Iron Man (Ultimate Two-Disc Edition + BD Live) [Blu-ray] Reviews

• No he hasnt lost his mind, and yes, he can see... he is not blind

  
  By APOUYO1BEPK22 on 2008-05-09
  A little worried about Iron Man being just another so-so Marvel movie, such as Fantastic Four? Well don't be. Actually you can stop reading my review now if you want and get up and go watch this movie.
  
  If you're still here (oh ye of little faith), then I'll try and help you with that tendril of doubt still holding you to your computer chair preventing you to get up and spend the 300 dollars it costs to go see a movie now. 600 if you are taking a date.
  
  Let me first start off with Rob Downey. I for one was hesitant with him being the man who is playing Tony Stark (Iron Man). I rolled my eyes the first time I saw his name a year or so ago when I found out about this movie being made. Even when I saw the first pics for it. But let me tell you right now... the man IS Tony Stark. He's got this role down. I haven't seen this good of a Downey movie since `Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' and `Wonder Boys'. At first I thought he was a total jerk at the beginning, but then realized it's just his way of being funny, and it's absolutely fantastic. Through the whole movie Rob will have you laughing quite a bit. He's not only funny, but he's also quite laid back with his genius. He doesn't bash your face in with how smart he is. To show you how smart he is the film shows a bunch of scientists trying to create something that just isn't possible with today's technology. Though Tony Stark was able to do it an Afghan Cave with spare parts from junk.
  
  The film is about Tony Stark. The son of Howard Stark, also a genius. Tony inherits the company from his father when his father dies. He's basically partners with Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges who also played the part brilliantly). Stark Industries is known for producing military weapons that, according to Tony, needs to be used only once to end a war. Tony soon finds himself captive of an Afghan rebel group that want his weapons made for them, because whoever owns his weapons, basically wins the war. Tony creates the classic Iron Man suit to get out of the captives hands and once he does, Tony decides he doesn't want to create weapons anymore. He wants to create things to help the world, not destroy it. The rest of the owners of Stark Industries isn't to happy with this and they decide to, basically, just not listen to Tony anymore (can't think of the word for this... sorry). While Tony's company is basically doing whatever they want, Tony is in his mansion revamping his original build of his suit. Not to ruin anything about the story (I promise I haven't ruined anything yet, I told you mostly what you can see in the trailers), lets just say Tony is about to put his new suit into some good usage.
  
  The special effects were used just right. I honestly didn't think they would be able to make Iron Man look that cool or move that cool. Well let me just say, have no fear, because he rocks. From the classic Iron Man suit to the new. The old Iron Man walks just like you think he should, a bulky machine. The new, well, lets just say you would almost not think he's wearing a suit it's so human like, but just enough machine movement to know it's not completely fake looking. I don't know how to explain it, but it looked great.
  
  Also the action scenes were great. I think one of the biggest reasons why they were so good is that they were used sparingly. The movie isn't action packed but has just enough to not tick you off that there wasn't enough and also not to many to over do it. It was just right. Which in turn helps the story out, because it helped give us that character development that a lot of people complain about in these Marvel movies.
  
  One last thing I want to say about the actual movie is that Gwyneth Paltrow wasn't bad. I'm someone who really isn't fond of her acting. But she plays Pepper Potts, Tony's `assistant/butler... whatever', and she did a really good job. Paltrow in a supporting role, instead of a lead, is a much better combination, in my opinion.
  
  In the end, I think everyone will enjoy this movie. Go take a second loan out so you can pay for gas, movie tickets, and popcorn and coke (maybe some twizzlers if you go donate some blood first) and enjoy a day at the movies! Make sure you stay past the 10 minute credits to see the special ending.
  
  
  P.S. When you see Iron Man fighting, imagine him being 2 or 3 stories tall. Just imagine it. Now picture him with an Autobot or Decepticon emblem on his chest. Now watch him fight. See how cool it is to actually see what the heck is going on during his fight scenes? Maybe in Transformers 2, Bay will be able to put a coherent fight scene together that the viewers can actually tell what is going on instead of watching a bunch of polygons mish mashing together.
  
  
  

• The 2-Disc Ultimate Edition Delivers!

  
  By A21B2TJBWCSK1R on 2008-09-26
  The first disc features 11 deleted and extended scenes. There's more of the opening ambush with Tony Stark being more proactive. We also see more footage of Rhodes and it quickly becomes apparent that he was the character with the most scenes cut from the film. We also see Tony and Pepper Potts attend another party.
  
  The second disc starts off with the impressive "I Am Iron Man," a 108 minute making of documentary that can be viewed in seven segments or altogether, taking us through various aspects of the production. For example, we are taken step-by-step through the construction of the Iron Man armor with Robert Downey Jr. cracking jokes while being fitted for it. It's amazing how much of the suit is practical and looks really good in person. This is due in large part to the genius of the late-great Stan Winston and his company. Also included is plenty of soundstage footage of scenes being filmed.
  
  "The Invincible Iron Man" is a six-part documentary on the comic book, tracing the history of the character. Stan Lee says that he modeled Stark after Howard Hughes, for the most part. He also mentions that he was never fully satisfied with the look of the armor - hence its many changes over the years. This doc also covers various key characters and storylines in excellent detail with several people who worked on the title over the years talking about their contribution to the mythos. This is a very well done overview of the comic book.
  
  "Wired: The Visual Effects of Iron Man" examines the CGI work that went into realizing Iron Man's powers, like flying, his repulsors, and so on. Director Jon Favreau says that he likes to use practical effects whenever possible, which is wonderfully refreshing to hear, and in this film he mixed the practical with CGI.
  
  "Robert Downey Jr. Screen Test." Incredibly, the actor had to do a screen test because the studio deemed him a risky proposition and this footage shows that he had a handle on the character very early on.
  
  "The Actor's Process" features fascinating footage of Jeff Bridges and Downey rehearsing a scene with Favreau. It's great to see these guys at work and offers insight into how they put together a scene from the film from an acting point-of-view.
  
  "The Onion's Wildly Popular Iron Man Trailer to be Adapted into Full-Length Film" is a funny satire where a newscaster "breaks" a story of how the Iron Man trailer will be made into a film that pokes fun at the rabid nature of the hardcore fanbase of the character.
  
  Finally, there are "Galleries," featuring concept art, technology stills, behind-the-scenes photographs, and poster art.
  
  

• Both my spouse and I had a blast from start to finish

  
  By A3AVJCB1ZD6ZY5 on 2008-05-07
  I believe one of the best things to happen to the big screen was when they started filming Marvel Comics. Honestly, I'll go see an action-adventure or science fiction fantasy film on the big screen over any other genre. And the Marvel classics translate very well to film, particularly if you have a writer like Peter David doing the novelization.
  
  The story in brief: when Star Industries CEO and wunderkind engineer Tony Stark (Downey, Jr) is kidnapped by terrorists, he builds an Iron Man suit to escape rather than creating the missile they demanded.
  
  Back at home, he decides to convert Stark into a more politically correct company and 'make peace instead of war.' He hadn't reckoned with the terrorists re-arming and deceit from his own camp.
  
  The acting's great. I think Terrence Howard (Colonel Rhodes) is going to be the next Denzel Washington. He's a good actor and easy on the eyes. Jeff Bridges broke out of type and served as a pretty amazing Obadiah Stane.
  
  The imagery is fabulous. Scenes from Stark's capture were gripping. His fellow captive, Yinsen (played by Shaun Toub) was an interesting and sad character, such a waste of a brilliant man.
  
  The soundtrack is particularly good with strong, evocative musical images. Okay, I wish they'd used Black Sabbath's version of "Iron Man" for the soundtrack, but that's already been used by both "Detroit Rock City" and "Lords of Dogtown."
  
  Best of all, for a vertigo sufferer like me, there was minimal monkey cam. I could follow almost all the action without a problem. Both my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed "Iron Man" and may well see the film again before it leaves the big screen.
  
  

• Iron man fires on all thrusters; and does NOT disappoint

  
  By A26X2TG93OTXVU on 2008-10-11
  There was a big question mark looming over the theatrical adaptation of Marvel's Iron Man property. It was in the guise of director Jon Favreau. Now, don't get me wrong, I love the Favs, but when I heard he was helming a big budget comic book flick...let's just say I was a little worried. Once his cast was set and the fanboys started humming across the internet I started to ease into the decision with high anticipation. Thankfully, after finally seeing the finished product, I was not disappointed in the least. With a great mix of the professionalism and stakes seen in both Spider-Man and X-Men and the comic wit and sheer fun of Fantastic Four, Iron Man shows how a comic can be brought to the screen successfully without all the added drama and weight. We finally have a film with the essence of what makes these picture books so popular, the action and mythology along with a sense of adventure and humor. Favreau never bogs us down with overwrought emotions nor speaks down to us with gags and poorly written jokes. Instead he delivers on his promises and gives us a solid initiation into what could be a great trilogy or more.
  
