Black Panther 3D Blu-ray (2018) [Region Free]

[MercurySeven]

Just returned from an afternoon screening and I'm happy to report it's a 3-D feast. Marvel continues its excellent run of conversions, really pushing the depth in this fantasy land of Wakanda. There are numerous jaw-dropping shots of the hi-tech underground caverns, especially the mag-lev railways - wow! The flying craft are a joy to behold as well, zipping in and out of the screen, with some very effective tracking shots following them into Wakandan airspace. Some of the early action scenes are a little choppy, which nullifies the 3-D effect, but as the film goes on we're treated to some brightly lit, colourful tribal fight sequences atop a waterfall that look amazing in stereo. And the big action finale doesn't disappoint.

The film itself is an all-round solid entry in the Marvel canon. The characters are all vivid and have personality. Story is good, and features interesting dilemmas. African motifs run through every element of the film, from music to production design to historical themes, which is unique for a superhero movie. I wouldn't say I was surprised by any of it, but I thoroughly enjoyed it all the same. It deserves to be a hit.

For 3-D fans, it kicks off 2018 in style.