Revisiting HOWARDS END in 4K

HOWARDS END (4K UHD)

1992 / 142 min

Cohen Media Group

Reluctantly reviewed by D.M. Anderson😸

I saw Howards End back in the day. To be honest, this kind of stuff ain’t exactly in my wheelhouse, but it was up for a slew of Oscars and I always enjoy catching as many of the nominees as possible. The film was more entertaining than I expected - quite a bit more, actually - and if it weren’t for the Academy turning that year’s Oscar night into a belated Clint Eastwood love-fest, I suspect this would’ve nabbed more statues than it actually did.

Still, I’ve never felt compelled to revisit Howards End again, or any other Merchant Ivory movie, for that matter. When it comes to period dramas, once is generally enough, even for the good ones. Perhaps I’d change my tune if an occasional car chase or dinosaur attack were thrown in. 

So when the 4K UHD remaster of Howards End arrived, I hailed the rest of the Free Kittens staff: “Here, kitties! Howards End is here! Who’s up for a classic Edwardian drama about contrasting class cultures? Kitty-kitty-kitty!” Grabbing their treat bag, I shook it loudly. “I’ll throw in some snacks. Pepper! Bonnie! Stinky, I know you’re a big Anthony Hopkins fan, and I promise you’ll like it better than Solace!” 

Crickets. *sigh*

Looks like I’m revisiting Howards End, after all. That’s okay…it could be a lot worse (like rewatching Solace). And again, it isn’t that I don’t like Howards End. So I’ll get to it right after this Donnie Yen action flick I need to review…and maybe also that Australian shark movie that arrived yesterday. After all, it’s Friday, so I have all night.

When the Wifi goes down.

The next day:

You know what? I’d forgotten most of this movie in the 30+ years since I last watched it. More specifically, I’d forgotten how aesthetically gorgeous it is, so if nothing else, Long-time Merchant Ivory cohort Tony Pierce-Roberts’ cinematography really shines with this 4K disc, which is apparently remastered in its original aspect ratio (2.39:1) for the first time. For purists, that’s probably a big plus. This one also features two audio options DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0. Both sound really good, though the former is superior, especially with regard to Richard Robbins’ lush score.

Elsewhere, the performances carry the movie. Even someone whose tastes don’t lean toward period drama has to concur that Emma Thompson deserved her Oscar for Best Actress. As Margaret Schlegel, she’s totally engaging. And like Stinky, I’m also a big Anthony Hopkins fan, and rewatching him here reminded me of how effectively he embodies his characters, whether he’s playing psychos, gentlemen or conservative jerks like Henry Wilcox (and he still instills Henry with a complexity that’s occasionally relatable). I won’t go so far as to say he was robbed of an Oscar (not even being nominated), but this another example of Hopkins’ ability to elevate any movie (well, maybe not Solace). Looks like Stinky missed out on another great performance.

One might think I’m the wrong guy to review a movie like this. Then again, I did enjoy revisiting it more than I thought I would, at least enough that it no longer felt like an obligation (slowly but surely, the story drew me in once again). So maybe that’s a testament to how well Howards End transcends its genre, kind like how my horror-hating wife got sucked into Train to Busan. But fans of the film should keep in-mind that this new 4K release is just a technical upgrade. There are no new bonus features. 

EXTRA KIBBLES (most of this is from the 2016 Cohen Media Blu-ray release)

4K & BLU-RAY COPIES

FEATURETTES - Returning to Howards End is a 20 minute conversation between director James Ivory and film curator Laurence Kardish; Interview with James Ivory and Vanessa Redgrave; Q&A with James Ivory takes place following a 2016 screening; Behind-the-Scenes is a featurette from 1992; James Ivory Remembers Ismail Merchant has the director recalling his longtime professional and personal partner; Building Howards End is the longest, and in many ways, the best of the bonus features; The Design of Howards End is about the costuming and production design.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By critics Wade Major and Lael Lowenstein.

