Iron Man (Blu-ray)

The opening of Iron Man throws the audience right into the action as billionaire playboy Tony Stark, who is famous for being a weapons inventor, is driving in a military convoy and gets ambushed in Afghanistan. Flashback 36 hours, and the story establishes who the characters are. Director Jon Favreau does an excellent job getting the audience up to speed for those who aren't familiar with the Iron Man story from the comics. With the audience now aware of Stark's character, we find him in a cave with an electromagnet powered by a car battery keeping shrapnel from getting to his heart and killing him. Stark's captors want him alive long enough to build them his latest weapon, the Jericho missile. Instead of cooperating with his captors, he builds an arc reactor which keeps him alive and mobile, but also is an endless supply of power. Unbeknownst to his captors, Stark builds an iron suit to aid in his escape. While Stark is working on his suit he realizes that his own weapons are being used against him and are in the hands of the enemy. He questions how they could have gotten these weapons and wants to right his wrong and use his genius for better good to mankind. After his escape and return to the States, he has a press conference letting the world know of his future plans. Where the story goes from here is truly eye candy and has fight scenes that will have any action junkie sitting on the edge of their seat.

Robert Downey, Jr. brings this eccentric behavior forward with compassion and a humorous personality that only he could. When I first heard that there was going to be an Iron Man movie and that Downey Jr. was going to be the super hero, I was a bit skeptical. After seeing his performance, there couldn't be any other choice. Tony Stark's character is very likable and, unlike many other super heroes, who try to hide their identities, he throws caution into the wind and lets the world know that he is Iron Man.

This movie is a complete package with a great story that really caters to an audience of all ages. Super hero movies have come along way with what can be accomplished with computer generated graphics. But, what really makes any movie hold up is a great story, and Iron Man sets the bar in this category.

The Blu-ray DVD release is one to definitely add to your collection. There is plenty of bonus content which shows how involved the work was that went into making this film. Stan Lee and various members from Marvel comics cover the beginning through who Iron Man is today. There are 11 deleted/extended scenes and an interactive look at the iron suit. There are interviews along with a screen test from Robert Downey, Jr. and rehearsal footage between Downey Jr. and Jeff Bridges which really lets you into the process of making the movie.

Here is an outline of the bonus content:

• Hall of Armor - An interactive look at the Mark I - III and Iron Monger Armor featured in the film
• The Invincible Iron Man - A breakdown of Iron Man that looks at his origins and goes through to his latest incarnation
• 11 Deleted/Extended scenes
• BD Live
• I am Iron Man - A multi-part segment that follows the creative process through production
• Wired: The visual effects of Iron Man
• Robert Downey Jr. screen test
• The actors process - Rehearsal footage featuring Jeff Bridges and Robert Downey Jr.
• The Onion: “Wildly popular Iron Man trailer to be adapted into full length film”
• Trailers - Theatrical, Teaser, International B & C
• Galleries - Concept art, Tech, Unit photography, Posters

In conclusion, the picture quality is truly breathtaking and the dynamics of the sound in Dolby TrueHD makes owning a system capable of handling this format truly worth while. Iron Man is a reference for how good Blu-ray and Dolby TruHD can be seen and heard and will be one to stand the test of time. This movie really establishes a franchise, and, if the last scene of the movie, after the credits, is any indication of a future release, I am certainly intrigued.