Home Media Magazine - Agent DVD - July 2008 - (Page DVD19) MIGHTY HAMMERING OUT BY FRED TOPEL R obert Downey Jr. was an unconventional choice to play the title character in Iron Man. He lacked proven box office clout, and his career has been clouded by personal setbacks. Director Jon Favreau fought to cast him, and a deciding factor was Downey’s performance in a screen test. That audition will be included among the extras on the two-disc DVD and Blu-ray Disc of the film due Sept. 30 from Paramount Home Entertainment. “We had some fans within Marvel, but there were a lot of people who were wringing their hands and were nervous,” Favreau says. “I understand that. I said, ‘If we do this screen test, it might be the tool to help me get this accomplished.’ And Robert went on camera and just crushed it. It was obvious that he was perfect.” Clearing such materials for exhibition can always be a challenge, but Favreau is glad the screen test can be included on the home video releases. “I want people to see it because it’s just as good, if not better, than anything that’s in the movie,” he says. Other extras include the behind-thescenes documentary “I Am Iron Man,” which chronicles the two-year production; a 18 AGENTDVD JULY 2008 featurette about the character, “The Invincible Iron Man”; a look at the visual effects; image galleries; the featurette “The Actor’s Process”; and a gag from The Onion about the film’s trailer. Also included are deleted and extended scenes, which will be available on a single-DVD version as well. “There are some different versions of scenes, particularly in terms of the dialogue,” Favreau says. Besides the Iron Man discs, Favreau also has been involved with bonus features on his previous films: Made, Elf and Zathura. “I love [extras], both as a movie fan and a filmmaker,” he says. “I think fans enjoy hearing about and seeing the things that go on behind the scenes to make movies.” Other MARVEL-ous Movies Avengers: The Next Generation Lionsgate Sept. 2 releases Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, the studio’s fifth direct-to-video animated film based on Marvel Comics characters. Both the DVD ($19.98) and Blu-ray ($29.99) versions include a behind-the-scenes featurette and previews of upcoming titles Hulk vs. Wolverine and Hulk vs. Thor. Spider-Man vs. The Lizard Spider-Man takes on a longtime nemesis this fall in The Spectacular Spider-Man: Attack of the Lizard! The DVD, due Sept. 9 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, is the first of four “Spider-Man” movies to be created from episodes of the KidsWB animated series. The DVD also includes a look at the animation process. – JOHN LATCHEM AgentDVD.com http://agentdvd.com
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