Iron Man 2: At the Core of It

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Iron Man 2: At the Core of It
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie Title:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
2010
Original Running Time:
124
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
114
Time Cut:
15
Time Added:
6
Available in HD?
Brief Synopsis:
The arc reactor has triggered an arms race and is poisoning Tony Stark. Filled with self-doubt and alcohol, Stark must rise above his inner demons to contain the arms race, to overcome his enemies, and to find a cure.

Vanko is a determined but minor villain who never rises to Stark's level. Hammer, though naive, is more ruthless in his thirst for power. I imagine him in a future story as enabler for villains. And Pepper mostly stands by her man instead of the angry on-again-off-again relationship. Iron Man 2 introduces Black Widow and War Machine, and sets the stage for the Avengers movie.
Intention:
Iron Man 2 was one of the weakest installments in the MCU. No focus, too much snarky humor, a teeth-grindingly stupid Justin Hammer. No longer! This edit is a major overhaul of the storyline. Lots of dialog is trimmed, scenes moved around, deleted scenes inserted. Goals:
1) Focus the movie: WHO is the main enemy? Spoiler: Tony's heart condition.
2) Remove most of the anger between Tony and Pepper.
3) Upgrade Justin Hammer.
Other Sources:
Freesound.org (for sounds to use in noise cancelling).
The Clash's "Should I stay or should I Go" CD (for noise cancelling).
Danny Elfman's unused "Heroes" from Avengers 2 soundtrack on HDTracks.
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Special Thanks:
Masirimso17, for lots of great feedback, and TinyBreadMouse, including for improving the title, Zarius, Addiesin.
Release Information:
Digital
Special Features
1080p MKV
5.1 Surround
English Subtitles
Cuts and Additions:
- Keep Vanko opening.
- Follow with deleted scene of Tony trying new element combo for his heart, without success. Add Jarvis voice that it's "not a suitable replacement" and it's "killing you".
- Title, followed by partial deleted scene of Pepper kissing then throwing his helmet and Tony telling her "you complete me". This way we start with a smiling couple instead of an exasperated Pepper. Plus this was the intended (alternate?) opening considering the music lined up perfectly between the theatrical and deleted shots. Color corrected the light green tone.
- Keep Stark Expo, with some trims for dialog.
- Rework Senate hearing, add partial deleted scene with Coulson, cut Hammer's dumbest bits.
- Vanko makes whips. Tony continues to try and fail to find a cure-element for his heart.
- Tony and Pepper argue. She focuses him, he makes her CEO, reaffirms the importance of the Expo, and introduces the Monaco storyline.
- Retain Black Window intro.
- Trim Monaco pre-race to remove dumb Hammer and to make Tony's driving look planned (plugging the plot hole that Vanko couldn't have known Tony would drive if it was last minute). It also looks like Pepper knew Tony would drive.
- Trim Monaco fight to minimize the shots showing Pepper and Happy sitting shell-shocked (pardon the pun) in the car a few steps from the fight. Flipped a shot for continuity.
- Trim Tony - Vanko talk in French cell.
- Slight trim to Vanko's escape.
- Trim Vanko meeting Hammer, then going to warehouse, to remove dumb Hammer lines.
- Retain the bird but cut the bird jokes.
- Retain Stark pre-party with Natalie, into heavily edited party. Add partial deleted scene with Munn, to play up escalation of Tony's behavior, to better justify Rhodey taking the armor.
- Retain donut scene.
- Trim Vanko explaining to Hammer that drones are better, making Hammer less a dweeb.
- Rhodey brings armor to army. Fury gives Tony house arrest.
- Overhaul Tony in Pepper's office scene. Shorter, no Natalie, Pepper doesn't leave. Lots of audio got moved around, down to the small detail of Pepper now saying "What?" when Tony sits down (instead of "No", because the preceding question is cut).
- Add partial deleted scene to expand Tony finding the element.
- Vanko tells Hammer "no demonstration". Tony has his A-Team moment, building his new machine. Hammer gets armor from the army, then confronts Vanko (trimmed for Hammer's benefit). Tony completes his A-Team moment (mute "that was easy" because the point is that it wasn't). Vanko calls Tony. Juxtaposing Tony's inventing and Hammer's acquiring reinforces that Hammer is no real threat for Tony. Hammer is no buffoon, he's just not in Stark's genius league.
- Trim the Expo for pacing and Hammer's benefit.
- Many trims to drone battle and Tony-Rhodey dialog. Minimize civilian casualties. Cut dialog of Tony telling Pepper he was dying.
- Add unused shot from drone battle into Vanko battle. After Vanko battle, Tony says " that was easy" (telling the audience that he too is surprised it's over already).
- Trim rooftop scene. No Rhodey. Pepper doesn't resign. Tony and Pepper get to their kiss much faster.
- Insert mid-credit scene of Coulson's "A funny thing happened on the way to Thor's hammer". Retain post-credit scene of Coulson arriving at said hammer.
- Replaced last 2+ minutes of music during credits with the unused Danny Elfman "Heroes" from Avengers 2. Sped up credits 3% to make the tune fit. It referred back to Avengers 1, now it refers forward to that. I decided against Iron Man 3 music because this edit leads into Avengers 1. We haven't arrived at IM3 yet.
- Added FE logo at beginning and end.
- English subtitles.
Cover art by lapis molari (DOWNLOAD HERE)
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User reviews

