Iron Man 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Iron Man 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Disney has released the 2008 Marvel Cinematic Universe kickoff film 'Iron Man' 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 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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

Well this is a bit frustrating. Disney presents Iron Man on the UHD format with a 2160p resolution/HDR color presentation that is sure to stir a good bit of controversy. Disney has clearly de-grained the picture, smoothing it out and leaving the image slick and glossy rather than more true to its filmic roots. One can readily see some frozen grain throughout as well as other telltale signs of noise reduction, such as smoothed textures and an artificial, rather than naturally filmic, appearance. However much noise reduction has been applied has not been applied willy-nilly; Disney has done so to an extent that cleans the image but hasn't entirely wiped out finer details and leaving the picture hopelessly smooth and lifeless. It's obvious faces, rocks in the cave, the clean lines around Stark's lab, and the various suits are not as richly textured as they should be, but neither are these elements wholly lacking. Overall, the image is a bit sharper compared to the Blu-ray. Take a look at the sand in a scene at the 40:30 mark after Tony has escaped and fallen into the desert. The clarity of sand is improved on the UHD. Even if both images lack individual grain visibility, there's no mistaking the UHD's textural superiority, even if it's just a result of a raw resolution boost. It's well detailed; it's just not as dramatic as it might have been under parameters that might have complimented rather than toned down its natural state.

As for the HDR color presentation, the look of the movie is well served by the improved color spectrum. It looks perfectly balanced and shows more tonal solidification when compared to the aged Blu-ray (also included in this package). HDR reveals improved brightness levels and whites that appear much more crisp and bright. Tony Stark's ratty white shirt seen while he's working in the cave in chapter three yields more clarity and color accuracy, as do the flickering fluorescent lights in there as well. Fireballs enjoy more punch and various examples of clothing likewise appear with more color intensity. Shiny surfaces like polished cars and Tony's prototype armor enjoy excellent sheen beyond what the Blu-ray can offer. Skin tones appear fuller and healthier while black levels and shadow details are strong.

This is a good image. But it's not a great image. Disney has not been nice to it, but Disney has not been wholly wicked, either. It benefits from the sharpness the UHD resolution brings, even with the somewhat "judicious" noise reduction. The HDR colors offer the best and biggest improvement. It's a question of one's tolerance and taste as to whether viewers will find this acceptable or not. The subjective score ranges between 3.0-3.5 with the higher end favored in the final score.

Iron Man 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Iron Man's UHD features a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. The opening gun battle doesn't disappoint, but it also doesn't hugely impress. With a Disney track one must always wonder if it's going too play at low volume and with anemic bass. That's not the case here, at least not entirely. It would not be fair to call the track "anemic," but "somewhat challenged" does sound applicable. There's enough thump to satisfy general requirements but one could imagine a little more. The scene is certainly not wanting for surround integration, and neither is the sequence when Stark escapes the cave in his first Iron Man suit in chapter five. Gunfire here could certainly stand to add some depth, though some is present. Stark's exit from the cave works the subwoofer fairly hard, but subsequent gunshots (including from a large caliber machine gun) and explosions and raging fires don't much move the needle. His test flights come across as wanting more oomph, too, which is the story of the track. It is not classic Disney but it is not quite the beast it could be. Dialogue is at least clear and center focused with some examples of Jarvis' digital voice finding a greater sense of immersive space in Tony's workshop.

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

Unfortunately, Iron Man's UHD release only includes one 1080p Blu-ray disc, unfortunate because the original Paramount release included a second such disc with additional extras that are missing here. All that's included are the extras from that set's disc one. No extras are included on the UHD disc. See below for a list of what's included. Because the original review did not offer any coverage, find below a very brief exploration of each supplement. A Movies Anywhere digital copy code is included with purchase.

• Hall of Armor (1080p): An interactive supplement that allows users to study four different Iron Man suits in some detail, essentially offering 3-D digital renders. Selecting a section offers the opportunity to explore various components more closely with some accompanying text.
• The Invincible Iron Man (1080i, 47:04 total runtime): A fascinating piece that looks at the character's history in comics. There are innumerable images from the comic pages and many interviews with critical craftsmen behind the character and the series, discussing the world around Iron Man in great detail. Included are Origins, Friends and Foes, The Definitive Iron Man, Demon in a Bottle, Extremis and Beyond, and Ultimate Iron Man.
• Deleted/Extended Scenes (1080i, 23:56 total runtime): Included are Convoy Ambush, Craps Table with Tony & Rhodey, Tony & Rhodey on Stark Jet and Military Ceremony, Rhodey and General Gabriel, Tony Comes Home, Tony Begins Mark II, Dubai Party, Pepper Discovers Tony as Iron Man, Obadiah Addresses Scientists, Rhodey Saves Iron Man on Freeway, and Rooftop Battle.

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

Is this the definitive home video version of Iron Man? Hard to say. It depends what one wants to get out of it. If that is a clear, clean picture with bolder colors, the answer is sure. If one wants a faithful filmic presentation with a perfect soundtrack then the answer is a resounding nope.