ORIGINAL AND RE-RELEASE TRAILER

THE POOP SCOOP: Three Masterpieces and Dante's Peak

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER on Digital 11/14 and Blu-ray, 4K & DVD 1/20/2026 from Warner Bros. Washed-up stoner dad, Bob, (DiCaprio) exists in a state of paranoia, surviving off-grid with his spirited, self-reliant daughter, Willa (Infiniti).  When his evil nemesis (Penn) resurfaces after 16 years and she goes missing, the former radical scrambles to find her, father and daughter both battling the consequences of his past. From Warner Bros. Pictures comes “One Battle After Another,” written, directed and produced by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring Academy Award and BAFTA winners Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro, and Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti. 

PRIDE & PREJUDICE 20th Anniversary Edition Coming 11/23 on 4K from Universal. Academy Award nominee Keira Knightley stars in the greatest love story of all time, Pride & Prejudice. When Elizabeth Bennet (Knightley) meets the handsome Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen), she believes he is the last man on earth she could ever marry. But as their lives become intertwined, she finds herself captivated by the very person she swore to loathe for all eternity. Jane Austen's masterpiece novel comes to the screen in the film critics said "makes you believe in true love and happily-ever-after" (Stephen Holden, The New York Times). The exclusive Pride & Prejudice 20th Anniversary Collector’s Edition includes a beautifully curated 42-page book filled with behind-the-scenes photos, a foreword written by Director Joe Wright, excerpts from cast and crew, behind-the-scenes photos, and much more!

HOWARD’S END on Blu-ray & DVD 11/18 from Cohen Media Group. One of Merchant Ivory’s undisputed masterpieces, this adaptation of E.M. Forster’s classic novel won three Academy Awards. Howards End is a compelling, brilliantly acted study of one woman’s struggle to maintain her ideals and integrity in the face of Edwardian society’s conformist values. Cohen Film Collection is proud to present a gorgeous 4K restoration from the original negative, overseen and approved by director James Ivory and cinematographer Tony Pierce-Roberts. 

After Delays, DANTE’S PEAK is Finally Coming to 4K/Blu-ray on 12/16 from Kino Lorber. Without warning, day becomes night; air turns to fire, and solid ground melts beneath white-hot lava. From director Roger Donaldson comes an adrenaline-pumping adventure starring Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton. Welcome to the charming Pacific Northwest town of Dante’s Peak…where a long-dormant volcano is about to erupt with devastating force! The race is on for volcanologist Harry Dalton (Brosnan) and Mayor Rachel Wando (Hamilton) to evacuate the townspeople before it’s too late. Who will survive when the inferno unleashes its fury? The answer will leave you breathless, and the special effects will blow you away! Written by Leslie Bohem (Daylight) and beautifully shot in Cinemascope by Andrzej Bartkowiak (Speed).

CHAIN REACTIONS Blu-ray Mediabook Blu-ray December 2 from Dark Sky Films. Fifty years after Tobe Hooper’s classic shocked the world, CHAIN REACTIONS charts the film’s profound impact and lasting influence on five great artists – Patton Oswalt, Takashi Miike, Alexandra Heller- Nicholas, Stephen King, and Karyn Kusama. 

THE BLACK PHONE 2 on Digital Now and Blu-ray and 4K December 23 from Universal. Director Scott Derickson (Sinister, The Exorcism of Emily Rose) continues the nightmare with darker, deadlier, and more terrifying scenes than ever before as Ethan Hawke (First Reformed) returns to his most disturbing role as deranged serial killer The Grabber..

BEAST OF WAR on Blu-ray and DVD December 9 from Well Go USA. When their boat is sunk while crossing the Timor Sea during World War II, a young troop of Australian soldiers must find a way to survive the harsh seas on a quickly shrinking life raft. Hundreds of miles from anywhere, they must confront interpersonal conflicts, enemy attacks, and the advances of one very large, very hungry great white shark. 

GOOD FORTUNE arrives 11/7 on Premium Digital and 12/9 on 4K and Blu-ray from Lionsgate. In Aziz Ansari’s directorial debut, GOOD FORTUNE, a well-meaning but rather inept angel named Gabriel (Keanu Reeves) observes a struggling gig worker, Arj (Aziz Ansari), and intervenes to show him that money can't solve all his problems. 

Stephen King’s THE LONG WALK on Digital October 21 and 4K, Blu-ray & DVD November 25 from Lionsgate. The highly anticipated adaptation of master storyteller Stephen King’s first novel is an intense, chilling, and emotional thriller that challenges audiences to confront a haunting question: how far could you go?

