Doctor Strange
(2016)The impossibilities are endless.
Benedict Cumberbatch is Dr. Stephen Strange in this blockbuster Disney Marvel movie, a former surgeon who moves to a life of sorcery when his career falls apart. From the director of Sinister, co-starring Tilda Swinton (Moonrise Kingdom), Mads Mikkelsen (The Hunt), Rachel McAdams (About Time), and Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave).
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Directed by Scott Derrickson
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Tilda Swinton, Mads Mikkelsen, Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Scott Adkins, Benedict Wong, Benjamin Bratt
Written by C. Robert Cargill, Jon Spaihts (based on the comic book by Steve Ditko)
On Demand, DVD & Blu-Ray
Available from 6 providers
Flicks Review
BY Steve Newall Flicks Writer
By now, superhero origin stories are familiar beasts. While not exactly a superhero per se, Marvel’s mystical mage Doctor Strange is still the recipient of a fairly stock standard introduction here - Benedict Cumberbatch introduced as a bit of an arrogant dick, is confronted with a challenge that changes his worldview, gets abilities and et cetera. Fortunately, his hero’s journey is brought to life with sufficient psychedelic spectacle to paper over the plot’s familiarity, alongside Marvel’s expected knack for injecting organic humour into proceedings and casting strong supporting actors.... More
Cumberbatch is a credible medical master turner sorcery student, and as expected, Tilda Swinton brings both dramatic weight and light relief as his initiator into the mystical arts. Rounding out the cast, in Strange’s corner Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, and Rachel McAdams do as much as they can with fairly generic material, while principal villain Mads Mikkelsen doesn’t nearly have enough to sink his teeth into. Luckily, Mikkelsen’s screen presence is potent enough to get away with his character’s minimal motivation and development, and fortunately we’re spared the sort of unlikely historical bond with the hero that is seen elsewhere far too often.
The other true stars of the film lie in the special effects department, though. Doctor Strange boasts the most mind-bending visual effects I’ve ever seen, overloading one’s mind, while still remaining coherent to the audience. Cumberbatch’s initiation into mystical realms channels 2001, Dali, Doctor Strange creator Steve Ditko’s work and more besides; Manhattan- and London-set chase sequences one-up Inception’s folding cityscapes with healthy doses of Escher and psilocybin.
While it might not be Marvel’s most ambitious or successful work, they’ve nevertheless shown us a previously-unseen side of their cinematic universe and done so in frequently jaw-dropping fashion, elevating Doctor Strange beyond the film’s other, generally three-star, attributes.Hide
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Doctor Strange
BY Colttany superstar
very enjoyed this movie, another chapter to the Stones needed in the Marvel Movies. Loved this. had to buy the Bluray
BY Newt superstar
BY CStevenson wannabe
didn't know a lot about Dr Strange before watching, but was very pleasantly surprised the movie is funny, the acting is fantastic, the effects are very cool. go see it :-)
Showing 5 of 8 reviews. See all reviews
The Press Reviews
96%
of critics recommend.
Rotten Tomatoes Score. More reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
A bizarre and beautiful detour on the Marvel journey, which culminates in a mind-bending, expectation-inverting final act. Not to be watched under the influence. Full Review
Perhaps the strangest aspect of Doctor Strange, within the lockstep rubric of these things, is how non-Marvelly it manages to feel. Full Review
Cumberbatch fits Doctor Strange like a pair of snap-tight surgical gloves, in yet another MCU triumph. Beautifully designed, brilliantly executed. Full Review
It’s a tremendously engaging and likeable superhero ride, in which the classiest of casts show they know exactly where to take it seriously – and where to inject the fun. Full Review
Problems arise when Doctor Strange tries to tackle the everyday stuff, like telling a half-decent story. Full Review
Boasts an underlying originality and freshness missing from the increasingly cookie-cutter comic-book realm of late. Full Review
The overall production – from the exquisite orchestral score to the pitch-perfect pop songs and the fabulous CGI – makes Doctor Strange a hero among Marvel movies. Full Review
Director Scott Derrickson and his co-writers seem to have captured the spirit of the unconventional source material nicely. Full Review
Wasn't a complete Marvel home run for me, but no question this is a big screen outing well worth the ticket price... Full Review
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