The Guide To the R1 Evil Dead Trilogy Releases

[Book_Of_The_Bread]

I've posted this same thing in the Within The Woods message board (just in case you run into that):
http://woodkeeper.proboards.com/index.c ... 573&page=1

With that said, I was inspired by another topic at another message board.:

http://www.deadites.net/forums/index.ph ... topic=36.0

So, I decided to do one for this message board. This topic discusses the different R1 Versions of The Evil Dead Trilogy DVD releases. So, here we go:

THE EVIL DEAD

1. The Evil Dead
Distributed by: Anchor Bay
Year: 1998
Case: Jewel Case
Audio: English Dolby Stereo 2.0
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Full Screen
Extras: Theatrical Trailer
Notes: Features the tweaks by Sam Raimi
The theatrical trailer is presented in (original) full screen and features the Knowby narration at the beginning (as it should be).
The release has 5 different art covers to choose from.

2. The Evil Dead Special Collector's Edition
Released by: Elite Entertainment
Year: 1999
Case: Amaray (Keep) Case
Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1
English Dolby Digital Surround 2.0
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Full Screen
Extras: Audio Commentary with Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert
Audio Commentary with Bruce Campbell
Theatrical Trailer
Still And Photo Gallery
Behind The Scenes Footage & Outtakes
Notes: Come with liner notes by Bruce Campbell
Features the tweaks by Sam Raimi.
Easter Egg: From the Disc's Main Menu go to the "Bonus Materials" and view the "Bits And Pieces" all the way to the end. Now, go back to the Main Menu and play the movie itself by selecting the "Begin Terror" Menu Entry. Before the movie starts, a demonic voice will now yell at you 'You Will Die'.

3. The Evil Dead (20th Anniversary/THX Edition)
Distributed by: Anchor Bay
Year: 2002
Case: Amaray (Keep) Case
Audio: English DTS-ES 6.1
English Dolby Digital 5.1 EX
English Dolby Digital Surround 2.0
French Dolby Digital 5.1 EX
French Dolby Digital Surround 2.0
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen (Anamorphic)
Extras: Audio Commentary with Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert
Audio Commentary with Bruce Campbell
Theatrical Trailer
4 TV Spots
Poster And Still Gallery
3 Talent Bios
Behind The Scenes Footage & Outtakes
THX Optimizer
Notes: The trailer dosen't feature the Knowby narration and presented in (matted) anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen (this will go on for the next releases and so forth).
The widescreen transfer is the re-matted version of the original 1.33:1 full screen ratio approved by Sam Raimi and features no tweaks (will go on to the next releaes and so forth).
Comes with a Ladies Of The Evil Dead booklet.
Re-released in December 2009 with a different cover similar to the UE cover (it may or may not contain the booklet as mentioned).
Easter Eggs: Go to "Extras", and when in that screen press the Left arrow key to highlight the Fish Sketch on the left of the screen and then press the Enter key to see a Special Effects Test.
Go to the second page of "Extras" and press the Left arrow key to highlight the Skull Sketch. Press the Enter key for footage from the 2001 Halloween Night screening of Evil Dead.

4. The Evil Dead Book Of The Dead Edition
Distributed by: Anchor Bay
Year: 2002
Case: Special Case (see notes)
Audio: English DTS-ES 6.1
English Dolby Digital 5.1 EX
English Dolby Digital Surround 2.0
French Dolby Digital 5.1 EX
French Dolby Digital Surround 2.0
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen (Anamorphic)
Extras: Audio Commentary with Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert
Audio Commentary with Bruce Campbell
Discovering Evil Dead featurette
Fanalysis documentary
Theatrical Trailer
4 TV Spots
Poster And Still Gallery
3 Talent Bios
Behind The Scenes Footage & Outtakes
THX Optimizer
Notes: Packaged in a Rubber/Latex mock-book ("Book Of The Dead") with Collector's Booklet and a Sleeve for the DVD.
For rental releases, Blockbuster Video stores features different cover art in a Amaray (Keep) case.

