IRON MAN + IRON MAN 2 [2008 / 2010 / 2014] [Two Movie Collection] [Blu-ray] [UK Release]
Spectacular Action Blockbuster!
IRON MAN [2008] Tony Stark [Robert Downey Jr.] an inventor and a playboy, is the CEO of Stark Industries which produces advance weapon systems for the U.S. military. Lift off with high-speed, high-flying action that takes you inside the suit of MARVEL’s Invincible Super Hero for the ultimate Iron Man Experience! After surviving an unexpected attack in enemy territory, jet-setting industrialist Tony Stark builds a high-tech suit of armour and vows to protect the world as Iron Man. Straight from the pages of the legendry MARVEL Comic Book “Iron Man,” is a hero who is built not born to be unlike any other!
FILM FACT: Awards and Nominations: 2009 Academy Awards®: Nominated: Best Achievement in Sound Editing for Christopher Boyes and Frank E. Eulner. Nominated: Best Achievement in Visual Effects for Ben Snow, Daniel Sudick, John Nelson and Shane Mahan. 2009 BAFTA Film Awards: Nominated: Best Special Visual Effects for Ben Snow, Hal T. Hickel, John Nelson and Shane Mahan. 2009 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Nominated: Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture for Robert Alonzo, Greg Anthony, Daniel Arrias, Tammie Baird, Matt Baker, Gianni Biasetti Sr., Freddy Bouciegues, Jon Braver, Ben Hernandez, ray, Bob Brown, Brian Brown, Joe Bucaro III, Richard Bucher, Hal Burton, Chris Carnel, David Castillo, Loyd Catlett, Richard Cetrone, Callie Croughwell, Norm Compton, Geo Corvera, Paul Crawford, Clay Cullen, John T. Cypert, Max Daniels, J.J. Dashnaw, Kl. Davis, Vince Deadrick Jr., Kevin Derr, Andy Dylan, Eyad Elbitar, Paul Eliopoulos, Annie Ellis, Donna Evans, Eddie J. Fernandez, Greg Fitzpatrick, Christian J. Fletcher, Clay Donahue Fontenot, Damian Foster, Richie Gaona, Mark Ginther, Tad Griffith, James M. Halty, Reid Harper, Riley Harper, Tom Harper, Gene Hartline, Rosine 'Ace' Hatem, Freddie Hice, Michael Hilow, Steve Holladay, David Hugghins, Kevin L. Jackson, Brandon Johnson, Michael Justice, Sandy Berumen, Shawn Kautz, Krisztian Kery, Hannah Kozak, Mark Kubr, Theo Kypri, Luke LaFontaine, Oakley Lehman, Matt Leonard, Brian Machleit, Anthony Martins, Damien Moreno, David Ott, Chris Palermo, J.J. Perry, Nito Larioza, Chad Randall, Rex Reddick, Darryl Reeves, Tim Rigby, Larry Rippenkroeger, Mario Roberts, Jason Rodriguez, Mic Rodgers, Gilbert Rosales, Laurence Todd Rosenthal, Mike Rufino, Michael Runyard, David Schultz, Kevin Scott, Ray Siegle, Paul Sklar, Craig Stecyk, Daniel Stevens, Tim Trella, Mark Aaron Wagner, Aaron Walters, Todd Warren, Ava Rose Williams, Keith Woulard and Alvin Zalamea. 2009 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA: Win: Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film. Win: Saturn Award for Best Actor for Robert Downey Jr. Win: Saturn Award for Best Director for Jon Favreau. Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Actress for Gwyneth Paltrow. Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for Jeff Bridges. Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Writing for Art Marcum, Hawk Ostby, Mark Fergus and Matt Holloway. Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Music for Ramin Djawadi. Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Special Effects for Ben Snow, Daniel Sudick, John Nelson and Shane Mahan. 2009 AFI Awards, USA: Win: Movie of the Year. 2009 Art Directors Guild: . Nominated: Excellence in Production Design Award for Fantasy Film for J. Michael Riva (production designer), David F. Klassen (supervising art director), Richard F. Mays (art director), Suzan Wexler (art director), Michael E. Goldman (assistant art director), Wendy Riva (assistant art director), Ryan Meinerding (illustrator), Rodolfo Damaggio (illustrator), Phil Saunders (illustrator), Philip Keller (storyboard artist), David Lowery (storyboard artist), Stephen Platt (storyboard artist), Eric Ramsey (storyboard artist), William J. Law III (senior lead set designer), Ernie Avila (set designer), Noelle King (set designer), Kevin Cross (specialist digital set designer), Anne Porter (junior set designer), Dianne Chadwick (graphic designer), Tony Bohorquez (model maker) and Lauri Gaffin (set decorator). 2009 ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards: Win: Top Box Office Films for Ramin Djawadi. 2009 Cinema Audio Society, USA: Nominated: C.A.S. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Motion Pictures for Christopher Boyes (re-recording mixer), Lora Hirschberg (re-recording mixer) and Mark Ulano (production mixer). 2009 Costume Designers Guild Awards: Nominated: Excellence in Contemporary Film for Laura Jean Shannon and Rebecca Gregg. 2009 Gold Derby Awards: Nominated: Sound Editing/Mixing for Christopher Boyes and Frank E. Eulner. Nominated: Visual Effects for Ben Snow, Hal T. Hickel, John Nelson and Shane Mahan. 2009 Grammy Awards: Nominated: Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media for Ramin Djawadi. 