Photo by JAY MAIDMENT/MARVEL
Written by Bryson Beach
Salutations Crabicurious Crabs! I know it’s been quite some time since yours truly submitted an entry (July, but who’s counting). I wish I had a legitimate excuse for my lack of productivity, but I’m afraid I couldn’t even fabricate one at this point. I do hope all of you found all the sunshine rays and summer love you could handle the past few months, I’ve certainly had my own adventures…
But this isn’t the time for me to dwell on misadventures in romance! I’m sure there will be another post for that sooner or later (Spoiler?). Despite the lack of reviews, I never discontinued my movie going ways with my trustee movie going partner, Morgan. There was Suicide Squad, Sausage Party, Secret Life of Pets among others I had the pleasure of watching. So here we are in November and everyone’s thirst for the next legitimate Marvel Movie Experience has been quenched. This time in the form of Scott Derrickson’s film adaptation of Doctor Strange.
First and foremost, while I’m aware who the hero of the film is, I am a lot less familiar with his origin, capabilities, struggles than I am with Iron Man, Spiderman, Luke Cage, Starlord, Captain America, The Hulk, Jessica Jones, Black Widow, Daredevil, Wolverine…. Basically any of the other recent live action adaptation heroes. Typically in watching a Marvel movie or series, I call on my knowledge of the characters I’m watching from comics, graphic novels, and other media. While I felt a little unequipped going in, I think it was just exciting to take it for what it was and enjoy the movie without being overly critical. So if Steven Strange happens to be one of your favorites and some of my positive or negatives seem misguided or misplaced, let me know! I’d love to be enlightened further on the character.
(Proceed with caution: Spoilers are ahead!)
The movie starts with quite an opening sequence. We’re introduced to the film’s villain, Kaecilius, who is up to do no good (obviously!) as well as The Ancient One. The two engage in quite the visual duel complete with ever changing scenery and magic. The scene previewed a number of things I have prominent thoughts about. The physical fighting itself was fluid and I have no doubt there was a great deal of choreography and training put in by all parties involved, but the camera work didn’t do it justice. I feel like it should have been shot further away from the actual combatants. While viewing, I couldn’t clearly discern who was punching or kicking who. If the shot zoomed out just a bit more, I feel like it would have come off better. Then again, I still may be spoiled from the phenomenal work of Daredevil Season One, another MCU masterpiece.
While the physical fighting visuals left a little bit to be desired, the other elements of the action sequences were on point. Doctor Strange is a sorcerer who wields magic. Obviously there is no one on Earth who can legitimately conjure magic for attacking or defensive purposes except for David Blaine (joking)! To portray this on the big screen, the director used a lot of special effects. In all honesty, I had some trepidation before viewing, but those concerns were quickly erased within the first five minutes of the motion picture. The special effects didn’t come off corny or minor league (Think Ryan Reynolds’ Green Lantern).
Further delving into the special effects wizardry (see what I did there because…. You get it), were the beautiful settings during the fight. Obviously there were magical spells used to conjure weapons, shoot projectiles, and erect barriers, but there were also spells various characters cast that altered the very room or city they were fighting in. These scenes were somewhere between the revolutionary Matrix series and Inception. Each and every time they happened, I was very stimulated! Visually, that is. It wasn’t over done so each time it happened, it felt special. Dare I say we should have watched this in 3D!?
I believe the casting was rock-solid in the movie. We got Mr. Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular character. This is very much an origin story and Cumberbatch did a convincing job of having us buy into the metamorphous of Stephen Strange from an arrogant, hot shot surgeon with the ego the size of Tony Stark to a desperate broken man who’s become obsessed with fixing himself, onto a fearless hero who thinks about other lives before his own. I know it’s the same ole cycle we often see, but it’s not something that every thespian can realistically portray.
Prior to the release of the film, there was some contention about the casting of The Ancient One. From what I understand, the character is typically portrayed as an Asian man. We were treated to quite the opposite in Tilda Swinton, a white woman. I have strong feelings about that myself, but the job she did on-screen was great. The Ancient One is known as a sorceress supreme and an unquestioned leader in the fight against the sinister Dormammu (a demon from another plane). Through the course of the film, we see some cracks and vulnerabilities in the character’s past and character and Swinton plays the authority figure with baggage perfectly.
The third really strong casting decision was to have Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave) play Karl Mordo. Initially, the character that later becomes Baron Mordo is a devout follower of the Ancient One. The character alludes to previous demons but seems positive and gracious for the opportunity to practice sorcery and perform whatever duties the Ancient One requests. Without going into too much detail, Mordo becomes disillusioned by what he’s learned until he has to question all the previous teachings he had. Ejiofor’s slow heel turn (wrestling lingo!) was played perfectly down to his facial expressions, tone, and demeanor each time he was on camera. No wonder the actor has received so many accolades.
While Kaecilius’ master plan throughout the movie was to bring the world to evil entity, Dormammu, the villain himself was a bit underwhelming. It makes sense that Doctor Strange’s first on screen adversary isn’t some unstoppable cosmic force like Galactus or malevolent figure like Dr. Doom, but Kaecilius and Dormammu didn’t do it for me. The film did an ample job of building up the threat of Dormammu throughout the film, but the way he’s ‘defeated’ is mehh. The SFX, build, and drama leading up to the film’s climax as there but it didn’t go above and beyond in delivering in my opinion.
Perhaps there wasn’t that monster threat to make Doctor Strange seem vulnerable to losing, but this film went above and beyond in establishing Marvel’s next hero. We have a hero who tackles different kinds of threats in the mystic realm and we’re even shown an infinity stone, which will certainly have a role in the next Avengers installment. Based on the second post-credit scene, we have a new foe for Doctor Strange going forward too. Marvel did its job, and they have the formula down at this point, especially with origin stories. They’ve come a long way from Spiderman 2 and Eric Bana’s HULK (The recent Fantastic Four notwithstanding). I suggest everyone go see this because it’s a good film and you’ll need to keep track as the MCU continues to work to towards The Avengers: Infinity War feature in a couple years.
3 1/2 Crabs
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