Doctor Strange – Movie Review
Doctor Strange – PG-13
Release Date: Fri 04 Nov 2016
Benedict Cumberbatch stars as the titular Doctor Strange in this latest superhero offering from the highly successful Marvel Studios. The movie provides a straightforward origin story for this lesser-known character, with the emphasis on the visual effects that illustrate the manipulation of time and space.
Chiwotel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams and Tilda Swinton have roles in the story, but they really feel sidelined for most of the action. Ejiofor’s Mordo is mainly an expository device, McAdams’ Christine Palmer is a semi-romantic lead, and Swinton’s The Ancient One serves as a teacher who feels like a less-developed version of Morpheus from the first Matrix film.
None of this is to say that Doctor Strange is a mis-step. It’s magical and mystical powers are new to the ongoing story, and although it’s disappointing to see yet another origin story watching Cumberbatch develop Stephen Strange from an arrogant doctor into a powerful sorcerer is entertaining.
The best aspect of the movie are its visuals, and it’s a definite case of a movie one should see in IMAX 3D or not in theaters at all.
Amber, Aaron, Matthew and I saw it in the theater and had a discussion in the car:
