Doctor Strange

Let's be absolutely frank here-why on earth is Blu-ray 3D still a thing? I can understand 3D's commercial appeal in the theatrical realm, but its muddled colors and diminished light drive me up a wall. To bring this narrowed presentation home seems absolutely absurd to me, especially since A) so few options are released this way and B) you need both a special TV and 3D Blu-ray player to even watch these products properly. However, if you are one of those people still grasping the fringe of a five-year-old fad, Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange" has arrived to the market in such a format.

Even if you don't desire the 3D version, Marvel's 2016 hit is still a visual spectacle to behold in any dimension. With spectacular visual effects work, this is perhaps the studio's greatest-looking picture to date. A colleague of mine described the film's aesthetic as being akin to a Windows screensaver, but I beg to differ. The visuals here are inventive and mesmerizing, and they transfer quite well to the film's Blu-ray release with fantastic sound work to boot.

The Blu-ray is also jam-packed with bonus features that will make heads spin for fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With over 80 minutes of material, the release includes five behind-the-scenes featurettes, five deleted scenes, outtakes, part two of the comical mockumentary "Team Thor," audio commentary by director Scott Derrickson and an exclusive look at future Marvel movies.

The featurettes are the best offering among the bonus features, diving into topics such as the film's creative process of bringing this comic to the screen, the movie's extraordinary production elements, the impressive fight choreography and composer Michael Giacchino's transcendent score. Sometimes, seeing how movie magic all comes together is the best part of any Blu-ray release, and "Doctor Strange" is certainly no exception.

"Doctor Strange"
Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack (Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD)
www.marvel.com
$27.99