reproducing the original Book of the Dead for the people who weren't able to get their hands on a copy during the first release. And to whoever says that they hate widescreen movies, buy a bigger television. Widescreen movies are far superior to that of pan and scan editions. If you love the movie so much, you aren't doing it justice by having just over 25 percent of the movie chopped off.

"Evil Dead" and "Evil Dead 2" are fantastic films and get the respect and great presentation they deserve. I love Anchor Bay! They really love horror films and look after their fans. I have the "Gift Set" and single releases of these "books" because of the great packaging.

Ok first of all I know every one is crying "why o why have thay put out another version of this movie, I all ready have 5" well I will tell you why! Just look at them their in the book of the dead! You get a movie prop with the movie basicly, not to mention its the best versions of the movie released on dvd yet. Great special features, great every thing. Its a fans dream come true. You cant go wrong with this, just try to find it where you can get it cheapest and enjoy.

Must have for collection! Was shocked when I pressed the eye on EVIL DEAD 2 Book and it screams! Was a bonus thay left out.

I ordered these for my 15 yr old for Christmas and he is thrilled, he couldn't wait to show his friends the CD covers, one of them screams when you press it. He's a big fan of zombie flicks and he loved it.

This collection is great on its own. But if you add "Bruce Campbell vs. Army of Darkness", you would have what would be, with out a doubt, the greatest horror trilogy collection. even though "Evil Dead", and "Evil Dead 2", are close to the same movie. each one does offer something unique. "Evil Dead" is more violent, and gory. "Evil Dead 2" is still violent and gory. But it is also more humorous. Both movies are must haves. Both are classics. And since both come in a "Book of the Dead" DVD case, with great art work in the pages, these movies should be the crown jewel in any horror fans collection.

After seeing Army of Darkness, I had to get Evil Dead 1 & 2. As soon as I looked on Amazon, there these were for $26 and free shipping because it was over $25! The books are created in magnificent detail and the guy who designed the books for the films designed these books as well. Each page has detailed drawings from the films and are written in a font that can be fun to decipher. The one con with this set is that Evil Dead 1 was originally filmed in fullscreen format, but they cropped it for 16:9 presentation. Not really "preserving" the format by doing that move.

Otherwise, great set and I was lucky to get the deal! Would definitely recommend for ANY Sam Raimi/Bruce Campbell/Evil Dead fan!