Howard the Duck - 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital [4K UHD]

Let me tell you something about film critics. It's easy to pick faults in someone else's work, even if you do not have it in your power to create an equal work of art. The average film critic, by his very nature, is just a pretentious know-it-all who is quite frequently talking from the wrong end of his alimentary canal. When HTD came along in 1986 it was the first true victim to the pop culture critic. George Lucas was a juggernaut of filmmaking and there were many who want to see him fall.For 30 years it has been called 'the biggest flop of all time' and other such terrible labels. Well, it cost $30 million dollars (nothing compared to today's budgets, inflation or no inflation) and took $37 million worldwide and that's not even counting the higher-than-you-think rental revenue. Add it altogether and HTD is most definitely NOT the flop it is accused of being. But since it was a rather eccentric (and occasionally raunchy) family comedy (an easy target) and one of the first films to significantly under-perform at the domestic box office (George Lucas expected the returns to be astronomical) it became a scapegoat for bad studio spending and taste.I guess that the world needs something or someone to blame when pop culture goes wrong and the jackass critics I mentioned already seized upon Howard's failings to make a name for themselves. Derogatory soundbites are easy to come up with and everyone who hated the film used some kind of duck-themed insult to put it down and make themselves feel clever. But, when you think about it, these are basically the same people who will deliberately give a bad film a great review just to see their own name on the poster. You ever see a recent M. Night Shyamalan movie with quotations on the poster? They exist.The film also suffered a further bad rep when George Lucas publicly disowned the film. It's under-performance forced him to sell off a part of his company which went on to become Pixar (think of how much he could have earned if he didn't) and it really made him quite angry. Wouldn't you be? But I consider this a good thing as Lucas owning Pixar would have been disasterous. Howard's failure stopped Lucas from having too much power and I am happy with that.I am a huge fan of the late Steve Gerber's comic-books. HTD was basically the first BIG comic-book movie and came surprisingly soon after he found success in his own series. Howard first appeared in an issue of Man-Thing and starred in a few other issues of Conan and even Spider-Man before Marvel gave him his own wings in the late 70s. The comic-book stories are the most surreal, archaic and satirical I have ever read and it's a shame that they had to tone it down for the movie, but that's to be expected.As an ordinary duck working for an advertising company on his home planet of Duckworld, Howard is blasted across the universe right out of his living room by an experimental laser developed by Dr. Jenning (Jeffrey Jones). He lands in Cleveland, where he meets Beverly Switzler (a super-duper cute Lea Thompson) a rock singer who takes him under her wing...I mean arm. Now trapped in a world he never made the one attempt at sending him back home unleashes the forces of the Dark Overlord of the Universe on Earth through the possession of Dr. Jenning and he intends to bring more of his demons through the portal. Yeah, that sounds pretty heavy. (Weight has nothing to do with it)I'm actually a sucker for duck-related stuff. I don't know why. Donald Duck, Daffy Duck, Duck Tales, Darkwing Duck, Duckman etc. The list goes on and on. What I particularly like about the HTD movie is how most people seem to be completely at ease at talking to a humanoid bird and Howard himself is A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E.Some of the fairer critics claimed that the film might have been a bigger hit if they had used CGI or traditional animation to bring Howard to life, but I must disagree. Part of the appeal of Howard is the fact that he is actually physically there and not some ghost who has been photo-shopped in afterwards. I love the duck suit, to me it is completely convincing and Chip Zien's voice work is perfect. I'd totally love to have Howard as a pal. The special effects are also a perfect mix of genuine stuntwork, optical fireworks from ILM, and outlandish stop-motion creatures courtesy of Phil Tippett.No joke, this film has a unfairly notorious history and a totally wrong perception by the general public or those who turned their noses and beaks up when it came out in 1986. Clear your head of any preconceptions that you might have and enjoy it on its own level. Though we really could have done without that silly narration over the opening title.The Blu-ray looks great in 1.85:1 1080p with DTS HD-MA 5.1 sound and a lot of good extras. Totally worth buying.

A blast from the past. Released before all the ratings got out of control.

This movie is not for everyone, but I assume if you reading this you wanted a blu-ray upgrade to your cruddy vhs and this is a great upgrade.

This is one of the greatest movies in cinematic history. The behind the scenes is a great addition to this DVD that will answer all the questions Howard the duck fans are dying to know. This movie was definitely a stepping stone for Tim Robbins for his portrayal of Andy Dufresne in "Shawshank Redemption" as well as for Jeffrey Jones as principal Ed Rooney in "Ferris Buhler's day Off"10/105 🌟Highly recommend!

He's a duck trapped In a world he mever made. And neither should this movie have been. Still great.

Took me back to the golden Era of my childhood.