  Favreau seems to have had an idea to get an origin story out while not boring us with long drawn out back story. His ability to give us dual information at once is nicely orchestrated, showing Tony Stark in his basement creating while the TV in the background explains what is happening in the outside world of the Middle East and inside his own company. We as an audience are allowed to put the pieces together amidst the witty banter of Stark and the wonderful special effects. By the end of the film it is quite amazing how much information you will realize you now know, all culminating in a decent final battle, but more importantly a segue into the inevitable sequel. We are allowed entrance into the character evolution of Stark as he goes from war profiteer to man of action and cause, all while seeing the technology improve and advance before our eyes. Much like Batman, we have a hero here that needs help in fighting crime. He has no superhuman abilities besides his brain and being able to see his thoughts go from paper to reality is a feat of magic. Every stage is shown, every failure and success. It's quite the ride in and of itself, but when you add onto it the threat of global war and destruction, it can only get better.
  
  The real success here is in the bold move of casting an actor over-40 to be a superhero. This takes guts, because no matter how appropriate it is, most studios would have said, "no, change the story and make him younger so we can churn out as many of these babies as we can." I don't know how he did it, but Favreau got Marvel to get Robert Downey Jr. to play Stark, a sarcastic Lothario with the brain capacity of Einstein. I truly can't think of anyone better suited to the role and he proves it by nailing every single scene. I'm sure there was some ad-libbing, but even if not, his comic delivery and ability to switch on a dime to a sincere seriousness at will shows his masterful craft.
  
  As for the rest of the cast, they all do well. Jeff Bridges plays the bombastic creature of villainy over-the-top, but appropriately so; Terrence Howard is nice as the friend and military liaison, not given much to do, but definitely sowing seeds for the future; and Gwyneth Paltrow is good as the sweet assistant Pepper Potts who at times seems a little underwritten and more female prop than anything else, but comes through with some nice moments in a very comic sort of way. I also really liked Shaun Toub as Yinsen, Stark's savior, and Clark Gregg as the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. Good to see Favreau giving another actor turned director props, (Gregg's directorial debut comes out later this year in the form of Chuck Palahniuk's Choke). I just wish he would have shied away from putting himself in the film. It's one thing to be seen split-second, (like Stan Lee), but its another to give yourself a thankless role with multiple scenes, just adding fuel to the fire on people's opinions of egotism stemming from the drinking game created off of the TV show "Dinner for Five" and how many references to Swingers was made each episode. I'll forgive, though, because, once again, I'm a big fan.
  
  One can't forget that this is an action film above all else, so we can't just praise the actors; every effect is also quite brilliant. Those scenes of Iron Man flying amongst fighter jets in the trailer seemed really lame, but when in context they deliver. The suit itself is amazing as well, through every mach stage right to the end. My main highlight, however, was with the computer systems that Stark utilizes. The multiple screens, instant holographic reproductions, and ability to actually interact with those 3D representations is stunning. We can create them in fantasy, but it's just too bad we can't yet in real life.
  
  Now Iron Man is not a perfect film, nor even a perfect comic book adaptation. What it is, though, is a fun, comic actioner that should light up the box office. The final showdown is a bit of a whimper in comparison to the back story and machine creation; a crucial element is saved from destruction in the one contrived bit of screen writing, (not quite utilized in the way I thought, although still for the same means); and some moments seem a tad campy rather than witty, but otherwise this is some topnotch cinema that should definitely be seen on the big screen. I can't wait to see how the story progresses in a couple years.
  
  

• Movie: 4.25/5 Picture Quality: 3.75~5/5 Sound Quality: ?/5 Extras: 4.25/5

  
  By AHABFECTNE15I on 2008-09-21
  Disc One
  *********
  
  Version: U.S.A / Region A, B, C
  Disc one information
  Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
  MPEG-4 AVC BD-50 / High Profile 4.1
  Running time: 2:06:01 (h:m:s)
  Movie size: 33,44 GB
  Disc size: 47,22 GB
  Total bit rate: 35.38 Mbps
  Average video bit rate: 27.13 Mbps
  
  Dolby TrueHD Audio English 3493 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 24-bit / 3493kbps (AC3 Core: 5.1 / 48kHz / 640kbps)
  Dolby Digital Audio French 640 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 640kbps
  Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 640 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 640kbps
  
  Subtitles: English / English SDH / French / French / Portuguese (Brazilian) / Spanish / Spanish
  
  Number of chapters: 15
  
  #Deleted/Extended Scenes (HD, 24 minutes)
  #Documentary: The Invincible Iron Man (HD, 49 minutes)
  #Hail of Armor (HD)
  #Iron Man IQ - BD-Live
  
  Disc Two
  ********
  
  #Documentary: I Am Iron Man (HD, 111 minutes)
  #Featurette: Wired: The Visual Effects of Iron Man (HD, 27 minutes)
  #Rehearsal Footage (HD, 11 minutes)
  #Still Gallery (HD, 5 minutes)
  #Theatrical Trailers (HD)
  
  It's been reported that the Blu-ray's Dolby TrueHD track is activating Dynamic Range Control (DRC) in many AVRs. Users are advised to turn OFF Dynamic Range (Night Mode) option in their AVRs / players to experience lossless audio in it's full glory. Users who have configured their players to do the decoding internally need not care about this problem.
  
  
• Iron Man Strike Box Office GOLD!!!!!
  By AZCDCO6KK2T81 on 2008-05-14
  This is one of the best comic to film adaptations produced based upon a literate script, terrific performances, solid direction, and special effects that aren't over-the-top!
  
  I don't want to take this kind of entertainment too seriously, so I will not go with the long summary of the plot and simply give a quick recap of it and what I liked best and least about this totally fun-filled film.
  
  Robert Downey, Jr. is NOT the kind of person anyone would expect to play a superhero and that is precisely why this film works so well in casting him as one as his character is the total opposite of a superhero at first. Downey, as Tony Stark, is a self-absorbed jerk who lives for fast women, fast cars and fast money while profiteering off of war. He is the living example of why we don't want unmanned aircraft bombers. We want the human element. We don't want war to be reduced to a video game and have lives reduced to a blimp on a screen, but this is how Stark lives when we first meet him. He creates weapons of mass destruction without ever understanding or caring about his weapons' impact on the world, let alone who ends up with them. It's the all mighty dollar hidden under the cloak of patriotism.
  
  This all changes when Stark is kidnapped in Afghanistan and sees how his weapons are falling into enemy hands and how the lives of innocent people are affected by his "toys." Once he escapes, he slowly becomes a new man, in more ways than one and it's nice that he's a hero by choice and not some experiment gone. Stark is assisted by a number of people from his glorified secretary well-played by Gwenyth Paltrow to his military connection nicely acted by Terrence Howard. Of course, it is no secret at this point, and very highly predictable anyhow, that his family's best friend and second in command at his company is out to circumvent Stark's efforts to stop bloodshed. Jeff Bridges hams it up some in this role, but he's convincing and fun as the eventual villain.
  
  The Misses:
  
  1) This material, as entertaining as it is, is beneath Paltrow who is a very serious actress and should be doing things far worthier of her talents.
  
  2) The plot element of the family friend running the business for personal gain is far too reminiscent of Batman Begins.
  
  
  The Hits:
  1) There are only two significant "misses" with this film and, to be honest, they aren't all that significant (just enough for me to note them)
  
  2) The casting is perfect and inspired. While I believe that Paltrow is better than this kind of film, she gives a very spirited performance. Downey is just down right perfect for the this flawed hero and Bridges is just plain fun in his juicy role.
  
  3) The special effects DO NOT take over this film, as they did in the equally fun, but over-the-top Transformers.
  
  4) The direction is confident and unobtrusive which I can't say for a film such as Spider-Man 3 which was directed well enough, but Sam Rami just tried a little too hard to put his stamp so-to-speak on it.
  
  5) This film is entertaining, but not in the kind of mindless way that other superhero films have been. This film has some heart and soul.
  
  6) I can't say enough about the literate script for this film. It can be funny one moment and cerebral the next. That is tough to do in this comic book adaptation genre. It usually goes too much one way in seriousness as with Hulk or too slapstick silly as with too many moments in Spider-Man 3. This film finds a comfortable balance between serious and humorous.
  
  This is an outstanding film and I look forward to the two sequels that are currently planned for this new comic book hero to make it to the silver screen.
  
  
• The best comic book superhero movie since "Spider-Man 2"
  By A2NJO6YE954DBH on 2008-05-03
  Once again I begin with a warning that you need to sit through the really, really long credits for what might be the best cameo appearance since Sean Connery showed up as King Richard the Lionheart at the end of "Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves." That was the last time I remember people really applauding a cameo in a film, although I should point out that everybody left at the end of the first showing of "Iron Man" were True Believers who instantly recognized the actor and the character as soon as the first words were out of their mouth. Ironically, the cameo by Stan Lee in the film seemed to go right by the audience, because there was no reaction to what was a pretty good gag (it happens when Stark shows up at the big party).
  