2009 Hugo Awards: Nominated: Best Dramatic Presentation in Long Form for Mark Fergus (screenplay), Hawk Ostby (screenplay), Art Marcum (screenplay), Matt Holloway (screenplay), Stan Lee (based on characters created), Don Heck (based on characters created), Larry Lieber (based on characters created), Jack Kirby (based on characters created) and Jon Favreau (director). 2009 Kids' Choice Awards, USA: Nominated: Blimp Award for Favorite Movie. 2009 Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA: Nominated: Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing for Music in a Feature Film for David Klotz (music editor), Shannon Erbe (music editor) and Tanya Noel Hill (music editor). Nominated: Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing - Dialogue and ADR in a Feature Film for Frank E. Eulner (supervising sound editor), Michael Silvers (supervising adr editor), Marshall Winn (dialogue editor), Karen Spangenberg (dialogue editor), Gwendolyn Yates Whittle (adr editor) and John Nutt (adr editor). Nominated: Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing – Sound Effects and Foley in a Feature Film for Christopher Boyes (supervising sound editor/sound designer), Frank E. Eulner (supervising sound editor), Shannon Mills (sound designer), J.R. Grubbs (sound effects editor), Ken Fischer (sound effects editor), James Likowski (foley editor), Robert Shoup (foley editor), Dennie Thorpe (foley artist), Jana Vance (foley artist), Ellen Heuer (foley artist) and Ronni Brown (foley artist). 2009 MTV Movie + TV Awards: Nominated: Best Movie. Nominated: Best Male Performance for Robert Downey Jr. 2009 USC Scripter Award: Nominated: Art Marcum (screenwriter), Don Heck (author), Hawk Ostby (screenwriter), Mark Fergus (screenwriter), Matt Holloway (screenwriter) and Stan Lee (author). 2009 Visual Effects Society Awards: Nominated: Outstanding Visual Effects in an Effects Driven Feature Motion Picture for Ben Snow, Hal T. Hickel, John Nelson and Victoria Alonso. Nominated: Best Single Visual Effect of the Year for Ben Snow, John Nelson, Victoria Alonso and Wayne Billheimer. Nominated: Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture for Bruce Holcomb, Hal T. Hickel, James Tooley and John Walker. Nominated: Outstanding Models and Miniatures in a Feature Motion Picture for Aaron McBride, Gerald Gutschmidt, Keiji Yamaguchi and Russell Paul. Nominated: Outstanding Compositing in a Feature Motion Picture for Dav Rauch, Jonathan Rothbart, Kent Seki and Kyle McCulloch. 2009 World Stunt Awards: Win: Taurus Award for Best Fire Stunt for Damien Moreno, Mike Justus and Tim Trella. Win: Taurus Award for Hardest Hit for Greg Fitzpatrick.
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow, Leslie Bibb, Shaun Toub, Faran Tahir, Clark Gregg, Bill Smitrovich, Sayed Badreya, Paul Bettany (JARVIS voice), Jon Favreau, Peter Billingsley, Tim Guinee, Will Lyman (Award Ceremony Narrator voice), Tom Morello, Marco Khan, Daston Kalili, Ido Ezra, Kevin Foster, Garret Noël, Eileen Weisinger, Ahmed Ahmed, Fahim Fazli, Gerard Sanders, Tim Rigby, Russell Richardson, Nazanin Boniadi, Thomas Craig Plumer, Robert Berkman, Stacy Stas Hurst, Lauren Scyphers, Dr. Frank Nyi, Marvin Jordan, Jim Cramer, Donna Evans Merlo, Reid Harper, Summer Kylie Remington, Ava Rose Williams, Vladimir Kubr, Callie Marie Croughwell, Javan Tahir, Sahar Bibiyan, Patrick O'Connell, Adam Harrington, Meera Simhan, Ben Newmark, Ricki Noel Lander, Jeannine Kaspar, Sarah Cahill, Stan Lee, Justin Rex, Zorianna Kit, Lana Kinnear, Nicole Lindeblad, Masha Lund, Gabrielle Tuite, Tim Griffin, Joshua Harto, Micah Hauptman, James Bethea, Greg Anthony (uncredited), Jeffrey Ashkin (uncredited), Russell Bobbitt (uncredited), Jon Braver (uncredited), Yonel Dorelis (uncredited), Glenn Goldstein (uncredited), Rodrick Hersh (uncredited), Samuel L. Jackson (uncredited), Theo Kypri (uncredited), James M. Myers (uncredited), Sylvette Ortiz (uncredited), Ajani Perkins (Voice) (uncredited) and David Zyler (Whiplash One voice) (uncredited)
Director: Jon Favreau
Producers: Ari Arad, Avi Arad, David Maisel, Eric N. Heffron, Jeremy Latcham, Jon Favreau, Kevin Feige, Louis D'Esposito, Peter Billingsley, Ross Fanger, Stan Lee and Victoria Alonso
Screenplay: Art Marcum(screenplay), Hawk Ostby (screenplay), Mark Fergus (screenplay), Matt Holloway (screenplay), Don Heck (characters), Jack Kirby (characters), Larry Lieber (characters) and Stan Lee (characters)
Composer: Ramin Djawadi
Cinematography: Matthew Libatique, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 (Anamorphic)
Audio: English: 5.1 Dolby TrueHD Audio
Italian: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: Danish, Greek, English, English SDH, Finnish, Hungarian, Italian, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, Português, Swedish and Turkish
Running Time: 126 minutes
* * * * *
IRON MAN 2 [2010] Get the ultimate ‘IRON MAN 2’ experience with this special edition loaded with bonus features that takes you inside the suit, Now that Tony Stark’s Super Hero secret is revealed to the world, he must once again suit up in order to face his most dangerous enemy yet, but not without a few new allies of his own!
