Review of Doctor Strange (2016) by Dana F — 09 Jul 2017

This movie should have been released on Halloween, because it's candy... for the eyes!! (Ba-dum-pum *crash*). Seriously though, what a visual feast. For the love of all that is holy, see it in 3D (I accidentally bought advance tickets for the 2D version, and I hate myself for it)! And even better, the story ain't half bad either.

It's a real mind-bender, similar to Inception or The Matrix, but cranked up to 11. And it's fun, too! The story explores more of the mystical side of the MCU, and though this stuff is pretty heady and out-there, it's to the writers' credit that it doesn't seem that far-fetched when you watch it.

Astral planes, the mirror dimension, and the Cloak of Levitation are way less silly on the screen than they sound on paper. Benedict Cumberbatch is perfectly cast as the titular Doctor... though I have to admit that his character is too similar to Tony Stark.

Still, Cumberbatch nails both the arrogance and the humor of the Doc in the most enjoyable way (though I had a hard time adjusting to his American accent, which was impeccable but just sounds weird coming out of his mouth).

All the supporting actors are equally strong, especially Tilda Swinton as the gender-neutral (and super white) Ancient One. The plot blends nicely with the other films in the Marvel canon, and it's abundantly clear that Dr.

Strange will appear in at least some of Marvel's future group films. He's a worthy addition, indeed. A movie like this could have been a disaster, but with its strong directing, crisp writing, perfect casting, and incredible effects, it easily meets the high standard that Marvel has set.