Black Panther Blu-ray review

May 12, 2018- Permalink

Black Panther was a huge hit and struck a chord with audiences, bringing to the screen the first superhero of African descent. This epic film is now available to take home an enjoy (and enjoy and enjoy) as Disney releases the Blu-ray on May 15th, 2018.

The 1080p AVC-encoded transfer is presented in the theatrical release’s 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Shot digitally, you expect the transfer to be clean and this presentation doesn’t disappoint with only the odd bit of macroblocking and digital noise. Details of environment, skin and fabrics, whether natural or computer-generated, are crisp and clear. The colour palette is wide-ranging but never muted or blown-out. Except for a few early issues, black levels are deep and crisp.

On the audio side, we get an English DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtrack as well as French and Spanish Digital 5.1 tracks. Subtitles are provided in English SDH, French and Spanish. Like a few other recent Disney releases, the disc needs to be played at slightly higher volume in order to fully appreciate its dynamic range. The use of the full surround soundscape drops the listener into the middle of the action. Dialogue is always clear and positioned front-centre.

On the extras side, you not only get a digital download code, but also a good selection of behind-the-scenes featurettes. They include a look at Black Panther’s place in the Avengers, an exploration of the fictional kingdom of Wakanda, the prominent role of women in the story and the usual gag reels, commentary and deleted scenes. There’s also a look at the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its upcoming films.

All in all, Black Panther is a beautifully presented Blu-ray and a worth addition to your home theatre library.