***Spoilers for the original Evil Dead***
Many people consider ED2 to be a remake of the original; I don't think that's entirely fair. It ovens with a remake of the pertinent points of the first movie (This time the croup is gone, with only Ash and his girlfriend Lynda traveling to the cabin), but by the 7 min mark, Ash is the only survivor, and an unseen force is rushing towards him - the final shot of the first movie.
For most of the rest of the first hour, Ash is more or less on his own; Bruce Campbell does some amazing slapstick work, when his hand becomes possessed and tries to kill him.
On the subject of slapstick, the humor has been cranked right up this time around, and if people think they have a favorite line from Evil Dead, you'll usually find that it's actually from the sequel.
This time, the cast is rounded out by the daughter of the cabin's owner, her husband, and a couple of local who help them find the cabin (for a price) now that the bridge is out.
The acting is good enough (save for a couple of bad screams) with only Cambell really shining; particularly in a scene where the events have taken their toll and he has an extended fit of manic laughter.
Effects wise, despite the bigger budget, there is no massive step-up in quality from the first movie, save for a couple of very Harryhauseneque stop motion bits.
All in all, if you enjoyed The Evil Dead, you should get a kick out of Evil Dead 2.
Showing posts with label Evil Dead 2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Evil Dead 2. Show all posts
Saturday, 18 May 2013
Evil Dead II - Lisa's Review
So, I finally check out the sequel (or remake with a bigger budget as some would have you believe) to Evil Dead, aptly named Evil Dead 2.
From the get go, I'll say I really didn't like this movie AT ALL. I know that possibly seems like a complete contradiction given that I really enjoyed the first Evil Dead movie, but this one didn't grab me at all. I hadn't seen it before tonight and I expected something akin to the first movie with better effects. Speaking of effects, while you can clearly see there is a bigger budget with this movie, I felt the effects were needless and in places ridiculous. Looks like Buffy looked here for some of its ideas. All the charm of Evil Dead seems lost in the attempt to bring this one up to date for the time. Ironically it manages to date this movie even more than the first Evil Dead installment.
We have the same premise, albeit without the group of teenagers this time round. A recorded message, which was meant as a warning is played, which contains passages from the Necronomicon (Book of the Dead). This unleashes a demon which sets to possessing various people and inanimate objects throughout the course of the movie.
Bruce Campbell is an iconic character but I found even him irritating in this movie. Its the original Jim Carey of enthusiastic over acting. Also the scream we hear over and over from the lead actress is probably the worst I've heard in any movie EVER. No fear, trepidation, horror, nothing! Just an attempt to be as loud as possible. I didn't care about any of the cast, so any deaths were a bit meh for me.
There were a few slight chuckle moments ('A Farewell to Arms' for anyone who has seen the movie), but no belly laughs were I think they were intended. I just didn't feel anything watching it at all. All in all it seems a bit of a waste of time to attempt to improve the first movie with this offering. The special effects are dated and lack the original charm of the crude effects in the first movie. I was surprised to not see Ray Harryhausens name in the credits at the end given some of the effects in places, I'm thinking especially the dancing decapitated corpse near the start of the movie.
I don't know what else I can say really. I didn't like the effects, especially what felt like overkill with the transformation of the old lady in the cellar under the trapdoor. I didn't like the 'feel' of the movie. I didn't like the characters. In fact I found it quite hard to stay awake, which is saying something from a person who suffers from regular insomnia.
I would definately not recommend this one, but would say avoid and just enjoy the original Evil Dead instead. This one adds absolutely nothing in my opinion and just feels like a waste of time to me.
From the get go, I'll say I really didn't like this movie AT ALL. I know that possibly seems like a complete contradiction given that I really enjoyed the first Evil Dead movie, but this one didn't grab me at all. I hadn't seen it before tonight and I expected something akin to the first movie with better effects. Speaking of effects, while you can clearly see there is a bigger budget with this movie, I felt the effects were needless and in places ridiculous. Looks like Buffy looked here for some of its ideas. All the charm of Evil Dead seems lost in the attempt to bring this one up to date for the time. Ironically it manages to date this movie even more than the first Evil Dead installment.
We have the same premise, albeit without the group of teenagers this time round. A recorded message, which was meant as a warning is played, which contains passages from the Necronomicon (Book of the Dead). This unleashes a demon which sets to possessing various people and inanimate objects throughout the course of the movie.
Bruce Campbell is an iconic character but I found even him irritating in this movie. Its the original Jim Carey of enthusiastic over acting. Also the scream we hear over and over from the lead actress is probably the worst I've heard in any movie EVER. No fear, trepidation, horror, nothing! Just an attempt to be as loud as possible. I didn't care about any of the cast, so any deaths were a bit meh for me.
There were a few slight chuckle moments ('A Farewell to Arms' for anyone who has seen the movie), but no belly laughs were I think they were intended. I just didn't feel anything watching it at all. All in all it seems a bit of a waste of time to attempt to improve the first movie with this offering. The special effects are dated and lack the original charm of the crude effects in the first movie. I was surprised to not see Ray Harryhausens name in the credits at the end given some of the effects in places, I'm thinking especially the dancing decapitated corpse near the start of the movie.
I don't know what else I can say really. I didn't like the effects, especially what felt like overkill with the transformation of the old lady in the cellar under the trapdoor. I didn't like the 'feel' of the movie. I didn't like the characters. In fact I found it quite hard to stay awake, which is saying something from a person who suffers from regular insomnia.
I would definately not recommend this one, but would say avoid and just enjoy the original Evil Dead instead. This one adds absolutely nothing in my opinion and just feels like a waste of time to me.
Sunday, 12 May 2013
Week 104 - Evil Dead II
Year: 1987
Reviews / Author Comments due: 18/05/2013
Reason for Inclusion: Sequel to DPP nasty, cut on release
BBFC Status: Passed uncut in 2001
DVD: LINK
Feel free to use the comments section of this post to add your own reviews and thoughts about this movie.
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