  Now that I have that bit of business out of the way, let me say that "Iron Man" is the best comic book superhero movie I have seen since "Spider-Man 2." I would say that the latter is better, mainly on the strength of Alfred Molina's wonderful performance as the villain and the great fight sequences between Spidey and Doc Ock that take place on the vertical as well as the horizontal axis, but "Iron Man" might be the more solid film (i.e., lower top but higher bottom). There was a point when the number of comic books that Marvel was putting out exploded (e.g., the New Universe titles) and I dispaired over all of the idiotic cloning with Spider-Man and was down to reading only two Marvel titles: Daredevil and Iron Man. This was back when Frank Miller was doing DD and Tony Stark was a full-blown alcoholic. Daredevil might have been cooler, but as Iron Man, Stark always had the advantage that he was a regular guy, by which I mean that he did not have any superpowers. He was just a really smart guy who could invent the gadgets that would make Iron Man work (eat your heart out Ned Kelly). That is certainly what we get with director Jon Favreau's pre-summer blockbuster, with the added angst of Stark growing a conscience and using his armored alter-ego to help restore balance to his own little corner of the universe at war.
  
  Ultimately the best parts of the movie are the opening act, in which Stark is captured (Afghanistan today instead of Vietnam of the Sixties)and has to built the metallic grey Tin Woodsman on roids prototype armor, and the second act, where he works out the new suit. This movie has two or three of the best violent slapstick gags you have ever seen in one of these movies, which engenders some of the biggest laughs. The origin of the character is fairly faithful, for being updated, to what happened in "Tales of Suspense" #39, which was plotted by Stan Lee, scripted by his brother Larry Leiber, drawn by Don Heck, with a cover art by Jack Kirby (who created the character's original look, although it was Steve Ditko who first drew the red and gold armored version). There certainly is more than a touch of "Transformers" to the way Stark dons the Iron Man armor, but as much as I would give credit to the specific effects in this movie, attention must be paid to the screenwriting teams of Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby ("Children of Men") and Art Marcum & Matt Holloway. For all of the humor in the script, there is a strong thread of serious stuff extending throughout this film.
  
  As Tony Stark, Robert Downey, Jr., a superb actor whose skills in the verbal repartee department were honed on "Ally McBeal," may well be the most glib superhero we have seen on the silver screen. Certainly he is more glib than we would every have suspected Stark to be, but of course Downey's personal life clearly echoes the character ark of his character (it is that resonance as well as his undeniable talents that make him perfect for the role). As Pepper Potts, Gwenyth Paltrow is more of a romantic figure for Stark than she was in the comic book, especially since Happy Hogan (director Favreau) has been relegated to a minor role as Stark's bodyguard to make room for the character of Jim Rhodes. However, the point is not so much potential romance as it is the fact that with Paltrow we have an actress who can go toe to toe with Downey in quick paced nuanced conversation (although many will think that Downey's best scenes are with his robotic assistant with the fire extinguisher). Besides, by have Rhodes instead of Hogan we not only get another acting talent on the level of the Downey and Paltrow with Terrence Howard, but as fans of the comic book know (and the movie acknowledges), one day down the road Jim is going to get to be in the red and gold suit.
  
  Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) is set up as a godfather to Tony Stark and a regent to Stark Industries instead of being a rival munitions magnate, which provides a bit of Oedipal conflict to the proceedings and compels the big fight at the end to be with Iron Monger (I was actually hoping for Titanium Man even though I was half expecting the Mandarian). But most people who come to see this movie are not going to know any of this stuff, and even most of the comic book fans who will end up making repeat trips to the theater to see this one are not going to be old enough to remember the original Virginia "Pepper" Potts who ended up with Happy Hogan versus the "The Ultimates" version of the character. All that really matters is that the cast and characters are a perfect mesh and the people who put this movie together should be thinking not just about a sequel but about a series. With this launching platform, Iron Man could well replace Superman in the Big Three of comic book superheroes in the movies along with Spider-Man and Batman.
  
  
  
• When "Gold-Titanium Alloy" Man is just too long a name
  By A37PV5GMP2ILJC on 2008-05-12
  Short Attention Span Summary (SASS):
  
  1. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jnr) is a playboy genius whose passion is making things that go boom, day or night
  2. Behind the successful billionaire is a pretty woman (Gwyneth Paltrow) showing off her organizational skills
  3. During a product demonstration in Afghanistan, Stark is kidnapped by a terrorist group called the Ten Rings, sustaining serious injuries
  4. Ten Rings wants to rule them all, and they want Stark to forge them the one weapon that can do it*
  5. Working in the darkness where the shadows lie* Stark and Dr. Yinsen (a fellow prisoner who patched him up) pull a switcheroo and build a full metal power suit with a flame thrower and missile launcher.
  6. The Ten Rings are left to pick up the pieces
  7. Stark has a new corporate vision which gets a stormy reception from his partner Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) and the Board of Directors.
  8. He fashions himself a new and improved armored suit, with all the trimmings, bells and whistles, plus the obligatory arc reactor which is the heart of the design
  9. With help from Pepper Potts (Paltrow) and Lt. Col. Rhodes (Terrence Howard), Stark suits up to battle the bad guys
  10. Two sequels are planned
  
  The movie takes a while to get to the really cool stuff, and while I enjoyed the whole thing, my son didn't get into it until "suit time." There's no denying that the finished suit is the coolest superhero costume ever, and I'm buying this on DVD just to watch the cybernetic Mark III suit morph, flex and create havoc and mass destruction
  
  Downey proves himself to be an excellent choice for the lead role, and although they are unable to steal his thunder, Bridges and Paltrow are pretty darned good themselves. Howard doesn't have that much screen time, but maybe he'll get his moment in the sequels
  
  Highly recommended.
  
  
  
  
  Amanda Richards, May 11, 2008
  
  * One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
  One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
  In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
  (Tolkien)
  
  
  
• Issue with TrueHD has been FIXED prior to release. Buy with confidence!
  By A3BW9ENHAN5ILP on 2008-09-26
  Reviewers who received advanced copies of the Iron Man Blu-ray release reported that the Dynamic Range Compression (DRC) flag was active on the Dobly TrueHD audio track, causing a less-than-stellar audio experience for customers who weren't savvy enough to adjust their player and amplifier to compensate.
  
  The good news is that Paramount confirmed on September 25th that they had recalled all of the defective copies and replaced them with newly-authored discs that fix this issue. [...]
  
  This recall occurred prior to Iron Man's release, so no one should have wound up with a defective copy except for the reviewers who received their copies in advance. You can purchase with confidence without worrying whether your product is the corrected one, unlike with the Back to the Future DVDs and Pirates of the Carribbean I Blu-ray which still have defective copies unknowingly being sold by some stores despite having been re-authored after the initial batch.
  
  
• Movie: Awesome, Blu-ray:Crippled
  By A2V5TX3SMJS1XP on 2008-10-01
  Okay, first off if you own a Web Enabled Blu-ray player like a PS3, you're going to have to wait a long time before you can watch this Blu-ray after you pop it in. Why? Some pinhead executive at the movie studio/blu-ray production house thought it would be cute to require you to download some stupid software you're probably not going to use for "extra features" BEFORE you can even get to the main menu. I had to wait so long to watch it I thought the disc was defective. I had enough time to call Amazon and arrange a replacement. (Then I installed installed Windows XP to my MacBook and I was still waiting. If you've ever installed XP you know how long that takes too.) This means that each time I pop this Blu-ray into a new player, like if I take it to a friend's house, I'm going to have to tell my friend(s): okay let's just wait an hour then we can watch the movie. This is completely and totally absurd. I hope whoever decided this was a good idea gets fired.
  
  After about an hour and a half, I was able to watch this movie though. It's a really great movie. It's right up there with WALL*E and The Dark Knight. It has a very fun comic book feel to it, while not being absurdly stupid. If you can suspend your disbelief for 120 some odd minutes, it's a great ride.
  
  Robert Downey Jr. is a great Tony Stark. When I first heard he was cast as Iron Man, I thought "yeah right! This movie's gonna suck." But I was very wrong. He pulls off the ladies man/billionaire playboy/hot shot role very well. But this is only half of the movie: The other half: Iron Man action scenes are just flat out cool. The poses/angles they choose and CGI work are all great. This is a first rate production.
  
  Also, I didn't know who his assistant was before the credits rolled but she looked familiar (Turns out it was Gwyneth Paltrow) and she made a really interesting character too, for a supporting role. You even have Jeff ("The Dude") Bridges in there doing a great job playing Stark's second in command.
  
  Oh, and when the credits roll, don't turn off the movie. There's a little scene after all the credits that fans of the comics and fans of this movie shouldn't miss.
  
  
  Summary:
  The Blu-Ray gets a 1 star for the incompetence of whomever decided it was a good idea to make people download something before they could even see the main menu.
  
  The Movie Gets 5 Stars for great execution - cast/acting, storyline, effects, and action scenes. Dare I say: This is the best Marvel Comics movie to date.
  
