Sukanya reviews Dr Strange, the 2016 American superhero film, exclusively for Different Truths.  

Directed by: Scott Derrickson

Produced by: Kevin Feige

Written by: Jon Spaihts,Scott Derrickson,C. Robert Cargill

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams,  Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt, Scott Adkins, Mads Mikkelsen, Tilda Swinton

Music by: Michael Giacchino

Cinematography: Ben Davis

Edited by: Wyatt Smith, Sabrina Plisco

Production Co.:   Marvel Studios

Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios,Motion Pictures

Based on:  Doctor Strange by Stan Lee &Steve Ditko

Running time:  115 minutes

Country:  United States

Language:  English

‘Death is what gives life meaning. To know your days are numbered. Your time is short.’ – The Ancient One (Doctor Strange)

The 2016 American superhero film, ‘Doctor Strange’ is based on a Marvel Comics character. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the fourteenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

The 2016 American superhero film, ‘Doctor Strange’ is based on a Marvel Comics character. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the fourteenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film was directed by Scott Derrickson from a screenplay he wrote with Jon Spaihts and C. Robert Cargill, and stars Benedict Cumberbatch as surgeon Stephen Strange along with Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt, Scott Adkins, Mads Mikkelsen, and Tilda Swinton.

Storyline:

Dr. Stephen Strange: I’m Stephen Strange. I’m a neurosurgeon, was a neurosurgeon.
Jonathan Pangborn: Actually, you know what, man, I do know you. I came to your office once. You refused to see me. I never got past your assistant.
Dr. Stephen Strange: You were untreatable.
Jonathan Pangborn: No glory for you in that, right?
Dr. Stephen Strange: You came back from a place there’s no way back from. I’m trying to find my own way back.

In the film, Strange learns the mystic arts after a career-ending car crash. In Kathmandu, the sorcerer Kaecilius and his zealots enter the secret compound Kamar-Taj and behead its librarian.

In the film, Strange learns the mystic arts after a career-ending car crash. In Kathmandu, the sorcerer Kaecilius and his zealots enter the secret compound Kamar-Taj and behead its librarian. They steal a few pages from an ancient, mystical text belonging to the Ancient One, a long-lived sorcerer who has taught every student at Kamar-Taj, including Kaecilius, in the mystic arts. The Ancient One pursues the traitors, but Kaecilius and his followers escape.

Kaecilius uses the stolen pages to contact Dormammu of the Dark Dimension, where time is non-existent. Kaecilius destroys the London Sanctum to deteriorate Earth’s defense. The zealots then round the New York Sanctum, killing its guardian, but Strange holds them off with the help of the Cloak of Levitation, only to be critically wounded during a skirmish. He teleports himself back to the hospital where Palmer saves him. Upon returning to the Sanctum, Strange reveals to Mordo that the Ancient One has been drawing power from the Dark Dimension to sustain her long life, and Mordo becomes disillusioned with the Ancient One. After a fight in the Mirror Dimension of New York, Kaecilius fatally lesions the Ancient One and escapes to Hong Kong.

‘We never lose our demons, Mordo. We only learn to live above them.’ – The Ancient One (Doctor Strange)

Before dying, she tells Strange that he too will have to bend the directions to match Mordo’s steadfast nature in order to overthrow Kaecilius. Strange and Mordo arrive in Hong Kong to find Wong lifeless, the Sanctum demolished, and the Dark Dimension consuming the Earth. Strange uses the Eye to reverse time and save Wong, then enters the Dark Dimension and creates a time loop around himself and Dormammu. After repeatedly killing Strange to no avail, Dormammu finally gives in to Strange’s demand that he eternally leaves Earth alone and take Kaecilius and his zealots with him in return for Strange breaking the loop.

Disillusioned by Strange and the Ancient One defying nature’s laws, Mordo renounces his sorcerer business and departs. Strange returns the Eye to Kamar-Taj and takes up habitation in the New York Sanctum to continue his studies with Wong. In a mid-credits scene, Strange decides to help Thor, who has brought his brother Loki to Earth to search for their father, Odin. In a post-credits scene, Mordo confronts Pangborn and snips the mystical energy he uses to walk, telling him that Earth has “too many sorcerers”.

Verdict:

The film tactfully balances its outré source material against the blockbuster constraints of the MCU, delivering a thoroughly entertaining superhero origin story in the bargain. With beautiful graphics and sound effects, the movie seems to me like an engaging, smartly cast and sporadically eye-popping work.

As far as the originality of the movie is concerned, this seemed to me like a mix of ancient Indian mythology with a mix of the west. This action movie is different enough to establish a solid niche alongside the chartbuster combine’s recognised money machineries.

As far as the originality of the movie is concerned, this seemed to me like a mix of ancient Indian mythology with a mix of the west. This action movie is different enough to establish a solid niche alongside the chartbuster combine’s recognised money machineries. Apart from praiseworthy acting, I felt that there were certain sequences that went far beyond inception in visual spectacle and that the time manipulation sequences seemed amazing in 3D. Talking about Marvel’s works, despite having similar look and feel as the other MCU films, it uphold an underlying originality and freshness missing from the increasingly cookie-cutter comic-book dominion these days.

I second Alonso Duralde, who while reviewing for TheWrap said, “True, Doctor Strange is an origin story, and occasionally hemmed in by the genre’s narrative requirements, but it’s smart enough to bring in great British actors to make the predictable paces and life lessons feel fresh and fascinating.” Regarding the film’s visuals, Duralde praised them, exclaiming, “In a year where bloated, empty spectacles have induced a crushing level of CG fatigue, this funny, freaky adventure reminds us of how effective VFX can be when they’ve got some imagination behind them.

But despite all the good things, I’d like to point out that Doctor Strange has a fine introduction, but by the end, you’re not sad to be headed for the door.

Photos from the Internet