FILM FACT: Awards and Nominations: 2010 Golden Schmoes Awards: Win: Biggest Disappointment of the Year. Nominated: Best Special Effects of the Year. Nominated: Best T&A of the Year for Scarlett Johansson. 2010 Hollywood Film Awards: Win: Visual Effects of the Year. 2010 Hollywood Post Alliance: Nominated: HPA Awards for Outstanding Compositing in a Feature Film for Amy Shepard, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Jason Porter, Jon Alexander and Patrick Brennan. 2010 IGN Summer Movie Awards: Nominated: Best Comic-Book Adaptation. 2010 Scream Awards: Win: Best Science Fiction Actress for Scarlett Johansson. Win: Best Villain for Mickey Rourke as Ivan Vanko. Win: Best Superhero for Robert Downey Jr. Nominated: Best Science Fiction Actor for Robert Downey Jr. Nominated: Best Science Fiction Actress for Gwyneth Paltrow. Nominated: Best Supporting Actor for Don Cheadle. Nominated: The Ultimate Scream. Nominated: Best Ensemble. Nominated: Best Cameo for Stan Lee. Nominated: Best Science Fiction Movie. Nominated: Fight Scene of the Year for "Final Battle: Iron Man and War Machine vs Whiplash and the Drones." Nominated: Best F/X. Nominated: Best Comic Book Movie. 2010 Teen Choice Awards: Nominated: Choice Movie: Villain for Mickey Rourke. Nominated: Choice Movie: Dance for Robert Downey Jr. Nominated: Choice Movie: Fight for Robert Downey Jr. and Don Cheadle. Nominated: Choice Movie Actress: Sci-Fi for Scarlett Johansson. Nominated: Choice Movie Actress: Sci-Fi for Gwyneth Paltrow. Nominated: Choice Movie Actor: Sci-Fi for Robert Downey Jr. Nominated: Choice Movie: Sci-Fi. 2011 Academy Awards®: Nominated: Best Achievement in Visual Effects for Ben Snow, Daniel Sudick, Ged Wright and Janek Sirrs. 2011 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA: Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film. Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Actor for Robert Downey Jr. Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress for Scarlett Johansson. Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Special Effects for Ben Snow, Daniel Sudick, Ged Wright and Janek Sirrs. 2011 BET Awards: Nominated: Best Actor for Don Cheadle. 2011 Kids' Choice Awards, USA: Nominated: Blimp Award for Favorite Butt Kicker for Robert Downey Jr. 2011 Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA: Nominated: Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing - Sound Effects and Foley in a Feature Film for Frank E. Eulner (supervising sound editor), Christopher Boyes (supervising sound editor, sound designer), James Likowski (supervising foley editor), Dennie Thorpe (foley artist), Jana Vance (foley artist), Ken Fischer (sound effects editor), J.R. Grubbs (sound effects editor), Scott Guitteau (sound effects editor), Kyrsten Mate (sound effects editor), Andrea Gard (foley editor), Luke Dunn Gielmuda (foley editor) and Robert Shoup (foley editor). 2011 MTV Movie + TV Awards: Nominated: MTV Movie Award for Best Villain for Mickey Rourke. 2011 People's Choice Awards, USA: Win: Favorite Action Movie. Nominated: Favorite On-Screen Team for Robert Downey Jr. and Don Cheadle. Nominated: Favorite Movie. 2011 SFX Awards, UK: Nominated: Best Actor for Robert Downey Jr. 2011 Visual Effects Society Awards: Nominated: Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture for Ben Snow, Ged Wright, Janek Sirrs and Susan Pickett. Nominated: Outstanding Created Environment in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture for Aaron McBride, Giles Hancock, Richard Bluff and Todd Vaziri for Stark Expo. Nominated: Outstanding Models and Miniatures in a Feature Motion Picture for Bruce Holcomb, John Goodson, Ron Woodall and John Walker for Hammer Military Drones.
