Marvel's Doctor Strange (2016)

[GP Legend]

Glad to see this is getting great reviews. It looks awesome. Can't wait to see it. Even better is seeing Mr. Mojo squirm and get jealous.

[Rodney-2187]

Originally Posted by Mr. Mojo

I like Marvel's idea for "trippy" visuals.

"Oh, Inception looked cool, but they only flipped a block or two. We're having an entire city collapse in on itself! It's totally different!"

Have you seen the movie?

[Hellraiserfan]

Originally Posted by rodneyfaile

Have you seen the movie?

Of course he hasn't. I saw that 15 minute preview and this is nothing like Inception overall.

[L-Rouge]

Doctor Strange. very very good, strong world builder that defines new physical rules within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

[Show spoiler]there is a spiritual component to the world building, if you have studied different beliefs and read on the concept of spiritual Chakras or Astral planing, that is the energy points within the body and your soul leaving the physical - Buddhist teachings reflect on these points as an example, there is a strong influence here, and I rather enjoyed that. other pop franchises to capitalize on such beliefs would be in animation with Naruto and Avatar:The Last Airbender

It would be one of Marvel's deepest entries, yet only approaching a familiar narrative sussing out the villians and bad guys and procuring a random solution to problem as they ALL do at the climax. I am reminded of Matrix and Inception with a dose of HOUSE, yet the film is very much with it's own agenda and consequently feels very much like a fresh movie with it's own dynamic in the MCU

I liked the characters a lot. 4/5.

[TommySyk]

My Review

"Forget everything you think you know."
- The Ancient One

No, this is not some sugar-free version of Inception. It's Inception with a whole lot more sugar (from a visual standpoint).

Those fed up with the MCU are probably going to enjoy this a lot. There's only like one brief mention to other MCU heroes and it's a whole separate story, exploring a new and complex world of endless possibilities. So complex in fact that this film just barely scratching the surface when it comes to delving into Doctor Strange's mystical world of gravity-defying alternate dimensions was enough to knock me to the ground. But it's handled well enough so that it's not too confusing for gereral audiences.

I honestly though they'd tone down the humor for this one, but it's dialed up to eleven. It's pretty much guaranteed in any Marvel film, and I guess a lot of people have a problem with it, but most, if not all, of the jokes in Doctor Strange hit. Plus, the character of Stephen Strange himself lends itself pretty well to the kind of humor in this film (although I'm not too familiar with the character, I genuinely thought he was a pretty serious dude, I guess not...), and Benedict Cumberbatch is great in the role.

The rest of the casting is impeccable, although I think Mads Mikkelsen falls a bit short of what I expected of him (not very surprising at the end of the day, seeing how the MCU villains, with the exception of Loki have been pretty underwhelming), and Rachel McAdams needed more screentime (though I'm sure it would throw off the pacing of the film).

Some might argue against me on this, but I also think this film wasn't very formulaic. Sure, there's a first, second and third act, but I felt like the pacing was so on point that it almost seemed like they'd coated it with butter to make sure it had a perfect flow (and it does). It didn't falter in that aspect, and I'm glad it didn't resort to the usual "I'm going to attack your girlfriend to get back at you" cllichés either.

The action sequences is where it shines the brightest though. This film looks absolutely gorgeous in IMAX 3D. It's not even just that it looks great - those scenes are directed so damn well that I feel obligated to call them the action sequences of the year by far. Even the more subdued ones, they're extremely well choreographed. THe big ones though... It's spectacular to behold, and very stylized, in a good way, as it defies what modern technology can do when it comes to cinema, all while going on an insane crack trip.

This is not perfect by any means, but it's more than any of us could've asked for from an origin story in 2016. And as Scott Derickson has stated, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Can't wait to see what they do with this mystical multiverse in future installments.

[karlpilkington4PM]

Originally Posted by GP Legend

Glad to see this is getting great reviews. It looks awesome. Can't wait to see it. Even better is seeing Mr. Mojo squirm and get jealous.

[L-Rouge]

I also enjoyed the films visuals and sound design, incredible low end for the film. there is a rather 70's trip vibe to the music, ala pink floyd .

[toddly6666]

4.5 out of 5 awesomeness!

The Matrix of superhero films - the special effects and martial arts were off the hook! Tilda, wow!

[Zivouhr]

Good to hear the positive reviews. This is unlike most Marvel films I've seen from the look of the trailers, so I'm very interested in seeing what's in store, and in 3D. Can't believe it's in theaters already next week. Time flies when you don't count the days.

[Trollhunter]

Can't wait to see this, I just hope Mikkelsen isn't another disappointing Marvel villain.

[toddly6666]

Originally Posted by Trollhunter

Can't wait to see this, I just hope Mikkelsen isn't another disappointing Marvel villain.

He's not - he kicks ass, he has his reasons and he moves so gracefully in this film! Scott Adkins also is a kick-ass goon!

[L-Rouge]

[Show spoiler]looking forward to Thor 3 :P

[bell_packet]

Originally Posted by L-Rouge

[Show spoiler]looking forward to Thor 3 :P

Definitely.

[Show spoiler]I was so excited seeing Thor talking with Strange that I didn't take in as much of their scene as I would've liked to. Good thing I'm seeing it again on the weekend so I can focus on it more.

[Rodney-2187]

I noticed today that all the Marvel Facebook pages (Iron Man, Guardians, etc) have posted upside down profile pics and wallpaper. Is that somehow related to Dr Strange?