I just re-watched this film for the sixth time since having first come across it around 1995. I love it! It is amazing! And then there is the matter of gorgeous actor Lea Thompson, who plays Beverly, the rock-and-roll musician! She has the most beautiful legs!One of the really funny and interesting outcomes of this movie is that in the years after its release, it became a kind of cult hit, and images of Howard the Duck started popping up in all kinds of cutting-edge visionary art around the world, including in lots of pieces of graffiti art on walls in cities. This has been going on for over 30 years now, and nowhere in the world is Howard the Duck more evident, and plentiful, than in the graffiti art to be found on the walls and other surfaces in the Lower East Side (LES) of New York City.For an example, although I live in the rural Appalachian mountains, I travel to NYC a lot, at least three times per year, for perhaps 10 to 14 days at a time. On my most recent stay in NYC, a 17 day day in a hotel on the Lower East Side, I encountered images of Howard the Duck in graffiti art in each of over a half-dozen places. Most of the graffiti art installations depicting images of Howard were large images painted on walls and other vertical surfaces (such as bridge abutments) just off of sidewalks, but even in the hotel in which I was staying in the LES, I noticed that in their gigantic uber-trendy lobby seating area, which has a ceiling over 24 feet high, there were a few giant posters mounted displaying local graffiti art, and one of the posters featured a locally-well-known piece of graffiti art showing Howard the Duck emerging from a sewer manhole onto a sidewalk.And, just a block or two from my hotel, there was a locally-famous trendy pub that featured great food, including great burgers. I often ate dinner there with some of my clients from around the world, and it was a great pleasure to be able to turn my head to the left and gaze at an 8 foot high graffiti art mural on the wall nearest our table; the mural showed Howard the Duck walking determinedly on a littered sidewalk in a desolate post-apocalyptic street scene in an abandoned industrial area, having just emerged from a storm drain pipe opening on a wall nearby.So, the bottom line is that Howard the Duck and his amazing story has managed to infiltrate and seep down to the deepest levels of human consciousness and the collective unconscious, and images of him repeatedly emerge across the world in all sorts of spontaneous works of visionary art.That fact alone should qualify this film as a masterpiece!

Classic! This movie was the first Marvel “superhero” movie. It was a flop but I was little and liked it when it came out. It’s very enjoyable and nostalgic. “Come on Ducky”, Lea Thompson is great!

I purchased this on US edition blu ray just nearly a week ago, since I remembered it from being shown on tv once long ago and I also remembered it being very entertaining. What I didn't know was then that it had been one of the biggest disasters in cinema history, and of course I am talking box office failures. It lost a fortune and made next to nothing. Now, how many great and really entertaining films over the years, many of which get appreciated for what they are only much later on have that happen to them?I saw this just recently, on the very Saturday I am writing this actually and I was totally entertained from beginning to end. I can remember also an interview with George Lucas about this, saying that it simply wasn't what audiences wanted at the time and he chose simply the wrong creature to make a superhero, (the others being the Ninja Turtles, which WAS a hit). He added that he had never made a film he wasn't pleased with. This film represents for me what many movies don't do these days, take chances, go over the top, be entertaining and fun.Having seen it again, and loved it, it's amazing what was considered not box office hit material and the fact that audiences stayed away. A witty talking duck from a parallel universe who crash lands on earth, a single friend he makes in the shape of rock singer Beverly (Lea Thompson), who he helps out at one point early on, some decent chases, a long flying shot, great stunts, amazing visual special effects (what do you expect from the magnificent Industrial Light & Magic?), and Lea Thompson dressed up as a sexy rock singer and who has a few scenes in underwear. She also happens to be pretty, funny, charming and I believe she has just as much fun on this as she did in the film for her that was a hit, Back To The Future. Surely she would rank this up there as one of the films she is proud of, regardless of its financial, and no doubt critical failure.There is also something else going on in this film that I couldn't help but notice. Howard The Duck and how he is treated on earth by everyone else. It doesn't really say a lot about human nature really, (with the exception of Beverly of course and the other who helps out, her scientist friend played by Tim Robbins). Because he is different and no one understands who or what he is, he is treated so badly, but then that is always going to happen with something new or different. That is simply the not so great side of human nature. However, you are rooting for Howard all the way.If anyone out there is looking for some great family entertainment, look no further than this underrated piece, which will give you laughs, adventure, a beautiful girl, a downtrodden superhero from a parallel world (based on a comic character apparently, one I know nothing about), and some great effects and lots of fun. It may have been one of the biggest flops in cinema history, but it survived and is still out there ready for anyone to enjoy. Do yourselves a favour and have some fun with Howard, proof that great things often come in small packages.

