Howard the Duck 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Score: 69
from 4 reviewers
Review Date:
Howard the Duck's 4K UHD shines despite film's flaws; a cult classic gets a worthy upgrade.
Disc Release Date
True 4K
HDR10
DTS:X
DTS-HD MA
Video: 80
Universal's 4K UHD release of Howard the Duck revives the film with sharp details, vibrant HDR colors, and a true-to-source grain, providing a definitive, theater-like viewing experience.
Audio: 75
Howard the Duck's Blu-ray emits an immersive DTS:X soundtrack, mastering 3D space and depth with robust bass and clear, directional dialogue, enhancing the cult classic's lively mix.
Extra: 51
Howard the Duck's UHD and Blu-ray editions both include the same previously released extras: retrospectives, featurettes on stunts, special effects, music, and trailers, with digital code and 1080p resolution.
Movie: 43
Despite nostalgic affection, 'Howard the Duck' struggles with tone, missing its comic roots, garners cult disdain yet fascination, with technical UHD upgrade.
Video: 80
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Howard the Duck" showcases a notable upgrade from its previous home video incarnations, presenting a native 3840 x 2160p resolution image that substantially improves upon the detailing and overall visual fidelity of the film. Sourced from a 2021 4K rescan and clean-up, this UHD version benefits from a 10-bit video depth, High Dynamic Range (HDR), Wide Colour Gamut (WCG), and is encoded using the HEVC (H.265) codec for HDR10, offering a cleaner, sharper, and more vibrant viewing experience. Scenes that once appeared soft during the opening credits now reveal finer textures upon Howard's feathers, the skin, and clothing, while environmental details in locations such as Cleveland showcase enhanced sharpness and depth thanks to superior black levels and striking contrast adjustments. The HDR color grading transforms the film's palette, presenting more authentic and precise colors that add a new layer of realism, especially evident in daytime exteriors and brilliantly lit scenes.
This release excels in its presentation of fine details and filmic texture, moving away from the over-processed grain structure of earlier Blu-ray versions to a more faithful representation of the original film stock. The light but effective grain sustains the movie's cinematic essence, with increased clarity in everything from character features to the bustling '80s backdrop. The HDR enhancement further enriches colors and contrast, boosting visual dynamics without oversaturation, and maintaining natural flesh tones amidst the vivid display of primaries. However, minor inconsistencies in red hues and occasional softer moments are present but do not detract significantly from the overwhelmingly positive restoration efforts.
The remaster primarily stands out for its handling of lighting and shadow details, with better-defined blacks adding to the depth of poorly-lit interiors and nighttime scenes, without sacrificing detail. Specular highlights bring out the finest elements in brighter sequences, providing a crisp and detailed view that complements the film's eclectic visuals. Despite slight variations in red saturation levels and a few instances of black crush, this 4K UHD rendition of "Howard the Duck" delivers a robustly enhanced viewing experience that combines sharpened detail, refined grain structure, and striking HDR color grading to breathe new life into this unique cinematic offering. Fans of the film and aficionados of high-quality 4K restorations will find much to appreciate in this meticulously upgraded presentation.
Audio: 75
The "Howard the Duck" 4K UHD Blu-ray release presents an aurally enriching experience with its DTS:X soundtrack, offering a significant step up from previous editions, notably its DTS-HD MA counterpart. This new audio track, without radically deviating from the original's sonic essence, employs a more sophisticated sound palette. It utilizes additional audio channels to create a fuller and more immersive soundscape. Surround back speakers, along with the effective use of overhead and side channels, contribute to a richly layered auditory experience. The soundstage is wide and spacious, with music and effects seamlessly extending into the environment, enhancing the overall clarity and engagement without overwhelming the essential narrative elements.
Dialogue remains crystal clear and well-focused throughout, maintaining priority even amidst the most turbulent audio sequences. The low-end has seen considerable improvement, lending a dynamic depth to action sequences and environmental effects such as thunder and the various powers displayed. However, some may find the bass response during certain climactic moments, like explosions, somewhat lacking in punch. The remastering process has evidently focused on creating a balanced and cohesive mix that respects the film's original audio intentions while expanding its presence through modern surround sound technology.
The soundtrack demonstrates admirable directionality, with sound elements moving fluidly across channels to create a believable 3D audio environment. The overhead channels are used more for enhancing the atmosphere rather than delivering discrete effects, contributing to an overall sense of immersion. John Barry’s score, along with rock songs integral to the film's identity, are beautifully integrated into the mix, benefiting from the added dimensionality the DTS:X format provides. The quality of this audio presentation evidences thoughtful mastering, successfully bringing this cult classic into contemporary home theaters with an engaging, detailed, and satisfying mix.