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke, Samuel L. Jackson, Clark Gregg, John Slattery, Garry Shandling, Paul Bettany (JARVIS voice), Kate Mara, Leslie Bibb, Jon Favreau, Christiane Amanpour, Philippe Bergeron, James Bethea, Michael Bruno, Kate Clark, Luminita Docan, François Duhamel, Larry Ellison, Adam 'DJ AM' Goldstein, Tim Guinee, Eric L. Haney, Ali Khan, Eugene Lazarev, Stan Lee, Isaiah Guyman Martin IV, Helena Mattsson, Keith Middlebrook, Anya Monzikova, Margy Moore, Olivia Munn, Elon Musk, Bill O'Reilly, Alejandro Patiño, Davin Ransom (Young Tony Stark), Karim Saleh, Brian Schaeffer, Phillipe Simon, Jack White, Melanie Brown, Krystal Ellsworth, Victoria Parsons, Gina Cantrell, Renee Herlocker, Jill Ann Pineda-Arnold, Sandra Colton, Annika Ihnat, Jenny Robinson, Lindsay Dennis, Jennifer D. Johnson, Lindsay Rosenberg, Hannah Douglass, Brooke Long, Rachele Brooke Smith, Nadine Ellis, Kylette Zamora, Ted Alderman (uncredited), Pete Brown (uncredited), John Ceallach (uncredited), Timothy 'TJ' James Driscoll (uncredited), Paul Grace (uncredited), Ralph Kampshoff (uncredited), Mathew Lorenceau (uncredited), Tony Nevada (uncredited), Victor J.W. Pekarcik III (uncredited), Tanoai Reed (uncredited) and Michael A. Templeton (uncredited)
Director: Jon Favreau
Producers: Alan Fine, David Maisel, Denis L. Stewart, Eric N. Heffron, Jeremy Latcham, Jon Favreau, Karen Johnson, Kevin Feige, Louis D'Esposito, Stan Lee, Susan Downey and Victoria Alonso
Screenplay: Justin Theroux (screenplay), Don Heck (Marvel comic book), Jack Kirby (Marvel comic book), Larry Lieber (Marvel comic book) and Stan Lee (Marvel comic book)
Composer: John Debney
Cinematography: Matthew Libatique, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Anamorphic)
Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English: 2.0 Audio Description
Spanish: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
French: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Italian: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: Danish, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Norwegian, Finnish, Swedish and England SDH
Running Time: 124 minutes
* * * * *
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 3
Studio: Paramount Pictures / MARVEL STUDIOS
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘IRON MAN’ [2008] The story will likely be familiar to any fan of the original MARVEL comic book. Tony Stark [Robert Downey Jr.] is the perfect embodiment of the Alpha Male. Tony Stark is Bill Gates with pecs, blessed with a genius IQ, movie star good looks, and a Teflon coat of cockiness. Tony Stark also happens to be an amoral (if legal) arms dealer, with his Stark Industries, which is the world’s leading supplier of weapons of mass destruction. As the film begins, Tony Stark is casual and has a cavalier attitude and on his way to his latest weapons demo for the military that he treats with all the seriousness of the opening of a nightclub. Then real bombs are dropped, and Tony Stark is captured by a group of revolutionary terrorists. Pressed into service for his hi-tech skills, he plots his escape by turning himself into (in a mere few minutes of screen time) his own weapon of mass destruction and that is of course Iron Man.
For its first two-thirds, 'IRON MAN' works on just about every level. As a social comment, the film has an effects-filled adventure, as romance, and as a wholly entertaining comic book thrill ride. And that's largely thanks to Robert Downey Jr., he is terrific. Tony Stark's alcohol-fuelled party-boy persona is a perfect fit for the actor Robert Downey Jr. and it's now impossible to imagine anyone better suited for the role, and his natural humour makes even the most implausible aspects of the character and story strangely believable. Let's face it; the concept of Tony Stark building an Iron Man suite in about three days is absurd. But Robert Downey Jr. simply pulls it off with great panache, and does what the best actors in a comic book films do, he makes us metaphorically believe that a "man can fly."
But no matter, even a weak resolution can't dim the fun of 'IRON MAN.' Faithful to the political undercurrents of the original comic, brilliant in its casting of Robert Downey Jr., and with finely-tuned action thanks to the tight direction of Jon Favreau, here's the rare MARVEL Comic Book film that has something to say and says it with great excitement and nerve. 'IRON MAN' is in my mind totally perfect, but if only all comic book films were this much fun – but you be assured that 'IRON MAN' may well surprise you and you will have a rollercoaster ride of your lifetime in an action pack film of this genre.
