Marvel's Doctor Strange (2016)

[feintmotion86]

Amazing movie. Funny, visually stunning, and excellently choreographed fight sequences (not to mention imaginative!). A new word created for the Marvel world in cinema. This movie would have been terrible if made 10 years ago.

[Jasonic]

My Review

First off, seeing this in IMAX 3D, the visuals were on point. Certainly the most unique yet from the MCU. As much as I love the Marvel films, I'm still always clamoring for something different. Yeah, I get it, Winter Soldier was a kind of political spy film, Ant-Man was like a heist film, and Civil War changed up some dynamics. Yet at the same time, they still feel like more of the same, though that's not a bad thing when you do them right, and they do. Still, with Doctor Strange, it felt less connected and I liked that about it. I feel like I was more so just watching a mind bending action adventure film rather than a Marvel superhero film.
One thing to definitely remind me of it being a Marvel film, is another weakly developed villain. And it is definitely a bigger shame when such a talent like Mads Mikkelsen is the one playing the part. Though, without spoiling things, the end credits scene does give me hope that a better developed villain will lead the second film. Which was definitely the right way to go in setting that up. As for Mikkelsen's character, I was just hoping for a bit more personality with him. I loved the quip we got in the trailer with Strange's name, but that's about all we got.
There are some other questionable points to the movie, in terms of the direction it takes. A film like this is also difficult when it comes to the rules that these powers and dimensions have, and whether certain things make sense within that. Since I don't even know myself, you can't really do anything but forgive it.
I initially had my problems with Strange's progression, but as the film came to it's later stages, I got a better sense that really none of the characters were as in tune with the forces that be as they initially seemed to be. Which made it easier to except that Strange didn't fully need drop his arrogant and selfish persona in order to tap into such powers. Even as the film ends, no one has fully progressed, and that is fine, as well as necessary given the magnitude and endless possibilities of this magic.
I thought the film did a great job, as all the Marvel films seem to, at balancing out humor with the action and story. Swinton, Ejiofor, Wong, McAdams, and the Cumberbatch were all great in their roles. As well as, despite character faults with the writing, Mikkelsen can do no wrong.
Overall, I really enjoyed the film, and look forward to seeing it again. Especially for the visuals, which is a worthwhile trip to the theater alone.

4/5

[Sean B.]

I just saw Doctor Strange. I really enjoyed it. It's like Inception meets Ant-Man's Sub-Atomic reality meets a whole new trippy plain of colorful existence. 5/5

[y2jman]

i wasn't going to see 3d movie but decided to since it started around 3:45 and didn't want to wait and see 2d movie at 5

anyways i enjoy it the real reason was because rachel mcaddams was in it



but they guy who played doctor strange was great i like the end credits part

[Bolty]

Why can't I pre order this?
What's the hold up?

[MifuneFan]

Great movie, with a really well-done origin setup and some amazing visuals. Benedict is perfectly cast. It didn't quite feel like your typical Marvel universe movie, which is a good thing in my opinion. If I had to knock it for something, it'd be parts of the score, which rehashes the same kind of themes/cues as the Avengers or Capt. America, etc... I'd rather the score be completely original, as it's getting tiring hearing it in like every Disney Marvel movie. Some of the humor didn't work for me either, but that's usually hit or miss in these movies.

4.5/5

[Aerodude73]

Originally Posted by eightslicesofpie

I thought this was alright, but definitely a lower tier Marvel movie for me. I don't really like Strange as a character at all, so I hope the theory about him being the new centerpiece once Iron Man is done isn't true lol. The visuals were definitely cool, though.

+1

Originally Posted by OldPangYau

For the mid-credit scene, is anyone else convinced that

[Show spoiler]that scene will actually be in Thor Ragnarok? I know there were photos of Chris Hemsworth standing outside of the Bleeker St building during the filming of Thor Ragnarok, so it wouldn't surprise me. Would be akin to the Cap/Falcon/Winter Soldier scene from Civil War appearing 10 months earlier in the post-credit scene of Ant-Man.

Also, for the *post*-credit scene

[Show spoiler] I feel having somewhat of a "sorcerer vigilante", especially one who originally fought alongside of the hero, would make for someone who could potentially circumvent Marvel's "villain problem." He doesn't want to rule the world or have unlimited power... he just thinks he's doing something for the greater good by "de-powering" sorcerers.

lol, didn't know about a post-credits scene - oh well.

