Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Iron Man 2 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Disney has released the 2010 Marvel Cinematic Universe sequel film 'Iron Man 2' to UHD with new 2160p/HDR video and Dolby Atmos audio, both of which are far from perfect. The studio has also excised a good number of extras from the original Paramount release. See below for more detailed reviews.

Iron Man 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.

As with the previous film on UHD, this one suffers from some level of noise reduction. Grain appears frozen in place -- obvious at times, less obvious in others -- and the image is clearly smoothed over, but also like the previous entry, not to absolute image-destroying levels. Details remain solid, if not quite up to the level of what might have been with a more naturally minded direction for the transfer. General sharpness to skin, clothes, and environments is quite nice and revealing, at least within the noise reduced parameters; this one at least doesn't have that waxy, fully artificial appearance. The image benefits greatly from the 2160p resolution, even if it suffers from the processing, and it fares maybe a hair better than Iron Man (where that movie scored 3.25 with the final tally rounded up, this one is a solid 3.5). However, the old Blu-ray does maintain a more naturally filmic appearance, presenting the picture's natural grain structure intact and in satisfying and complimentary balance. Honestly, even though not quite as sharp, it is, texturally, the superior presentation.

Where the UHD shines, even with the noise reduction in place, is in the HDR color presentation. HDR's superiority over the old SDR Blu-ray takes only a moment to notice. Look at a close-up shot of Vanko welding together part of his project at the 3-minute mark as the opening titles appear on screen. The color intensity is heightened at the point of brightest light where the metal is white hot and the orange sparks fly off. Background depth here is also superior, deeper and more agreeable, complimenting the color explosion playing out screen left. The intense reactor light to follow when he completes his build is another great example of HDR's luminance and intensity. Blacks appear raised at the 40-minute mark, but so too were they on the Blu-ray in that low light interrogation scene. Vanko's brightly electrified whip, Iron Man's Hot Rod-inspired suit, skin tones, various environments, and numerous points of light and color brilliance are all beneficiaries of the expanded spectrum and added depth. The colors can push a little glossy at times, but the net effect is very good.

If one could make a hybrid of the UHD and the Blu-ray -- keep the BD's more genuinely filmic appearance while taking advantage of the UHD's resolution and HDR color attributes, that would be a bonafide winner. But, alas, this is a fairly mediocre UHD in the aggregate and sure to be controversial as Disney has released it.

Iron Man 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The included Dolby Atmos track is much like the video: fair but troubled. It lacks authority at reference volume. The first huge action sequence -- the car race and subsequent Vanko attack in chapter six -- lacks the intense dynamics, volume, and engaging low end one would expect. It's stage filling but not intense, though some sporadic one-off moments do find borderline substantial definition and depth. Surrounds pick up plenty of activity, including various swings and swoops from Vanko's whips, blaring alarms and chaotic din during a prison break scene in chapter seven, and numerous other examples of action din during other high intensity scenes. Music is likewise a bit reserved but basic clarity is fine and surround integration is good. Overheads fold in elements more than they produce distinct effects, but chapter six, that racing sequence again, does offer some of the more interesting examples of close-to-discrete effects. Dialogue is a little low but is found in its natural front-center position.

Iron Man 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Like Iron Man's UHD set, Disney has left out Paramount's original disc two with additional extras. See below for a list of what's included. For reviews of these extras, and a peek at what is missing, please click here. This release ships with a Movies Anywhere digital copy code.

• Audio Commentary
• S.H.I.E.L.D. Data Vault
• Previsualiization and Animatics

Iron Man 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Like Iron Man's UHD, this is a troubled disc, showing clear signs of noise reduction on the video end and a shortchanged soundtrack on the audio side. Purists need steer clear, but those who can accept the package's shortcomings will still find a good bit to like, including a rock-solid movie.