Dr Strange

Or Dr Gregory House's Guide to the Multiverse.

Went watching this last night, and it's really a film of two parts.

The first part, the boilerplate origin story is a step back from Ant Man and GotG, and it back to the usual formula - Life Before, Something Happens, Learn to be Better Person, Become Superhero. So far, so Underpants Gnomes. Which is something of a pity, it's done well, but we've also done this dance a few times now, so no matter how well it's done there is a little bit of get on with it already.

So we're introduced to the fact we have an English actor, affecting an American accent, whilst being an arrogant, yet brilliant, ass of a doctor. Hugh Laurie really should've tried out the for the role. There's a brief verbal reference to Civil War as Strange goes through potential cases and bins off War Machine.

It really kicks off when Strange seeks out the Ancient One, directions courtesy of Benjamin Bratt, and we get to some truly trippy images that hark back to the Ditko days as sarcastic cynic Western doctor gets his third eye unblind and starts down the path of magic. That's pretty much the last we see of those, although we get a bit of Microverse as a nod to Ant Man.

We're also introduced to Mads Mikkelson's Bad Guy, Kaecilius (which, I think, is somewhere between the duodenum and the illeum), who is really just there to be taken down, he's the ringer to get our Great White Hope a shot at the title in the sequel. He feels betrayed, and has swapped masters as the new one seems to be offering a better deal. Caveat emptor buddy.

It's when Bad Guy starts putting his plan in motion things get really interesting, and we see Strange become the hero. The effects, whilst along the lines of Inception, are a lot more dynamic. And then it's a bit of a roller coaster to the end where Strange uses his wits to save the day.

The fact it's got the Eye of a Agamotto tells you some time stuff is involved, and the battle scene involving it... It's brilliant. Yes, it's a reset button, but done very well, not like Voyager. I won't spoil the battle scene, but it's clever and a little mind-warping as you try to keep track. It's a little confusing, but really, there's no way it couldn't be to a non-Gallifreyan.

Just as the first half is very much Marvel-by-numbers, the second isn't, and can sit proudly beside GotG there.

And it may also set up the overarching villain for Phase 4 onwards, assuming Thanos won't be back for a while after Infinity War.

So I give it a 8/10, had they been more inventive with the beginning it would've been an easy 9+

There are two end scenes, the first ties into Ragnarok and hints we'll see Strange actually in that movie, the second either sets up the sequel or Strange won't be the only character from this film in Infinity War.

Fun.

Loved that they had Pink Floyd's "Interstellar Overdrive" in the soundtrack.

Ok, too many things in that review just don't make sense to me. Either they are Briticisms or Marvel Fanboi-insider-references. Posting them below, in hopes for a translation:

This just seems like Autocorrect gone awry...

"bins off"???

I can't even...

Obvious fanboi wanking reference...

Huh?

Eh, a quick wiki would answer most of them

South Park reference that ended up being something of a meme, especially in the tech/science areas. The Underwear Gnomes stole underwear, mainly as their business plan consisted of:

1) Steal underwear
2) ????
3) Profit!

It's basically how Silicon Valley appears to be working at the moment.

Northern British slang. Basically chuck something into the the trash.

Steve Ditko, co-creator of much of Marvel's early output, including Spiderman and Strange.

Big green gem. Part of Strange's outfit.

Dr Who reference, usually obligatory when dealing with time-based stories...

Seeing it tonight!

OMFG!!!!

Dr. Strange HITTING theatres.

Seemed like it wasn't that long ago when November 4th was so far away!

Like you haven't been able to watch it for ages now.

Saw it.

Spellbinding VFX, good performances, and effective humor somewhat undone by a lackluster plot, a too-vaguely-defined big bad, and a resolution that doesn't quite satisfy (though it is reasonably clever and completes the protagonist's story arc).

I'd say middle-of-the-pack for Marvel movies. You'll enjoy it and look forward to the inevitable sequel, but it won't be your favorite Marvel movie.

No spoilers, but there is a mid-credits scene and a post-credits scene. The first is a mostly amusing setup for (I presume) Thor: Ragnorak. It feels hastily put together, almost like an SNL short added on. The second feels more organically part of the main film (and ties up a loose end) and portends a sequel.

7/10.

That's why the star method of scoring can be so deceiving. The 10 score is more precise.
I'd have this with Guardians and Ant Man as 3 star movies but did enjoy those a bit more. The more present humor, I think.
I loved the way Dr Strange was visually like a comic book come to life. A lot of them become so lifelike and real (like the gritty DC movies) it can spoil a bit for me the fantasy-meets-reality blend.
And I particularly enjoyed the 'Groundhog Dimension' sequence.

http://dickynoo.blogspot.com/2016/11/big-winter-movies-part-2-part-2.html

I thought it was incredible. The way the movie visualizes Steve Ditko's weird other dimension stuff really worked for me. And of course perfect, perfect casting on this one.

Wasn't War Machine, as per the writer. It was probably one of Justin Hammer's test dudes.

The timeline doesn't add up.

I think it definitely was supposed to be a War Machine reference (Air Force colonel, spinal damage in some kind of experimental armor), but, yes, the timeline is screwed up. For this reference to be Rhodes, Dr. Strange would have to follow CA: Civil War which definitely follows CA: Winter Soldier which makes reference to Stephen Strange as if he was already active (if he wasn't, why would HYDRA want him to be one of the people eliminated?).

