Blu-ray Review: Thor: Ragnarok
2017 – Thor: Ragnarok
Disney/Buena Vista 2017
PG13 | 2hrs 10 mins | Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Comedy
HD | 1080P | Dolby Atmos | Dolby TrueHD 7.1
4K | 2160P | HDR10 | Dolby Vision | Dolby Atmos | Dolby TrueHD 7.1
2.40:1 Aspect Ratio
Staring: Chris Hemsworth | Tom Hiddleston | Cate Blanchett | Idris Elba | Jeff Goldblum | Tessa Thompson
Directed by: Taika Waititi
Ratings & Reviews
Please see here for my comments on reviewing movies.
My ratings are simple being marked out of a maximum of 5+. My reviews are biased towards the technical production aspects of the film with brief comments about the story line. Extras, sorry, that’s just not my ‘bag’.
Not having 4K or Immersive audio yet, what did the 1080P24 version look like? Stunning, and the sound track? Lack luster and lacked punch.
Entertainment: 5
Video: 5+
Audio: 4
Technical Review – HD Blu-ray
Thor: Ragnarok was shot digitally on Arri Alexa 65 cameras in 6.5K with digital intermediates at 2K. This movie really shines on Blu-ray and shows what the better 1080P productions can look like. It is often a stunning visual presentation and will impress anybody that enters your home theater.
Image clarity was excellent especially in the brighter scenes, but even in the darker opening scenes were still very good. At no time where there any compression artifacts and the CGI integration was first rate, having just a little less detail than the live actions shots. The contrast ratios, while not outstanding, were all very good, and taken together with the tremendous details, and depth of image provided by the various surfaces, fabrics and sets, created a stunning visual feast, with plenty of eye candy, some of which was almost tactile in nature. The color palette was huge with deep reds, bright blues, yellows and cyans, virtually all the colors of the rainbow, all with outstanding clarity and saturation; almost comic bookish. Skin tones and textures are very realistic showing great detail including pores, hairs and makeup. I have to assume that the 4K HDR10 version must be absolutely reference quality based upon the 1080P60 viewing.
Thor: Ragnarok offers a Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 track that defaults to Dolby TrueHD 7.1 in my system. Let me say that this was a disappointing soundtrack and in no way matched the stellar visual presentation. Surprisingly the menu audio sounded not only better than the main film but was several db’s higher. The soundtrack completely lacked any significant bottom end weight causing me to check my four subs, as I thought that I had a system problem. Even after turning my level up by 2dB above reference it still never provided any significant visceral LF impact that my subs and I could react to. There were so many action sequences that could have benefitted from an impactful and extended bottom end. Often I find that the soundtrack can really drive the movie. Not so here, it tended to be just supportive, taking a back seat. Despite this criticism, the mix was smooth, possibly too smooth, with all panning and directionality following the action well. Sound details were very good taking advantage of both the side and rear surrounds. Arena crowds and flying debris surrounding the listener during several of the major fight sequences. The musical imaging and breadth from the techno music on Sakaar to the environmental effects such as lightning, thunder and wind surround the listener. Dialogue was clear and detailed with solid front-center imaging and prioritization. While this movie sound track was rich with effects and full of clarity, at reference level the soundtrack is weak at best, actually at any volume. Next time I listen to it I will have to try to extended the LF action with some additional processing and level.
Story Overview
Four years after defeating the Dark Elves, Thor (Chris Hemsworth), ultimately finds himself trapped on the planet of Sakaar.
With his fathers time now coming to an end, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) seems to have gained the upper hand as Thor searched for the Infinity Stones. His fathers death ushers in the return of Hela (Cate Blanchett) Odin’s first born and banished daughter, the rightful heir to the Throne of Asgard. Thor finds himself deported to the junk planet of Saakar whose ruler and Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum) sets Thor against the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) in an epic arena battle. Joining forces with Loki, ex-Asgardian Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and the Hulk, Thor returns to Asgard for the final battle of the planet and the destruction of Hela.
This is a race against time and Thor’s survival, finding that he has to prevent Hela from destroying not only his home but the entire Asgardian civilization.
This is a good fun movie, and provides spadefuls of eye candy. It definetely has the Disney touch with that rock and sock em feel and some campy and childish humor. It’s very entertaining, and packs in many comedic and action momments into its 130 minutes. All of which go by very fast. Its just such a pity that a movie with its many positive atributes had such a lack luster sound track.
Despite my reservations on the soundtrack, this is a movie that is well worth seeing and owning. It will receive many showings in my household.
