Howard the Duck

 

 

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Lea Thompson, Tim Robbins, and the always entertaining Jeffrey Jones star in this tale of a duck from an alternate universe
who finds himself transported to Earth and is now trying to get home. Lea Thompson plays the young woman who looks after him,
Tim Robbins plays the janitor who pretends to be a scientist,
and Jeffrey Jones plays a scientist who goes a little crazy.

The funny thing about movies that are ambitious and
flop, Is nobody copies that formula. Sure Die Hard has been copied over and over. Under Siege etc. But Movies that don't make the big money are often forgotten. And that is what makes them better now then when they were released. Buackaroo Banzai is another example of a box office flop that has gained alot of
success through video and dvd.

And I know alot of people will think I am crazy. But this is my
favorite George Lucas film. There is something about Howard the
Duck that I gravitated towards as a kid. Maybe it was him being small in a strange foreign world he is yet to understand. Isn't that what childhood is about. The best movies are the ones where
the movie never changes but as you watch it at a different age
and a different point in your life you notice so much more.
I can't explain much further my fondness for Howard the Duck.
But I really love this movie.

I know there are alot of people who can't stand this movie,
But for those who get it, There is nothing quite like it
and probally never will be again.

It's been too long since last time I saw that movie. The digital version is great and you have it in widescreen. What could I ask more? Lots of interesting special features too, I learned a lot but if you want to know what, you should buy it ;)

The first thing that struck me was the DVD's cover art, and the fact that Howard's duck bill was missing it's ever present cigar. Now this being a Lucas production (who we all know loves to screw with his film's content) and the current political correctness concerning smoking on T.V. and film, I was very nervous that I'd watch the film and find Howard's stogie had been digitally replaced with a walky-talky (a revised version of the film, E.T., reference :) or carrot, but alas, my fears were for not, as our fowl feathered friend has been allowed to keep his smokes (but in all reality, we only really ever see him smoke in about two scenes, the first time in an establishing shot, and secondly, to menace a bully).

So onto the meat and potatoes of the DVD, the extras, and I'm happy to announce that there are some pretty okay extras to be found here (although a commentary with the producer/writer, writer/director, Lea Tompson and Jeffery Jones, who look to have been recently interviewed for this DVD, and a music video for the song, Howard The Duck, for which I'm sure there must have been one done, as it was the MTV age, at the time that the movie was hatched, would have been nice.

But what we do get is a pretty informative 26 minute retrospective called, A Look Back At Howard The Duck, with Lea Tompson, Jeffery Jones, the guy who wore the duck suit, and the writer/producer, writer/director team, peppered with production video and stills through out.

Next is a 12 minute piece (pretty much a continuance of, A Look Back At Howard The Duck) called, Releasing The Duck, which continues on with production info and the participants feelings on the film's less than stellar reception by the populace in general.

Next up is a nice little assortment of production features done during, or just after, the making of the movie called, Archival Featurettes, that runs for almost 11 minutes, and talks about the music, special effects, etc., of the film.

And lastly we get two pretty nice, Teaser Trailers, for the film (one with Lea Tompson tricked out in her, Cherry Bomb hair and outfit, doing her best, Brooke Shields - Calvin Klein commercial impersonation, talking sensuously about the new man in her life, who just so happens to be a duck, que the feather blowing :)

Okay, so the extras could have been a bit better, but when you consider the fact that the film was considered a total bomb, and Lucas's bastard hell spawn by most, I'm just delighted that the thing even got released at all.

Also of note, is the picture quality, which is quite phenomenal (hey, even DUNE doesn't look this good :) with good colour and a crisp picture, without any sign of film debris (i.e. scratches or dirt).

As for the film itself, I always thought that it was given a bum wrap, and upon watching it again, all these years later, I was quite please to find myself really enjoying the spectacle that is, Howard The Duck.

It's a guilty pleasure that I think more people will enjoy, with this new DVD release, and that's just, "Ducky" by me :)

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5.0 out of 5 stars howard the duck
Howard the Duck is an old time favorite and being able to view on dvd is fantastic. Hopefully pretty soon another old favorite of mine (Damnation Alley with George Peppard) will... Read more

Published on April 27 2009 by Louise Price

5.0 out of 5 stars Love this movie
I am 25 years old. I loved this movie as a kid. I watched it over and over again. I just ordered it for my 7 year old son with the hopes that he will like it as much as I did... Read more

Published on May 21 2004 by Linda Collins

1.0 out of 5 stars An insult to a classic comic book
Steve Gerber's original Howard the Duck comics were a classic mockery of the '70s, from jabs at religious cults to Howard's run for president in 1976 and even an issue almost... Read more

Published on May 13 2004 by Garrett Aja

5.0 out of 5 stars All Hail Howard the Duck!!!
(...)Howard the Duck is all of this and more. I first saw this movie in theaters and loved it. Lea Thompson and the rest of her band The Cheery Bombs are sexy, and the theme song... Read more

Published on Mar 29 2004 by Johny Bottom

1.0 out of 5 stars What the Heck is this?
Possibly even worse than its reputation! The "plot" if you can call it that Howard, a wise-cracking duck from outer space, is brought to earth by a science experiment... Read more

Published on Mar 24 2004 by Tom Servo

2.0 out of 5 stars Howard the Dud!!!
I've seen the movie, and it should've been an embarassment to Lea Thompson who's done some nice work. I was disappointed in it, and it was totally unrealistic. Read more

Published on Mar 6 2004 by Gregory Nyman

5.0 out of 5 stars Go Howard!
I have always loved this film! I don't know why it has been considered a failure. It's very funny and has a great cast, super effects and kickin' music. Read more

Published on Jan 19 2004 by Marilu Savage

1.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Dreadful!!!!
Howard the Duck is absolutely dreadful!

The only good that came out of this movie was Tim Robbins and Lea Thompson and I'm surprised that Howad the Duck didn't destroy their... Read more

Published on Jan 12 2004

3.0 out of 5 stars Get Over It
Oh get over it! Everyone calls this movie the worst ever, and it's not even close. While no one would be stupid enough to try to rank it as anywhere near the best movie ever, it... Read more

Published on Nov 18 2003 by Kevin J. Shenefield

1.0 out of 5 stars what everyone seems to forget...
what everyone seems to forget is that "howard the duck" was a comic book made by marvel in the late 70s. this wasn't some cutesy harvey comics deal. Read more

Published on Oct 27 2003 by high plains drifter

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