  
• "So you're a man who has everyting but nothing.....don't waste your life"
  By AQP1VPK16SVWM on 2008-09-30
  Please Note: Opinions are like...well you know how the saying goes. If you have one, write a review the voting system is for those who HAVEN'T purchased the item and whether or not the review was helpful in that decision.
  
  
  "Titanium Alloy Man" just doesn't have the same ring to it as "Iron Man". Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr. in a terrific, complex and amusing performance)is "The Merchant of Death" building his father's company into a juggarnaut defense company. His latest defense system the Jericho can crush the enemy. When Stark is kidnapped on his way back from a demonstration the injured Stark is forced to build a home made version of Jericho. With bits of metal in his heart kept from killing him due to the ingenuity of another captor, Stark almost literally has a change of heart--particularly when he sees the bad guys have HIS weapons.
  
  He uses the crude tools to build a suit of iron that can protect him and attack his captors as needed. Stark finds himself reenergized and with his new miniature arc reactor powering the magnet that keeps him alive, he sets out to undo some of the damage his company has done by becoming Iron Man. Standing in his way is Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges superb as usual)who wants the company to run as usual and Stark even gets flak from his stauch supporters Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow)and Col. Rhodes (Terence Howard).
  
  The Blu-ray looks brilliant--it's one of the sharpest transfers I've seen to date with colors that pop and some of the best details/clarity I've seen. Heck, even the DVD is one of the top notch ones I've seen in recent years. As for the issue with TrueHD sound--Paramount has fixed that issue remanufacturing the BD and still meeting their release date.
  
  The extras are stunning as well. We get a full documentary "I AM Iron Man" that details all aspects of production giving us a glimpse into everything from pre-CGI work, design elements to on-the-set wire work involving Robert Downey, Jr. Director Jon Favreau (who also plays Happy in the film)manages to seamlessly combine CGI with pratical physical effects such as puppets and the men in suits. His visual effects and physical effects team (from Stan Winston Studios)blend things so well that there were some shots that I could have sworn were physical effects but turned out to be CGI and vice versa. We also get deleted/extended scenes that are interesting but prove that Favreau made the right choice in cutting the bulk of them out. There are also stills galleries, screen test, a featurette "Invincible Iron Man" that gives us an idea about the development of the characterwith interviews featuring many of the Marvel bullpen who contributed to metal head's development, "Wired" which provides us background on the physical effects/visual effects of the film. "hall of Armor" takes us into the development of the "suits".
  
  Director Favreau manages to keep the fun comic book elements of the story and still attach a serious but entertaining element to the film resulting in one of the summer's best blockbusters. It may lack the darkness of "The Dark Knight" (ironic considering that "Iron Man" is really Marvel's version of "Batman" except involving more advanced technology)but the alternating tone of the film makes it an enjoyable companion piece to the best of the "Spider-Man" films directed by Sam Raimi.
  
  The nice thing about "Iron Man" is that it doesn't betray its roots but celebrates them (although it does transport the action which originally occurred in Vietnam to Afgan terrorities and also moves some characters around such as Stane for a stronger, more cohesnive narrative but still remains true to the spirit of the comic book).
  
  Marvel's first in-house production "Iron Man" demonstrates that the comic book company turned movie company can do as good a job (if not better)at during their own material in terrific films that don't betray their origins. Just a reminder--after the credits roll DON'T turn off your TV or BD player. There's a sequence that actually sets up what is said to be the third "Iron Man" film (or second depending upon who you hear it from)and has a companion piece clip at the conclusion of "The Incredible Hulk".
  
  Highly recommended!
  
  Updated 9/30/08 FYI, if you are having problems playing your disc select "No" if a menu comes up asking if you want to turn on BD Live or change the options in your settings for your PS3. I didn't have this problem however since I elected NOT to watch it on my PS3 but on my stand alone Blu-ray player.
  
  
  
  
  
• great fiilm
  By A2YBSWFGP3YLD4 on 2008-05-04
  to me it was better than spider man 3, not 1,2 and way better than super man returns and the last incredible hulk, you need to sit through the credits, at the very end you will see something important in the movie, the day i was there 80 of 100 or so people left and didnt' realize at the end of the credits ther was still about 2 minutes more of the movie that could leave hints for something, so ifyou see it again, sit through the credits, don't leave to soon
  it was a decent film, action, and story
  please , please, please i tried my as----ss off trying to click the 5th star i tried for 20 minutes and it wotn let me chose the 5th star i do not think this was a 1 start but a 5 star soplease dont jumpe on me for leaving 1 star thais bull, i tried for 20 minute cliking the 5th star i clciked edit reviw 12 time it will let me re type, re write but won'tlet me clcik nothing but the 1 star, i do not no why
  
  
• Entertaining and Surprisingly Compelling Action Film
  By A34D4KCP94ACJZ on 2008-05-06
  Jon Favreau (Swingers and Elf) effectively directs the screen adaptation for the comic book superhero Iron Man. Favreau has some fine-tuning ahead of him in terms of directing action films but Iron Man is still among the very best comic book character based films so far. It is about as entertaining as you can get and the few flaws that are present are almost entirely forgivable due to Favreau's knack for developing characters and also understating drama effectively. It might be important to note that it is hard to contain myself and write an honest review, because in all of my years of reading comics, Iron Man, along with perhaps the Silver Surfer, is my favorite comic book character of them all. Fortunately for me, unlike last year's Fantastic Four sequel, this particular film truly delivers in terms of satisfying the little long lost comic book geek-boy dwelling in my brain. There were actually moments during the film that I looked over to my brother in full wide-eyed geek-mode and said things like "that stands for S.H.I.E.L.D.!" The kid in me absolutely loved this movie.
  
  Iron Man, for the uninitiated, is really Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.), Chief Executive Officer of weapons manufacturing giant Stark Industries (think Lockheed Martin run by Donald Trump). He is an arrogant womanizing alcoholic who just happens to be an MIT graduate and a technical genius unlike no other man of his time. It is as if Leonardo Da Vinci was sent into a time machine, given a mansion, several bottles Johnny Walker Blue, and no reason not to celebrate his lust for women. In other words, this is not Superman. Stark is flawed and Favreau so graciously provides us an opportunity to watch him grow as a man and as a machine in his ever-evolving nearly indestructible self-made super armor. In the beginning, Stark is captured by terrorists in Afghanistan and unbeknownst to his enemies, he is shown the error of his ways as a weapons manufacturer and begins building his suit as a way to escape his kidnappers. A new man with new motives, Stark develops his suit further and becomes an unlikely but befitting hero. Look out terrorists and look weapons manufacturers, including you Iron Monger! I only wish he could've cleaned up that ugliness in Iraq on his way home.
  
  One can tell by the promotions that the special effects are great and they are amazing from beginning to end. However, the screenplay is very solid, especially the humorous, fast, and witty dialogue for Robert Downey, Jr. The chemistry between Stark and his loyal assistant Pepper Potts (Gwenyth Paltrow) works remarkably well and far better than I would've expected. Jeff Bridges is also great as the villain Obidiah Stane and the rest of the cast is solid all around, with the exception of perhaps Terrence Howard he unfortunately seems to be going through the motions here. But overall, the magic of this film is the casting of Robert Downey, Jr. in the lead role. He is perfect for the role in almost every way. Somehow he gives us a hero we feel compelled to find a reason to root for despite his flaws. I'm not sure another actor could've pulled it off.
  
  This definitely receives a high recommendation from me for pretty much anyone looking for a fun and compelling action movie. For fellow lovers of the Iron Man comics and other crossover stories (i.e. Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D.); do yourself a favor and stay until the credits are done rolling, you won't regret it.
  
  
  
• To fix the "Blue Ring of Death" on the PS3
  By A34OB3QSRG4XOO on 2008-09-30
  The movie itself is fantastic, but the disc could use some work... If you own a PS3 the geniuses at Paramount decided to make you download the BDLive content before you can watch the movie, causing the "Blue Ring of Death." So basically, it's not an error, it is a feature lol! If you wait long enough, it will clear and you will be able to play the movie. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if their severs can handle the numbers right now (1800 hrs on the east coast with the #1 new movie = a loooong download time). The other option is to turn off your internet connection during B-ray movies on you PS3 (check under BR options). This will allow you to skip the download and get right to the movie (just download it later at a better time).
  
  
• One of the most racist movies I've ever seen.
  By A2OP1HD9RGX5OW on 2008-05-04
  The special effects were excellent. There were moments of comedy, and the plot was decent. I particularly appreciated the attempt to support nonviolent action. The acting by Jeff Bridges, Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, and Gwyneth Paltrow was amazing- though some credit needs to go to the make-up job as well. I was racking my brain, for I knew I'd seen these actors before, but they did such a good job of embracing new characters, of becoming characters, that I lost sight of the actors themselves. This had the makings of a great movie, for its genre.
  
  There are some glitches, however. Repeatedly people go into Stark's chest cavity without a sterile environment- when everyone knows this is just a recipe for infection and disease. There are difficulties with how fast the villain learns how to use the weapons. But of greatest difficulty is the dating of the material.
  
