Image: 8/9
The first number indicates a relative level of excellence compared to other Blu-ray discs on a ten-point scale. The second number places this image along the full range of DVD and Blu-ray discs.

As you can see at a glance, the Blu-ray image is much better than any of its previous DVD incarnations in all those ways that we have come to know and love: it's brighter (without being artificially brightened), more vivid, sharper and more highly resolved with color that is at once more natural and, more than likely, more accurately representative of the DP's intentions. Nighttime scenes seem lit by moonlight, as they should be. There is a depth you can't beat with a stick, or a chainsaw. I found no blemishes, dirt or scratches. It's like they found an unused print in a vault somewhere. Still, I think I see some oversharpening of the image where edges are just a little ragged. Interior scenes can sometimes be a bit fuzzy, and there are moments (as Ash is sucked into the vortex and when he first peers into the Pit) that simply fall apart at the seams.

Audio & Music: 7/6
For a B-movie, Army of Darkness receives a pretty good uncompressed 5.1 sound mix. Surrounds are well panned, as when arrows whistle through the air, or when Ash is being chased through the woods. The music opens up the soundstage some, but not hugely. In fact, a good deal of what is assigned to the surrounds is fairly subtle, though detailed, providing ambience, a sense of space and general mayhem.

Dialogue is clearly articulated, if a little boxy. Bass is well controlled and not exaggerated for the sake of LFE, and, while we might have wished for more thud when Ash's Olds comes crashing down from the heavens or when the castle is rammed, there's plenty of weight when the door of the windmill is under attack. I imagine this is about as good as it gets for an Evil Dead.

Operations: 7
The menu is laid out like other Universal Blu-rays. Arrows tell you which way to direct your remote. The chapter menu includes buttons for U-Control in case you want to approach those functions from that point.

Extras: 3
And now for the bad news: Universal's single layer Blu-ray makes room only for the Theatrical Cut (which you might well prefer). Unlike Optimum's UK Blu-ray, there is no Director's Cut, not even in SD. The U-Control PIP pertains only to occasional and dimly presented production photos. The alternate ending (which I personally think sucks) is presented in pretty good quality SD, even if 4;3. None of the other extras that appeared on this or that DVD are here – not, for example, the piece about Campbell, "The Man Behind the Army." There is one redeeming feature: a new retrospective look in HD at the movie's animatronics and make-up effects guided by two of the gentlemen in charge of make-up: Howard Berger and Greg Nicotero, who openly acknowledge their use of Harryhausen effects – and pretty good ones at that.

Recommendation: 7
Despite what may be some oversharpening of the image, the thing that keeps this Blu-ray from being a hands-down (one of them anyhow) must own is the absence of the "Director's Cut". The picture quality, for the most part, is awesome, the sound better than expected. I find the movie a mindless, but far from mind-numbing hoot and a half. Knock yourself out, or cut yourself in pieces, whichever is your preference.

Leonard Norwitz
September 6th, 2009

ON THE DVDS: The Universal edition is brighter, but appears to suffer from some color manipulation (overly red skin tones etc. ). The Anchor Bay Region 1 version is slightly sharper with better contrast and an overall tighter image than its Region 2 PAL counterpart, but also has some overly red tints to it.  

The Universal has better shadow delineation in darker scenes. The Anchor Bay Region 2 PAL has some color saturation. The Anchor Bay Region 1 has 5.1 sound as opposed to the Universal 2.0. So as far as the Theatrical version goes it appears the Anchor Bay Region 1 wins this battle although each version has strengths in certain areas. I draw the line at contrast boosting and do not like either's color manipulation, but feel the Anchor Bay Region 1 Theatrical version of the film to DVD has less manipulation than the Universal theatrical version and does not have the saturation of the PAL version.    - Gary W. Tooze

1) Anchor Bay - R2 - PAL  - TOP