Doctor Strange Review

If Inception and Marvel had a child it would be this film. Doctor Strange has visual elements that take the viewer on a trippy and edgy experience. The realm of magic is introduced into the MCU. Benedict Cumberbatch plays successful, and often arrogant, surgeon Dr. Stephen Strange. After being in a car crash that damages his nerves in his hands, Strange almost drives himself to rock bottom. It isn't until he learns of a Kamar-Taj, a mystical place of healing, that Strange finds hope once again. Under the teachings of the Ancient One, Strange becomes master of the magic arts and protector of the magical realm. While the movie is a fun adventure there are a few issues I found with it. The first is its similarity to Iron Man & Tony Stark. The plot is almost identical. A sassy millionaire, with a major ego, gets involved in an almost-death experience that causes him to use his power for good. In the future, when Stark & Strange must team up it will be interesting to see how the characters work together since, I suspect, personalities will clash. Another issue I had was how fast Dr Strange became master of the magic arts. One minute he is having a hard time summoning a teleporter then the next his is able to hold his own and fight Kaecilius and his henchmen. He is able to cast spells for combat without trouble and his fighting skills are excellent in attack and defense. Even in training, Strange didn't really show any real progress. It wasn't until his life depended on it it seems he is all of a sudden an expert. The last real problem I had was the whitewashing of the Ancient One. In the comics, the character is an Asian male; however, in the film the Ancient One is depicted as a white woman with Celtic roots. The problem I have with this change is it appears that magic that is practiced and created in Asia is mastered by white individuals. I would not have had a problem if the role went to an Asian woman since it's still within Asian culture. But it seems like Dr Strange and Tilda Swanton's character are the two experts for this practice.

Enough of the bashing, though, the element that really saves the movie is the visual. In the realm of magic there are so many elements that can be twisted such as time, reality, and space. Taking a page from Ant-Man, the Ancient One confirms there are multiple dimensions. We get introduced to the mirror dimension, the astral plane, and the Dark dimension. Each realm is a magical place with visuals that make it seem as if you went through an acid experience. It's exploring these realms that give a fresh take for the MCU and give flavor to the plot. The mirror dimension is a place where one can practice their spells without affecting the real world. In this location reality and objects can bend to anyone's will. You could be running straight only to realize you've been running up instead. The astral plane is an area where the spirit leaves the body. One fight scene shows Dr Strange fighting one of Kaecilus' henchmen in the astral plane. The laws of nature are ignored and anything that happens to the physical flesh in the real world affects the mind and spirit. The Dark dimension is where Dormammu exists. Its sole purpose is to bring darkness to Earth. An area where realities are endless and time ceases to exist. Each dimension brings a new adventure to the plot and leaves the viewer in awe.

While Doctor Strange exists as a stand-alone origin film for the film there are many connections to the MCU. By the end of the film, we learn that his Eye of Agamotto actually contains the time infinity stone. If Thanos is coming to Earth to collect the stones, then what better person would the Avengers not want as an aid then the Sorcerer Supreme. Characters that made a lasting impact are Wong, Strange's companion, and Mordo, friend-turned-enemy. By the end of the film, both hint they have a larger role to play in future films. Lastly, a mid-credits scene shows Strange confronting Thor about the location of Loki. Obviously, we will see Strange aid the Avengers in the near-future but how cool would it be to see Loki and Dr Strange go at it: the God of Mischief against Dr Stephen Strange. The film was just a taste of what we can expect from the character, but there is so much more yet to be explored and treated.

Final Score: 8/10

The plot falls really flat, but the visuals make up for it in a major way. Magic gives a fresh breath of air for the MCU and makes you want more. Maybe not thee best Marvel film, but something different to enjoy.