  Honestly. We are in the 21st century. Do we still need caricatures of people groups appearing as incompetent buffoons and inherently evil? This film reads as if the director took his cues from Shaheen's Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People. Nearly every classic point of Arab stereotyping in Hollywood is followed by this movie. A full third of the runtime is spent with the evil Muslims and Arabs, yelling in Arabic and killing people and thirsting for more weapons. All of this takes place in Afghanistan, but there seem to be few Afghanis around. It's a multinational terrorist force, run mostly by Arabs, and in Arabic.
  
  Sure, it's only a comic book movie. I'm not expecting the in-depth real-life drama of the Afghani The Kite Runner. But comics and the movies- indeed all of popular culture- have the ability to greatly influence us. This after all is the goal of anyone who creates a quality movie. Indeed, this has often been the maxim of The Great One - Stan Lee (who incidently has his best cameo ever in this film). Stan Lee often speaks of how much comics can influence culture, that they should not be viewed merely as comics. He often very purposely puts his crusade for justice into the midst of his characters and stories. Sadly, some don't take the words of the author seriously- that his stories matter, that justice matters.
  
  There is of course the courtesy good Arab guy who initially helps Stark out, but we barely know he's Arabic. He looks less swarthy, he's a polyglot, and rarely speaks Arabic. In mannerisms and culture he acts like a typical American- letting us know that Arabs are alright as long as they are so much like us that we don't have to realize that they are Arabic.
  
  As my stomach turned, I kept hoping that the movie would somehow redeem its initial treatment of Arabs, perhaps showing us in some way how the Arabs in the movie came to desire weapons, because their homes were trashed by the Americans and Stark was selling weapons everywhere. Evidently no redemption was possible. With one exception, the only people Iron Man kills are Arabs, but there are thrilling moments of him going out of his way to rescue Americans who were attacking him. (Incidently, by this point we've obviously lost the hope for the non-violent focus that was initially so promising.) The coup de grace is the line from the penultimate villain to the head Arab villain, that "their part of the world" has never been able to keep up technologically. It's not just that the Arabs are villains. They are bad villains. They can't even do that right.
  
  The issue of course is not one movie. It is rather that, in the thousands of movies that Arabs and Muslims have been shown in in Hollywood history, nearly all of them have been stereotypical or negative portrayals. (About fifty have been positive.) And Iron Man has suddenly risen to the top of this infamous list. There was no need to use Arabs and Muslims in this modern portrayal of the Iron Man myth, for there are plenty of other villains around. If Arabs were to be the villains, there was no need to show them as stereotypes. If Arabs and Muslims were to be the villains, the directors could have taken this opportunity to show how they are also humans, and there are reasons that they turn to a life of violence.
  
  If you see this movie, consider as you watch it if every single Arab or Muslim in the movie was replaced by a Jew. It's not so far-fetched. Movies of the 30s commonly had the stereotypical Jew in the role that Arabs and Muslims now fill all too often today. But we now realize portraying most minorities as stereotypes and over-the-top villians is wrong. Thank God we now know this is anti-Semitic, and have rejected such racist portrayals. Except Arabs are Semites too.
  
  This movie had the directing, acting, and writing to have a lot of potential. As it is, it will show all over the US and confirm American prejudices of Arabs and Muslims. Then it will show all over the world, and confirm Arab and Muslim beliefs of what we think of them. And that won't go very far in obtaining peace.
  
  
• 4.5--The truth is.......................Downey flies high!
  By A3C6CZC2JP67VK on 2008-05-21
  Seriously, thanks god for Robert Downey Jr., the actor was brilliant in the movie, after watching the movie i couldn't imagine any other actor portraying the role of Tony stark, the guys was simply brilliant. Robert Downey Jr. is one of those actors who can offer a lot more then he's given chances to prove himself. It's mostly because of his drug and alcohol problems but no one cannot deny that he's an outstanding actor who never acted in big budget movies. Not until now as Iron Man..
  
  Jon Favreau was obviously given a lot of money and he invested it wisely and brought Comic successfully back to life. "Iron Man" has its holes, like not so convincing start but everything since the time Stark returned from his captivity is good and entertaining story. As I said before Downey Jr. is a thing this movie needs, just like always excellent Jeff Bridges in role of Obadiah Stane.
  
  In this cast I didn't like Gwyneth Paltrow. She has some rough moments, and this definitely wasn't her best performance, but she didn't bring down the film by any means. Great supporting turns by Terence Howard as Tony's associate and erstwhile friend and Clark Gregg as a tight-lipped fed make director Jon Favreau's job helming this adaptation a HUGELY better result than the flavorless "DareDevil" from 2003.
  
  So "Iron Man" is good for fun and as blockbuster that would fill cinemas, but for a place in 250 best movies, I think not. This is a satisfying film from at least three levels: for those who love superhero movies, it's great; for those who enjoy a good message movie, it's only BARELY preachy and always able to keep it frenetic and true; and as a summer film, it's large and captivating, never letting the viewer go till the credits (and perhaps even STILL during that)! While I cannot quite go all the way with 5 stars for this film, it's a very strong 4. A strong movie-going experience for most anyone who likes "Summer" films.
  
  
  
• Just need to point something out
  By A22028GTBTIMBT on 2008-06-26
  When the filmmakers used excerpts from the 1970 Black Sabbath song of the same name, they left out Ozzy Osbourne's vocals for a very good reason. Specifically, the Iron Man in Marvel's comic books and the Iron Man described in the Sabbath song are two fundamentally different characters in two stories that could not get any more different from each other if they tried. Hence, quoting Black Sabbath in your review does not make you look clever. It makes you look ignorant of the content of one or the other iteration of Iron Man.
  
  
• Great Movie, great sound, great video and great extras (and a fix for the long load or what seems a no load)
  By A3A4ZAIBQWKOZS on 2008-10-02
  Having watched this movie on a plane ride, my first impression was that I really liked the movie. My second impression is that it would look nice in HD. Thankfully Marvel Studios and Paramount have delivered a great Blu Ray release w/ HD video.
  
  So the way the movie itself goes is typical super hero movie type stuff. If you aren't a fan of comic book style suspension of disbelief, please move on. You won't like this movie anymore than you did the other super hero movies out there.
  
  Tony Stark, the sort of spoiled, super intelligent and conceited owner of Stark Enterprises finds himself in an impossible situation. While traveling through Iraq to show off his great new weapons the Humvee he is in is attacked and he is captured. He awakens to find that one of his captors has installed an electro magnet in his chest to prevent mobile shrapnel from the explosion Tony was caught in from reaching his heart.
  
  In captivity he's asked to build one of his top of the line missiles for his captors, a Jericho missile. Instead he builds a prototype Iron Man suit and escapes. The experience changes his life and has him attempt to change his company and the world from the destruction he and has company have profited from.
  
  Action, betrayal, small amount of clumsy love and that is Iron Man in a nut shell.
  
  The video is presented via the AVC codec and looks amazing. The only areas of "problem" would be in the cave scenes. You can tell when the film stock changes or perhaps, if it was filmed in digital, grain was added to the video. The areas most affected are darker scenes and scenes where there is interaction between the prototype Iron Man suit (done in CG) and his environment and the terrorists. It's either an artistic decision or a choice to make the CG interaction less perceptible. It doesn't take away from the scenes and it doesn't detract from the movie.
  
  The audio is done in Dolby True-HD and sounds fantastic. Lows are low and highs are high. No clipping, no distortion and great separation of channels over all.
  
  Having bought quite a few Blu Ray discs, I'm painfully aware of the lack of HD extras. Not so with Iron Man. This release has 2 discs in it, one for the main feature and a few extras (deleted scenes) and one for quite a few interesting and in depth documentaries. And yes, the documentaries are ALL in HD. This may be the first Blu Ray disc I've purchased with all HD extras.
  
  Also included is a BD Live connection. I have not yet created an account and logged in to see what's available, but even if all you have access to is what's on the disc, the extras are amazing. Not sure about the BD Live extras.
  
  So if you're looking for a super hero movie with some amazing video, amazing audio and amazing extras, look no further than Iron Man on Blu Ray.
  
  
  FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING LONG LOAD TIMES:
  
  If you have a BD Live capable player, in the menus of your player, turn off "auto download" and set it to confirm (or something along those lines). The reason the movie takes "forever" to start when you first insert it is because the quiz portion from BD-Live needs to be downloaded and installed on your player. Just turn off auto install/connect and you should be good to go.
  
  And once it is installed the first time, assuming you wait, you won't see it again unless you get a new player and want to watch the movie.
  
  
• The Best Superhero Movie So Far...
  By A2KW2KWKABNYNO on 2008-09-27
  I must say I've seen just about every superhero movie of the past 10 years, and when the genre should be faltering, it rockets to its best yet with Iron Man. Sure, I was skeptical, I had never heard of the character, and the cast wasn't exactly the type that would make me jump out of my seat. But one night, I decided to see what all the hype was about, because there was no way it could live up to it, right? Actually, it doesn't get enough.
  
