⏩ Genre :- Fantasy/Science-Fiction.
⏩ Runtime :- 2 hrs 10 mins.
⏩ Cast :- Benedict Cumberbatch, Tilda Swinton, Mads Mikkelsen, Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Benedict Wong.
The piling up of superhero films has led to a tiresome atmosphere in the movie geek crowd. We are all bored of seeing the same shit (with different names ofcourse) again and again. A little originality never hurts, eh! Remember Deadpool? Yes. We're talking about films like that. Breath of fresh air, wasn't it? And Dr. Strange is no exception when it comes to stale old storyline. But yes, it's more fancy, magical and more visually appealing. It introduces us to a new character and does the absolute best it can to keep the rest of the MCU from creeping in at the edges and flooding the whole movie.
⏩ Director :- Scott Derrickson.
⏩ Plot :- Stephen Strange is a neurosurgeon with miraculous hands and a gargantuan ego; He won't even treat patients he thinks he can't cure. Doesn't it remind us of someone? Tony 'Egoistic Charmer' Stark! Hmmm. One dark night, Strange – texting while driving, (Read : DO NOT TEXT AND DRIVE - Issued in Public Interest. Lol.) crashes his Lamborghini, later emerges with hands too crippled to be healed by conventional medicines. In search of a cure, he reaches Nepal and learns the mystical art by the "Ancient One" (Swinton) and thus realizes that he was born for bigger things. Hesitant at first, our sorcerer summons all the skills required to save the world from the dark dimension.
⏩ Direction and Screenplay :-
Scott Derrickson who has giving us terrific horror flicks like ‘Deliver Us from Evil’, ‘Sinister’ and ‘The Exorcism of Emily Rose,’ has upgraded his pallete to serve us, a magical and colorful canvas of the world of Dr. Strange. This is indeed a rare case in which Marvel has freed a director’s imagination instead of straitjacketing it. As far as the selling point is concerned, this is the same studio that made us weep over the death of a tree that said just three words. (GOG reference - "I AM GROOT!!" *sobs*) So no doubt about it. The screenplay, by Jon Spaihts, Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill makes it quite clear that Dr.Strange and his world is quite different from that of the Avengers. Strange can teleport to different locations, create strong magnetic fields, alter the path of time. Cool group of magic tricks, eh!
⏩ Editing and Cinematography :-
Running for a short 2 hrs 10 mins, the editing by Wyatt Smith and Sabrina Plisco is crisp and fast paced. No unnecessary elements drag the scene or creates a lag. Cinematography by Ben Davis and the VFX by the Team is hands down the best in all the Marvel Movies. Some serious mind-bending stuff combined with great visuals to let it manifest itself to the audience. It takes you to an alternate universe and makes you lose your sense of judgement into what's real and what's fictional.
All you are left with, are JawDrops, GooseBumps and WTFS!
⏩ Music :-
Michael Giacchino, (the composer of 'Jurassic World', Ratatouille', 'Lost', to name a few) has done a fine job in the music department. He has added new, additional layers of meaning and emotion to the film through songs that vary from dark, hypnotic and mysterious to some tracks even having a psychedelic ‘70s and ‘80s rock feel to it.
⏩ The Highs :
▶ The introduction of the Cloak of Levitation, Strange's encounter with the Dark Dimension, and the opening scene – wherein the Ancient One uses an Inception-style shifting of time and space in which buildings are turned upside down and dropped on combatants’ heads – are the best scenes in the entire movie.
▶ The movie has, without question, the most stylish and experimental CGI I’ve ever seen in a Marvel movie. The sorcerers conduct their battles in some sort of mirror-universe, which allows them to manipulate reality in some pretty freaky ways.
▶ You won’t soon forget the image of Cumberbatch having hands grow out of his fingers that grow out of his hands that grow out of his fingers /ad infinitum/. And the film has a clever, deadpan closing sequence that plays smartly with the idea that Doctor Strange, unlike many other Marvel heroes, wins his battles far more with his mind than his fists. No offense, Hulk!
▶ Making it grounded but still trippy really helps give it a flavor unlike any other comic adaptation.
⏩ The Lows :-
▶ Some scenes seem bland and repeated. Like, for instance, the spinning flaming circles in the air and disappearing into a vortex or portal, turns into a cosmic farce when the characters create their own doors for running in and out of. So much, that it reminds you of the anywhere door that Doraemom uses frequently to save Nobita's ass.
▶In introducing so many things, it actually weakens any type of development the antagonist has. (Not Kaecilius, there is someone else too. *winks*) It seems we'll have to wait until the inevitable sequel to have a villain that we give a damn about, and that sucks.
▶ Rachel deserved better. Strange kicks her out of his life in the first act of the movie, yet she is ready to forgive him at the drop of a hat when he barges back into her life for a favor.
▶ The primary antagonist, Kaecilius, gets less screen time, murky motivations, and literally no character development. Which is kind of a let down, but this is almost becoming a cliché in superhero movies.
⏩ Performances :-
▶What Robert Downey, Jr. is to Iron Man and Ryan Reynolds is to Deadpool – Benedict Cumberbatch is to Doctor Strange. The British actor, flashing an American accent that's galaxy apart from the aristocratic tones of Sherlock, is the creative spark that ignites this new entry in the MCU. He played the character that's witty, super genius and has a wry sense of humour - with precision and a peculiar body language that's complimented with his eye-rolls and delivery. Take a bow, Cumby!
▶ Tilda Swinton plays the "Ancient One", whose dome seems to have been carved by computers to make it smooth as a baby’s butt – with her crisp diction makes every Buddhist blah-de-blah sound great which you'd otherwise yawn at. A world-class mesmerizer she is. 😻
▶ Rachel McAdams plays Christine Palmer, the ER doc who loves him, despite the fact that the idea of romance for Strange is making her sit through his lecture on neurology. Aww. Also, her character is the most underwritten one after Mikkelson. Unlike Natalie Portman in Thor, she at least gets a few good scenes before being forgotten. Yayy!
▶ Mads Mikkelson as Kaecilius, a trained sorcerer, goes rogue and wants the evil to take on the good. The character development of Kaecilius is poor but Mikkelson manages to hold the bar with his deadpan and scary delivery.
▶ Benedict Wong as Wong, the protector of the Ancient One's secret books is the perfect fit for the role. This poor librarian is at the receiving end of most of Strange's dry sarcasm. For instance, "What, just one name," asks Strange sarcastically. "Like Adele or Beyonce?" *chuckles*
▶ Chiwetel Ejiofor, as Mordo to Strange, is what Falcon is to Capt. America – 'Imma save yo ass wheneva yo playy dumb.' Although he has nothing great to offer in this origin, he surely will have a meatier role in the next installment of the Strange franchise. (Post credits, bro.)
⏩ Watch or not? Defifuckingnitely.
***DO NOT MISS IT.***
I insist you spend a few more bucks and watch it in 3D for the amazing kaleidoscopic effects and Benedict ofcourse.
⏩ Verdict :- Ansnskdokdnfnrjdjj.
Translation : Still looking for the verdict. As if all the shit said above wasn't enough? Book your tickets rightaway!!
>>PS - THERE ARE TWO CREDIT SCENES. Don't miss out on any of them.<<
⏩ Rating :- 4.5/5 ❤
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