Marvel's Doctor Strange (2016)

[dadaluholla]

I really enjoyed it. I needed something to get the spark going again for the marvel universe and dr. Strange definitely did the job for me. 4/5

[spectre08]

Originally Posted by AmrlKJaneway

Origin stories are boring. Everyone knows who these characters are and why they are the way they are, they should just dump them into the plot like Batman and Wonder Woman in BvS.

lolwut

[spectre08]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Yes. There is another stinger after all of the credits.

every....single...time

[Shin sam]

Originally Posted by AmrlKJaneway

I believe it was a radioactive bat. You're getting him confused with the super spider that shot Peter Parker's parents, but point well taken.

Ah, yep your right. Maybe I need these origin stories after all?

[thegoat]

Watched this last night. Overall I enjoyed it, but it falls into a lot of the usual Marvel traps (disappointing villain/climax, out of place humor, rushed story points, lack of focus on themes, not as much individualization n terms of style as I expected). Probably a 3/5 from me. Fun with an incredible first hour and some interesting new directions and visuals, but it ultimately glosses over or weakens some of it's more interesting concepts in favor of an overly simplified (or too easily obtained) resolution to the main conflict

Edit: I'll reemphasize that my overall reaction was positive. I think I went into the film with high expectations and it didn't quite meet them. In terms of quality, it reminded me the most of Ant-man, which I also like but where it seemed that the film could have been so much more and taken some bolder steps

[Riddhi2011]

'Doctor Strange' (3D)

Saw this one today, in regular scope 3D (No IMAX theatres in my state). The movie had some very interesting visuals. Especially that incredible psychedelic trip through the third eye and the astral projections, etc. The building bending shots didn't feel all that special because we've seen them in 'Inception,' where it was nicely contained and felt more real than the polished-CG look of this one.

Also, as regards the story, there was nothing groundbreaking about it. But I did like the eastern mysticism. I think it should have been explored more. Then again, I'm from India and these eastern mystic concepts mostly originated from my country and can be found in the ancient mystical texts, which the filmmakers allude to in passing ("Sanskrit," etc). I felt that the best scenes in the film were the more intimate ones; of Strange's moments with Christine and The Ancient One.

The 3D didn't have much of a point, to me at least. In fact in a lot of shots, the stereoscopic conversion made the characters and the surroundings feel like a miniature model than the vast dimensions they were supposed to emphasise. This has always been a problem with 3D. The stereoscopy in the opening shots were very strenuous and unlike how our natural vision perceives depth.

Finally, Cumberbatch, McAdams, Swinton, Ejiofor and Wong were really good with their roles. I felt that Mads Mikkelsen had nothing much to do other than conjure spells and kill sorcerers. He never seemed like a genuine threat. I found this aspect a bit pointless.

The music was good, but it wasn't really much memorable. I liked the more colourful cinematography which at fleeting moments felt like celluloid film.

P.S: There was one mid-credits scene and a post-credits scene, which were quite good. So, stick till the end. Though if you're a Marvel fan, you already know that, won't you? Cheerio!

[Adam_ME]

Originally Posted by spectre08

every....single...time

Not every time. Avengers 2 didn't have one. I think what confused people with Doctor Strange is that there was a pretty big mid-credits one(with a cameo from another superhero) that appeared to be setting up at least a subplot in a future MCU entry. I can't blame folks for assuming there wouldn't be another scene after the credits. And that one was equally big in that it set up at least a subplot(if not more) in the inevitable Doctor Strange Part Deux.

[The Debts]

Originally Posted by Riddhi2011

I liked the more colourful cinematography which at fleeting moments felt like celluloid film.

Makes sense because according to IMDB, some scenes were shot on film. Couldn't tell ya which ones, tho.

[Riddhi2011]

Originally Posted by The Debts

Makes sense because according to IMDB, some scenes were shot on film. Couldn't tell ya which ones, tho.

Yes, but it's strange (no pun intended) that there was no mention of KODAK during the end credits. I didn't miss it because I knew where it was supposed to appear. Only Codex and the Alexa 65 were credited as the format and camera respectively, probably the regular Alexa as well.

IMDB has been wrong before. For example they initially listed The Mag Seven (2016) as being shot with IMAX 15 perf film. But before the release, they changed it to 35mm anamorphic, which was the actual shooting format.

[imsounoriginal]

If parts of this were shot on film I really couldn't tell. I thought it was all digital, with IMAX portions done on the Alexa 65.

[Riddhi2011]

Certain shots felt filmic and a had a more textured look, but then, the whole film was digitally graded. So, it's never going to look like a photochemical timed film, which is the proper "film look" that we mean.

But because they didn't credit Kodak, and shotonwhat.com also does not mention film cameras, it's safe to assume that none of the scenes were recorded on film.

[jacobsever]

Saw this last night and really enjoyed it. As most of you know, Marvel/comic book/super hero movies are not my thing. But something about this one just clicked with me better.

The one gripe I have...is that is not at all what Mt. Everest looks like.

