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Because there are so many really decent & detailed Blu-Ray & DVD review sites out there, I have decided to restrict this section to information you might not normally find on standard sites, although I will give a brief outline of the pros & cons of the main versions and a summary of the contents.
The Definitive Blu-Ray Version
As of 2013, there is still only really one standout Blu-Ray release; the 2011 US Lionsgate Evil Dead II 1.85:1 Blu-Ray version. While the film is matted into 1.85:1 widescreen from the 1.33:1 OAR without the option of an open matte print, it's still an excellent presentation. Accompanying the main feature, are a host of new and exclusive extras, along with a couple lifted from earlier releases. You can read more about the various image quality and framing points in comparison to the main DVD versions below.
The Definitive DVD Version
Unlike the pros & cons of the various The Evil Dead DVDs, the choice for Evil Dead II is far simpler. Either the 2000 R1 US Anchor Bay Evil Dead II Standard DVD or the 2000 R1 US Anchor Bay Evil Dead II Limited Edition Tin DVD. The actual contents of both discs are identical, but the Limited Edition version was limited to 50,000 units and is usually more expensive to get, but does come in a Tin with a postcard sized replica of the UK Palace Pictures quad poster, and a 48 page booklet, while the standard version just comes with the postcard in a normal plastic DVD case. The reason I suggest the this DVD over the others, is that its the only version to include an open matte version of the film, in addition to the standard 1.85:1 matted widescreen version.
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For the most part, there isn't a lot of difference between the main R1 & R2 DVD versions of Evil Dead II, which all have similar image & sound quality, and predominantly identical extras, although there are two minor exceptions of note. The 2005 R1 US Anchor Bay Evil Dead II 'Divimax' Book Of The Dead DVD does have one additional featurette of note called Behind The Screams, which is a 17m 6s sequence of production photos narrated by Tom Sullivan (rather than the old 1997 US Elite 'Blood Red Edition' Evil Dead II laserdisc documentary of the same name). The other exception is the 2003 R2 French Studio Canal Evil Dead II double disc Collectors Edition DVD, which contains a 23m 40s interview with Bruce Campbell in English with French subtitles, which isn't found on any other Evil Dead II DVD release.
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DVD menu - 2000 R1 US Anchor Bay Evil Dead II DVD
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The matted widescreen and open matte transfers on the 2000 R1 US Anchor Bay Evil Dead II DVD are worth mentioning. The way Anchor Bay have formatted the DVD menu transfer selection screen could confuse the viewer. The two versions were labelled as 'widescreen' and 'full-frame', but the thumbnail image above makes the 'Full-Frame' version look like a 'pan & scan' print, rather than the open-matte transfer it actually is. For the vast majority of the film, the widescreen version was simply the full 1:37:1 open matte transfer with the top and bottom cropped off, creating a 1.85:1 aspect ratio.
Full-Frame - 2000 R1 US Anchor Bay Evil Dead II DVD
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Cropped Widescreen - 2000 R1 US Anchor Bay Evil Dead II DVD
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Comparing the two transfers, there are a very small number of specific shots in which the virtual opposite is true; the open matte version framing appears as if the matted widescreen version has been zoomed in to 1:37:1, cropping the left & right sides to give a full frame image, as seen below. This would probably have been done for technical reasons, such as source print damage, or on-set equipment which would have been visible otherwise.
Zoomed Full-Frame - 2000 R1 US Anchor Bay Evil Dead II DVD
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Widescreen - 2000 R1 US Anchor Bay Evil Dead II DVD
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The 2011 US Lionsgate Evil Dead II 1.85:1 widescreen Blu-Ray release further adds to this. Although again it is ostensibly a matted widescreen frame, you actually see more on every side as if the entire frame is zoomed out, although this varies marginally from shot to shot. The open matted DVD version still shows a little more at the top & bottom of the frame, but looses image over the Blu-Ray at the left & right sides. The small horizontal image loss and large vertical gain means the open matte DVD transfer still probably comes out as the superior framing option overall, although the outstanding vibracy and sharpness of the new Blu-Ray transfer is by far the best Evil Dead II has ever looked.