IRON MAN MUSIC TRACK LIST
BACK IN BLACK (Written by Brian Johnson, Malcolm Young and Angus Young) [Performed by AC/DC]
DAMN KID (Written by Ali Dee, Zach Danziger and Vincent Alfieri) [Performed by DJ Boborobo]
IRON MAN (Theme from the Animated Series) (Composed by Jacques Urbont) [Performed by John O'Brien and Rick Boston]
INSTITUTIONALIZED (Written by Louiche Mayorga and Mike Muir) [Performed by Suicidal Tendencies]
SLEPT ON TONY WITH DIRT (Written by Ghostface Killah) [Performed by Ghostface Killah]
Concerto In Do Maggiore Per Pianoforte Ed Orchestra: Larghetto (Written by Antonio Salieri) [Performed by Ramin Djawadi]
GROOVETRONIC (Written by Terry Devine-King) [Performed by Terry Devine-King]
KOOL KATZ (Written by Chucho Merchán) [Performed by Chucho Merchán]
LICORICE (Written by Emanuel Kallins and Steve Skinner) [Performed by Emanuel Kallins and Steve Skinner]
IRON MAN (Written by Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward]
Blu-ray Image Quality – 'IRON MAN' comes to Blu-ray as the most eagerly and most anticipated Paramount Pictures title of that year, and perhaps that of any major studio. This is the kind of film you hope will deliver a new demo disc, and the kind of film that you bought a Blu-ray player for in the first place; well you will not be disappointed. The film has a split personality for a visual style. Shot with both traditional anamorphic and Super35 film processes, the early desert scenes have a much starker, grittier quality, while the latter half of the film is much more glossy and slick. As such, while the source is spotless, there are some apparently intentional inconsistencies in contrast, blacks and colour saturation. When the film really kicks into gear and introduces ‘IRON MAN,’ is when the presentation really soars. Colours are vibrant and lush, blacks excellent, and detail and depth quite wonderful. Flesh tones also become a bit more realistic, giving the film a very polished look yet still retaining a natural and dimensional picture. There are many sequences here, particularly Iron Man's first night flight, as well as the climactic battle that can easily serve as demo material. Despite some inconsistencies, Paramount Pictures has produced an impeccable encoded 1080p image.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Paramount Pictures provides a 5.1 Dolby TrueHD audio mix for 'IRON MAN,' and it's terrific. Now, this is what Home Cinema Theatre is all about, and this Blu-ray is bound to be a new showroom staple at Best Buys across the nation. Dynamics are also superb. Low bass is some of the best I've heard, and with the films climactic battle in particular, is a real scorcher. The full frequency spectrum is note-perfect, and at a loud volume, the level of clarity and detail is reference-quality. Dialogue is firmly placed in the centre channel except for a few vocal effects, and is never overwhelmed by the action. 'IRON MAN' is definitely going to be one of this year's most justifiably-praised demo soundtracks on Blu-ray.
IRON MAN Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: Hall of Armor: This interactive function is a feature is a fully-controllable still gallery. Here you enter the "Stark Database" and you get to view four types of Iron Man Suites and they are as follows: Mark I Armor; Mark II Armor; Mark III Armor and Iron Monger. You can check out the detailed images of each Iron Man Suites, as well as "zoom" around each suit to get a closer look and is very nicely done.
Special Feature: The Invisible Iron Man [2008] [1080p] [1.78:1] [47:04] This six-part special feature chronicles the creation, evolution of the original MARVEL Iron Man Comic Book character. A host of MARVEL Comic Book people are interviewed This special feature offers great context for better appreciating the MARVEL STUDIOS feature films, as it reveals details that I am very naïve comic book aficionado, had no idea about what is revealed, surprising details that appeal to women readers, and the socio-political underpinnings of the characters and this is a really excellent documentary. What we get to view are the following: Origins; Friends & Foes; Definitive Iron Man; Demon in a Bottle; Extremis and Beyond and Ultimate Iron Man. Contributors include: Stan Lee (Co-Creator/Writer), Gerry Conway (Writer), Gen Colan (Artist), Tom Brevoot (MATVEL Comics Executive Editor / Iron Man Editor), John Romita, Jr. (Artist), Bob Layton (Writer/Artist), Warren Ellis (Writer), Joe Quesada (Former Iron Man Writer and American comic book artist, writer, editor and television producer), Dan Knauf (Writer), Charles Knauf (Writer), Patrick Zircher (Artist), Genevieve Zircher (Patrick’s Daughter) and Joey Casey (Writer). As usual, you can either watch each item separately or Play All.
Special Feature: Deleted / Extended Scenes [2008] [1080p] [2.40:1 / 1.78:1] [23:56] There are eleven scenes in total you get view and they are as follows: Convoy Ambush; Craps Table with Tony & Rhodey; Tony & Rhodey On Stark Jet and Military Ceremony; Rhodey and General Gabriel; Tony Comes Home, Tony Begins Mark II, Dubai Party; Pepper Discovers Tony As Iron Man; Obadiah Addresses Scientist; Rhodey Saves Iron Man On Freeway and Rooftop Battles.
Special Feature: BD-LIVE: You can only access this special feature, unless you are connected to the internet.
* * * * *
IRON MAN 2 Blu-ray Review – With ‘IRON MAN 2’ you get Tony Stark saying, "I am Iron Man." With those four words, Tony Stark [Robert Downey Jr.] changed his life forever. No longer just a malcontent billionaire munitions-manufacturer, after a harrowing near-death experience that left a piece of dangerous shrapnel embedded in his chest, he has made it his life's mission to vanquish evil in all of its forms, all the while wearing a cool, handsome, gold-and-red robotic suit.
'IRON MAN 2' opens in Russia, where an old man, a former collaborator with Tony Stark's father, dies in poverty. His son, Anton Vanko [Mickey Rourke], vows revenge against Tony Stark, who has just unmasked himself on television. Anton Vanko a skilled technician goes about building his own version of the Iron Man get-up, although this one is fairly low-rent and features electrified tentacles that he can bandy about like whips. We then zoom ahead six months. Iron Man, in full-suited armour, jets into an arena, part of a World's Fair type technology showcase that Tony Stark has put on under the demurely heading of Stark Expo.