There is speculation about the "young woman with implants for the treatment of schizophrenia being hit by lightning" in that same scene is a reference to Captain Marvel.

Also, saw it a second time on Saturday and liked it a little more (it wasn't so late, and I wasn't tired like at the Thursday showing).

iirc, HYDRA was targeting potential threats, rather than just active threats. Strange could've been being targeted for a number of reasons other than being active. I imagine anyone smart, and not under HYDRA control, would be considered a danger to them.

Hadn't caught that one!

Yes, it has to be one of the Hammer victims -- but given that, I think the timeline does add up. It's just a movie that covers several years, most of which is spent on Strange's unsuccessful recuperation.

I like your points about each phase winding down over one or two movies. That makes a lot of sense.

Yes, but it wasn't just his name appearing on a list. Black Widow mentions him by name--as if others will catch the significance--and that seems a little out-of-step for a surgeon.

Introducing the character of Dr. Strange was in the plan when CA:WS was made, but the script for the final film was years away from being written at that time. If some of the subsequent script broke (or bent) continuity a little, no one really cares. It's not that big a deal. It's Klingon forehead ridges: you don't sweat it that no Klingon in TOS had them and you move on.

But that reference in the film is to Rhodey.

Of course, given that Strange can wield the Eye of Agamotto, perhaps history has been altered and that's why the inconsistencies are there.

This was one of my few gripes with the flick...there was a total lack of sense of any time passing during Strange's training.
Ok, yeah, I get that he's got a photographic memory, and is "wicked smaht" and can learn stuff really quickly.... But I got ZERO sense of how long he actually trained to learn the spells and achieve his mastery of them. It could've been days, weeks, months, or years--there were no clues to indicate!

My other main gripe is that some of those SFX damn near gave me motion sickness! Ain't nobody got time for that!!!

Otherwise, very well done, just the right amount of humor sprinkled in well. And I liked how the very last line of the credits was "Don't text and drive..."

Didn't care for it, which is surprising for me to say since I'm usually very forgiving with this kind of escapist fare. I thought it was paint by numbers Marvel. Plot was derivitive, FX were good but not revolutionary, basically Inception cranked up to 11. Villain was disposable, maybe better than Ant Man's villain but inferior to Thor 2's Maleketh. The doctor girlfriend was a waste of time. Weak chacterization (Wong arc = goes from humorless tightass who won't laugh at jokes to laughs at a joke by movie's end ). Didn't particularly care for Tilda Swinton, but I guess she won't be an issue in future films.

Kinda neutral on how they scrubbed the subject matter of any references to the occult. Wouldn't want to offend any soccer moms. Instead these mystical guardians are just channeling the cosmic energy of the multiverse. Yeah, whatever. Strange is just a cosmic wi-fi router.

It was just all too pat, neatly wrapped with a bow by the end. I was unconvinced by Strange's 10 minute transition from narcisstic douche to benevolent protector of mankind. The Ancient One says it takes years of practice and training to master energy manipulation. Strange seemingly did it in 5 minutes.

I don't find myself caring about this character any more than when I walked in.

I liked it but I wish they had been more trips into batshit crazy looking dimensions.

Just saw it Sunday afternoon in 3D!

It was really cool & fun!

Saw it the other day, I agree with what @Paladin said. It's not the best Marvel movie, but very interesting. The CGI was great, it's like Inception on acid. The vilian was meh and the giant face guy reminded me of the giant face guy from Green Lantern. Interestingly enough, my girlfriend liked it and she's not really into comic movies.

I just came back from seeing it.

I think this might be my favorite Marvel movie actually. I knew nothing about this character going in but I really identified with the material.

As someone who practices medicine and is scientifically minded, but who is also interested in Eastern philosophy... This stuff was right up my alley.

The actual plot was by the numbers and i would have liked more of the philosophical/occult but I guess they had to do the standard superhero stuff... Heroes vs villains, hero saves world, etc.

Is his cape sentient in the comics also? It kind of reminded me of the magic carpet from Aladdin.

By the way could someone describe the end credits for me? I was rushed out of the theater and didn't get a chance to stay...

Sequence #1

Sequence #2

saw it saturday, enjoyed the trippy-ness of it all.

No, in the comics the Cloak of Levitation just allows Strange to fly. It doesn't act like an independent entity. That's all movie rubbish, although it sure looked cool and I'd bet Stan Lee and Steve Ditko would sorta wish they'd thought of it back in the day.

Saw it. Liked it.

I took the reference to the Air Force colonel being Rhodey because we see in the beginning of Dr. Strange before Strange gets his powers that they show the Avengers building in New York City. Then there is the reference to the Avengers protecting the real world while the sorcerers protect the magic world.

The Avengers building shown in Dr. Strange is the one that was in Captain America: Winter Solider and Avengers: Ultron.

The person hurt in Iron Man 2 (Hammer's attempt to build a suit) took place long before the Avengers. Before even the Stark building was finished IIRC but it was definitely the Stark Building in Iron Man 2.

Plus I don't remember anyone identifying the man in the Hammer suit as being Air Force. I thought it was just one of his techs.

That's a significant amount of time between the Stark building becoming the Avenger building and I don't think anyone would be referencing some unnamed tech guy on Hammer's staff. Whoever that was, was hurt a long time ago in movie time.

It's not a big deal to retcon it to Rhodes. Makes more sense.