Synopsis:

I've made extensive alterations in order to summon my ideal version. Extensive changes have been made to strengthen continuity, remove filler & improve pacing. Deleted scenes are used to fill some narrative gaps.

Intentions:

My intention was to create a tighter version that injects new energy while retaining the original mood.

Change List:

CHANGES: A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR- -added a note explaining that some sources vary in quality. PRODUCTION CREDITS- -added the fanedit.org logo. -added my fanedit production logo. -altered the Universal logo to be in-time with the music. -new Renaissance Pictures credit. -new "a Sam Raimi film" credit. OPENING- -cut the Renaissance Pictures credit. -cut the Dino De Laurntiis credit. -removed all sound effects before the picture fades-in. -fade-in on Ash's feet walking through the sand. -cut "...and I am a slave" from Ash's narration. -additional chain & shackle sounds. THE RE-CAP BEGINS- -cut the book of the dead montage from EVIL DEAD II. -added thunder sounds to accompany the lightning flashes after Linda is taken. -added rumble as the portal opens. -added additional footage from EVIL DEAD II as Ash enters the portal. TITLE CARD- -extended footage of the portal from EVIL DEAD II. -additional screams from Ash as he flies past camera into the portal. -new title & title card. (Evil Dead III- Army of Darkness) -added sound effects as the title zooms in, lands & zooms out. -title card gets sucked into the portal. BACK IN THE PAST- -added a cue from the track End Title as the Wiseman approaches. (ED2) -cut the Wiseman after "I believe he is the one written of in the Necronomicon." -integrated the soldier declaring Ash to be the hero from the skies from EVIL DEAD II. --adjusted the color & contrast to better match AoD. --adjusted the EQ to better match AoD. -added horse sounds to the ED2 footage to match the surrounding AoD shots. -cut Ash being whipped a second time. -shortened the wide shot of the men being led to the castle. AT THE PIT- -additional sound effects when the escapee is arrowed to the post. IN THE PIT- -added rumble when the Pit Hag pops up. -added the censored gore from the decapitation. (DC) --adjusted the contrast match the TC footage. -added additional splat sounds as the blood hits the wall. -added splash sounds as the body & head hit the water. -fixed an error in the audio when the Wall Hag bursts out. -added rumble when the Wall Hag bursts out. OUT OF THE PIT- -cut a close-up of Ash watching Henry leave. -cut a shot of Henry getting on his horse. -fade-out after Ash says "Now, let's talk about how I get back home." -longer transition into the next scene. -added wind sounds. IN THE KING'S CHAMBERS- -cut Ash being fed grapes & meat. -fade-in on Arthur at his throne. -removed Ash's burps. -cut Ash saying "I don't want your book. Send me back now. Chop-chop" ect. -new sounds for the cauldron spilling. SETTING OFF ON THE QUEST- -cut a shot of Ash riding his horse though the woods. -cut a shot of Ash riding away from the evil force. -shortened a POV shot to remove someone's foot stepping in front of the camera. -shortened a POV shot after it smashes through a tree. -additional sound effects when Ash falls off his horse. -cut Ash falling into a mud puddle. -cut Ash jumping a small wall. AT THE WINDMILL- -additional banging & rumble as the evil force pounds on the door. -shortened a couple shots of the door-pounding. -rumbling ends before Ash realizes the evil force has stopped. -added the extended scene of the sun setting. (DC) --adjusted the contrast to better match the TC footage. -cut Ash dropping his chainsaw before slumping to the floor. -shortened the shot of Ash after he slumps to the floor. -shortened a shot of Ash watching the setting sun. -cut a shot of the windmill interior. -shortened a shot of Ash watching the gears stop. -added rumble when Ash sees a different reflection in the mirror. LITTLE DEVILS- -cut the little guys using the shotgun. -added Ash hitting the stovepipe & getting soot in his face. (DC) -added a shot of the little guys laughing. (DC) -cut two of the odd bluescreen shots of Ash's mouth being held open. A SECOND HEAD- -cut two-headed Ash howling at the moon. -shortened the shot of two-headed Ash sitting against the tree. ONE ASH, TWO ASH- -cut Evil Ash singing & dancing as Ash watches. -used the extended shot