Well, Tony Stark is being investigated by the justice department and led by a lugubrious idiot senator played by Garry Shandling, because they want to use the technology for the government; Tony Stark's bro-mance with Rhodey (Don Cheadle, replacing Terrence Howard) has soured, and Rhodey has gotten his hands on an earlier Iron Man suit, which he formats to become new hero War Machine; and Tony Stark's megalomaniacal rival Justin Hammer [Sam Rockwell] teams up with Vanko to take down Iron Man; Tony Stark is dying from the Iron Man thing in his chest (which coincides nicely with his long dormant issues with his father, played by Roger Sterling himself John Slattery); and Nick Fury [Samuel L. Jackson] wants Tony to help him with his "Avengers Initiative," which includes double agent Black Widow [Scarlett Johansson]. I'm sure I’m missing something. Oh right, Pepper Potts [Gwyneth Paltrow] is now running Tony Stark's company, which includes overseeing the Expo.
If you liked the first ‘IRON MAN’ film, then I know you will definitely enjoy 'IRON MAN 2.' Because the sequel is bigger, louder, noisier, more scattered, and totally awesome action packed film from start to. To me the other reviews I have read give this film the thumbs down, well again as I have commented before, these idiots must have been viewing a different film, as I think it is a totally rollicking fun and these negative critics should keep their narrow minded views to themselves, as panning this film gives a very bad impression on someone thinking of purchasing this Blu-ray disc because 'IRON MAN 2' is a brilliant film and when you see how cool it is when you see all the robots smashing into other robots, now that’s my kind of film to get the adrenalin working.
IRON MAN 2 MUSIC TRACK LIST
SHOOT TO THRILL (Written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson) [Performed by AC/DC]
MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW TODAY (Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman) [Performed by John Debney]
SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO (Written by Mick Jones, Joe Strummer, Topper Headon (uncredited) and Paul Simonon (uncredited) [Performed by The Clash]
MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW TODAY (Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman) [Performed by The Stark Expo Singers]
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (Written by Topper Headon, Mick Jones and Joe Strummer) [Performed by The Clash]
MONACO (Written by John O'Brien) [Performed by The Declanator]
Concerto in C Major For Flute and Harp (Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) (uncredited) (Arranged by John Slowiczek)
GOOD OLD DAYS (Written by Brad Hatfield) [Performed by Brad Hatfield]
CALIFORNIA LOVE (Single Version) (Written by Roger Troutman, Larry Troutman, Ronnie Hudson, Mikel Hooks, Joe Cocker and Chris Stainton) [Performed by Tupac Shakur and featuring Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman]
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST (Written by John Deacon) [Performed by Queen]
ROBOT ROCK (Written by Thomas Bangalter, Guy-Manuel De Homem-Christo and Kae Williams, Jr.) [Performed by Daft Punk]
IT TAKES TWO (Written by Rob Base and James Brown) [Performed by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock]
PIMPIN’ GUNS (Written by John O'Brien) [Performed by The Declanator]
GROOVE HOLMES (Written by Mike D, Adam Horovitz, Money Mark and Adam Yauch) [Performed by Beastie Boys]
PICK UP THE PIECES (Written by Roger Ball, Malcolm Duncan, Alan Gorrie, Robbie McIntosh, Onnie McIntyre and Hamish Stuart) [Performed by Average White Band]
THE MARINES HYMN (based on the Gendarmes' Duet from "Geneviève de Brabant") (uncredited) (Music by Jacques Offenbach)
THE CAISSONS GO ROLLING ALONG (Written by Edmund L. Gruber) (Arranged by Robert C. Haring)
ANCHORS AWEIGH (Written by Alfred Hart Miles and Charles A. Zimmerman)
THE U.S. AIR FORCE (Words and Music by Robert Crawford)
HIGHWAY TO HELL (Written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott) [Performed by AC/DC]
THUNDERSTRUCK (Written by Angus Young and Malcolm Young) (Incorrectly co-attributed to Brian Johnson) [Performed by AC/DC]
Blu-ray Image Quality – The 1080p encoded transfer is absolutely incredible and the aspect ratio of 2.35:1, will set your pulses racing and as far as I am concerned ‘IRON MAN 2’ is heading straight to the high definition top of the charts and is the cream of the crop stuff. In fact, this transfer is so good you wonder why every new, big budget film cannot get this kind of treatment on Blu-ray. Colours are vivid and pop with all the gusto you'd expect from a superhero movie; detail is rich and strong, particularly the various costumes and in the sharpness of the Stark Expo; black levels are deep and inky; and the visual effects, of which there are many, look gorgeous and fully realized and, unlike some Blu-ray transfers, the high definition transfer doesn't make the effects look phony. While there isn't a single speck of grain, the transfer has a wonderfully lush, film-like appearance, thanks largely to the sleek and layered cinematography by Matthew Libatique. Atmospheric effects like dust, sparks, holographic schematics and flying debris look wonderful and add a lot to the overall feeling of the transfer.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Let me toss some adoration in the direction of the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio experiences, and the mightiness of which probably upset many of my neighbours with its sheer, bass-rattling awesomeness, luckily being retired, I am able to view this Blu-ray and luckily no one is about. Action film mixes of this calibre don't get much better than this. I've watched this Blu-ray disc a couple of times since getting my copy, and every time I watch it I'm taken aback by slightly different things: the big whoosh that the drones make when landing around our cornered heroes; the sonic blast that the War Machine produces when he buzzes the Air Force tower;' the way the cars collide into each other in the race track sequence; and the delicate way that the dialogue gymnastics between Robert Downey Jr. and anybody else he chooses to talk to. Your surround channels will get a good work out, the dialogue sounds wonderful, and everything is in its right place. Like the pristine transfer, there really isn't any reason that other big budget Hollywood movies can't sound this good when released on Blu-ray. It's just simply wonderful.
