Army of Darkness - S-Mart 'vs' Apocalypse ending?

[WeaselFierce]

I was reading a review of the Army of Darkness DVD collector's set which features both the theatrical cut of the film (with S-Mart ending) and the Director's cut (featuring the Apocalypse ending).

I was wondering what the general concensus of preference was for these endings?

Personally, I loved the theatrical S-Mart shenanigans. Much more climactic and hilariously funny. The sight of Ash, complete with metal hand, casually telling his tale to the rest of his shelf-stacking friends still tickles me.

What do the rest've you guys (and gals) think?

[Clipper]

hmmmm....

welll I love the S-mart ending. Even though raimi prefers the Apocalypse ending, I think he's wrong. The Apocalypse ending looks very cheesey and very low budget and I don;tthink its got the punchiness ofthe the S-MArt ending.

On a another related topic....


In this film Raimi uses Skeletons and he said it was in part a homage to Ray HarryHausen for Jason and The Argonauts. This is all well and good but why does he pull back and chicken out of going for it big style! He doesn't use stop motion for all the skeletons. Some of the are actors badly dressed up or puppets! So in my opinion Jason and The Argonauts has the Bestest skeletons in a movie ever... I still love watching em :) Ray Harryhausen...Genius :)

Cheers
Clipper

[brattle]

I think I prefer the theatrical version too, maybe because I was the only one of my group of mates who saw it at the cinema and I could gloat :E

"Yeah, Yeah, the videos good, but none of you lot have seen the ending in the mart. Nur, nur, nur ;)".

[[FSA]sLiPkNoT]

I like the apocalypse 1 cos it leaves it open for Evil Dead 4 but i doubt that will ever happen.:bigcry: :bigcry:

[WeaselFierce]

Good point about Ray Harryhausen, Clipper. The guy was an absolute genius. The character and fluidity of motion he imbued those skeletons with was, and still is, incredible.

Some of my fondest childhood memories were Sasturday matinees at the local cinema watching Sinbad films. Ask me if I remember any of the plots or even stars of those films and I wouldn't have a clue. Ask me about some of the Harryhausen animated creatures though...

[[B-A]Silent.Partner]

Hmmmm...Army of Darkness. Lovely movie. After seeing that one, my main goal in life turned into being an evil dead extra, to be shotgunned in the next evil dead installment by Ash. I have the evil dead part down pat, but sadly enough, the 4th installment will not be, unless we can all raise money for it. From what I read from Bruce Campbell's comments on the whole thing, that's the most serious thing stopping another installment; money. Army of Darkness (or the medieval dead) didn't bring in enough cash, so didn't warrant another go at a part 4. Damn shame though.
As to which ending I like...I've seen them both, numerous times, but I'd have to go with the apocalypse ending. After all, Ash is an anti hero; it would not do for him to have a 'happy' ending :) Besides, I like apocalyptic endings, so I'm prejudiced there.
On that count, there is a website which will tell you Bruce's own view on that, this is the url:

http://www.bruce-campbell.com/evil/

In the meantime, all we can do is wait for Evil Dead:Hail to the King, the evil dead computer game with the voice of Bruce hurling insults as we flounder our way through the gore of the evil dead.

[WeaselFierce]

Cheers, SP, I'll take a butcher's. :glasses:

[Clipper]

Ummmm S-Mart ending is far from happy :P

He is doomed to repeat himself and carry on killing nasties forever...

My only problem with apocalypse eending was the atrocious effects and bad matte painted background for apocalyptic earth. You have to admit it was fairly bad.

Cheers
Clipper

[CaSSiuS]

the s mart ending is the best to watch as it is very funny
but the apocolipse ending may not be as good but is really the proper ending as it fits in with the story line of the trilogy


i never did see the point in doing those bits at the bigging of evil dead 2 and army of darkness as if it was a hole new film

[[Ostrich]]

Odd I always thought the -S-Mart ending was the director's cut. I got hold of a bootleg copy of AOD before it was released in this country and it had the apocolypse ending, then when I saw AOD properly it STILL had the apocoypse ending.

BTW, I prefer the -S-Mart ending, having some crazty witch-type deadeyte flying off a trampoline was very funny.

:)

[WeaselFierce]

Way I look at it it sort of depends on whether Sam wants to end the series or not. If he's planning a sequal the Apocalypse ending probably does work best. If he's finished
(and, by all accounts, this does seem to be the case) then the S-Mart provides a fantastically entertaining bookend to the trilogy. Ash is home at last but the deadites ain't necessarilly finished with him yet. I just think it works.