28 reviews
 
68%
 
32%
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Overall rating
 
9.1
Audio/Video Quality
 
9.5(28)
Audio Editing
 
9.2(28)
Visual Editing
 
8.8(28)
Narrative
 
8.9(28)
Enjoyment
 
9.0(28)
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Overall rating
 
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
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10.0
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9.0
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10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
I loved this! I never minded Iron Man 2, but this is a much better version. As others mentioned, the deleted scenes are slightly noticeable, but it doesn't diminish the enjoyment. And I really love the focus on Tony's heart condition. What a great edit!

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Yes
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Digital
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Overall rating
 
9.0
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9.0
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8.0
I was not a fan of the original Iron Man 2. After the incredible first one, this was a let down. I would characterize it as a filler movie at best.

This edit greatly improved it and actually salvaged the movie for me, because it brought to the front the actual "bad guy" of the movie which was Tony Stark's heart condition and all the effects this seemingly unsolvable problem had to Tony's mind. Gone are all the unnecessary stuff and awkward humor and we have the best version of what this sequel could be.

Technical wise it was almost perfect and I also really appreciated that it has English subtitles, but I have one issue. After the final fight with Whiplash where Tony saves Pepper, go to the rooftop and she is delirious because of the stress, there is a cut to remove the two of them kissing and War Machine's scene. This cut from Pepper being delirious to Pepper being completely calm is really abrupt and takes you out of the moment. I don't think it was that important to not have them kiss, to force it with an edit that looks like a jump cut.

Lastly, I think the mid credits scene with Coulson is unnecessary, Thor's hammer is awesome enough by itself as a teaser, but no points reducted for this, it's just personal preference.

I definitely recommend this edit to anyone who found the theatrical movie mediocre. I believe this edit will salvage it for you and make it your go-to version for future MCU marathons. But even if you liked the theatrical, I still think this is a superior version.

Thank you lapis molari for all your hard work and thanks to anyone who read my review!

User Review

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Yes
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Digital
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Overall rating
 
9.0
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
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9.0
Visual Editing
 
7.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
Massive improvement over the original! Keeping the focus on the main issue of Tony and his heart really helps this movie. I really dislike the abundant marvel-humor and this cuts it down just right. The deleted scenes could use some color correction as it was pretty easy to spot, but n0t a huge deal. This was a great experience that absolutely replaces the original.
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Overall rating
 
9.4
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9.0
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10.0
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10.0
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10.0
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8.0
At the core of it, this edit is an improvement over the theatrical cut. The few deleted scenes that were reinserted are really nice character moments, which is something that Iron Man 2 has always had going for it.
At the time of it's release, the biggest criticisms of IM2 were that it was doing too much "set up" and not focused on telling a compelling story in it's own right. That problem is almost entirely solved by adjusting the focus to Tony and his heart condition.
The best edit is probably the decision to make Tony riding in the F1 race something that was planned. Because as Lapis sated, how would Vanko have known to attack him on the track if it was a last minute change? Flawlessly filled in that plot hole!

The only reason I don't rate my enjoyment higher is because I personally love Sam Rockwell's Justin Hammer, and I'm disappointed to see him cut down so much. Again, it's a movie with a lot of character moments, and I think he deserves to have a few more.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
J
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Overall rating
 
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
 
9.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
Finally, Iron Man 2, but good. Flawless edit, perfect audio, wise trimming and nice additions. My only nitpick is that we can tell where it's a deleted scene or not, but it's barely noticeable. Otherwise, great edit. I recommend it highly.

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Yes
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Digital
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