Doctor Strange (2016) Film Review

When it comes to the new singular movies being released under the Marvel Studios banner, it's become increasingly repetitive in describing just how bizarre the character choices are – at least, in the way that the general public may perceive them. What had initially started as a constant question as to whether or not people would want to see a film about a Norse God, a period piece or the ultimate superhero crossover has grown to remarks on whether a space version of The Avengers or a pint-sized hero heist movie would keep the Marvel trend going (which in turn could be the same commentary towards Fox's 2016 gamble, Deadpool). Naturally, as each MCU movie has been released, those remarks have been silenced with a huge sigh of relief – if anything, only sequels such as Thor: The Dark World and Iron Man 3 have held the gauntlet for fan criticisms – but that hasn't stopped people being worried about upcoming efforts such as Captain Marvel, Black Panther and the newly-released Doctor Strange; a film that delves into the world of magic and mysticism within a universe that already has blends of fantasy, mythology and technology. Strange himself is no stranger to the world of film though, having already received a TV movie in 1987 (an extension of the flourishing Incredible Hulk series of the time) and having spent decades in the dark dimension that is development purgatory. It was only when Marvel retained the rights to the character could work truly begin, with a rigorous casting process that at one point was rumoured to star Joaquin Phoenix of all people as the titular sorcerer, and with horror director Scott Derrickson at the helm one with resume that it would be plain sailing from here on out. But with the world grows increasingly more aware of its flaws, controversy quickly grew over the casting of Celtic actress Tilda Swinton as the usually-Tibetan Ancient One. With white-washing becoming an increasingly important topic, could Doctor Strange's quality be deterred by its own castings? 

Stephen Strange (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) is well-remarked as being of the world's top neurosurgeons, and in turn has become a vain and pretentious employee at a hospital residing in New York City. But one dark and rainy night he finds himself in a severe car accident, which caused all the nerves in his hands to be replaced artificially – practically making his life a living hell due to the uncontrollable shaking and failure to find a proper solution. Upon chance, he gets pointed towards Kathmandu in Nepal, where a former paraplegic was apparently cured and is introduced to the world of magic and alternate realities by a hooded figure known only as the Ancient One. Strange's arrival and subsequent training couldn't have come soon enough, though, for a former student called Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen) and his disciples are embarking on a dangerous quest to summon the Lord of Chaos Dormammu from the Dark Dimension onto Earth. With allies in the form of fellow student Karl Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and the temple's librarian Wong (Benedict Wong), Doctor Strange must learn to control his new-found abilities for the sake of saving the world. 

Harkening back to the tropes made popular in Marvel's Studios first effort Iron Man and fellow mystic being Thor, Doctor Strange follows the same steps that most of the Marvel introduction movies have made, with a bombastic opening sequence ahead of the meeting of our leading man and the later event that leads Strange onto the path of healing. And just like we see during the cave-based moments of Iron Man, we see a broken version of the man who was once filled with life and purpose. It's here though that we truly jump on board with this film though; while the opening fight is a grand spectacle and likely a visionary experience in 3D, it's this time spent with a character who's lost all meaning that we truly feel for the man we're stuck with for the next 90-120 minutes. This same feeling is replicated when we're formally introduced to the weird new world that Mordo, Wong et al reside in in a huge and bombastic manner, and from there on out it becomes a fun ride with the standard Marvel quirks and one-liners; all leading up to a finale which is more in line with the recent smash Captain America: Civil War than other superhero movies. It is evident that the screenplay is arguably one of the film's weaker aspects, thanks largely to the amount of expository jargon being thrown around willy-nilly, but considering the film's status as being an introductory lesson in not only the characters that surround Doctor Strange but the very world they live in. And it doesn't stop some truly heartfelt moments nearer the end of the film, including a duologue between Swinton and Cumberbatch, nor the whole thing being an entertaining ride.

And what makes that ride oh so thrilling is the blend of director Derrickson's ability as a filmmaker and the visual effects work done by Luma Pictures and Industrial Light & Magic. The LSD-inspired effects are so beautiful and astounding that the feeling of a drug trip is obvious just from the outset. Plenty of comparisons have been made to the similarly insane work done on Christopher Nolan's Inception, and they're aren't wrong in doing so, but on this level it could almost be said that it's even more astounding. It’s certainly a film to see on the big screen and perhaps in 3D, if not for a few moments of uneasiness at the very beginning. It also should be noted that it may not be the best for viewers that suffer from something along the lines of epilepsy, as the fast editing and visuals could cause a negative reaction. On the plus side, Scott Derrickson has a strong control of the camera and his actors during such sequences, whilst the toned down moments are still filled with some level of beauty to be had, whether it be during simple conversations between pairings to big fight sequences that just so happen to include a sentient cape and an imaginary sword. Teamed together with Ben Davis – a recurring cinematographer for Marvel Studios – the duo creates a visually stunning film. 

As our leading man, there was, admittedly, trepidation to be had over the casting of one Benedict Cumberbatch. As an actor with a quintessentially British accent and a reliance on picking roles quite similar to one another (Sherlock, Star Trek Into Darkness and The Imitation Game are all fine examples), going for an American superhero with Sherlock Holmes-esque tendencies seemed like a flawed decision. Luckily, Cumberbatch instead delivers a superb performance; coming across as Tony Stark-like in big-headedness but devoted to not killing people like Captain America technically was. His American accent does slip on occasion, but let that slide for the sake of an otherwise great performance. In the same vein is Tilda Swinton, who's time as a despised casting decision can now be proclaimed as ancient history thanks to a stellar performance.  As Strange's mentor and ally, she delivers each line with finesse and poise, with praise again going towards her moments with Cumberbatch. Unfortunately, the rest of the cast aren't quite so lucky with their screen time. Rachel McAdam's distant love interest practically disappears for a good chunk of the film and lacks a little of the chemistry desired with her leading man; Chiwetel Ejiofor is a form of reluctant sidekick who seems all too open to Strange receiving the teachings; Benedict Wong is hilarious but also disappears for a good portion of the movie; Michael Stuhlbarg's rival Doctor is a non-entity, and then there's Mads Mikkelsen. Poor Marvel still seems to be suffering when it comes to their bad guys, as the usually intimidating Mikkelsen ultimately lacks in true character or vice. And whilst Dormammu looks great, he's ultimately a living equivalent of a McGuffin that the villain craves for. 

Doctor Strange is unlikely to appear on anyone's top superhero film list thanks largely to its usual Marvel formula and some lacking characters, but it will at least be remarked as the most visually-stimulating and bizarre effort to come about. With plenty of fun and laughs to be had and a couple of superb performances, this magical trip to a brand new area of the MCU is worth its admission price – and probably the additional costs for IMAX 3D. 8/10.