of Ash dragging Bad Ash away. (DC) --adjusted the contrast to better match the TC footage. -cut Evil Ash's silly face as he's being dismembered. -cut a shot of Ash digging the grave. AT THE CEMETERY- -added the extended face-fix scene. (DC) --adjusted the contrast to better match the TC footage. -cut two shots of gravestones shooting out of the ground. -cut Ash's expiatory dialog as he rides away. -added a thunder sound. SHEILA CONFRONTS ASH- -added Ash saying "Cripes, I don't belong here!" (DC) --adjusted the color, contrast & saturation to better match the TC footage. SHEILA IS TAKEN- -adjusted the contrast & shortened a shot of the demon carrying Sheila. -adjusted the contrast & shortened another shot of the demon carrying Sheila. DIGGING UP AN ARMY- -cut Evil Ash molesting Sheila. -cut the nude slave girls. ASH RALLIES THE TROOPS- -faster cut when Ash gets everyone's attention. SHEILA, POSSESSED- -added rumble as Evil Sheila pulls her hood back. -cut Evil Sheila saying "I may be bad, but it feels good." PREPARING FOR BATTLE- -cut Ash showing everyone how to fight. ASH ENLISTS HENRY THE RED- -added the deleted scene of Ash asking Henry the Red for help. --footage cleaned-up & scored by RidgeShark. --adjusted the color & contrast to better match the TC footage. --fixed some fluctuating colors. --adjusted the volume & EQ. -added sounds when Ash falls off his horse. -added sounds for Ash's horse running away. TAKING POSITION- -added the extended scene of Ash running to the top of the parapet. (DC) --adjusted the contrast, color & saturation to better match the TC footage. -changed "Yeah & maybe I'm a Chinese jet pilot" to a sarcastic "Yeah. Maybe." ATTACKING THE DEAD- -added the extended dolly shot before Ash gives the signal to fire. (DC) --adjusted the contrast & color to better match the TC footage. -re-arranged three shots of the catapults being fired. -cut Arthur getting upset when Ash slaps him on the shoulder. -cut Evil Ash trying to say "Sally forth." ENEMY AT THE GATES- -added Arthur questioning the whereabouts of Henry the Red. (DC) --cut Arthur admitting that Ash is no coward. --shot-by-shot color & contrast adjustments to better match the TC footage. -added the line "ram it down the bastard's throats" as the dead break the gate. (DC) -added rumble as the soldiers clash with the dead coming through the gate. -cut the guys repeating the same attack until the dead allow themselves to be struck. -added a shot of a soldier being stabbed in the back. (DC) --adjusted the color & contrast to better match the TC footage. -added a shot of the courtyard battlefield. (DC) --adjusted the color & contrast to better match the TC footage. THE BUICK RIDES AGAIN- -added rumble as the Buick flips & crashes in front of Evil Sheila. PROTECTING THE BOOK- -added a shot of the evil army scaling the walls. (DC) --adjusted the color & contrast to better match the TC footage. -added a shot of a skeleton holding Ted Raimi's head. (DC) --adjusted the color, saturation & contrast to better match the TC footage. EVIL SHEILA ATTACKS- -cut "You found me beautiful once." / "Honey, you got real ugly." EVIL ASH ATTACKS- -smoother edit when the wick ignites. -cut a quick shot as Evil Ash is catapulted. -added a cartoon sound effect when Evil Ash soars through the air. -enhanced the explosion sound when Evil Ash explodes. VICTORY- -added sounds as the evil leaves Shelia. BACK AT S-MART- -added rumble as the possessed shopper turns around. -fade-out on the kiss begins a bit sooner. END CREDITS- -added the title card before the credits roll. -re-timed the track End Titles. POST-CREDITS- -added a cue from the track Time Traveler. -added a shot of the windmill. -added my production logo. -added the voice saying "Join us" from EVIL DEAD II.

Additional Notes:

I tried to stay true to the original editing style set by Bob Murawski & R. O. C. Sandstorm. Though my editing is extensive, I didn't want anything to seem obviously altered.

Other Sources:

SOURCES USED: Main- -Army of Darkness (Theatrical Cut) (Shout! Factory bluray, 2022) Additional- -Army of Darkness (Director's Cut) (Shout! Factory bluray, 2022) -Army of Darkness Deleted Scenes (RidgeShark restoration, 2008) -Evil Dead II (Lionsgate bluray, 2018) -Army of Darkness Soundtrack (Varèse Sarabande Records, 1992) -Evil Dead II Soundtrack (That's Entertainment Records, 1987) -Sound Effects (youtube.com)