To put it in very simple terms, Doctor Strange -- the latest Marvel Studios film to join their cinematic pantheon -- is a tangle of contradictions. Fresh yet familiar, inventive yet conventional, Dr. Strange succeeds in turning the visual spectacle joyride quality Marvel's films have always been known for to 11, bombarding us with a relentless stream of brilliant, trippy, kaleidoscopic visuals that feel genuinely exciting to behold -- especially in IMAX 3D -- while sticking rather close to the tried-and-true Marvel formula for superhero origin-story films, complete with the same underserved villain and token love interest that have been a problem with many of their past films.
If you thought the world-bending visuals seen in the likes of Inception or even Harry Potter were trippy, you haven't seen anything yet. Starting with a psychedelic visual trip through the multiverse, Dr. Strange delivers set-piece after set-piece of incredible reality-breaking magic, with buildings folding and turning in on themselves and constant shifts in gravity, forcing the characters to run on solid ground one moment and up the side of buildings in another.
The film's martial arts-inspired spell casting effects are also a beautiful spectacle to behold, even if a little limited. While the world-bending magic spells are undoubtedly cool, most of the characters in the film seem to lack creativity in how to use their magic in action scenes, opting to just use their magic to conjure various weapons instead of any kind of bombastic spell casting. It's one of the film's many puzzling contradictions, as you'd expect a sorcerer powerful enough to turn city blocks around like a Rubik's cube to do more than conjure an invisible air-sword over and over again, though you'll likely be too dazzled by the accompanying light show to care.
Benedict Cumberbatch doesn't disappoint as the titular arrogant-yet-brilliant neurosurgeon, bringing his usual gravitas to a role that -- perhaps unfortunately -- feels more than a little similar to Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark. Nevertheless, Cumberbatch's strong performance (forced American accent aside) imbues the character with such charisma that it's always a joy to see him on-screen. In fact, Dr. Strange's star-studded cast, which features such talented performers as Tilda Swinton, Mads Mikkelson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong and Rachel McAdams, is perhaps the film's strongest saving grace, as each player brings their best to bear, imbuing what would otherwise have been relatively bland, one-dimentional characters with such presence that it becomes quite easy to overlook the flaws in the script.
In conclusion, Dr. Strange can be easily described as a typical Marvel film taken to its extreme: a thrilling, fast-moving spectacle peppered with excellent humour and action with an underserved villain and a script that is perhaps too formulaic for its own good. Still, the film's otherworldly quality and excellent comedic moments brings to mind Guardians Of The Galaxy in terms of its inventiveness, bringing us a fresher, stranger (I'm sorry. It's right there!) version of the Marvel films we know and love. You'll definitely want to watch this film in IMAX 3D for the best experience.
Doctor Strange
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Tilda Swinton
Directed by Scott Derrickson