  The Story: Totally believable. I mean, it isn't everyday you say that about a movie, much less a super hero movie, but this could really be something that could happen in real life. Totally implausible, mind you, but the terrorist part fit today's audiences. And not only does a corrupt CEO selling weapons to our enemies seem believable, I have no doubt that it is/was happening. In fact, when that element of the plot came out, I immediately thought Jeffrey Immelt. And Iron Man/Tony Stark's storyline is as compelling as it is good. Which mean, it's pretty darn compelling and good.
  
  The Effects: It terms of quality, yeah, it's awesome. But I didn't think the action sequences were blockbuster quality. Sure, they were good, but I don't remember anything blowing me out of my seat. But hey, I'm probably hard to please.
  
  The Suit: I don't say this very much, I mean, I don't pay much attention to the overall suits to these characters, but let me just say, the Iron Man suit is kick-a**! Totally freakin' awesome, and kudos to whoever designed it. If a car, it would probably be a Porche or a Corvette. Sexy all over.
  
  Supporting Characters: I wasn't expecting much out of Gyneth Paltrow, but I was very surprised. She was a very strong character, and she was actually pretty good looking. Terrance Howard was underwhelming to say the least, and probably would have been better replaced by Donald Faison, in my opinion. Dr. Yinsen was also a very well-developed character, and when he left, I was actually emotionally attached to him, which is amazing for the short time he was on screen. He was just a very likable guy.
  
  Villains: As said before, all very believable and probably the most real villains in any superhero movie. Jeff Bridges was excellent for his role, and played it up to its fullest, but not going over. He knew his boundaries. And what can I say, great look for a villain, terrible name.
  
  Tony Stark/Iron Man: Is it too early to say Oscar nomination? I mean, really that character was one of the best to grace the screen since Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow. Totally iconic, and perfect in every way. He's likable, funny, quick-witted, smart, compassionate, and bad-a** when he has to be. And unlike most hero castings, there was only one person that could have played it up to this caliber, and that's Mr. Robert Downey Jr. who officially makes his comeback in the best way possible. I mean, I loved Downey all the more because of this movie, and now I'm a major fan, something I never was with Depp. Downey has the character down pat, and he has made it his own.
  
  Overall, with amazing casting, a believable story and villains, and just great everything, this movie succeeds in almost every manner. It lives up to the hype and more. As for it's Blu-Ray value, it's a must-own. All I can say is SEQUAL!!!!
  
  
• Like the Tin Man, Iron Man Lacked Heart
  By A2I6MHMAZZDCRX on 2008-10-03
  Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is a genius with technology. He inherited Stark Enterprises from his father, and has turned it into the leader in international weapons. He is wealthy beyond imagination, and lives the playboy life to a hilt, spending as much time as possible drinking, gambling, and pursuing anything in a skirt.
  
  On a trip to Afghanistan to demonstrate his newest weapon, things go wrong and he is kidnapped by a gang of terrorists. What he sees there changes his outlook on his business. After three months in captivity, Stark manages to escape. He returns home determined to change the direction of his company. This does sit well with the board or Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges), his father's partner. Will the new suit he is building help him with his goals?
  
  The biggest problem with this movie is it is an origin story. As a result, much of the movie is slow, even for someone like me who is unfamiliar with the character. What we do get in the way of action scenes are wonderful and had me on the edge of my seat. The climax didn't quite make sense, but that's worth noting only in passing.
  
  Not surprisingly, the special effects were great, especially the shots from Iron Man's point of view. And the robot assistants were very funny, proving a nice balance to some of the darker moments.
  
  The biggest problem the movie has is the characters. Even with all the time spent creating Iron Man, we aren't given time to get to know the characters. This is especially problematic for Tony who comes across as an egotistical jerk at first. While his character softens, I never fully warmed up to him. The other characters are only given one or two notes, and that isn't enough to make us truly care for any of them.
  
  Now this isn't a reflection on the top notch actors. In addition to the two already mentioned, we've got Terrence Howard and Gwyneth Paltrow. They all did the best job they could making the thin characters come to life. I will admit that I couldn't get past Robert Downey Jr. and his past problems when looking at Tony. It's more of a personal problem, but it was another stumbling block in any attempts to warm up to Tony.
  
  To me, the flaws were equal to the strengths, making this a fun but shallow superhero movie.
  
  
• Another Marvel Success
  By A2FVPTS77ALKLV on 2008-10-13
  Iron Man is another success for Marvel. A well done adaption of the famous comic book character. Robert Downey Jr is perfect in the role of Tony Stark. IN some ways Starks character is a lot like Downey in the fact that he lives in excess of everything. Tony Stark is in charge of the family business that makes weapons for the Military. For as long as he has known living his playboy to excess lifestyle has kept Tony in the dark about what his company has been doing. He is wounded and captured by terroritsts after testing of his latest creation and his eyes are opened to what his company has been doing. Instead of creating the missle they ask he develops a body armor capable of being a weapon itself and thus Iron Man Is born.When he gets away he improves the suit and decides to use it and his skill for good. BUt lurking close to him are those that want no part of his new found responsibility. Jeff Bridges plays a great villian who does not want to stop making and selling weapons. He get a hold of the original design of the suit and creates his own thus leading to a battle between the 2 Iron Men with only one left standing.Gweneth Paltrow is wonderful as Pepper, Tonys hot assistant who basically takes care of him and has a bit of a crush on Tony but also knows Tonys ways. A great movie that im sure will be putting out a sequel.
  
  
• Great movie, comic or no
  By AUTBHG6070SL4 on 2008-05-06
  Standards have been rising in the comic adaptation genre, and the new Iron Man comes in at the top of the range. This is one of the best comic adaptations ever, and a very good action flick in itself. It gets the summer movie season off to a flying start - if the rest of the season's movies rise to this level, it's going to be a great year.
  
  Effects are everythig you could ask, with lots of explosions, fire, and other good enterainment - but that's the norm these days. Plenty sets this apart from the pack. Acting is way up there, as the star-laden cast would have you expect. Scripting offers a blend of humor, action, sneering bad guys, and simmering romance that's hard to beat. It gives Robert Downey Jr. lots to work with, including an outstanding aide in the form (the lovely form) of Paltrow's "Pepper Potts." The main bad guys are the current evil-du-jour, mideastern madmen - so recognizable that they don't even need motives. Heck, even the industrial robots have more personality than the entire casts of some comic flicks.
  
  One of the most implausible of plot turns really brought this to life for me: Stark's sudden rethinking of the multi-generation arms business. As an engineer and as one who's tried (not always successfully) to keep my work out of weapons, that exerted more of a pull than there was any rational reason to expect. But that's way too serious for this movie. Even if it jumps the season by a few weeks, it's great summer fun.
  
  -- wiredweird
  
  
• Fantastic! (SPOILERS INCLUDED)
  By AU61CID785ACB on 2008-07-25
  Wow, what a ride! Iron Man is a blast from beginning to end. I'll give a brief plot description for anyone who is not familiar with the comic book:
  
  WARNING: SPOILERS
  Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) is an American arms dealer who is fabulously wealthy and lives the high life. Girls, booze, parties, he does it all. Standing by his side and cleaning up his various messes is his assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). Whispering dark thoughts in his ear is his partner Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) who you know from the beginning is just not okay.
  
  Tony goes to Afghanistan to demonstrate Stark Industries' new weapon, the Jericho missile. His convoy is attacked, his American soldier escorts are killed, and he is seriously wounded by shrapnel from one of his very own bombs. He passes out and wakes up as a captive in a Taliban-like camp. His captors want him to make them a Jericho missile, and he is horrified to see that they have a huge stockpile of Stark weapons. How did they acquire them?
  
  With the help of surgeon & fellow captive Dr. Yinsen, Stark makes his first Iron Man suit instead of making the Jericho missile. Using the suit he escapes and creates a big scene that attracts the attention of the U.S. military. He is rescued by the Air Force and returns home. During Stark's escape, the first Iron Man suit is all but destroyed.
  
  Back in the States, Stark builds a sharp new Iron Man suit, and goes back to Afghanistan to rescue Dr. Yinsen's village from the terrorist group that had captured him. The military can't figure out what Stark is, so two F-22 Raptors are called to intercept him. He inadvertently damages one of the planes but saves the pilot. Stark then confesses to his Air Force buddy LC James Rhodes (Terence Howard) that he was the cause of the accident. In addition to playing with his new toy and messing with the military, Stark is also determined to find out why the "bad guys" have so many of his company's weapons.
  
  He unravels the mystery with the help of Pepper Potts and decides he needs to change the mission of Stark Industries. His partner, Obadiah Stane is not pleased and comes up with a suit of his own; he becomes "Iron Monger." You can guess what happens, but suffice it to say the final battle scene between them is everything it should be.
  
