First off, I like AoD; it's an entertaining mix of slapstick, chintzy effects, quotable lines and pleasing set pieces - but as an Evil Dead movie, it's certainly not much of a horror movie. When compared to the first two films this is definitely the weakest of the trio; but alone it's a raucuous time that's main reason for working is the great charisma and comedic timing of its star Bruce Campbell.

Campbell returns as Ash and this continues off where the second part ended with him sucked through a timewarp back into Midevial times. Soon he finds himself being called upon as a hero to fight off the nasty "deadites" and collect the Necromonicon in order to return home. Problem is, he's such a klutz in some ways that he ends-up bringing back an army of skeletons (shades of Jason & The Argonauts) that are lead by an evil clone of himself.

Director/co-writer Sam Raimi and his star (who's a longtime college friend) enjoy themselves fully with this sequel (which sadly sunk at the box-office) as they've made this more of an adventure movie than horror and toned down on the gore while they're at it. That's not to say it's not enjoyable, because I'd be lying if I said it wasn't.

The best moments include a scene with Campbell trapped in a pit surrounded by spikes and monsters and a Gulliver's Travels inspired moment where mini "Ashes" pop out of a mirror to torment our hero.

Also available in a 96 minute "Director's Cut" (which will be reviewed here soon seperately); but I actually prefer this version better.

Directed By: Sam Raimi.
Written By: Ivan Raimi, Sam Raimi.

Starring: Bruce Campbell, Embeth Davidtz, Marcus Gilbert, Ian Abercrombie.

Picture Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen.

Picture Quality: Anchor Bay brings us this in a decent transfer with only a few moments of grain and instability but there was a problem on the copy I viewed with, what I assume is, layer transitions - the picture went pixellated and paused in the last 20 minutes or so.

Extras: There's way too many versions of this movie out there but hopefully the latest "Boomstick Edition" will be the last. This is basically a port of their earlier single disc and it contains the original ending (which I've never liked), trailer, well-written bios on Campbell and Raimi; and a fairly decent making of featurette called "Men Behind The Army".