Doctor Strange

            If you couldn’t tell, I have been a little bit disappointed with Marvel Studios last three films. Don’t get me wrong, they weren’t bad, but after seeing films like the first two “Captain America” movies and “Guardians of the Galaxy,” the other films they released after haven’t been able to reach the kind of heights as those three. Sure, “Avengers: Age of Ultron” and “Captain America: Civil War” were big fun spectacles that had a lot to say, but it felt like they were trying to put in too much, even after thirteen films. “Ant-Man” just felt like a cash-grab, so not much to say about that. With that said, this brings us to the newest installment: an origin story, despite producer, Kevin Feige, saying they wouldn’t do another origin story…and so, we have the next hero introduced, “Doctor Strange.”

            After a car accident renders his hands almost completely useless and western medicine fails to help, Dr. Steven Strange, an expert surgeon, heads to Nepal to seek spiritual medicine. It’s there he begins his training in the Mystic Arts, especially that of the Eye of Agamotto, as he ends up in a battle between dimensions, against a former student who fell to the darkness.

            One of the main comparisons that have been made toward this movie was how it felt like a mix between two of Christopher Nolan’s movies: “Inception” and “Batman Begins.” The similarities are very noticeable, from the rich broken guy being trained to his fullest extent, to the film looking like everything is disoriented. There are even comparisons to “Iron Man,” with the main character being snarky and sarcastic.

Despite this, the film still manages to stand as its own entity, by taking those similarities and warping it into something very creative. By the time we reach the point where Steven experiences a taste of what the mystic arts these people have to offer, you know that things are only going to get better from here. While you do get the feeling this is a Marvel Studios movie, it takes the spot of being the most visually creative one they’ve done since “Guardians of the Galaxy.”

            Benedict Cumberbatch is outstanding as Steven Strange, bringing to life another famous character we know, but adding his own signature flare to it. You get a real sense of desperation of wanting to fix what made him who he was, only to find a new purpose that could lead to a stronger life. His arc is definitely the most interesting part of the movie, and even if the rest of the film wasn’t that strong, I’d still say see the movie just for his performance alone. Rachel McAdams as Steven’s love interest, Christine Palmer, is very likable in the role. She still keeps herself as level headed as possible, and does show great support for Steven, even after all the fights they go through. I like how they kept the relationship a bit more grounded, not letting the relationship be too in your face with it, but still letting it have some use in the story.

Tilda Swinton as the Ancient One, one of Strange’s mentors, is really damn good with what she gives. You always have a sense that she’s got some hidden secrets, but she always has something up her sleeve to keep you distracted from what it may be, with something that is far more valuable to the situation at hand. While a lot of people complained that the character wasn’t played by a Tibetan, at least Swinton gives a good performance and the character is written well. Same with Chiwetel Ejiofor as Kari Mordo. Since he and Cumberbatch worked together on “12 Years a Slave,” it you definitely feel a comfortable relationship between these two actors. I especially love the training scenes between these two, as they get to show off their physicality and mental strategy one on one. That, and the witty dialogue they share is quite funny. Other cast members like Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt, and Scott Adkins really sell it as well. We even get a cameo from Chris Hemmsworth as Thor, so that was pretty cool.

So with all that I’ve said, what didn’t I like about the film? Well, much like “Civil War,” I didn’t care much for the villains. Mads Mikkelsen, while he was better than Zemo and does a good job with what he’s given, isn’t particularly memorable. Sure, he has some cool moments, but nothing else really sticks out about this guy, except his eyes. I also thought the finale, while creative with its use of time travel, felt a bit too recycled with the whole “giant rift in the sky is going to kill us all” cliché. I think that’s starting to become one of my most hated clichés now after “Suicide Squad.”

Aside from that, I feel very comfortable recommending “Doctor Strange” to everyone. I had a fun time, regardless of my complaints with the film, and I look forward to seeing Cumberbatch in future MCU movies as the good doctor. The characters, the visuals, and action are all worth a viewing. Also, the score composed by Michael Giacchino is fantastic!

Rating: 8/10