2011 US Lionsgate Widescreen Blu-Ray -Vs- 2000 R1 US Anchor Bay Open Matte DVD -Vs- 2000 R1 US Anchor Bay Widescreen DVD
One other separate Anchor Bay issue worthy of mention is the controversy surrounding the 2005 R1 US Anchor Bay 'Divimax' Book Of The Dead 2 DVD and subsequent Blu-ray release. Anchor Bay heavily filtered the transfer using digital noise reduction (DNR) rendering it virtually void of fine detail, resulting in a plastic, almost wax-like image. This transfer also has noticeably adjusted contrast levels and higher widescreen framing, all of which you can see from the comparison screenshots below.
2000 R1 US Anchor Bay Evil Dead II DVD
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2005 R1 US Anchor Bay Book Of The Dead 2 DVD
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Blu-Ray & DVD Release Details
Because there have been so many 'Carbon Copy' Blu-Ray & DVD releases of The Evil Dead around the world, I have decided to restrict this section to especially distinctive presentations really worth trying to get. If a particular release you are interested in isn't covered here, or you want more detailed information on one that is, then look it up using a search engine. There are many excellent and highly detailed DVD review sites out there.
Evil Dead II (25th Anniversary Edition) Blu-Ray
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Studio:
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Lions Gate
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Release Date:
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November 15, 2011
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Region:
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A/1 (US & Canada)
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Format:
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NTSC
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Number of discs:
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1
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ASIN:
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B005J9ZE5I
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Disc 1:
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Evil Dead II
(16:9 Matted Anamorphic Widescreen)
(English DTS-HD / Master Audio 5.1)
(Audio Commentary: Raimi, Campbell, Spiegel & Nicotero)
Swallowed Souls: The Making of Evil Dead II
Ch1: Dead By Dawn
Ch3: The Chosen Ones
Ch3: Madman Sam
Ch4: Dead Effects
Ch5: Re-Animated
Ch6: Method To Madness
Ch7: Rosebud
Road To Wadesboro
Cabin Fever
Evil Dead II: Behind the Screams
The Gore the Merrier
Theatrical Trailers
Stills Gallery
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Notes:
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This Blu-Ray presents the film matted into 1.85:1 widescreen, with an excellent and suitably grainy picture quality.
All the extras exclusive to this release are in HD format, with the exception of Evil Dead II: Behind the Screams & The Gore the Merrier which are both in SD having been lifted from previous DVD releases.
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Evil Dead II (Limited Edition Tin) DVD
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Studio:
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Anchor Bay Entertainment
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Release Date:
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August 29, 2000
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Region:
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1 (US & Canada)
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Format:
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NTSC
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Number of discs:
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1
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ASIN:
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B00004U2A1
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Disc 1:
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Evil Dead II
(16:9 Matted Anamorphic Widescreen)
(English DD 5.1 / English DD 2.0)
(Audio Commentary: Raimi, Campbell, Spiegel & Nicotero)
Evil Dead II
(4:3 Non-Anamorphic Open Matte)
(English DD 5.1 / English DD 2.0)
(Audio Commentary: Raimi, Campbell, Spiegel & Nicotero)
The Gore The Merrier featurette
Theatrical Trailer
Evil Dead: Hail To The King video game preview
Still galleries
Talent bios
THX certified
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Notes:
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This DVD contains the Evil Dead II in both a 1.85:1 matted widescreen, and open matte 1.37:1, the only DVD to have the unmatted transfer. The image quality between the two transfers is virtually identical.
This release was limited to 50,000 units, and comes in a numbered collectors tin, with a postcard sized replica of the UK Palace Pictures quad poster, and a 48 page booklet. The actual disc content on this release is identical to the standard version of this DVD.
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Evil Dead II (Book Of The Dead 2 - DiviMax) DVD
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Studio:
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Anchor Bay Entertainment
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Release Date:
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September 27, 2005
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Region:
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1 (US & Canada)
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Format:
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NTSC
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Number of discs:
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1
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ASIN:
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B000A3XY9Q
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Disc 1:
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Evil Dead II
(16:9 Matted Anamorphic Widescreen)
(English DD 5.1 / English DD 2.0)
(Audio Commentary: Raimi, Campbell, Spiegel & Nicotero)
The Gore The Merrier featurette
Behind The Screams featurette
Theatrical Trailer
Man with the Screaming Brain Trailer
Dead & Breakfast Trailer
Evil Dead: Regeneration Game Trailer
Photo & poster gallery
Cast & crew filmographies and biographies
THX certified
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Notes:
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This DVD contains the Evil Dead II in 1.85:1 matted widescreen, and comes in a replica Book Of The Dead with an eye that screams when you press it, with the book's 15 pages illustrated by Tom Sullivan. Buyers should note the Divimax transfer issue with this release as detailed at the start of the page.