PEE WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE on 4K & Blu-ray December 16 from Criterion Collection. One of the most eccentric comedies of the 1980s, this is a pop-culture touchstone that helped make a manic oddball named Pee-wee Herman into an icon for outsiders of all ages.

THE CONJURING: LAST RITES on Blu-ray, 4K and DVD November 25 from Warner Bros. Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson reunite for one last case as renowned, real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren in a powerful and spine-chilling addition to the global box office-breaking franchise.

Steven Spielberg’s MINORITY REPORT and CATCH ME IF YOU CAN on 4K December 9 from Paramount. Both Minority Report and Catch Me If You Can were remastered this year in 4K and the sparkling new transfers were reviewed and approved by Spielberg.  

The Gialli Cult Classic, A HYENA IN THE SAFE, on Blu-ray November 25 from Celluloid Dreams. This Blu-ray release will feature the film in its original Italian language with English subtitles exclusively.

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST (4K): A Time to Forgive?

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST (4K UHD)

1975 / 133 min

Warner Bros

#InPartnershipwithWB

Review by Mr. Paws😸

While Jaws has gotten a lot of attention this year, another little film celebrated its 50th Anniversary as well. It also swept the Oscars back in 1975, winning every major category, including Best Picture. I distinctly remember being 12 years long and staring drop-jawed in the front the TV when the final award of the night was announced, incredulous that it beat the greatest movie ever made. It didn’t matter that Jaws was the only nominated film I’d actually seen at the time.

I still haven’t quite forgiven the Academy for that, but after finally watching One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest about a decade later - old enough to better appreciate its themes, distinctive characters and rich performances - I had to concede it was a pretty great film. Better than Jaws? Hell no, but perhaps I’d change my tune if Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher) had met her demise in the mouth of a great white.

Even without any sharks, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest remains supremely rewatchable. Perhaps even more so today, because while revisiting the film in 4K, I was reminded of how many famous character actors got their first big break here, including Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd, Will Sampson and Brad Dourif. But of course, the whole movie still belongs to Jack Nicholson as rebellious asylum inmate R.P. McMurphy and Louis Fletcher as his cold blooded foil, Nurse Ratched. The Oscars they received for those performances are well-deserved. 

Jack sits on a tack.

I was also reminded of how subtly affecting the movie is, especially the scenes in which McMurphy endears himself to the other inmates. My favorite moment would have to be the one where McMurphy commandeers a fishing boat and takes his new friends on a real adventure, a sequence that’s both funny and heartwarming. Elsewhere, his friendship with silent, hulking “Chief” Bromden sets up a climax that remains poignant and haunting, no matter how many times I’ve seen it. 

50 years later, the film arguably remains the career highpoint for a lot of people on both sides of the camera, including director Milos Forman. So while One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest still no Jaws, maybe I should finally consider forgiving the Academy for thinking it was. After all, it ain’t like they gave the Best Picture statue to Barry Lyndon.

Finally remastered in 4K, both the picture and sound have been given significant upgrades from previous Blu-ray editions. The details, textures and color palettes are sharper and more accurate, while two audio tracks are offered, including an impressive DTS-HD Master Audio mix. The disc also comes with a few interesting new bonus features (outlined below), along with an archival feature-length retrospective documentary. But I gotta say...whoever designed the terrible new cover should be fired.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - Conversations on Cuckoo: Group Therapy and Conversations on Cuckoo: Moviemaking Memories are a couple of new Zoom discussions featuring producer Michael Douglas and actors Christopher Lloyd, Brad Dourif and Danny Devito. 

COMPLETELY CUCKOO is a feature length retrospective documentary featuring a ton of interesting interviews that include producers Michael Douglas & Saul Zentz, Kirk Douglas (who originally optioned the film with the hope of playing the lead role), actors Louise Fletcher, Christopher Lloyd, Danny DeVito & Vincent Schiavelli, director Milos Forman and original author Ken Kesey.