Extras: 51
The 4K UHD Blu-ray of "Howard the Duck" provides a comprehensive and nostalgic look into the creation and impact of this unique film through its extras, identical to the ones found in the 2016 Blu-ray edition. True enthusiasts will appreciate the depth and detail offered in the half-hour retrospective "A Look Back at Howard the Duck," which delves into the film's production and legacy. Additional extras such as "Releasing the Duck," various featurettes focusing on stunts, special effects, and music, alongside trailers, offer a rounded view into the making and marketing of the film. Despite being previously released content, these supplements enrich the viewing experience by giving audiences a classic feel coupled with modern high-definition enhancements.
Extras included in this disc:
- A Look Back at Howard the Duck: Comprehensive retrospective.
- Releasing the Duck: Focuses on post-production insights.
- News Featurette: Vintage news report on the movie’s release.
- The Stunts of Howard the Duck: Exploration of the film's stunts.
- The Special Effects of Howard the Duck: Dive into the visual effects.
- The Music of Howard the Duck: Discussion about the film's music.
- Trailers: Collection of promotional trailers.
Movie: 43
Universal Studios Home Entertainment's release of "Howard the Duck" on 4K UHD Blu-ray breathes new life into this infamous 1986 film, upgrading its visual and audio presentation to 2160p/HDR and DTS:X Master Audio, respectively. Despite its critical and commercial failure upon release, the movie has garnered a unique position within cult cinema, embodying both disdain and adoration from its audience. This dichotomy stems from a mishandling of the film's tone and identity, attempting to straddle the line between children's entertainment and adult themes, but ultimately failing to find a coherent voice. The movie's technical enhancements on this 4K UHD release might offer a superior viewing experience, yet they cannot mask the fundamental issues that plagued its initial reception.
The narrative of "Howard the Duck" follows the titular character, a duck from another world, as he navigates the complexities of life on Earth. The film attempts to explore themes of alienation and cultural bias through Howard's interactions with the people of Cleveland, Ohio. However, these potentially insightful commentaries are lost amidst a convoluted plot that struggles to marry its lighter comedic elements with darker, mature themes. The result is a tonally inconsistent movie that neither captures the satirical edge of the original comics nor provides a cohesive cinematic experience. The filmmakers' inability to decide whether they were creating a film for children or adults leads to a product that satisfies neither demographic fully.
Despite these shortcomings, the film's visual effects and moments of clever humor manage to shine through, particularly in scenes set within Howard's uniquely decorated apartment and his odd job experiences on Earth. These elements, combined with nostalgia for those who remember the film from their youth, contribute to its status as a cult classic. While "Howard the Duck" fails to leverage the full potential of its premise or deliver a polished narrative, it remains an intriguing artifact of its time, notable for both its ambitious reach and its significant missteps. The 4K UHD release offers fans and newcomers alike the chance to experience the movie with improved audiovisual quality, though it does little to alter its divisive legacy.
Total: 69
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Howard the Duck," a film as notorious for its bizarre narrative and eccentric charm as it is for being a pioneering Marvel adaptation, manages to elevate the source material through its technical merits, even if the film itself divides opinion. Universally recognized for its remarkable jump in quality from previous formats, this edition boasts a pristine native 4K image that is both clean and vivid, with excellent detailing, bold coloration, strong blacks, and intense highlights. Complementing the visual upgrade is a DTS:X surround track which provides an immersive and richly layered audio experience, complete with robust bass that suits the movie's unique blend of wacky visuals, adult humor, and horror elements. Despite the film’s shaky reputation, the technical presentation here does it a significant service, making for a compelling viewing experience.
Further enhancing its collectible value, this release comes complete with all previously available extras included on the UHD disc itself, sparing fans from hunting down legacy content. While no new special features are introduced, the inclusion of all existing supplements in this format is a notable positive. For collectors and aficionados of physical media, the option of an attractive SteelBook variant adds an additional layer of allure to what is already a commendable package. Given the film's unique place in cinematic and Marvel history, this release caters to both long-time fans and newcomers intrigued by its cult status.
In conclusion, Universal's 4K UHD Blu-ray of "Howard the Duck" represents a high-quality offering that goes beyond mere novelty. It pays homage to an outlandishly eccentric piece of cinema history with a technical presentation that significantly enhances the viewing experience. This release demonstrates the continuing viability and appeal of the UHD format, even for films with a divisive legacy. As such, it is recommended for both enthusiasts of cult classics and collectors, providing a vivid resurrection of Howard’s infamously wacky escapades like never before.
avforums review by Simon CrustRead review here
Video: 90
The HDR and WCG give the colours a real vibrancy, the garish 80’s wardrobes shimmer, while the stage lighting is intense, flesh tones are natural enough and all the primaries are bold....