IRON MAN 2 Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Audio Commentary by Jon Favreau: Jon Favreau seems like a stand-up dude, and elsewhere on the bonus disc you see him going in to record this audio commentary, shortly after he completed work on the film and before it actually opened to critical and commercial response that, both of which weren't exactly overwhelming. Jon Favreau talks about how the movie was reshaped as it went along, even throughout the film, and discuss things that you will eventually see on the second disc. Further evidence of this is a scene Jon Favreau refers to wherein Mickey Rourke kills his pet parrot – he says, emphatically, that it'll be in the deleted scenes collection but when you visit that part of the second disc. I am not going to pretend that I didn't pour through the extras looking for a reference, any reference, to Sam Rockwell's radioactively orange palms, and it finally came up in the commentary! This audio commentary track is well worth a listen, even if you're not listening through it in an attempt to piece together Jon Favreau and MARVEL STUDIOS strained relationship. So all in all, this is well worth a listen and we hear some fascinating behind-the-scene facts about the process of making the film ‘IRON MAN 2.’ Due to lack of space, this audio commentary has been heavily edited.
Special Feature: S.H.I.E.L.D. Data Vault: With this special feature, you get to explore S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Data on People, Weapons and technology Surround Tony Stark, and here you get to view two modes, which are as follows:
FOOTAGE SCAN MODE: Here you get to view: S.H.I.E.L.D. Data that Pop-ups now and again as you view the film ‘IRON MAN 2.’ This special feature is available in English only.
THE VAULT: Dig deeper into the vault for Case Files, Dossiers, Weapons and more and the following two special features are only available in English.
Special Feature: Previsualization and Animatics: Here you get to view amazing Storyboards and unique Animatics presented in Picture in Picture appear while viewing the film ‘IRON MAN 2.’
Special Feature: Ultimate Iron Man: The Making of ‘IRON MAN 2’ [2010] [1080p] [2.35:1 / 1.78:1] [87:08] This is a really wonderful special feature length documentary that is split into four separate sections, which are as follows: Rebuilding The Suit; A Return To Action; Expanding The Universe and Building A Legacy. Each separate feature details a phase of pre-production, production, post-production, etc. It combines on-set photography and interviews with separate interviews by all the creative principles and cast members. Jon Favreau looks really frazzled, having to deal with an ever-mutating script and the demands of a big budget Hollywood movie, but does a good job maintaining a sense of cool throughout the on-set footage while trying to direct the film. Contributors include: Jon Favreau (Director), Justin Theroux (Writer), Kevin Feige (Producer), Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark/Iron Man), Jeremy Latcham (Co-Producer), Ryan Meinerding (Film Character Designer), Matthew Libatique (Director of Photography), Victoria Alonso (Co-Producer), Mark Chu (ILM Animation Supervisor), Mickey Rourke (Ivan Vanko/Whiplash), David Merrit (Model Shop Supervisor), Shane Patrick Mahan (Physical Suit Effects Supervisor), Louis D’Esposito (Executive Producer), Don Cheadle (Rhodey/War Machine), Scarlet Johansson (Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow), Mary Zophres (Costume Designer), Jonathan Eusebio (Fight Coordinator), Heidi Moneymaker (Stunt Double), Thomas Robinson Harper (Stunt Coordinator), Sam Rockwell (Justin Hammer), Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts), Gary Shandling (Senator Stern), Capt. Byron McGarry (DOD Project Officer of US Air Force Entertainment Liaison Officer), Colonel Jerry Gandy (95th Air Base Wing Commander of Edwards Air Force Base), Russell Bobbitt (Property Master), Clay Donahue Fontenot (Iron Man Stunt Double), Aaron Walters (Stunt Rigger), James King (Director of Historic Grand Prix), Michael Moore (First AD Second Unit), Janek Sirrs (Plate/2nd Unit Director), Daniel Sudick (Special Effects Supervisor), Joel Mitchell (Special Effects Foreman), Dan Lebental (Film Editor), Paul Bettany (JARVIS voice), John Debney (Composer), Richard M. Sherman (Music and Lyrics for “MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW TODAY”), Tom Morello (Band “Rage Against The Machine”), Stan Lee (Executive Producer/Iron Man Creator), Clark Gregg (Agent Coulson), Joseph Michael Straczynski (Thor Comic Book Writer), Kenneth Branagh (Director: ‘THOR’) and Craig Kyle (Co-Producer: ‘THOR’). As usual, you can either watch each feature separately or Play All.
