Black Widow 4K + 3D Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.5

Black Widow 4K + 3D Blu-ray Movie Review

A stunning 3D presentation of Black Widow arrives in a collectible steelbook.

Black Widow at last receives her big-screen motion-picture due in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). A breathtaking action- packed adventure, the comic-book superhero feature-film has an abundance of exciting action scenes. Scarlett Johansson returns as Natasha Romanoff (aka Black Widow) and no fan of the Marvel franchise will want to miss this entertaining entry: one of the best in the saga to date.

Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) must learn to face her past as a Russian agent and take down the villainous Red Room (while putting an end to the super-soldier training). Along the epic journey, Black Widow becomes re-acquainted with her “poser” family of undercover Russian agents (with bonds as tight as family): feisty Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), fierce Melina (Rachel Weisz), and tough-yet-bulging Red Guardian (David Harbour). The team suits up for a thrilling adventure (with Black Widow in command).

Scarlett Johansson is at the top of her game: one of the MVP's of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Gorgeous and multi-talented, Johansson delivers an exceptional performance as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow. The role was a perfect fit for Johansson (and she cemented herself as one of the most important characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe when Black Widow debuted in 2012's The Avengers). The standalone Black Widow feature provides Johansson with even more opportunities to flex her impressive acting chops and the results are outstanding: the role is brought to life in both subtle and dynamic ways (while she strikes a memorable “pose.”)

Steelbook fans won't be able to resist.

The production design by Charles Wood (Avengers: Endgame, Guardians of the Galaxy ) is epic in both scale and scope. The costumes by Lisa Lovaas (Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back) and Jany Temime (Skyfall, Judy) are stunning and well-suited to each character in the film (with Black Widow having a variety of exceptional costumes). The music composed by Lorne Balfe (The Lego Batman Movie, The Florida Project) is engaging and exciting as well.

The cinematography by Gabriel Beristain (Blade II, The Ring Two) is visually stunning and showcases the large scale of the production. The photography is well-polished, slick, and rewarding throughout. Black Widow is one of the most beautifully lensed of all the Marvel films.

The screenplay by Eric Pearson (Thor: Ragnarok, Godzilla vs. Kong) is enormously entertaining: providing Marvel fans with plenty of action-packed adventure and comedic one-liners alongside storytelling that hits every note: excelling at character development and breathtaking fun. Exploring Natasha Romanoff with more dimensions than previous Marvel entries, Black Widow manages to imbue the character with added depth.

Cate Shortland (Lore, Berlin Syndrome) brings Black Widow to life in the director's chair. Shortland is an enormously gifted filmmaker and her efforts on the production provide the film with a remarkable sense of style. The pace and rhythm of the filmmaking is consistently entertaining. The scope of the production is massive – and Shortland never fails to showcase every nuance. The action scenes are badass fun. Shortland made Black Widow an epic that was well worth the wait.

Black Widow 4K + 3D Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Disney, Black Widow arrives on 3D Blu-ray in an MPEG-4 MVC encoded high definition presentation. The release includes alternating aspect ratios: providing the film with the IMAX ratio during scenes produced in the format. The IMAX footage fills the entire screen while everything else in the film appears in a standard 2.39:1 aspect ratio.

The 3D presentation is another knock-out success from Disney. The release has exceptional depth throughout the entire presentation. Having seen the 3D release during its theatrical run, the disc presentation surpasses the theatrical one – stunning clarity and detail that makes the film more immersive from beginning to end. Marvel has a strong grasp on 3D filmmaking and Black Widow is no exception. Though the 3D isn't top-tier for Marvel (such as in Doctor Strange or Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2), it's still a superb 3D presentation.

Though the release is notably light on pop-out effects (which earns it a slightly lower score), the added dimension is worth the price of admission. When Black Widow soars through the sky from helicopter and lands on her feet to fight her enemies, the 3D effect dazzles in spades. The IMAX sequences are especially impressive on the 3D format (with the razor-sharp detail making the 3D outstanding), making the experience all the more heightened. (For the record, I was more impressed with the IMAX footage on the 3D disc than I was when I saw it in standard 2D IMAX theatrically.)

Black Widow 4K + 3D Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 3D disc presentation includes a English DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround sound presentation. The audio quality on the release is phenomenal: bass is deep and engaging. The surrounds are well engaged (enhancing the entire experience). Dialogue is clear and easy to understand. The music integrates well with the sound-mix. Though the release lacks the Dolby Atmos track, this is an entertaining lossless sound mix that doesn't disappoint.

Black Widow 4K + 3D Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The limited edition steelbook edition released as an exclusive to Amazon Japan includes a gorgeous collectible case. The release has illustrated art-work in the style of Mondo (known for their famous poster prints and vinyl issues). The front art of the steelbook showcases a suave and cool Scarlett Johansson wearing her badass Black Widow attire. The back art has an image of Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova. The collectible steelbook is a nice addition to an overall impressive release.

The release comes with 3D, 4K UHD, and Blu-ray discs. On-disc supplemental extras remain the same as the standard edition. For additional information on these extras, please refer to the review by my colleague Martin Liebman.

Black Widow 4K + 3D Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Black Widow is a must-see in 3D. Fans of the action-packed Marvel blockbuster won't want to miss out on a chance to see Scarlett Johansson kick all kinds of ass in 3D. The 3D effect is well-done and the release preserves the IMAX aspect ratio for each sequence filmed in the format. The IMAX scenes make the biggest impression: entirely immersing one in to the story. An essential release for 3D enthusiasts. The special edition steelbook includes collectible packaging and is worth purchasing for serious collectors. Highly recommended.