[yeslek]

Originally Posted by Aerodude73

lYea, agree with most of this post. Visually, it was Fantastic, but at times (

[Show spoiler]the Dark Dimension

), it was like an Overblown VOMITING of Every Color

considering(spoliering for saftey)

[Show spoiler]darkness ie black is the combination of ALL colour, where as white its complete abscence of all colour,

I'd say it was fitting.

[yeslek]

Originally Posted by rodneyfaile

Arrival starts this week.

Going to watch this via Unlimted cardholder preview thing the Cineworld chain does, later.
Doubling up with Accountant so hoping for a good night of movies

[borgmatrix]

Originally Posted by Adam_ME

I was expecting something great after all the stellar reviews, but this was a middle of the road origin story on par with Ant-Man or Thor(although far more self-contained than that flick with its SHIELD-dominated middle act).

I think my problem ultimately is, like I said, it's another origin story.

This would be my biggest criticism, too. One of the writers, Cargill I think, had commented that they had some initial ideas that Marvel (or whoever's making the decisions above them) thought were too weird, and wanted them to hold off until the sequels. I'm sure if they could have gone for whatever those ideas were, rather than playing it safe, we could have had something a lot more interesting.

I still enjoyed this a lot, and would probably choose it over most of the other Marvel movies. The mythology, the characters, the potential are big reasons why. I liked the look and feel.

But, I agree, definitely not great. I'd still say good, or pretty good. And I can see myself watching this more than some of the others once I pick it up on disc. But its a case of setting the stage for something potentially greater with the next one or somewhere down the line.

Especially when we're given yet another weak villain and a female lead who's wasted in a thankless supporting role.

I'm glad Mads at least had physical presence. But, yes, I wish they could have given us more time with him. The director seemed to be taking the ST approach ('09 Star trek) in not wanting a long movie (2.5 hours) and putting the emphasis on the protagonist and setting him up for future installments. I get it, but I think the movie would have been a lot better if it was longer and with that time spent giving us more of a look at Kacelius' (sp?) perspective.

I liked McAdams in her scenes, and I'm fine with that rather than forcing in a larger role when the story doesn't call for it. She wasn't a damsel-in-distress, which was good. Not all roles have to be huge, and I'm okay with what we got with her character.

I get that this is a different kind of superhero since magic, alternate universes, and time travel(or at least reversal) is involved, so an entire movie is needed to explain it.

And with this in mind, I can understand Marvel playing it safe with the "too weird" stuff. But, a lot of it felt superficial and like exciting new paint, rather than something of weight/consequence. The city bending stuff was cool and all, but especially with it being in mirror pockets (or whatever) with no consequence for the real world, it felt like an exercise watching sorcerer's not in significant danger in a video game setting (unlike, for example, Inception in which there were long stretches in the dream-within-dream state with risk of getting lost in there or not waking up). Yeah, a lot of new magic stuff, but it would have been nice to spend a bit more time with some of it and with higher stakes.

I did quite like it, and I am looking forward to seeing it again at the theater (was going to go for 3D, but I see some less than excited comments on whether its worth it). I probably would favor this over most other Marvel movies because I like the magic universe and what they've set up. But I do wish it could have been less safe, and strayed more from the typical origins plot points. If it had, could have been great, rather than good.

[Rodney-2187]

Originally Posted by yeslek

Going to watch this via Unlimted cardholder preview thing the Cineworld chain does, later.
Doubling up with Accountant so hoping for a good night of movies

I loved The Accountant, but it doesn't seem as popular with others.

[spectre08]

why are people complaining about it being an origin story?

Marvel could literally ONLY produce origin stories from now until they run out of characters, and it would be fine by me.

new formula

2 origins for new characters every year for 2 and a half years, 5 characters total.

6th movie is a team up movie of the 5 new characters

repeat.

100% a-ok if they did that.

[imsounoriginal]

Originally Posted by yeslek

Going to watch this via Unlimted cardholder preview thing the Cineworld chain does, later.
Doubling up with Accountant so hoping for a good night of movies

Wouldn't get your hopes up for The Accountant. Seeing Arrival on Wednesday, looking forward to it.

[mwynn]

Originally Posted by spectre08

why are people complaining about it being an origin story?

Marvel could literally ONLY produce origin stories from now until they run out of characters, and it would be fine by me.

new formula

2 origins for new characters every year for 2 and a half years, 5 characters total.

6th movie is a team up movie of the 5 new characters

repeat.

100% a-ok if they did that.

I have a lot of fun watching these movies with people who do not read, or care to read any comics. Just their overall joy and reaction helps me to enjoy the movies even more.

[The Debts]

Originally Posted by Riddhi2011

Certain shots felt filmic and a had a more textured look, but then, the whole film was digitally graded. So, it's never going to look like a photochemical timed film, which is the proper "film look" that we mean.

But because they didn't credit Kodak, and shotonwhat.com also does not mention film cameras, it's safe to assume that none of the scenes were recorded on film.

Benedict Cumberbatch filming Dr Strange in Nepal - YouTube

https://www.instagram.com/p/9vA7rSAGyK/

Looks like the scenes in Nepal were shot on Film while the rest was on Digital.