7.5 | / 10 |
Users | 4.8 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Imprisoned, the mighty Thor finds himself in a lethal gladiatorial contest against the Hulk, his former ally. Thor must fight for survival and race against time to prevent the all-powerful Hela from destroying his home and the Asgardian civilization.
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff GoldblumAdventure | 100% |
Action | 99% |
Comic book | 88% |
Sci-Fi | 84% |
Fantasy | 76% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 MVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1, 1.90:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
French: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
German: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Also has Dolby 2.0 "Audio Described English" track.
English SDH, French, German, Arabic, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Blu-ray 3D
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Thor: Ragnarok just released to theaters several month ago, but it's no longer the latest installment in the ever-expanding, increasingly complex, and endlessly fun Marvel Cinematic Universe. The latest film is Black Panther, and Thor: Ragnarok reminds viewers at credits end that the hero will be returning in Avengers: Infinity War, which will be hitting theaters around the time Black Panther should be making its home video debut. That's a lot of movies, a maelstrom of Marvel, but "while the iron is hot" and all of that. Thor: Ragnarok is the third film to feature the blonde-haired Nordic warrior from Asgard as the lead, following on 2011's Thor and 2013's Thor: The Dark World. Ragnarok, which is not a reference to a place or character but rather an idea -- the prophecy foretelling the destruction of Thor's home world of Asgard -- is a humor-heavy, abundantly colorful, and ridiculously fun movie. It's maybe a little skimpy in terms of dramatic resonance, getting caught up in its laughs, locations, and lightning-paced action, but as a core MCU experience that brings together a few familiar faces in large parts and small supporting roles alike while also introducing a few new and dynamic characters, it's a winner.
It's a shame Disney hasn't made Thor: Ragnarok's Blu-ray 3D release available in the United States, but this region free disc from the U.K.
plays just fine anywhere in the world and it's well worth the effort (which is really no effort at all) of having it shipped overseas. The fun begins with
the Marvel Studios logo, which features both inward and outward 3D goodness. There's a wonderful shape to the static images, as they appear to
extend out of the screen and, eventually, draw in backwards. It's a fun effect that sets the proper tone for the rest of the movie, which delivers a
first-rate 3D viewing experience.
The film begins in Surtur's dank, dark realm. Even through the pervasive bleakness -- blacks and grays broken up only by bright red fiery coloring --
there's a tangible sense of location space and identifiable shape and size to the demonic creature, impressive considering it's all made in the computer.
The sequence boasts some of the best 3D pop-out effects the film has to offer, as Thor's hammer encircles the battle zone and, at one point, pushes
outward from the screen, stops, and rushes back in. Thor raises it towards the heavens moments later, pleading his homeworld for an instantaneous
exit. Later in the
film, at the beginning of the second act after crash-landing on Sakaar, Thor extends his arm to the screen, instinctively calling for Mjolnir, and it
appears
to reach out into the theater.
But essential depth is the calling card here, even as some very strong and enjoyable pop-out effects are apparent. Various vistas are breathtakingly
large and expansive, whether a New York City overhead view, a sprawling cliffside locale where Thor and Loki first encounter Hela, the large-scale view
of the trash planet Sakaar, and of course the arena in which Thor battles Hulk, presenting with an amazing sense of spacial volume, both along the
arena floor and upwards into the circular stands. Perhaps the single most impressive example of depth in the film comes in the holographic lead-up to
Thor first meeting with The Grandmaster; a tunnel, for lack of a better word, seems to extend as close to infinity as 3D allows. There's plenty of
separation between objects and characters, with one shot of particular note being the ragtag group of scavengers watching Valkyrie descend from her
ship soon after Thor lands on Sakaar.
Essential image quality characteristics are wonderful, too. Textural efficiency is strong. The image delivers complex detailing across the board, losing
very little in transition from flat 2D to 3D. Colors follow suit, perhaps lacking the absolute intensity seen on the 2D-only image (and of course the HDR
UHD colors) but holding firm and robust nevertheless. This presentation also features variable aspect ratios, shifting form standard 2.39:1 to an open
1.78:1 throughout. This is a great 3D release that format fans will want to pick up from where it's available.
Thor: Ragnarok contains the same DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 lossless soundtrack as the U.S. Blu-ray. It delivers a dense and detailed and effortlessly fluid listening experience. Sound details swoop and sweep with dynamic, traversing detail while taking advantage of every speaker around the listener. Thor's hammer soars with a metallic weight. An arena battle encircles the listener with crowd noise while the chaotic battle sends debris flying, turning the home theater into a raucous circular battlefield. Musical width and depth are superb, whether more traditionally oriented score or pulsating techno beats on Sakaar that rise and lower in intensity as they pop up around the listening area. Environmental effects, such as thunder and wind heard within the 22-minute mark, are organically positioned and saturate the stage with seamless detail. Dialogue is rich and detailed with firm front-center placement and prioritization. All that said, the track plays timidly at reference volume. It's rich in clarity but poor in low end engagement and heft, similar to another recent Disney release in Coco.
Thor: Ragnarok's UK 3D release comes bundled with a 2D disc which contains all of the supplements found on the U.S. release. No extras
appear on the actual 3D disc.
Thor: Ragnarok is just flat-out fun. It's light on story, even with a tough new villainess and a deadly serious prophecy as its namesake. For so many dark cues, Director Taika Waititi keeps the movie continuously light on its feet by painting a balance between quips and quality of story and action. The film accomplishes enough universe expansion to leave an indelible mark on the MCU, as well as redefine tonal expectations for the Superhero film, bringing the heretofore almost exclusively Guardians of the Galaxy brand of humor into the rest of the universe's very lifeblood. Disney's region free UK 3D release is fantastic. The 3D presentation is well worth the effort of importing, and by doing so fans are also getting the same Blu-ray and special features as the U.S. release. Highly recommended.
2017
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Big Sleeve Edition
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Standard case
2017
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Lenticular Edition
2017
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Mondo X #60
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Limited Superhero Sticker Sheet
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