Didn`t Peter Jackson Remake This ?

Rating: Null/10 (17 August 2003)

Hmmm , a strange film as sequels go since EVIL DEAD 2 was more or less identical to its predecessor while this second sequel is an entire universe away from the original with only the comic book black humour giving a hint that it`s from the same franchise . Unfortunately because it`s set in a pseudo dark ages period it`s impossible not to be reminded of a certain film that was released last Christmas , you know the one where a group of humans are beseiged by dark forces . I said unfortunately because ARMY OF DARKNESS can`t help draw attention to itself for having a pathetically small budget , , the castle is obviously a matte painting in the long shots , many of the exteriors are obviously studio bound while many of the locations seem to have been shot in the Arizona desert . It`s also difficult not to notice how bad the cast are , Bruce Campbell is absolutely painful to watch while the rest of the cast fail to rise above substandard . It`s saying something about a film when the best performances are by skeletons , they really do give a meaty performance ( HA HA HA !)
So I wasn`t too taken with ARMY OF DARKNESS , the fact that I`d seen THE TWO TOWERS a few months previously didn`t help , but it`s really good seeing director Sam Raimi improving beyond all recognition since ARMY OF DARKNESS was made in 1993 and have no doubt he`ll be remembered alongside Peter Jackson as one of the 21st Century`s great film directors