Audio: 90
The English DTS:X surround track makes good use of 3D space for a nice immersive experience; effects are well handled, such as when Howard is first brought to Earth, or when the microlite is zipping around,...
Extras: 50
News Featurette The Stunts of Howard the Duck The Special Effects of Howard the Duck The Music of Howard the Duck Trailers...
Movie: 20
But it is as if with each good decision there were two bad, like there was no quality control for the finished product....
Total: 60
the native 4K image is clean and bright, with good detailing, bold colouring, strong blacks and intense highlights....
Blu-ray.com review by Martin LiebmanRead review here
Video: 90
Add terrifically bright lighting effects in the climax, brighter whites, superb blacks, perfect skin tones, and an absence of obvious print defects and encode artifacts and this is far and away the new...
Audio: 70
Overall clarity is quite good for music and dialogue and even in some of the more chaotic action din the track delivers a healthy sense of competent definition even through the most rigorous sonic exercises....
Extras: 80
Howard the Duck's UHD disc contains the full compliment of extras found on the 2016 Blu-ray (which is also included)....
Movie: 30
One otherwise normal evening, he and his chair are yanked from his apartment, pulled through walls, the sky, and the very universe as he's transported to a far away land....
Total: 60
Regardless of what one might think of the film, Universal's UHD should earn, well, universal acclaim....
DoBlu review by Matt PaprockiRead review here
Video: 80
Howard the Duck sports a revised sheen, emboldening Howard’s white feathers as light glistens against them....
Audio: 80
The initial earthquake sends a dynamic rumble into the low-end that’s far better than most films of this age....
Extras: 60
A news report from the release comes up short of two-minutes, with another based on the visual effects, then the music....
Movie: 60
It never works, but there’s also a stepping stone that awkwardly pushed adaptations of the future forward....
Total: 70
Infamous, messy, and tonally bizarre, Howard the Duck’s greatest lesson is in treating the source material with respect....
High-Def Digest review by M. Enois DuarteRead review here
Video: 80
Specular highlights supply a radiant but crisp and narrow glow to the hottest areas, such as light fixtures and the magical rays shot by the Dark Overlord, making the climactic battle in the lab the transfer's...
Audio: 80
The design exhibits superbly clean definition and warmth in the mid-range while maintaining outstanding distinct clarity during the loud action pieces, and the score displays impressive separation and...
Extras: 20
Releasing the Duck (SD, 13 min) The Stunts (SD, 3 min) The Special Effects (SD, 3 min) The Music (SD, 3 min) News Featurette (SD, 2 min) Trailer (SD)...
Movie: 70
Unfortunately, Huyck and Katz never found the proper balance between the plot's lighthearted silliness and the more horror-suspense aspects, making for a tonally inconsistent and strange movie, made all...
Total: 80
2016 Blu-ray 2021 Ultra HD Although Howard the Duck missed the mark of being a faithful adaptation of the popular comic book series, the George Lucas production is nonetheless an outlandishly eccentric...
Director: Willard Huyck
Actors: Lea Thompson, Jeffrey Jones, Tim Robbins
PlotBearing the unfortunate distinction of being whisked away from his home planet, Duckworld, a sentient, anthropomorphic duck named Howard suddenly finds himself tumbling through the vast cosmos. He crash-lands on Earth, smack-dab in the bustling city of Cleveland, Ohio. Disoriented and trying to make heads or tails of this alien world, Howard encounters an eclectic assortment of Earth's residents, both kind and nefarious. His arrival is not entirely misbegotten, though, as it leads him to an unexpected friendship with Beverly, a spirited and compassionate singer for a band who takes him under her wing.
As Howard adjusts to the quirks of human society, his presence garners the attention of some less-than-friendly Earthlings and eventually ties him into a larger, more ominous plot involving interdimensional travel. Alongside Beverly, Howard gets entangled with a pair of offbeat scientists—Phil, an enthusiastic but bumbling lab assistant, and Dr. Walter Jenning, whose involvement with an esoteric experiment known as the "laser spectroscope" inadvertently brought Howard to Earth. While grappling with the calamity of being trapped in a world he never made, Howard must confront dangers he never imagined in a bid to return to his own universe—even as some come to question whether the Earth might hold a new destiny for him.
Writers: Steve Gerber, Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz
Release Date: 01 Aug 1986
Runtime: 110 min
Rating: PG
Country: United States
Language: English, French, Spanish