Directed by Jon Favreau

Marvel's first independent movie--and in my opinion the best movie of the summer AND the best comic book movie ever--hit stores today on DVD. Of course, I am referring to Iron Man, the box office hit has taken in over $318 million domestically. As we all know, the film stars Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man (to much fan and critical acclaim) as well as Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard and Jeff Bridges. Oh, and we can't forget Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.

I'm not going to regurgitate my review of the movie; I reviewed it for a Sunday Slugfest the weekend the movie debuted in theaters. I gave the film 5 bullets then, and I give it 5 bullets now. I truly believe Iron Man is the best comic book movie ever produced and yes, I do think it is better than The Dark Knight in terms of super-hero fare. They are entirely different movies and characters, and they have different film histories, so a direct comparison is unwarranted.

Anyways, on to the DVD and whether or not it is worth the money. Especially given the current economic turmoil in the United States and around the world, I understand how reluctant one might be to buy DVDs and what not. Well, I bought the "2-Disc Ultimate Edition" because I absolutely love this movie, and I've got to say that the Ultimate Edition is a must-have for DVD collectors, movie fans and Marvel fans.

The first disc is just the standard edition DVD release. It's got the movie itself as well as deleted and extended scenes. The menu features a beautifully rendered Iron Man navigating the "cyber-hub" of his armor. Very cool and very good looking. There are 11 deleted and extended scenes in all, and they are all actually pretty good. There's one specifically where Tony throws his party in Dubai that captured Tony Stark's balance of his playboy and superhero personas fairly well, but given the movie as a whole, I can see why it was cut out. Many of the scenes featured finished and unfinished CGI effects, and they offer a fun look into the movie making process and how things are done. This is typical of a lot of effects-laden movies and DVD-features, but given how well the CGI was done for this film, it is a little more fun to watch. Eleven deleted scenes is a solid number, especially in a film that was as fast-paced and well edited as Iron Man.

Also on this disc is a trailer for the upcoming Iron Man Armored Adventures animated series as well as trailers for Star Trek, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Incredible Hulk. I also found an "Easter Egg" on the first disc; it is a short featurette about Stan Lee's cameo in the film. He shares a great moment with Downey, and it really adds to the appeal and fun of Stan Lee making cameos in all of the films. The features are what the standard edition offers, but trust me, after this disc you'll want more, and that's where Disc 2 comes in.

Disc 2 features the same cool menu as Disc 1, but there are quite a few more special features. As of this writing I'm just finishing up Disc 2 and feel more than satisfied with my $22.99. First up is a very robust 7 part "making of" documentary. It explains the history of the Iron Man movie process and obviously the actual making of the film. There are commentaries from Avi Arad, Kevin Feige, Robert Downey Jr., director Jon Favreau, the cast and other production crew members. It's a very educational, interesting and hefty documentary. It also provides a very hands-on approach as if you are actually getting a first-person tour of the film's production.

Next up and probably one of the more amazing documentaries on the disc is "Wired: The Visual Effects of Iron Man." I personally thought Iron Man's CGI was masterful, the best since Superman Returns. I love "movie magic" and to see the combination of special and practical effects in this documentary is fantastic. Of course, it was George Lucas' Industrial Light and Magic, The Orphanage and the Embassy that provided the effects for the film, and seeing it come to life is fantastic. It's amazing how the three companies came together to make the film look beautiful. Definitely check this feature out.

The next two features go hand in hand. First there is Robert Downey Jr.'s screen test, which if you needed any further proof that he IS Tony Stark, this is it. It reminded me of the Hugh Jackman screen test from the X-Men DVD. Like Jackman as Wolverine, Downey is perfect for the Tony Stark role. Next is a short feature with Robert Downey and Jeff Bridges rehearsing a scene. Aptly titled "The Actor’s Process," the feature shows these two brilliant men doing what they do best. There is sheer brilliance in this feature as it shows two men who are passionate about their craft. Thank you Iron Man DVD team for including something like this. It makes me HOPE that Warner Brothers includes something similar with Christian Bale as Batman.

The DVD also features the "newscast" from The Onion where they reported that "The Wildly Popular Iron Man Trailer will be Adapted into Full Length Feature Film." It was funny as hell the first couple times I saw it, and it's just as funny now, especially with how well the film did.

And last but not least, there are four galleries of production photos, which include everything from concept art to unit photography to posters to concept art for the actual "Starktech" featured in the film. I have yet to find Easter Eggs on Disc 2, but I'm sure I will.

There is only one thing lacking on this DVD that may cause uproar amongst the hardcore movie buffs and DVD-heads. There is no audio commentary. Personally, I don't always listen to the audio commentary, even with my film degree, but I know there are some who think all DVDs should have it. I think the plethora of quality special features on Disc 2 make up for the lack of commentary, but I know its absence is going to upset a lot of fans.

Overall, this is a fantastic DVD release. A phenomenal movie and a robust selection of special features that is easily watchable over and over. I highly recommend you spend a few extra dollars and pick up the 2-Disc Ultimate Edition, the only debate being where you should get it. I picked mine up at Target and got a DVD case shaped like Iron Man's helmet, very cool. Circuit City gives you access to 6 free digital comics with Adi Granov art, Best Buy gives you a lithograph, and Wal-Mart packages an exclusive comic book.
Phew! This is a hell of a DVD.

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