  My husband dragged me to see this movie, and I ended up absolutely loving it. Robert Downey Jr. is excellent as always; he is one of those actors that your eye is naturally drawn to while he's on screen. The rest of the cast is very good in support of him. The score is fantastic too (I have already downloaded both "Merchant of Death" and "Driving With the Top Down" into my iPod).
  
  Remember: Tony Stark is a grown-up superhero and this is a grown-up action movie. A good bit of it takes place in a war zone, and there is plenty of violence and some torture. Of course it is necessary to the plot, but you should be aware that this may not be the best movie for small children.
  
  Bottom line: Iron Man is a blast of a movie that manages to touch on some real issues we are facing today, but never becomes preachy about it. LOTS of fun, a rollercoaster ride, a rocking action movie with a sense of humor. Loved it, and can't wait til the DVD is released!!
  
  
• Handles like a Dream
  By A3CI6ENK2Y46CD on 2008-08-11
  This is a great superhero film that the whole family can enjoy.
  
  If you are wondering what the special features on the 2-disc DVD are, here they are:
  
  The IRON MAN Ultimate Edition two-DVD set is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround and Spanish 5.1 Surround with English, French and Spanish subtitles. Total runtime is 125 minutes. Bonus features include:
  
  Disc 1:
  
  Feature film
  Deleted/Extended Scenes
  
  Disc 2:
  
  I Am Iron Man
  -- The Journey Begins
  -- The Suit that makes the Iron Man
  -- The Walk of Destruction
  -- Grounded In Reality
  -- Beneath the Armor
  -- It's All in the Details
  -- A Good Story, Well Told
  
  The Invincible Iron Man
  -- Origins
  -- Friends & Foes
  -- The Definitive Iron Man
  -- Demon in a Bottle
  -- Extremis and Beyond
  -- Ultimate Iron Man
  Wired: The Visual Effects of Iron Man
  Robert Downey Jr. Screen Test
  The Actor's Process (scene rehearsal with cast)
  The Onion "Wildly Popular Iron Man Trailer to be Adapted into Full Length Film"
  Image Galleries
  
  
• The word "awesome" get thrown around a lot...
  By A3AAK33K3BUUTM on 2008-05-01
  ...particularly by me. But this is one film that actually manages to live up to everything one might expect from all that that word entails. This is quite possibly the greatest superhero film ever. At times it leaves you nearly breathless, leaving you just enough to whisper "bada$z" in awe of what you just witnessed (a friend of mine actually did this). The CG effects are wholly indistinguishable from the practical ones, the action comes in somewhat small but memorable doses, and most importantly the story takes it's time developing it's characters and their unique relationships. And that is where "Iron Man" hits it's home run: characters you thoroughly enjoy watching that make the action sequences and special effects just icing on the cake.
  
  The movie does not waste time getting you into the good stuff. The opening sequence does a great job of summing up the audaciousness, charm, and humor of weapons dealer/genius inventor/billionaire Tony Stark just before his caravan is attacked. The last thing he sees as he dives for cover from the terrorists before blacking out? An explosive with his company's name on it that sends shrapnel into his chest, setting the story in motion. Beautiful. Flashback to some days back and we get a better picture of our hero to be. And let me tell you, it is good to be Tony Stark. Robert Downey Jr. is everything you'd hope, bringing the kind of bombastic personality that just can't be portrayed in a comic book to the big screen. The supporting cast is also strong. Gwyneth Paltrow is radiant as Pepper Potts; snippy sometimes, cool and collected most times, and coy and awkward in potentially romantic situations. Also worthy of note is Jeff Bridges' convincing performance as Stark's business partner Obediah. The biggest change from the source material (and there are many) was replacing Jarvis the butler with a HERBIE-style (from the FF, not the Love Bug) talking computer. But with the faithful butler having been done to death in the many Batman films, this change makes a lot of sense. Also, Stan Lee's cameo is likely to cause outright guffaws, so be careful you don't spray your drink on the people in front of you.
  
  As usual, this Marvel superhero flick is peppered with references for comic geeks, lots of character-based humor, and moral arguments and choices. Setting much of this story in the Middle East highlights the relevance of the story's message of accountability for our actions and our creations (I'm looking at YOU, America!) without being overtly political. Tony Stark's realization that his works have brought death and destruction to so many and the subsequent hostile takeover attempt on Stark Industries when he attempts to do the right thing make for a great motivation to put on the armor and attempt to undo some of the damage that has been done in his name. Good stuff. And while it's no suprise that "Iron Man" has plenty of heavy metal in it's soundtrack, I wasn't expecting to hear Mister Stark admonish Miss Potts for turning down his Suicidal Tendencies jam. Now THERE'S a superhero I can relate to. So cool.
  
  I find sitting through 10 minutes of credits intolerable, so I left the theater before they had finished rolling and apparently missed a scene that I had been hoping for. Now I regret it. Don't make the same mistake. That's what I get for not reading any reviews ahead of time (spoilers and all that). Either way, this is not a film to be missed if you're a fan of superhero flicks, comic books, science fiction, or just entertaining cinema. This is a film firing on all cylinders and is sure to please all but the most jaded of fans. It's about time that the Golden Avenger got his big-screen due, but it was worth the wait to see it dome so superbly. There is a moment where Tony's military buddy James Rhodes watches him fly out of his lab to save the day then looks to the side to see a chrome suit (the War Machine, I presume) and says to himself/us "next time, baby". I wouldn't miss it for the world.
  
  
  
  
• The Best Film of the Summer?
  By A3M2WW0PO34B94 on 2008-05-30
  Marvel Comics, unhappy with the lack of creative control and its share of profits in the films made by other studios based on their characters, recently started their own film division. The first film from this endeavor, "Iron Man" starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges and Terrence Howard, is a lot of fun, and sure to generate a number of sequels based on the huge amount of money made on opening weekend. This is good for Marvel Films because they will need to use some of the profits from this film to offset the inevitable loss for their next film, "The Incredible Hulk" starring Edward Norton, Tim Roth and Nick Nolte, due later this summer. Watch the trailer and you'll see what I mean.
  
  But I digress. "Iron Man".
  
  Tony Stark (Downey, Jr.) is a brilliant man who grew up in his father's shadow, an inventor, Starks Sr. & Jr. both learn they can make any of their ideas a reality Sr. was one of the people who helped build the Atomic bomb, so it probably comes as no surprise that Stark Industries sells weapons; weapons of every size, shape and megaton. When Tony comes of age, he takes over the company from his father's right hand man, Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) and the two work together, as a team - Stark handles the inventions, Obadiah handles the business side of things. Stark takes a trip to Afghanistan to demonstrate his newest weapon, a huge missile and bomb combo designed to level mountain ranges. Driving back, his convoy is attacked and he is taken prisoner. During the attack, Tony is injured and a fellow prisoner fits him with a magnet saving his life. When Tony wakes up, he learns his captors want him to recreate the weapon he just demonstrated, for their use. But he comes up with a better idea and creates a new power supply for the magnet, allowing him to move without a car battery at his side. He then uses a list of equipment procured from his captors to create an iron suit, complete with weapons, to wear and escape captivity. When he returns home, he realizes he can improve the suit, its powers and its abilities. Now that Tony has seen his products create death, mayhem and damage, he wants to do some good in the world. Naturally, Obadiah is a little disappointed to learn of the companies new, less profitable business plan. But Colonel Rhodes (Terence Howard) is happy to see the change is his longtime business associate and friend. And Stark's personal assistant, Pepper Pots (Paltrow) is also a little more attracted to her boss. After a test run of his new, sleeker, more powerful suit, Stark realizes he left some unfinished business behind in Afghanistan. Then, some trouble begins to brew back home.
  
  Directed by Jon Favreau ("Elf", "Zathura" and an actor with many credits) combines unconventional casting choices, very good acting, an intelligent screenplay and some kick a** special effects to create an enjoyable movie going experience and a great kick off to the summer season. This is one of those occasions when you can almost anticipate the sequel, when you can't wait for it. Now that they have all of the exposition concerning the creation of the superhero out of the way, the sequel can get down to business and throw us directly into the story, keeping us on the edge of our seats. I am an eternal optimist.
  
  "Iron Man" is a lot of fun and more intelligent than you might expect. Robert Downey, Jr. seems like an unconventional choice to play a superhero, and he is, but he is actually the perfect choice for the role of Tony Stark. A rich, highly intelligent industrialist, Tony works hard, spending a lot of time and money coming up with new ideas and inventions, making them work, making his company all the more rich and powerful. But he also plays hard. Living in a fancy, modern house on a hill overlooking the ocean in Malibu, Tony has state of the art everything in his house, allowing him to spend as much time as possible working and playing. He is also a lothario, sleeping with and hitting on as many women as he possibly can. He picks up a reporter in Vegas and the next morning, in his house in Malibu, she is awakened by the house `opening' the curtains to his bedroom, his assistant, Pepper, holding her dry-cleaning. Tony also has an advanced computer system, helping him and allowing him to run with ideas and to continue to develop them. This system allows him to view 3-D holographic depictions of his ideas, removing and adding pieces at will.
  
