Doctor Strange (B or 3/4 stars)
Ready for yet another new franchise in the Marvel movie universe? Well, whether you want it or not, it's here, it's 'good', & it's the highly anticipated 'Doctor Strange' (directed by Scott Derrickson, The Exorcism of Emily Rose). 'DS' is a tad different than other Marvel films, since it presents an actual sorcerer as a superhero. The movie opens with the introduction of our brilliant-but-arrogant neurosurgeon hero, Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), whose professional skills make him one of the most desired Mds in NYC, but whose strident personality turns people off. Even his doctor girlfriend, Christine (Rachel McAdams) receives a tongue lashing or two. One fateful evening, while driving his luxury car wayyyy too fast & paying little attention to the road, he becomes the victim of a catastrophic crash.
He survives ... but his surgeon hands are shredded. The nerve damage all but guarantees that he'll never perform surgery again. Desperate for hope {and a spiritual miracle}, he travels to a clandestine monastery called Kamar-Taj in Kathmandu, Nepal where he trains under the tutelage of The Ancient One (the mercurial Tilda Swinton) - an ageless, androgynous Celtic woman - her loyal disciple, Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) & her asst.,Wong (Benedict Wong). At 1st Stephen mocks the Ancient One's claims that healing his spirit can heal his body, but his training goes well; he becomes a believer; and it even appears that Dr. Strange might be a natural-born sorcerer (able to bend reality, control time, & create some parallel universes). All of this is in preparation for climactic showdowns with both Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen) & the elusive Dark Dimension-dwelling entity, Dormammu (voiced by Cumberbatch; doing double-duty). Trippy mayhem ensues.
Marvel's 14th movie has all the requisite action and, it’s a standard origin film, but it also contains a different type of titular hero - one who is legitimately magical & flawed, but willing to change. i.e., at the start, Stephen is so arrogant & so selfish, but slowly learns humility, how to better himself, & to think of others - I liked that. Director Scott Derrickson brings plenty of playfulness & light humor to a story that's kinda steeped in self-serious, mumbo jumbo mysticism. It helps - of course - that actors the caliber of Cumberbatch, Swinton, & McAdams {though, underused} bring such personality to their roles. Most of Doctor Strange's 'why-so-seriousssnesss' is a burden carried by Ejiofor's Mordo, but comic fanatics will know the reason why {wink, wink}.
One key aspect of this film that bares mention is the visual effects. Simply put, they're wondrous. Some scenes have those fascinating "Inception-like folding" effects where sorcerers change the environment around them (and when Dr. Strange learns his powers). But the effects didn't always work for me. There's a lengthy chase sequence that is SO effects-heavy & visually confusing that it took me OUT of the experience; which is never a good thing. It's like: oooh, look at the pretty hallucinogenic, psychedelic colors, but what the heck is going on!? As the film's climax arrives, the action becomes larger-than-life & similarly less involving. Still, it's cool seeing Dr. Strange embrace his inner spirit & finding his 'power'. It helps that his showdown with the enormous Dormammu is played for laughs as well as thrills.
Thank goodness Cumberbatch is pretty great, here. He embodies the narcissistic, arrogant Dr., while also getting us to root for him in the end. He looks the part, sounds the part, & dons the superhero attire well {awesome Cloak of Levitation!}. He even handles the cheeky humor well; a necessity. I also enjoyed his chemistry with Rachel McAdams, though, as usual, supporting girlfriend characters get the SHAFT in these films; and that's a bummer. Another bummer is that the villainous Kaecilius is hardly intimidating. WHEN will the villains in these Marvel films actually register as terrifying threats? For me, it's all getting a bit stale. Aside from Cumberbatch, the humor, & some of those effects, nothing really pops (sometimes hard-to-follow script, decent-ish musical score, etc.). 'Doctor Strange' entertains on a certain level and gets the job done ... but I wouldn't call it a truly special cinematic entry.
He survives ... but his surgeon hands are shredded. The nerve damage all but guarantees that he'll never perform surgery again. Desperate for hope {and a spiritual miracle}, he travels to a clandestine monastery called Kamar-Taj in Kathmandu, Nepal where he trains under the tutelage of The Ancient One (the mercurial Tilda Swinton) - an ageless, androgynous Celtic woman - her loyal disciple, Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) & her asst.,Wong (Benedict Wong). At 1st Stephen mocks the Ancient One's claims that healing his spirit can heal his body, but his training goes well; he becomes a believer; and it even appears that Dr. Strange might be a natural-born sorcerer (able to bend reality, control time, & create some parallel universes). All of this is in preparation for climactic showdowns with both Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen) & the elusive Dark Dimension-dwelling entity, Dormammu (voiced by Cumberbatch; doing double-duty). Trippy mayhem ensues.
Marvel's 14th movie has all the requisite action and, it’s a standard origin film, but it also contains a different type of titular hero - one who is legitimately magical & flawed, but willing to change. i.e., at the start, Stephen is so arrogant & so selfish, but slowly learns humility, how to better himself, & to think of others - I liked that. Director Scott Derrickson brings plenty of playfulness & light humor to a story that's kinda steeped in self-serious, mumbo jumbo mysticism. It helps - of course - that actors the caliber of Cumberbatch, Swinton, & McAdams {though, underused} bring such personality to their roles. Most of Doctor Strange's 'why-so-seriousssnesss' is a burden carried by Ejiofor's Mordo, but comic fanatics will know the reason why {wink, wink}.
One key aspect of this film that bares mention is the visual effects. Simply put, they're wondrous. Some scenes have those fascinating "Inception-like folding" effects where sorcerers change the environment around them (and when Dr. Strange learns his powers). But the effects didn't always work for me. There's a lengthy chase sequence that is SO effects-heavy & visually confusing that it took me OUT of the experience; which is never a good thing. It's like: oooh, look at the pretty hallucinogenic, psychedelic colors, but what the heck is going on!? As the film's climax arrives, the action becomes larger-than-life & similarly less involving. Still, it's cool seeing Dr. Strange embrace his inner spirit & finding his 'power'. It helps that his showdown with the enormous Dormammu is played for laughs as well as thrills.
Thank goodness Cumberbatch is pretty great, here. He embodies the narcissistic, arrogant Dr., while also getting us to root for him in the end. He looks the part, sounds the part, & dons the superhero attire well {awesome Cloak of Levitation!}. He even handles the cheeky humor well; a necessity. I also enjoyed his chemistry with Rachel McAdams, though, as usual, supporting girlfriend characters get the SHAFT in these films; and that's a bummer. Another bummer is that the villainous Kaecilius is hardly intimidating. WHEN will the villains in these Marvel films actually register as terrifying threats? For me, it's all getting a bit stale. Aside from Cumberbatch, the humor, & some of those effects, nothing really pops (sometimes hard-to-follow script, decent-ish musical score, etc.). 'Doctor Strange' entertains on a certain level and gets the job done ... but I wouldn't call it a truly special cinematic entry.