5. The Evil Dead Ultimate Edition
Distributed by: Anchor Bay
Year: 2007
Case: Special Case (see notes)
Audio: English DTS-ES 6.1 (Disc 1 Only)
English Dolby Digital 5.1 EX (Disc 1 Only)
English Dolby Digital Surround 2.0 (Both Discs 1 and 2)
French Dolby Digital Surround 2.0 (Disc 2 Only)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen (Anamorphic) (Disc 1 Only)
1.33:1 Full Screen (Disc 2 Only)
Extras: Disc 1: The Film (Widescreen Version)
Audio Commentary with Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert
One By One We Will Take You: The Untold Saga of The Evil Dead documentary
Disc 2: The Film (Original Full Screen Version)
Audio Commentary with Bruce Campbell
The Evil Dead: Treasures From The Cutting Room Floor
Disc 3: Ladies Of The Evil Dead (Extras)
Life After Death: The Ladies of The Evil Dead documentary
Ladies of The Evil Dead Meet Bruce Campbell featurette
At the Drive-In featurette
Make-Up Test
Unconventional featurette
Reunion Panel
Discovering The Evil Dead featurette
Theatrical Trailer
4 TV Spots
Poster & Memorabilia Gallery
Still Gallery
Bonus trailers for Hatchet, Behind the Mask, Phantasm, Hellraiser, and Re-Animator
Notes: Packaged in a 3-disc hard-cover digi-pak.
Comes with a 2-sided poster replica.
The full screen version features no tweaks.
Easter Eggs: From Disc 2's Main Menu, go into the Extras. Now move to Main Menu and press the Right arrow key to reveal The Necronomicon. Press Enter to see an extended deleted scene called Book of the Dead: The Other Pages.
While on Disc 3's Main Menu, move down to Trailer and press to reveal a blood spot. Press Enter to see an interview featuring high school drama teacher Jim Moll, who was the drama teacher for the cast.
Now (still on Disc 3) move to TV Spots and press left to reveal another blood spot. Press Enter to see a featurette about a screening for the new widescreen print that took place on Halloween 2001.

EVIL DEAD 2

1. Evil Dead 2
Distributed by: Anchor Bay
Year: 1998
Case: Amaray (Keep) Case
Audio: English Mono 2.0
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen (Non-anamorphic)
Extras: Theatrical Trailer
Notes: The trailer is a tad diffrent from the ones on later releases
Comes with a chapter insert.

2. Evil Dead 2 (THX Release)
Distributed by: Anchor Bay
Year: 1999
Case: Amaray (Keep) Case
Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1
English Dolby Digital Surround 2.0
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen (Anamorphic)
1.33:1 Full Screen
Extras: Audio Commentary with Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, Scott Spiegel and Greg Nicotero
The Gore The Merrier" documentary
Theatrical Trailer
"Evil Dead: Hail To The King" video game preview
Still Galleries
Talent Bios
THX Optimizer
Notes: The optional Full Screen version is Open-Matte.
If you select the aspect ratio you want to see the film (example: widescreen), the trailer will automatically be presented in that ratio you chose to see the film in.
There is also a Limited Edition of this release packaged in a tin box with a postacard sized poster replica and a 48 page booklet. Limited to 50,000 copies.

3. Evil Dead 2 Book Of The Dead Edition
Distributed by: Anchor Bay
Year: 2005
Case: Special Case (see notes)
Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1
English Dolby Digital Surround 2.0
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen (Anamorphic)
Extras: Audio Commentary with Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, Scott Spiegel and Greg Nicotero
The Gore The Merrier" documentary
Evil Dead II: Behind The Screams featurette
Theatrical Trailer
Photo & Poster gallery
Cast & Crew filmographies and biographies
Bonus trailers: The Evil Dead, Man With The Screaming Brain, Dead & Breakfast, and Evil Dead: Regeneration (video game)
Notes: Packaged in a rubbery replica of the "Book of the Dead" (with 15 pages of original artwork and an eye that screams when you press it).
New high definition (Divimax) transfer supervised by Sam Raimi.
The "Evil Dead II: Behind The Screams" featurette is not the same featurette that appeared on the Elite Laserdisc.

