Doctor Strange Review: Marvel Studios Continues To Wield Its Magic

By Steve Lam | Nov 4, 2016

Doctor Strange isn’t just a film about magic and fascinating dimensions. It’s a character study about the dimensions of fear and self-realization.

A decade ago, Doctor Strange would’ve been an impossibility to pull off as a film—for any studio. Like Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), it’s a weird movie and concept. Okay, maybe it isn’t that weird for comic fans. However, for laymen, they would’ve been left scratching their heads and thinking how the Sorcerer Supreme could ever be a compelling hero—let alone a character who could carry a movie.

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Thanks to the magic-makers at Marvel Studios under the visionary guidance of Kevin Feige, Doctor Strange is one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most compelling movies. Like Iron Man (2008), it’s a character study about the makings of a hero. Unlike Iron Man, the film doesn’t have a “light switch” transformation—but a slow evolution that is as satisfying as any arc.

Stephen Strange is introduced as an arrogant, egotistical neurosurgeon. Well, he has a right to be—the man’s the best in his field. He loves to taunt lesser doctors and make it a point that his work is above everyone else’s. However, when real emergencies do come up, he’s the guy you want with the scalpel. And luckily, he’s forceful when it comes to saving lives. Yes, for everything that’s unlikable about this character, the writers do imbue a sense of responsibility within him.

Soon, though, it’s he who needs help. After getting into a tragic career-ending accident, Strange sets off on a grueling marathon of surgeries to recover his life-saving hands. The various treatments and procedures prove to be useless, draining him both mentally, physically, and financially.

After investigating claims that a former paraplegic cured himself of his own ailment, Strange sets off on a journey to do the same. That journey is both external and internal. And it is here that the writing and acting both rise higher than the Cloak of Levitation.

Oscar-nominated actor Benedict Cumberbatch could’ve just phoned this in and let the effects do their work. However, he elevates the material to Shakespearean levels. Every word, every insult, every plead, is genuine. He embodies Strange and completely melts away.

Like I said before, Strange’s character arc is slow and sustained. In Iron Man, Tony Stark (an equally arrogant character), is instantly changed when he sees the sacrifice of Ho Yinsen. Here, Strange has a push-and-pull with his character development.

Even as Strange mastered the mystic arts, he still fights against his chosen path. That arrogance, as The Ancient One so eloquently points out, is due to his fear of losing. It’s only when Strange embraces this fear (which, might I add, was cleverly and humorously executed in the final act) that he overcomes the villain and truly understands himself.

This understanding comes with the embrace that he must “lose” in order to gain. Yes, I’m sounding almost as cryptic as Tilda Swinton’s androgynous wise character, but that’s the best way I can put it. The writers created a slow-burn character arc and story hidden within some fast-paced, high-octane, beautifully rendered action.

Like all great movies, Doctor Strange didn’t ignore the other supporting players. The Ancient One and Baron Mordo (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor) both have arcs of their own. To reveal them would be going into spoiler territory (although comic fans already know the general direction). But trust me, they’re not neglected, making this a fully fleshed-out film.

Notice that I haven’t even talked about the visual effects. That’s because words cannot do them justice. Yes, a writer is actually having a hard time describing what he saw. I’m serious, you need to experience this in IMAX. I can use all the adjectives in the world, but that still wouldn’t elicit the feeling of mesmerizing wonder.

The magic that Doctor Strange exhibits is real. It’s a different film in terms of character journeys, but it’s still the same excellent quality fans have come to expect from a Marvel Studios production. I applaud the studio for a job well-done in introducing audiences to the concept of multiverses in the Marvel Cinematic Universe—or should I start calling it the “Marvel Cinematic Multiverse”?

Next: Get a rundown of the mid and post-credits scenes

Production Details

Doctor Strange—Official Synopsis: Marvel’s Doctor Strange follows the story of the talented neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange who, after a tragic car accident, must put ego aside and learn the secrets of a hidden world of mysticism and alternate dimensions. Based in New York City’s Greenwich Village, Doctor Strange must act as an intermediary between the real world and what lies beyond, utilizing a vast array of metaphysical abilities and artifacts to protect the Marvel cinematic universe.

Doctor Strange is part of Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and was released on Friday, November 4, 2016. It is directed by Scott Derrickson, written by Jon Spaihts and C. Robert Cargill, and stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange / Doctor Strange, Chitewel Ejiofor as Karl Mordo, Rachel McAdams in an undisclosed role as Stephen Strange’s colleague, Michael Stuhlbarg as Nicodemus West, Mads Mikkelssen as Kaecilius, Tilda Swinton as the Ancient One, Benedict Wong as Wong, Benjamin Bratt as Jonathan Pangborn, Scott Adkins as Lucian, Topo Wresniwiro as Hamir, Umit Ulgen as Sol Rama, and Linda Louise Duan as Tina Minoru.