Are you a Marvel completionist? That’s the question to consider when you look at purchasingAnt-Man and the Waspon 4K. I can break down the visuals (better than Blu-ray, but nothing you’re going to use as a demo disc), but that’s not the most interesting question when it comes to something you know is going to be put into a box set down the line. The question is whether you should go out and getAnt-Man and the Waspright now, or if you should wait for the inevitable Phase 3 box set.
If you’re just looking for a technical appraisal ofAnt-Man and the Wasp, it’s fine. There are some scenes, especially in the Quantum Realm, that really pop, but this isn’t a 4K on the level ofGuardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2orThor: Ragnarokwhere you feel completely transported. The 4K is great from a standpoint of image clarity and it’s got a fun audio mix (again, the Quantum Realm scenes really shine), but it’s not really going to give your system a workout. Like the film itself, it’s good for what it is, but there’s nothing exemplary about the 4K transfer. If you wanted to save yourself $5 by just going for the Blu-ray (which has the same, albeit unremarkable, special features), I couldn’t really argue with you.
However, should you buyAnt-Man and the Waspat all? There are better Marvel movies where I can understand not waiting.Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2is a great hangout movie,Thor: Ragnarokis a blast from start to finish, andBlack Pantheris one of the best movies of the year. Why not add them to your collection now? And yet, Marvel is likely to release a Phase 3 box set because they released box sets for Phase 1 and 2. And unlike those box sets, there will probably be a 4K version since every Phase 3 movie except forCaptain America: Civil WarandDoctor Strangehas received the 4K treatment.
So what do you do with a middling movie likeAnt-Man and the Wasp? If you really enjoyed it, then you’re probably not even reading this, and you already went ahead and pre-ordered it. But if you’re on the fence aboutAnt-Man and the Wasp, I’d say that it’s tough to recommend it even though I thought it was a fun if forgettable movie. You shouldn’t get a Marvel movie just to have them unless you’re going all-in on the box sets where you know you’ll like a majority of the movies and if someone throws in aDoctor Strange, then so be it.
If you’re a collector like me, it’s hard to say thatAnt-Man and the Waspbelongs in your collection. There’s nothing really essential about it other than it’s a light watch, but honestly, you may as well wait until 2020 or so when it’s just playing on TNT or, as is more likely, part of Disney’s streaming service. Then you can just watch it whenever because neither the visuals nor the special features really make the case that this needs to be in your collection, especially at a 4K premium. That being said, an eventual box set might be stuffed with more worthwhile special features. But buyingAnt-Man and the Waspnow is only for those who either loved the film or for folks who feel the need to buy every individual Marvel movie.
