Glad they changed the ending.

While i agree and prefer the happy ending, it doesn't really fit with the rest of the movie too well and certainly doesn't fit with Ash's character (who's always a bumbling idiot). It would have meant the tv show we now have would be set in an apocalyptic future instead of current day value-mart. (ash vs evil dead)

"He's dusted, busted and disgusted, but he's ok"

It was more according to what had happened in the past 2 movies, by the end of each Ash is always in a worst position than where he started. But I prefer the happy ending too, after AoD such a downer would be anti-climatic. Besides, it gave one of the most famous one-lineres ever. Hail to the king, baby!

And Ash was not a mumbling idiot before that. He was just a regular, scared guy who had a very hard time dealing with a situation so out of the ordinary. Honestly, how would most people react to that? If your answer is "I'd readily and without further consideration chop my girlfriend to pieces", please stay away from me. By the second movie he was getting hardened, he was now the veteran and rose to the occasion (mostly), he became a more stereotypical hero. And then came AoD and who knows what went through Sam Reimi's mind... For better or worse it seems to be the version that stuck and now that's what we have, a DUBAR Ash (Dumbed Up Beyond All Recognition).

Apocalypse Ending is so much more fitting and really set up the idea for a whole a different adventure for Ash.

An I Am Legend, Road Warrior, Planet of the Apes, Apocalyptic, Sci-Fi, B-Movie, zombie-mutant horror..... sorry but that's my kind of awesome. Wish a comic at least would explore that 'timeline'.