Ultra HD Blu-ray

Considering how many characters and narrative threads this third Avengers film carries, it works pretty well. It's solid entertainment from start to finish, and finds time for some genuinely funny banter. But it's also all a bit exhausting, and the sheer burden of what directorial duo Anthony and Joe Russo are handling means that Infinity War lacks the panache of their two earlier Captain America movies.

Picture: Avengers: Infinity War's 4K Blu-ray picture quality story starts with some bad news: there's no Dolby Vision version, despite Disney using that HDR technology on its Black Panther 4K disc.

The HDR10 image we're left with is a mixed bag, swinging between moments of blistering beauty and moments where improvements over the Full HD encode feel disappointingly minimal.

The image is generally at its best with bright, detailed exterior shots that don't contain too many special effects. Some of the non-Thanos shots in the woods of Wakanda, for instance, deliver a reference-level combination of what feels like real 4K detail (although we don't know whether the film received a 4K or 2K Digital Intermediate), ultra-rich colours, and impressively high typical and peak brightness.

Dark scenes, though, seem a little flat, and don't extend the light range much beyond the 1080p Blu-ray. Picture sharpness is inconsistent, too. This may relate to the amount of digital SFX; the CG landscapes of Titan look softer than the more 'real' vistas of Wakanda, for instance. Colours are clearly ramped up from those offered by the 1080p disc, delivering particularly strong results with the space sequences featuring the Guardians of the Galaxy. The uniforms and clothes of Wakanda look blisteringly intense, rich and lifelike.
Picture rating: 4/5

Audio: Recent Disney 4K Blu-ray soundtracks have been underwhelming, sounding weirdly compressed and thin. Happily, while certainly not perfect, the Dolby Atmos track exclusive to Avengers: Infinity War's 4K platter marks a clear improvement.

There's healthy bass to add real impact and scale to the film's action scenes, while the upper registers sound reasonably clean and busy without becoming harsh. The rears are employed more aggressively, and enjoy a fuller dynamic range, than on other recent Disney mixes.

Height channels are under-used, and there's still a slightly limited feel to the mix's dynamic range. Overall, though, the Avengers: Infinity War soundmix at least serves the film well.
Audio rating: 4/5

Extras: Bonuses comprise a slightly dull audio commentary featuring the film's writers and directors; four solid but uninspiring behind-the-scenes featurettes (Strange Alchemy, The Mad Titan, Beyond the Battle: Titan and Beyond the Battle: Wakanda); four excellent deleted scenes that add to the Marvel universe; and a short-but-sweet gag reel.
Extras rating: 3/5

We say: A relentlessly entertaining Marvel movie gets occasionally spectacular 4K Blu-ray treatment.

Avengers: Infinity War, Walt Disney, Ultra HD Blu-ray & All-region BD, £35
HCC VERDICT: 4/5