Doctor Strange is the latest Marvel Studios film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s about the character with the same name. It’s directed by Scott Derrickson, who also wrote the film, along with Jon Spaihts and C. Robert Cargill. It stars Benedict Cumberbatch in the titular character, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt, Scott Adkins, Mads Mikkelsen and Tilda Swinton. Doctor Stephen Strange is a brilliant surgeon who learns magic and the mystic arts after a surviving a car accident that ends his career in the medical field.
The good; amazingly done! This is the way magic is properly done, the use of magic follows rules and is earned, as opposed to being the impetus of the problem in the plot as well as the solution in the plot. It’s more about being in a world with magic as another tool and or weapon, rather than everything being deus ex machina.
Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange is perfect. Much like Robert Downey Jr. in the role of Tony Stark, how can anyone possibly do any better? Along those same lines, the pacing and amount of exposition in the film is just right. We get an origin story and step into this world of magic and mystical realms. Information on what things are and how things work is conveyed without dwelling too much for fear of being stale, as soon as we get the information the plot moves forward. The pacing and editing in the film is wonderful and really moves things forward.
The action sequences are literally mind-bending. The chase scene seen in the trailer where reality is bending to the will of the “astral user” is what immediately comes to mind. That scene alone is worth seeing on the big screen to experience the depth and scale of it all.
The bad; it ended, I immediately wanted the movie to start over again.
Overall, I highly recommend Doctor Strange. Go see this one in the theatre. The effects are top notch, the actors and the acting are superb. Doctor Strange manages to introduce a different character into the mix of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, while making Dr. Strange different he also fits right in with the rest of the heroes we know. It’s a real delight how Marvel puts character and story at the forefront of their movies, this will keep people coming back for me. And above all, you’ll have a fun time (remember when movies were fun??). This is a short review because I don’t want to spoil anything.
*As always, stay till the very end of the credits.