  As we get to know Tony, we realize he lives a secluded life. Allowed to work and play, as he wants, he knows little of the effects of his work on the real world, and leaves the running of his business to Obadiah. When he travels to Afghanistan, his eyes begin to open as he witnesses firsthand what his work actually does, the consequences of his life, and sees a little window through which he can move to start making a positive impact on the world. But this change in his life doesn't please everyone and provides Iron Man with a formidable foe, the Iron Monger.
  
  When Stark is taken prisoner in Afghanistan, he uses all of his previous research and designs to build a new and improved power supply to help keep him alive. And he also creates a prototype of Iron Man, allowing his escape from the men who so desperately want him to create a new weapon for them. This is a great illustration of the character's intelligence and cunning, making all of the previous information about him we have been bombarded with seem very real.
  
  Downey, Jr. uses his well-known sarcastic attitude and delivery to bring life to Stark's sheltered persona. Because he lives in a cocoon, and has a lot of money, he doesn't realize how the real world works where he lives and plays as he pleases. This same persona also helps the character bring humor to the proceedings and make the story all the more memorable. He proves to be an excellent choice for the role and his career will definitely benefit from the success of this film and it's inevitable sequels.
  
  Favreau and his team have created a rich, decadent playground for Stark to live in. His computer system uses advanced holographs and voice commands, he drives the best, fastest cars and his house is run by a computer system that recognizes Tony and Pepper, and addresses them by name. But more importantly, Favreau has assembled a cast that can act, a group of actors more commonly associated with Academy Award nominated and critically praised films. These actors make their characters richer, more interesting, more watchable and more memorable.
  
  Gwyneth Paltrow plays Pepper Pots and she is, by far, the weakest of the supporting characters. There is a brief hint of an unrequited love between employee and employer, made more overt during a very good scene set at Walt Disney Concert Hall. But Paltrow is wasted in the role. While she does bring a memorable respectability to the role, making it better, her skills weren't needed for Pepper Pots. When she becomes endangered (which is inevitable, face it), she doesn't stand around shrieking, but she doesn't prove to be extremely strong either. And the flirtatious relationship between Tony and Pepper is generally ignored with the exception of the one scene mentioned earlier and a few passing references. Hopefully, this area will be expanded and improved upon in the next installment.
  
  Jeff Bridges plays Obadiah Stane, Stark's father's business partner who helps run the company until Tony becomes old enough to take the reins. Tony continues to work with Obadiah, leaving the day to day operations in his hands, freeing him up to work on his creations. Obadiah is a very smart man and makes the company very profitable. Naturally, he feels threatened by Tony's change in attitude and works behind the scenes to ensure the company will remain as profitable as ever. He also steals Tony's plans and begins work on his own version of Iron Man, seeing the potential in such a lethal weapon. Obadiah has spent his adult life selling weapons, becoming rich as a result. So in his mind, lethal is good.
  
  Obadiah is a lot more twisted and crooked than I am letting on, but discovering the extent of this is half the fun.
  
  Terrence Howard plays Colonel Jim Rhodes, a longtime associate of Tony, who acts as a liaison between Stark and his government contacts. When Stark is taken hostage, Rhodes leads the rescue mission. When Stark becomes Iron Man, Rhodes helps him out in various ways.
  
  As you watch the story unfold, you get the sense Howard, like everyone else in the film, is having a fun time. He plays the role with a certain sense of tongue-in-cheek but this quality is played subtlety, which makes the role all the more appealing and real.
  
  "Iron Man" is a very good, very enjoyable, fun summer film. The actors have a lot of fun and it translates to the screen. The performances, in combination with a well-written screenplay, great special effects and a believable universe help to make "Iron Man" one of the more memorable summer films in many years. I can easily see this character becoming a franchise to challenge "Spiderman" in popularity.
  
  
• Am I the ONLY one who wasn't impressed???
  By AVQJD41PLPOOQ on 2008-05-21
  I vowed some time ago to, once and for all, stopping handing over my time, money and brain cells to sequels, threequels, remakes and franchise. So since this was the first time IRON MAN was being brought to the big screen, I figured I was safe and would be treated to a good, original superhero movie to follow in the steps of the original Superman, Batman, X-Men and Spiderman.
  
  In my (surprised) opinion, no so. While Robert Downy Jr's acting and spontaneous ability for dialogue and wit never fail to please, the story, for me, fell very short. If this film is, indeed, based on the original comic book story of Iron Man, then the story failed to impress me. In this film, it seems you spend more time watching the endless, ongoing process of how his superhero suit is created step-by-step rather than the action and the danger that you crave. To make matters worse, I felt there were way too many stupid jokes and sight gags inserted into a film that I thought would be much darker, judging by the trailer I'd seen.
  
  I'm afraid that IRON MAN gets thrown on the scrap heaps of bad superhero movies like FANTASTIC FOUR. And Hollywood can rest assured that I will be going nowhere near IRON MAN II, III, IV, etc.
  
  
  
  
• Beware Iron Man on Blu Ray compatibility problems
  By A3F81HQH4M1REY on 2008-10-04
  I bought the Iron Man on Blu Ray locally (Best Buy), and had to return it. Why? This version only has the English language Dolby Digital Surround sound encoded in Dolby True Hi Def sound. If, like me, your set-up is using the output bitstream to a home theater receiver where you intend to use the older standard Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound (not Dolby True HD Sound), you will not be able to get surround sound in English. The people at Best Buy allowed me to do an uneven exchange to get the standard definition DVD with normal Dolby Digitial Surround Sound. The disk should have been encoded with both versions of Dolby Surround Sound, so those of us using the older standard could truely enjoy the soundtrack. Also, if they want to go this route, the disk should have been clearly labeled as to what you get when you buy it. The upconversion on my Panasonic Blu Ray player DMP-BD30 does a good enough job to my JVC 42 inch LCD TV 1080p, I actually get 1080p resolution, so for me, the standard definition version of this movie turned out to be a better deal.
  
  
• Stupendous Movie!
  By AUGABW5AS2OXM on 2008-05-04
  This movie was everything that I had hoped for. Once again a Marvel
  comic book hero has made a good movie. Robert Downey Jr. did an excellent
  job of portraying Iron Man(Tony Stark). Tony Stark is the CEO of Stark
  Industries who manufactures weapons. He is in Afghanistan when his
  helicopter is blown from the air and he is captured. He is held hostage
  by al-Quaida terrorists. He is ordered to construct a Jericho missile.
  On the sly he builds an Iron Man suit. It has weapons and flies at supersonic speeds. He stages a daring escape. He also suffers heart damage during his capture. He comes up with an instrument to help with this condition. He returns to America and fine tunes his invention. He decides to use his invention to fight the forces of evil. Jeff Bridges
  plays his business mentor and pardner who is trying to take his company away from him. They wind up in a pitched battle. The special effects used by Iron Man are breathtaking and fabulous. This is a must see movie. The
  scene after the credits adds to the dimension of the movie. A fantastic movie.
  
  
• For the Future of Mankind
  By A3KKM0T1KY42HA on 2008-06-09
  What makes Iron Man a great movie is that it is virtually void of those moments where you go, "That could never happen." And that's saying a lot for a movie about a guy that creates an "iron" suit that is not only a lean mean fighting machine, but also gives Tony Stark the ability to fly.
  
  I've seen comparisons between the detail and...well...just plain awesomeness that was abundant in Batman Begins and Iron Man. And that comparison would not be incorrect. While I'd agree that both had great action and made viewers believe that these superheros actually existed, Batman Begins was more dark while Iron Man kept you giggling at Tony Stark's wise-guy personality...which is true to the comic book versions of the characters.
  
  And who better to be in the role of a wise-guy than Robert Downey, Jr. Man, did he nail the role of Stark! And the rest of the cast and acting in the movie were terrific.
  
  Iron Man takes you from Stark's creation of the gold-titanium-alloy suit to his confrontation with those that would see Stark Industries commit treason. There's plenty of action and tons of visual candy. The story is well-written for the screen and the directing will probably put Jon Favreau in the sought-after category.
  
  The good news is that Iron Man will be back, but in what capacity is the question. It's well known that Stark (Downey, Jr) has a cameo in 2008's The Incredible Hulk. And it's rumored that the actors in Iron Man have all signed on for two sequels (at the time of this writing Director Favreau has not). But will Iron Man's return be solo, or perhaps with some of his Avenging buddies? Either way...I can't wait.
  
  I will definitely pick up Iron Man for my collection. I don't know about the theaters in your area, but the theaters in mine don't even come close to the picture and sound quality that I get from my home theater. I'm not bragging; I'm just saying that Iron Man will be a movie that goes into my Blu Ray player the day it's released.
  
  
  
  

• Incredible Hulk [Blu-ray]
• The Adventures of Indiana Jones - The Complete Movie Collection [Blu-ray]
• The Dark Knight (+ Digital Copy and BD Live) [Blu-ray]
• Kung Fu Panda [Blu-ray]
• Hellboy II: The Golden Army [Blu-ray]