Originally Posted by Darkstream

Common criticisms I'm hearing:

-Similar origin arc as Iron Man with the lead character being a self-centered arrogant jerk turning into a hero.
-Rushed training of Strange becoming a sorcerer.
-About 1/4 of the humor falls flat.
-Main villain is underdeveloped.


Common praises:

-Visual effects are amazing.
-Cumberbatch is perfectly cast as Strange.
-About 3/4 of the humor works.
-It's connected to the MCU!

Miss anything?

sounds good --- not sure if I want to give 3 or 4 above...

[MifuneFan]

I had 10 trailers at my screening, TEN! A lot of them were awesome though.

Passengers
Wonder Woman
Logan ()
Pirates of the Caribbean 19
Life
The Great Wall
Power Rangers
XXX: Return of Xander Cage
Rogue One
Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 ()

[Elbie]

Oh that new intro is fire btw.

[Chaotic]

I really want to see the Wonder Woman trailer in the theater. Didn't get it before m IMAX screening. I got

XXX
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter
Logan
Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them
Rogue One 3D
Pirates of the Caribbean 3D
Guardian of the Galaxy Vol. 2 3D

[cinemaphile]

One of the things many people are praising that I didn't care much about was all the Inception/Escher/kaleidoscope dimension warping. I enjoyed the movie quite a bit (4/5), but that stuff didn't do anything for me, despite it practically screaming out loud "hey! look at the cool stuff we're doing!"

I did like the unexpected humorous moments and most of the action sequences, and while I liked this film, I agree that I hope they don't try to make Strange a central character going forward. I still kind of wish they didn't cast Cumberbatch. I just don't like his bland, beady-eyed alien shaped face.

[Blu Titan]

Going tomorrow with my son .

[cinemaphile]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I had 10 trailers at my screening, TEN! A lot of them were awesome though.

Passengers
Wonder Woman
Logan ()
Pirates of the Caribbean 19
Life
The Great Wall
Power Rangers
XXX: Return of Xander Cage
Rogue One
Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 ()

you got Guardians?!? I was sure that would be one but we didn't get that. I think we got like 8 - Power Rangers, xXx, Great Wall, Logan, Resident Evil, Fantastic Beasts, Rogue One, and Pirates.

I gotta say, the new Great Wall trailer looked just awesome in IMAX 3D. Too bad the film seems pretty bad, mostly because of Matt Damon. It's like they took what would have been a great Chinese film, and shoehorned in an American star (and one that doesn't fit the role at all) to give it a chance at US box office.

[cinemaphile]

Random thought during the movie - Early in the film when he was a long-haired cocky bastard, it struck me how much he reminds me of Charlie McDermott - Axl on The Middle. lol

[Chaotic]

Everytime Tilda was onscreen I kept thinking of Aang from Last Airbender especially when she was in her yellow outfit.

[chad_1138]

That was fantastic! Loved every minute!!

[dommie]

Liked it but it's not my favorite MCU film. Cumberbatch is great, as usual. I also liked Swinton. The rest of the cast was good in their roles but their characters were a bit flat as written, especially the villain. Nothing new there. The film is a visual feast to be sure although many of these types of effects have been done before (particularly Inception). But the plot is, IMHO, very formulaic and didn't show me anything unique as far as storylines go. I might check it out again when it comes out on Blu but not until it hits a lower price point. (I liked Captain America: Civil War better).

Trailers shown (it's Arclight and they only show 3):
Logan
Power Rangers
Guardians of the Galaxy 2

[Groot]

One thing I didn't mention, was anyone else impressed with how quick the action started and there's no "real" slow down to the story, similar to the way GOTG was? I appreciated that it didn't spend a lot of time on Strange before his accident.

[Zivouhr]

Good to hear the pacing is quick to the point.

Looking forward to this for this weekend. Will be checking out the 3D version.

[Mandalorian]

Originally Posted by Groot

One thing I didn't mention, was anyone else impressed with how quick the action started and there's no "real" slow down to the story, similar to the way GOTG was? I appreciated that it didn't spend a lot of time on Strange before his accident.

I would've loved for it to be 10 minutes longer, with more time spent on Strange pre-accident, but I still felt like I knew him well, despite how quickly they moved along. For the people tired of 2+ hour superhero movies, this should be a welcomed treat.