The Behind The Screams featurette is a 17m 6s sequence of production photos narrated by Tom Sullivan, rather than the old 1997 US Elite 'Blood Red Edition' Evil Dead II laserdisc documentary of the same name.
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The Evil Dead Trilogy (4 Disc Box Set) DVD
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Studio:
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Anchor Bay Entertainment
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Release Date:
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July 28, 2003
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Region:
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2 (Europe)
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Format:
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PAL
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Number of discs:
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4
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ASIN:
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B001ARNWP2
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Disc 1:
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The Evil Dead
(16:9 Matted Anamorphic Widescreen)
(English DTS-ES 6.1 / DD 5.1 EX / DD 2.0 / French DD 2.0)
(Audio Commentary: Sam Raimi & Robert Tapert)
Theatrical Trailer
4 TV Spots
Poster And Still Gallery
Talent Bios:
(Bruce Campbell / Sam Raimi / Robert Tapert)
'Fanalysis' documentary
'Discovering Evil Dead' featurette
Behind The Scenes Footage & Outtakes
THX Optimizer
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Disc 2:
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Evil Dead II
(16:9 Matted Anamorphic Widescreen)
(English DD 5.1 / German, Italian & Spanish DD 2.0)
(Audio Commentary: Raimi, Campbell, Spiegel & Nicotero)
Theatrical Trailer
The Gore The Merrier featurette
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Disc 3:
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Army of Darkness (Director's Cut)
(1.66:1 Matted Anamorphic Widescreen)
(English DD 2.0)
(Audio Commentary: Raimi, Campbell & Ivan Raimi)
4 Deleted Scenes (with Optional Commentary)
The Creature Concept Art
Director's Storyboards
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Disc 4:
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The Evil Dead
(4:3 Non-Anamorphic Open Matte)
(English DTS-ES 6.1 / DD 5.1 EX / DD 2.0)
(Audio Commentary: Bruce Campbell)
The Living Love the Dead
Dead Good Marketing featurette
Bruce Campbell: Geek or God? featurette
The Incredibly Strange Film Show
Antihero - Evil Dead inspired Music Video
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Notes:
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This box-set brings together a number of previous standalone releases, and comes with a bonus disc. Disc 2 is the standard 2001 R2 UK Momentum Pictures Evil Dead II DVD containing the film in in 1.85:1 matted widescreen. This box-set also comes with some interesting new extras on the fourth disc, a couple of which can only be found in this release, although relating primarily to The Evil Dead as opposed to Evil Dead II.
Two things of note; The Evil Dead disc in the 2005 R2 UK Anchor Bay 'Box Of The Banned' collection is identical to the bonus fourth disc here, and in both 'The Incredibly Strange Film Show' has been edited to remove all Super-8 shorts clips, along with some other material such as The Three Stooges, running at 34m 9s, down from an uncut running time of 37m 38s.
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Evil Dead II (French Collectors Edition) DVD
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Studio:
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Studio Canal
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Release Date:
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October 14, 2003
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Region:
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2 (Europe)
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Format:
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PAL
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Number of discs:
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2
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ASIN:
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B0000C8RAN
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Disc 1:
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Evil Dead II
(16:9 Matted Anamorphic Widescreen)
(English & French DD 5.1 / English & French DD 2.0)
(Audio Commentary: Raimi, Campbell, Spiegel & Nicotero)
Theatrical Trailer
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Disc 2:
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The Gore The Merrier featurette
Bruce Campbell Interview
The Incredibly Strange Film Show
'Short portraits' of Bruce & Sam (brief biogs)
Filmographies
Biographies
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Notes:
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This DVD contains Evil Dead II in 1.85:1 matted widescreen, and comes with an 80 page booklet, although written entirely in french. 'The Bruce Campbell Interview' runs as 23m 40s and is exclusive to this release.
It's worth noting that the version of 'The Incredibly Strange Film Show' featured here has been heavily edited to remove all film clips except for Evil Dead II, and runs at 27m 12s. This should have an unedited running time of 37m 38s, meaning about ten minutes of footage has been removed.
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