Director George Lucas was such a big fan of Howard The Duck that he showed the 1976 comic to his pals,director and writer team Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz saying " One day I'll make this movie "Fast forward ten years and Lucas kept his promise, produced by Gloria Katz and written by Willard Huyck and Katz, with Lucas as executive producer. The screenplay was originally intended to be an animated film, but the film adaptation became live-action because of a contractual obligation. Although several TV adaptations of Marvel characters had aired during the preceding 21 years, this was the first theatrically released feature film, coming after the serial Captain America.Director Huyck brings most of the character of Howard to the big screen, the only difference is Howard isn't " a new breed of hero" as the movie was retitled in the European and UK release to cover the box office failure it suffered back in it's home country of America, Howard in the comics avoided trouble at all costs.a fast-talking, cigar-chomping, beer-loving duck from a parallel universe who crashes to Earth and somehow winds up in Cleveland. As Howard attempts to return to his own planet, he falls in love with rock singer Beverly Switzler (Lea Thompson, Back to the Future) and must battle an evil invader known as the Dark Overlord.The movie was way ahead of it's time,and doesn't quite deserve the treatment by critics.This very substantial release by 101 Films offers high def blu-ray transfer, the movie has never looked this good,Title number 008 in our Black Label range. This Limited Edition version includes a slipcase and a booklet.101 Films presents Howard the Duck (1986), title 008 on our Black Label and a UK Blu-ray debut. A box office bomb upon release, the film's notoriety has never faded, and it now stands as one of the essential cult films of the 1980s.From executive producer George Lucas and the pages of Marvel Comics comes a comedy adventure spectacular about a fast-talking, cigar-chomping, beer-loving duck from a parallel universe who crashes to Earth and somehow winds up in Cleveland. As Howard attempts to return to his own planet, he falls in love with rock singer Beverly Switzler (Lea Thompson, Back to the Future) and must battle an evil invader known as the Dark Overlord.This wacky, elaborately produced spoof of life, love, comic books and horror movies is a misunderstood cult classic, ripe for rediscovery.Brand New ExtrasHoward: A New Cult Hero: Vic Pratt on Howard the DuckCommentary with Wil Jones and Robert J.E. SimpsonCommentary with Charlie Brigden and Dan WhiteheadLimited edition booklet: includes 'Howard the Duck and Marvel Comics: How ‘The Duck Who Couldn’t Swim’ Survived a Sinking Ship' by Lister Appleton and 'The Madness of King George' by Charlie BrigdenAdditional Extras (Blu-ray only)A Look Back at Howard the DuckReleasing the Duck News FeaturetteThe Stunts of Howard the DuckThe Special Effects of Howard the DuckThe Music of Howard the DuckTeasersSpecificationsCertificate: 12Runtime (Blu-ray): Feature 110 mins approx, Extras 34 mins approxRuntime (DVD): Feature 106 mins approx, Extras 21 mins approxAspect ratio: 1.85:1Blu-ray region: BDVD region: 2Sound: Stereo PCM & DTSHD-MA surround (Blu-ray) Stereo & surround AC3 (DVD)Language: EnglishSubtitles: English HOH

I’ve just received the Blu ray and the case is broken along the top like someone stepped on it. It is still sealed and the Amazon parcel was undamaged which leads me to the conclusion that it was damaged and parcelled at the warehouse level. The disk is undamaged so I don’t need to replace the disk. I wanted to give feedback and ask for a partial refund but the process asked me to return the item which isn’t necessary. I would spend the partial refund on a set of empty cases. This is poor standards by the warehouse staff whom I read work under tight deadlines, however I wouldn’t parcel a damaged item up for customers.This is the same issue and package I had with my copy of Independance Day 2.I bought Howard the duck because the store listed it as the last copy so i paid the price for it while looking for bargains on movies. Had I known there would be more stock and my copy would have been damaged I wouldn’t have purchased it.

A very strange film which worked well as a comic strip, but almost fails as a film. Almost. The production team had a hellava job on their hands to make the transition to the big screen, and for the most part, they succeeded. Howard is pugnacious and irritated by just about everything in his life on earth. A real character, but not lovable! Lea Thompson never looked better, and brought humanity to the film by her relationship with a difficult duck.There are a few anomalies in the film (to be expected, I guess), but if you can accept these flaws in today's action-packed features (which the directors hope will distract you from the anomalies), you should find the film enjoyable. One such anomaly (which didn't actually hurt the film) was Lea Thompson being bound under the laser beam near the end (Why? Her presence under the machine had nothing to do in aiding the transportation of the Dark Overlords!). As one reviewer said, "Not as bad as you remember it". And he was right!Phil Tippet's go-motion Dark Overlord is breath-taking -well worth the price of admission. This monster was unchallenged until INDEPENDENCE DAY and EDGE OF TOMORROW for grotesqueness!

In the begining there was..Howard The Duck ! This widely forgotten Marvel film character saw the light of film in 1986 and apart from a brief cameo shot- as one of the exibits of the colllector- in Guardians of the galaxy, vanished into history . Still well worth a vewing. Very funny film - great parady of earth culture (on duck world) - Great efects and who doesnt like watching Lea Thompson - pre Back To The Future !