Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Thor 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Disney has released the 2011 Marvel Cinematic Universe film 'Thor' to UHD with new 2160p/HDR video and Dolby Atmos audio, both of which are somewhat troubled. Supplements carry over from the 2011 Blu-ray. See below for more detailed reviews.

Thor 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

There is certainly a solid improvement here over the previous Blu-ray. Textural finesse is amplified courtesy of the UHD's superior resolution. Finer facial textures are evident in every close-up while costumes and locations across both Asgard and Earth enjoy the fruits of sharper definition and overall improved clarity. However, it certainly betrays the signs of noise reduction, perhaps not so obviously applied as seen on Iron Man and Iron Man 2, but enough to notice the absence of organic grain, which appears frozen in place during many of the New Mexico daytime scenes and very notably so when Agent Coulson interrogates Thor in chapter nine (and during Loki's appearance in the room thereafter). The grain against the steely cold background literally shifts in clumps around actor heads.

The HDR color spectrum is again a source of notable and welcome improvement. The picture appears very firm and finds a more natural, deeper, more complimentary and rewarding color tone and temperature compared to the Blu-ray, which looks flat and uninspired in comparison. HDR does not add unwarranted vibrancy to the proceedings, but it does find a far greater color solidification and feel for tonal accuracy. Thor's Asgard outfit presents with a firmer red on the cape and a more accurate and more dense gray armor. Hues on Earth are pleasing, particularly in brightly lit New Mexico exteriors, with the storefronts and their assorted colors far better defined and natural compared to the Blu-ray (as well as fiery explosions through town in chapter 12). Skin tones are impressive and black levels are fairly good even through many of the challenging nighttime scenes throughout the film.

This was another from this 8/13/19 wave that proved difficult to score. At any given time one could argue for a score between 3.0-4.0, so cut the difference to reach the 3.5 final scoring.

Thor 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

This is, unfortunately, another relatively flat Atmos soundtrack from Disney. The opening sequence, which sees Jane and her team chasing after an astral phenomena and finding Thor, struggles to come up with anything resembling valiant depth. The movie's would-be first sonic assault is rather tame, and the Frost Giant intro is a little more dynamic but hardly intense. The trip through the Bifröst Bridge to Jotunheim finds a modicum of low end support amidst all of the engaged surround details, and the subsequent battle is likewise sufficiently deep, making for a passable accompaniment for the detailed and wide musical berth. Still, it's clear the presentation lacks at the bottom. The same can be said of the Destroyer attack in chapter 12; low end response is wanting, but the track does engage with satisfactory stage stretch to at least partially pull the listener into the mayhem. Rain during Thor's assault on the compound S.H.I.E.L.D. has constructed around Mjolnir falls with fairly impressive surround engagement and a slight feel for overhead support. Musical clarity is good and positioning and balance around the stage are agreeable. Dialogue is clear and detailed from a natural front-center position.

Thor 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The included Blu-ray contains the same supplemental package found on the original Paramount disc. The UHD disc houses no extras. See below for a list of what's included and please click here for full coverage. A Movies Anywhere digital copy code is included with purchase.

• Audio Commentary
• Marvel One-Shot: The Consultant
• From Asgard to Earth
• Our Fearless Leader
• Assembling the Troupe
• Hammer Time
• Creating Laufey
• Music of the Gods
• A Conversation
• Road to the Avengers
• Deleted Scenes
• Trailers

Thor 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Different movie, another Marvel franchise, shared universe, same story. Disney has released Thor to UHD with dumbed-down video and audio, both of which are passable (even good in places) but hardly the reference presentation that might have been. Difficult to recommend.