5 DELETED SCENES

DIGITAL COPY

THE POOP SCOOP: Cuckoos, Cars, Cruise & Creeps

😺ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST on 4K UHD november 11 from Warner Bros. Now that the movie is 50 years old, perhaps we can finally forgive it for winning the Best Picture Oscar over Jaws (but probably not). Based on the 1962 novel of the same name by author Ken Kesey, the film is considered by critics and audience to be one of the greatest films ever made.  One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest won all five major Academy Awards (Best Picture – Michael Douglas and Saul Zaentz; Best Actor – Jack Nicholson; Best Actress – Louise Fletcher; Director – Miloš Forman; and Screenplay – Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman) and in 1993, the film was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress, and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

🏁Vroom! Vroom! F1: THE MOVIE on Blu-ray, 4K and DVD October 7 from Warner Bros. Dubbed “the greatest that never was,” Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) was FORMULA 1’s most promising phenom of the 1990s until an accident on the track nearly ended his career. Thirty years later, he’s a nomadic racer-for-hire when he’s approached by his former teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), owner of a struggling FORMULA 1 team that is on the verge of collapse. Ruben convinces Sonny to come back to FORMULA 1 for one last shot at saving the team and being the best in the world. He’ll drive alongside Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), the team’s hotshot rookie intent on setting his own pace. But as the engines roar, Sonny’s past catches up with him and he finds that in FORMULA 1, your teammate is your fiercest competition. Hailing from director Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, “F1: The Movie" is the highest grossing original feature of the year.

🎄Dr. Seuss’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION on 4K Ultra HD & Steelbook Coming November 11 from Universal.  Discover the true meaning of the holiday season with Imagine Entertainment’s live-action adaptation of the beloved classic, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas on 4K Ultra HD and Steelbook. For its 25th anniversary, the film returns in a stunning newly remastered edition featuring Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for an enhanced home viewing and listening experience. This special release also includes over 30 minutes of brand-new bonus content exploring the making of the beloved holiday classic.

🐄EDDINGTON on Blu-ray October 7 from A24. A standoff between a small-town sheriff (Joaquin Phoenix) and mayor (Pedro Pascal) sparks a powder keg as the neighbors feud in May 2020. From Ari Aster, director of Hereditary and Midsommar, the movie stars Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone and Austin Butler.

🙀WEAPONS on Digital Now and Blu-ray, 4K & DVD October 14 from Warner Bros. When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance. 

😺The Gialli Cult Classic, A HYENA IN THE SAFE, on Blu-ray November 25 from Celluloid Dreams. A Hyena in the Safe has never been officially released in the US. In fact, no English dub exists, and this Blu-ray release will feature the film in its original Italian language with English subtitles exclusively. 

😺NOBODY 2 on Digital Now and 4K, Blu-ray and DVD October 7 from Universal. Bob Odenkirk returns as Hutch, an overworked assassin who just needs a break, in this bareknuckle action-thriller. 

🙀SHUDDER: A DECADE OF FEARLESS HORROR and CREEPSHOW: THE COMPLETE SERIES on Blu-ray November 11 from Shudder. 10 of the streaming service’s best movies in one boxed set. On the same day, Shudder releases all four seasons of their acclaimed anthology series, Creepshow, based on the original film by George A. Romero and Stephen King. 

😹THE NAKED GUN (2025) on 4K, Blu-ray & DVD November 11 from Paramount. Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson) follows in his father's footsteps in THE NAKED GUN, directed by Akiva Schaffer. 

🙀David Cronenberg’s THE SHROUDS on Blu-ray & DVD October 21 from Criterion Collection. David Cronenberg returns with one of his most personal films.

🙀A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 7-FILM COLLECTION on 4K September 30 from Warner Bros. From his first terrifying appearance on Elm Street to his resurrection through nightmares, the collection includes the original seven films. 

😺MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: THE FINAL RECKONING on Digital August 19 and 4K & Blu-ray October 14 from Paramount. Both the digital and physical releases come with hours of bonus content, including behind-the-scenes interviews, exclusive commentary, and deleted footage not seen in theatres.

🛧AIRPORT: THE COMPLETE 4-FILM COLLECTION on 4K and Blu-ray September 30 from Kino Lorber. This 4-Film collection includes all four newly-restored Airport movies, accompanied by new audio commentaries.