Special Feature: Featurettes [2010] [1080p] [2.35:1 / 1.78:1] [30:31] Here we get to view six individual features and they are as follows: Creating Stark EXPO; Practical Meets Digital; Illustrated Origin: Nick Fury; Illustrated Origin: War Machine and Working With DJ AM. Contributors include: John Favreau (Director), Jeremy Latchman (Co-Producer), Kevin Feige (Producer), Justin Theroux (Writer), Michael Riva (Production Designer), Louis D’Esposito (Executive Producer), Mary Zophres (Costume Designer), Lauri Gaffin (Set Decorator), Michael Moore (First AD Second Unit), Victoria Alonso (Co-Producer), Shane Patrick Mahan (Physical Suit Effects Supervisor), Don Cheadle (Rhodey/War Machine), Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark/Iron Man), David Merritt (Model Shop Supervisor), Matthew Libatique (Director of Photography), Mark Chu (ILM Animation Supervisor), Wayne Billheimer (Visual Effects Executive Producer: ILM), Ron Woodall (Viewpaint Supervisor: ILM), Doug Smythe (Digital Production Supervisor: ILM), Rick O’Connor (Associate Animation Supervisor: ILM), Aaron McBride (Art Director: ILM), Bruce Holcomb (Model Supervisor), Joe Quesada (Editor-in-Chief: MARVEL Comics), Ralph Macchio (Executive Editor: MARVEL Comics), Dan Buckley (CEO/Publisher: MARVEL Comics), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts), Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow) and DJ Adam Goldstein (American Disc Jockey) (1973 – 2009). As usual, you can either watch each feature separately or Play All.
Special Feature: Deleted Scenes [2010] [1080p] [2.35:1] [16:50] Here you get to view eight deleted scenes and they are as follows: Alternate Opening; Coulson At The Senate; The Sub-Orbital Jet; Tony’s Workshop (Extended); Natalie Wears The Gauntlet; Flying Party Girl; Mark II Security and Element Rediscovered (Extended). As a Bonus, you can view each deleted scene with an audio commentary by director Jon Favreau. On top of all that, you can either watch each delete scene separately or Play All.
Special Feature: Concept Art Galleries: Here you get to view eleven individual amazing colour Concept Art images, and they are as follow: Hammer Drones; Feebles; Russia; Mark IV; Sets; Stark EXPO 2010; Stark Mansion; Mark V; War Machine; Whiplash Exo-Skeleton and Whiplash II. Please Note: Use the right and left arrow keys on your remote to view each image in the gallery/ Press ENTER to return to the MENU anytime.
Theatrical Trailers [2010] [1080p] [2.35:1] [6:03] Here we get to view three ‘IRON MAN 2’ trailers and they are as follow: Theatrical Trailer 1; Theatrical Trailer 2 and Theatrical Trailer 3. As usual, you can watch each trailer separately or Play All.
Other MARVEL Trailers: Here you get to view the following: SEGA – IRON MAN 2 The Video Game [2011] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:47]. SEGA – IRON MAN 2 Video Game Prologue [2011] [1080p] [1.78:1] [2:45]. Avengers Assemble Animated Trailer [2013] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:51]
Special Feature: Music Video: "Shoot to Thrill" [2010] [1080p] [2.35:1 / 1.78:1] [5:37] This AC/DC "Shoot to Thrill" Music Video was specifically made for the film ‘IRON MAN 2.’ Make sure you turn down the volume, as your neighbours will complain about the raucous over the top noise. By the way as a post script, what is it about these concerts, all you will get to experience is a massive headache and if you were actually at that concert, you would definitely have to seek medical health, as you will definitely go deaf.
Finally, MARVEL STUDIOS 'IRON MAN' and ‘IRON MAN 2’ films are the better of the MARVEL Comic Book adaptations to come out of Hollywood in eons and with a climax that is totally brilliant, it's enlivened by a wonderful performance by Robert Downey, Jr., and even classifies as a sleeper as expectations weren't necessarily that high upon its original release. The two Blu-ray discs are unequivocally terrific, however, with great video and even better audio, plus hours of HD-quality supplements. 'IRON MAN' on Blu-ray is totally awesome. 'IRON MAN 2' is at times indebted to its predecessor film and at the same time deviating wildly into turbo drive. Overall, it's totally fun, entertaining and diverting enough, and possibly laying the groundwork for future MARVEL STUDIOS films. The two Blu-ray discs are everything you could want, besides the deleted scenes where Mickey Rourke kills the bird, and a definitive explanation for Sam Rockwell's orange palms, and of course you get to experience some absolutely brilliant audio and stunning images and a whole host of wonderful extras. These first two ‘IRON MAN’ Blu-ray releases come highly praised and a well worth adding to your MARVEL STUDIOS Blu-ray Collection and it has definitely gone pride of place to my ever increasing Robert Downey Jr. Blu-ray Collection. Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