ARMY OF DARKNESS

1. Army Of Darkness
Distributed by: Universal
Year: 1998
Case: Amaray (Keep) Case
Audio: English Stereo 2.0
French Stereo 2.0
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen (Non-anamorphic. See notes)
Extras: Theatrical Trailer
Film Highlights
Production Notes
Cast and Crew Biographies
Notes: Theatrical Version
Comes with optional English and Spanish subtitles.
Packaging states the film is presented in 1.85:1, but really presented in 1.66:1 (I know, since I own the disc).
1.66:1 widescreen presentation crops the left and right of the original 1.85:1 presentation, but slightly opens up top and bottom (will go for the Anchor Bay/Universal Theatrical DVD releases).

2. Army Of Darkness (THX Release)
Distributed by: Anchor Bay/Universal
Year: 1999 or 2002 (Unkown at this point)
Case: Amaray (Keep) Case
Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1
English Dolby Stereo 2.0
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen (Anamorphic)
1.33:1 Full Screen
Extras: The Men Behind The Army featurette
Alternate Ending
Theatrical Trailer
Cast and Crew Biographies
THX Optimizer
Notes: Theatrical Version
The optional Full Screen version is Open-Matte.
If you select the aspect ratio you want to see the film (example: fullscreen), the trailer will automatically be presented in that ratio you chose to see the film in.

3. Army Of Darkness Director's Cut Limited Edition
Distributed by: Anchor Bay/Universal
Year: 1999 or 2002 (Unkown at this point)
Case: Amaray (Keep) Case
Audio: English Dolby Stereo 2.0
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen (Anamorphic)
Extras: Audio Commentary with Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell and Ivan Raimi
4 Deleted scenes (with optional commentary by Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell)
Director's Storyboards
Production Stills
Notes: Director's Cut
Limited Edition Version limited to 40,000 copies.
Like the Anchor Bay/Universal Theatrical DVD Releases, this too is presented in a cropped 1.66:1. But, it's been said this release has been cropped on all 4 sides (this goes for all Anchor Bay/Universal Director's Cut releases).
Re-released as the "Official Bootleg Version" which is not-limited.

4. Army Of Darkness 2-Disc Limited Edition
Distributed by: Anchor Bay/Universal
Year: 1999
Case: 2-Disc Amaray (Keep) Case
Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1 (Disc 1 Only)
English Dolby Stereo 2.0 (Both Discs)
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen (Anamorphic. Both Discs.)
1.33:1 Full Screen (Disc 1 Only)
Extras: Disc 1: Theatrical Version
The Men Behind The Army featurette
Alternate Ending
Theatrical Trailer
Cast and Crew Biographies
THX Optimizer
Disc 2: Director's Cut
Audio Commentary with Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell and Ivan Raimi
4 Deleted scenes (with optional commentary by Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell)
Director's Storyboards
Production Stills
Notes: Comes with an insert with a note by Bruce Campbell.
Limited to 30,000 copies.
Re-released in 2003 as "The 2-Disc Boomstick Edition" with different disc art and cover, new booklet, and a "Dinner With Bruce" promotion.

5. Army Of Darkness Screwhead Edition
Distributed by: Universal
Year: 2009
Case: Amaray (Keep) Case
Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1
English Dolby Stereo 2.0
Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen (Anamorphic)
Extras: Creating The Deadites featurette
Alternate Ending
Theatrical Trailer
Notes: Theatrical Version
Comes with optional English, French, and Spanish subtitles.
Unlike the previous releases, this release presents the film in it's original 1.85:1 ratio.
An alternate release with different extras was supposed to be released in May 2009 but was replaced with the version you see before you.
Comes with slipcase and $5 off Halloween Candy at participating retailers (expired: 11/30/09)

So, there you have it.

Sources: From what I own and the Internet.:
http://www.deadites.net/forums/index.ph ... topic=36.0
http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=949
http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=657
http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=1398
http://www.horrordvds.com/viewarticle.php?articleid=193

[EvilDeadChainsaws]

Thanks for posting this, we'll hopefully start uploading pages to the collectables section on the main site in the next few weeks, which will cover all the DVD versions, and what's on them.