Terry's Reviews
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Evil Dead 2 –
Book of the Dead 2 Anchor Bay Entertainment – 2005 Directed
by Sam Raimi Starring |
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| Who doesn’t love
this film? EVIL DEAD 2 is funny, gory and outrageously creative. Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert
and Bruce Campbell are back to continue the EVIL DEAD series but in a new way. The first
film was tense, scary and horrifying, while the sequel is aimed to make you laugh first
and then recoil in horror second. The beginning is partial re-filming of the first film just to get you caught up with what happened, but done with slicker production values. Soon after Ash (Bruce Campbell) gets possessed, all hell breaks loose. Decapitation, chainsawed bodies, demons gnawing on human flesh and hair has never been so fun. Ash is the defining character of Bruce Campbell’s career. It’s such a multi-dimensional character as he tackles romance, horror, physical action and comedy. Bruce Campbell is terrific in the role and perfectly cast in the part. Campbell is a tremendously physical actor who takes the bodily abuse that the film (Sam Raimi) dishes out. What Campbell does is THREE STOOGES level physical comedy and hilarious to watch. It doesn’t matter that he has gone onto star in television shows and bigger budget films; this is the role he will always be remembered for. The real Sam Raimi comes out in this movie. Being a huge fan of the THREE STOOGES, Raimi melds his love for physical comedy into his quirky, energetic vision and gives this film an identity that other filmmakers have been trying to copy ever since (early Peter Jackson comes to mind). Raimi puts the camera into places, via acrobatic moves never before seen on the screen. His direction is innovative and a joy to watch. Joseph LoDuca does an excellent job again scoring the film with music that is spooky and comical at the same time. Mark Shostrom, Howard Berger, Robert Kurtzman and Greg Nicotero provided an impressive amount of special make-up effects that dazzle the screen with gore and all sorts of demonic possession. EVIL DEAD 2 is virtually wall-to-wall effects and the shear amount of effects will nearly make your head spin. Anchor Bay does another fantastic job with a beautiful HD transfer and put together special features that will please any deadite. EVIL DEAD 2: Behind-The-Screams features still photographs taken on the set by Tom Sullivan, who provides commentary the entire time. The Gore, The Merrier features wonderful on the set video footage shot by Greg Nicotero and cross cuts comments from a recent interview with the guys (Kurtzman, Berger and Nicotero) who went on to become KNB Effects. Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Sam Raimi, Star Bruce Campbell, Co-Writer Scott Spiegel and Special Make-Up Effects Artist Greg Nicotero is just as hilarious as the movie. I laughed many times as this creative team takes humorous shots at each other while spouting out the details of production. This is one of the rare instances that a commentary track is as entertaining as the movie. Other features include Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell’s Bios, Theatrical Trailer, Poster and Still Gallery. Anchor Bay worked with Tom Sullivan to design a DVD case that is the same design of the Book of the Dead. The book feels like stretched flesh on the outside, while inside there’s a small booklet of Tom Sullivan’s demonic drawings. EVIL DEAD 2: Book of the Dead 2 is a very cool idea and a real treat for any fan. |
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