Blu-Ray Review:
Iron Man
By Jason Gillard
*Screenshots are not from the Blu-Ray source.
Movie
I remember when I first saw a trailer for Iron Man. I didn't know too much about the comic, but from what I saw in the trailer this movie was going to be awesome! After seeing the movie, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. It may have been one of those films that I put on too high a pedestal and then it could never live up to my expectations. The problem that I had with the film is that it seemed like just the first part of an unfinished movie. It was great seeing him working on the suit, but after that there is basically one big battle and the movie was over. I felt it could have been longer. But after having said all that, it was still one of the coolest movies of the summer. The suits created by Stan Winston studios were amazing. You had Robert Downey Jr as the lead and Jeff Bridges playing Downey's partner and I even thought Gwyneth Paltrow was really good in this film as Downey's assistant Pepper Potts. The movie had a lot of the qualities you look for in a summer blockbuster: A fun story, great special effects and the setup for a sequel. I certainly am looking forward to Iron Man 2.
8 out of 10
Video
For Blu-ray transfers the movie I often end up comparing movies to is Transformers. It has one of the best transfers I have seen. For Iron Man the transfer is definitely great, but it just doesn't hit the mark set by Transformers. The blacks come across deep, and there is no obvious artifacts or noise, plus edge enhancement is not an issue here either. The movie tends to look better by the time Tony Stark gets into the final suit. At this point the colours really pop and everything looks spectacular. So if you're looking for a demo disc this still may prove worthy, but just don't be surprised that you end up pulling Transformers out to wow your friends.
8 out of 10
Audio
Now this is where the disc shines. The Dolby Truehd 5.1 soundtrack comes across with the sonic clarity of a Stark Industries missile. Every channel is pumping sound out putting you in the middle of the action. It also has some of the best bass I have heard since Transformers. Plus the rear channels do an amazing job of keeping you in a 360 degree ball of sound. There is never a dull moment and this track will keep the audiophile grinning from ear to ear. Maybe you won't be reaching for that Transformers disc as fast as I thought!
8 out of 10
Extras
This is a 2-disc Blu-ray and there are lots of extras to watch. Here is what's included:
Documentary: "The Invincible Iron Man" HD
Hall of Armor HD
Deleted/Extended Scenes HD
Documentary: "I Am Iron Man HD
Featurette: "Wired: The Visual Effects of Iron Man" HD
Rehearsal Footage HD
Still Gallery HD
Theatrical Trailers HD
The first thing I want to point out is all the Extras are in HD. Now this is the way it should be! If you're buying a HD disc, you should be getting HD extras. I should also point out that this release has a great looking menu. It has Iron Man moving the various screens around like he is using your set like a futuristic computer. It looks very cool. There are also so BD-Live features that I couldn't access, because they will not be live until the set hits stores. As far as the extras go, I really liked the I Am Iron Man documentary. It is really the main part of the extras and goes through everything to do with the making of the film. I also liked The Invincible Iron Man which is a documentary about the actual creation of the comic book character. Since I did not know much about the comic book character to begin with, this certainly brought me up to speed. I also really liked The Visual Effects of Iron Man. This goes into the making of the physical suit as well as the amazing CGI that was used in the film. This is a fine package of Extras and Paramount should be commended for presenting everything in HD and giving the fans what they want to see.
9.5 out of 10
Overall
I think by now you realize I really liked this set. The picture, sound, and extras are all top notch. I especially liked the behind the scenes material. If you were a fan of the movie you must pick Iron Man up when it comes out on September 30, 2008.
9.5 out of 10
Highly Recommended