Open your mind
(This
review contains minor spoilers!)
If you asked me which of the recent
Marvel origin stories I thought would be most difficult to pull off on the big
screen convincingly, Doctor Strange would absolutely be my first choice.
Despite this universe already having norse gods, ancient magical stones, and a
talking raccoon, something about Strange and the more mystic side of the Marvel
universe seemed to clash with the more scientific approach the Cinematic
Universe seemed to be going for.
Not only did Marvel and director Scott
Derickson manage to pull it off, but they did it in the same way that made all
the best Marvel movies before it so great.
While Benedict Cumberbatch’s name gets
top billing, the real star of the show is the visual effects. These are
undeniably Marvel’s best yet, taking inspiration from movies like Inception.
Early in the movie, Strange is launched on a wild ride through several
different realms, each of them beautiful, terrifying, and gorgeous to look at.
If you can remember what the Quantum Realm from Ant-Man looked like, think
something similar to that but looking several times better. It’s a wild ride
through several impossibilities, and there are scenes that look like they
jumped right off a page drawn by Jack Kirby or Steve Ditko.
That’s not to sell Cumberbatch himself
short, because he uses his masterful acting talent to bring Doctor Strange to
life in a way that will undoubtedly please both longtime comic fans and
newcomers. Strange carries an arrogance and wit not dissimilar to Marvel’s own
Tony Stark, but on his own level. The main crux of the movie is built around
Strange’s disability to see past himself, a trait incredibly portrayed by
Cumberbatch. Before he was cast I always said he would be perfect for the role,
and now I can say I was right.
The rest of the cast is incredibly
stellar as well. Although her casting was controversial at first, Tilda Swinton
was a fantastic Ancient One, adding a sense of whimsy to the character as well
as making her feel like someone you don’t want to get on the bad side on.
Similarly, Chiwetel Ejiofor is a fantastic Mordo, and the movie portrays his
story from the comics excellently. The movie also hides a sort of secret weapon
in the form of Benedict Wong’s…er, Wong. I dare not spoil exactly what he does
in the movie, but Wong and Strange’s onscreen chemistry is fantastic. Rachel
McAdams also is great as Strange’s kind-of sort-of girlfriend Christine, with
my only gripe being that we didn’t see enough of her.
Unfortunately, the movie’s one weak
point lies in, yet again, the villain. Mads Mikkelsen is a great actor, and
while he portrays bad guy Kaecilius well, he ultimately joins past Marvel
villains like Malekith and Yellowjacket in how forgettable he is. He gets in a
funny line or two and his design is creative, but he’s sadly underutilized and
is only there as a way to move Strange’s character development along. Without
spoiling anything, I will say that towards the end they do something more
creative in terms of the big bad, and that sort of makes up for it, but I still
wish Kaecilius could join the ranks of Loki, pre-Civil War Winter Soldier, and Zemo
before him.
That’s my only real gripe though,
because Doctor Strange does everything else just so well. I love the way it
portrays magic, making it seem more like martial arts than the Harry Potter
method of yelling a magic nonsense word and waving a wand. The movie resembles
a kung-fu flick in the same way Captain America: The Winter Soldier was a
political thriller and Ant-Man was a heist movie. There’s a lot of underlying
themes for things like spirituality and Buddhism, making it really interesting
if you enjoy those things.
The soundtrack by the impeccable
Michael Giacchino is just as great as the rest of the movie, combining the
usual Marvel fare with a Celtic vibe that fits the magical setting of the
movie. The theme that plays over the credits is just awesome, and I’m still
listening to it.
Speaking of the credits, make sure you
stay all the way to the end. There are two post-credits scenes, with one coming
after the main title and one for those who sit through the entirety of the
credits. They’re both worth seeing, trust me.
Aside from Marvel’s continuing villain
problem, Doctor Strange is everything I hoped it would be and then some.
Everything from the visual effects, characters, set design, music, and
portrayal of magic is done pitch perfectly. I’d say it ranks in my top 5 Marvel
movies so far, just behind Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain America: Civil
War (I don’t know what compelled me to give Civil War an 8 in my review when it
so clearly deserved a 9). Even if you aren’t a Marvel fan, I’d highly recommend
this movie to those seeking something visually interesting to watch. As long as
you suspend your disbelief and just absorb the strangeness, you’ll have a great
time.
FINAL SCORE
9/10
Amazing
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