[imsounoriginal]

Yup.

¿uʍop ǝpᴉsdn pǝuɹnʇ plɹoʍ ɹnoʎ ǝʌɐɥ oʇ ʎpɐǝɹ noʎ ǝɹ∀

[bell_packet]

Since I avoided most promo outside of the two big trailers I went back to look at the TV spots, and damn, definitely avoid them if you want to have anything even remotely new to see in the actual cinema.

[toddly6666]

I dont get it. The characters kept on talking about Doreamon and he never shows up??

IMG_1189.jpg

[Groot]

Originally Posted by L-Rouge

I also enjoyed the films visuals and sound design, incredible low end for the film. there is a rather 70's trip vibe to the music, ala pink floyd .

That's how I described the score earlier. Mystic music meets Pink Floyd. It's a totally rad score, I've listened to it way too many times now.

[NARMAK]

Originally Posted by toddly6666

I dont get it. The characters kept on talking about Doreamon and he never shows up??

Attachment 153280

You mean Dormammu?

[Show spoiler]He's the demon entity at the end who keeps killing Strange unless I missed something and another demon was mentioned

I will say that my most disappointing part of this whole movie is probably:

[Show spoiler]The way Strange has the Huracan crash. It felt so contrived and not realistic at all. I get it's supposed to indicate he wasn't paying attention but it feels deliberately staged rather than a genuine accident. That's my only gripe really about that but I probably knocked a point off just for that

Hopefully watch this again if I can clear the other movies i've got lined up to catch up on and watch.

[yeslek]

Originally Posted by bell_packet

First of all I just have to say that my worry over motion sickness was completely unfounded, I didn't have a twinge in the slightest throughout the whole film, so that's a relief. I guess I was just feeling off that time I saw the trailer. And speaking of trailers, I had The Great Wall (non-3D), then in 3D was Rogue One, and the sneak peek of Guardians of the Galaxy 2! So I was stoked to see that on the big screen, and Drax's "You need to find someone who's pathetic" line was a bit hit with the audience. That film's gonna be huge when it's released.

Ok, regarding what timeframe and time period the film takes place in (yeslek, you just posted while I was writing this)

[Show spoiler]it's definitely not around IM2 because you can see the Avengers tower looking like it does in AoU in the skyline before his accident, which makes me think that the patient Strange turns down could possibly be Rhodey, but being that Civil War took place so recently, maybe not. And IM armour isn't exactly experimental at this point in time, so that part of the line makes me think not. Guess we'll have to get an answer from the Marvel PTB regarding that one. And it also means it didn't take place over years like I thought it might.

As far as the humour goes, it's more restrained than, say, AoU or IM3, and only has a couple of broader moments (mostly involving Wong, amusingly enough). And even though it was in the trailers, the wifi password joke got a huge laugh, as did some moments with the cape, which is definitely a cool "character".

People who have a problem with Marvel's villain "issue" definitely won't be appeased with Kaecilius, but he gets the job done. It really is focused more on Strange's journey, which I don't have a problem with. It also gets to have its cake and eat it too when it comes to the big third act CGI-athon films like this have. A few of the fights were particularly inventive and required quick thinking by the characters, so I also enjoyed that as well.

I did like the character of The Ancient One and her arc throughout the film.

[Show spoiler]Although perhaps arc is the wrong word, more the revelation of where she gets her power from and how it made Mordo turn away from group. She's very Fury-like in her usage of the dark energy and using it to do good, because he's not afraid to use some more questionable methods to get the job done. It's a pity she died though, she was pretty bad ass, especially at the beginning.

The visuals were definitely stunning, and brief parts of it looked quantum realm-y from Ant-Man, so it'll be interesting to see how they tie in together. It also has some astral stuff that's out there, but since this is Marvel you know they've earned going to some weird places with the audience.

As for the comparisons with Iron Man, they're pretty superficial imo. They're both rich jackasses, but I got more of a change in actual character with Strange than I've ever seen in Stark, so that was good. I'm looking forward to seeing how Strange fits in with the Avengers in Infinity War though, (spoilers only for the mid-credits scene-->)

[Show spoiler]being that he's already met one of them in Thor, that's a taste already. Speaking of which, it was cool to see Thor again, it's been a while and now I guess we know the answer as to whether he finds Strange since he had that card with the Sanctum Sanctorum's address on it in Ragnarok filming pics. Only one more year to wait. :/ And I bet he wishes he could keep that ever refilling cup he was using while talking to Strange.

Overall it's very enjoyable and I'd give it a solid 4/5. Cumberbatch did well with the role and made it his own, for sure.

The more I think on it, the more am convinced that

[Show spoiler]its the IM2 Hammer armor....
The Hulk/Thor and IM2 stories all take place in the same week, with Avengers close after that - so we're talking what, a month, including the NYC attack, before Strange's accident? Its a possible timeline and the only one, that in my mind, fits. Otherwise, Strange didnt train for years, as indicated by his line about how he trained to reattach nerves - years of practice and study - and learnt all his magic in weeks/months top's. Which I dont think is likley.
Nah I think the movie started in late 2012 just after the NYC attack, and his training started in say late 2013 through to now - its also the only way Wong's comment about the Avengers defending earth from physical threat, and the IM2 armor aspects fit and make sense

to me at least