Doctor Strange Movie Review

Released: 28th October 2016 (United Kingdom)

Length: 115 Minutes

Certificate: 12A

Director: Scott Derrickson

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Mads Mikkelson and Tilda Swinton

The less well-known, but thoughtful Doctor Strange makes his debut in this latest offering from Marvel; while it isn’t such a radical departure from the norm, it is still an intriguing take on the superhero genre.

Doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a brilliant but egocentric neuro-surgeon who loses the use of his hands in a car accident; desperate to regain the function of his most precious assets, Strange journeys to Nepal, only to be drawn into a realm of parallel universes far beyond his comprehension. Strange marks itself as one of the more fascinating tales spun in the Marvel Cinematic Universe; as the main character delves into the realm of the mystic, the audience is taken along on that journey, making the narrative continuously engaging. The source material is very solemn and collected, creating a focus on the mind and spirit, but Doctor Strange also mixes in a modern sense of humour and just like other films in the series, it makes great use of this tone to break up the more serious moments. Doctor Strange is also incredibly smart with its blending of science and spirituality, twisting, turning and colliding both in surprising ways. On the one hand, Strange believes in the application of physical skill and mental knowledge but he then begins to understand that the mind has another facet based in careful concentration. As a result the film’s settings, plot and lore come together to form an intoxicating ride.

The characters of Doctor Strange all have plenty of dimensions to them and very well defined characteristics. Benedict Cumberbatch is brilliantly cast as the Doctor; there’s a balanced mix of humour and intellect that slots him seamlessly into the MCU. However this does come at the cost of a worthwhile backstory; it would have added more depth had we seen more detail on how he became a successful neuro-surgeon. Cumberbatch’s closest friend and colleague Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams) is fairly downplayed and it doesn’t distract from the proceedings while still giving her a role to play. On the other side of reality, Strange’s closest ally Karl Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is built on duality; he believes in training Strange but also finds his own perspective changing as the film goes on. Benedict Wong is equally well-portrayed, his serious mannerisms bouncing off the comedic relief without ever feeling jarring.Mads Mikkelson plays main villain Kaecilius, whose backstory succeeds at deepening the lore of the mystics while also bringing a suitably threatening presence to bear. Lastly, there’s Tilda Swinton who takes on The Ancient One, one of the better mentor characters in the series so far; a collected yet committed woman who oozes just as much intrigue as the world she inhabits. The key line: “Forget everything you think you know” is a key aspect, the characters all conveying a theme of questioning things and thinking outside the box and this is a far more intelligent theme than anything the studio has done before.

Doctor Strange could well be the best looking film that Marvel has ever put out in recent years; the thoughtfulness that hangs over the film puts a new spin on the well-established trend of city destruction seen in its contemporaries. Fans of more mind-bending films will definitely be reminded of 2009’s Inception here as the environments shape-shift from one form to another with barely a moment to breathe. Add to that different dimensions and the bending of locations and you have an air of unpredictability that hooks into the action sequences. It’s an exhilarating ride that doesn’t falter for a second. Buildings fold, twist and break apart to form new structures and occasionally time itself slows or stops, allowing the audience to suspend their disbelief. The soundtrack has an air of science fiction to it, creating another elegant technical component. Doctor Strange is also one of few films that can join the likes of Avatar and How to train your Dragon with its superb use of 3D; it is used to truly make its alternate dimensions come alive and the strongest highlight of this is towards the end where a fantastic looking climax shifts in and out of reality with great precision.

The uncanny yet dazzlingly entertaining Doctor Strange is another sure-fire hit from Marvel. It takes a more calculated approach to the superhero genre and while the central character could have been introduced a bit better, the incredible special effects and fascinating narrative are more than enough to pull you into its world.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars