Doctor Strange
Saturday, 5 November 2016
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Spoilers are marked.
Marvel's latest rootage celluloid stars the unstoppable Benedict Cumberbatch every bit Doctor Stephen Strange, a highly skilled, highly sought-after, highly rich in addition to highly pompous neurosurgeon. On transcend of his game in addition to on transcend of the world, Strange's cracking life is obliterated inwards a unmarried devastating moment. And piece on a desperate journeying to discovery healing, he finds thence much to a greater extent than when he finds a mystic known every bit the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) who expands his worldview -- in addition to simultaneously the MCU -- into the vast realm of magic.
Marvel it may be, but Marvel it sure as shooting doesn't feel. Doctor Strange convey a giant saltation into the unexplored, leaving behind practically everything nosotros know nigh the universe. It's really much its ain movie; simply every bit much as, say, Iron Man was, solely Iron Man had the wages of no canon to dictate to it. Strange is inwards such a unlike house from other Marvel flicks that it was costless to exercise novel things in addition to gear upward its ain world, in addition to it takes cracking wages of that.
There are 3 really minor references that necktie it to the preceding Marvel films, in addition to likewise that, my encephalon was having a difficult fourth dimension accepting it every bit beingness from Marvel at all. And I notwithstanding similar Marvel-y Marvel films, but it's cracking to know that the box tin -- in addition to has been -- broken out of. It's solely the similar on a really base of operations degree inwards the story; the skeleton of a superhero origin. How it builds on that is, appropriately, all yesteryear its ain rules.
The starting fourth dimension matter I noticed nigh it was the tone. And non that it's really darker than other serious superheroes, but at the same time, it is. Literally. The color palette is dark, chocolate-brown in addition to muted amongst highlights of neon. The lighting is beautiful in addition to minimal, amongst lots of silhouetting in addition to scenes that seem barely lit at all, but are done expertly, to create in addition to heighten an edgy darkness. Unexpectedly, handheld cameras are oftentimes used, which lends the celluloid some earthy grit; a cracking counterbalance for the trippy, spacey psychedelics that popular up. The contrast of the shiny, crisp in addition to sparkling magic amongst the deeply sturdy in addition to grounded experience of the physical public is excellent. I applaud the filmmakers for going inwards that direction.
Director in addition to co-writer Scott Derrickson is known for horror films, in addition to piece there's cipher really scary nigh Doctor Strange, the agency translates really well. (That also accounts for an incredibly decent boundary scare inwards the movie!) Writing is the i house where I wished for more. It's really non a negative because I know at that topographic point will endure to a greater extent than afterward inwards sequel films, but for now, the public isn't every bit explored every bit it should be. It's non overloaded, which is great, but I did experience slightly pandered to occasionally. I could receive got handled more, but the celluloid needed to endure accessible to fifty-fifty casual fans, in addition to I mean value it hitting the optimal middle ground. And I firmly believe that the celluloid volition amend inwards retrospect, i time fifty-fifty to a greater extent than evolution is added to the characters in addition to their worlds.
Segue: Characters! To endure perfectly candid, I expected to non really attention for Benedict Cumberbatch in addition to his grapheme inwards this film. Not that I don't similar him or mean value him a bad actor, I had simply seen too much of him recently. And I was feeling cynical in addition to thinking he was belike solely cast inwards the role because he looked similar the grapheme in addition to was the hot novel matter who everyone wants inwards their movie. But no -- he was excellently cast, in addition to gives a practically mesmerizing performance every bit Stephen. There's lots of drama to handle, in addition to he never takes it too far over the transcend where nosotros viewers are unwilling to follow. The grapheme arc is handled expertly; at starting fourth dimension he's really reminiscent of Sherlock, which wasn't a cracking start for me amongst my cynicism, but that solely made his elegant transition into zen in addition to gentlemanly hero fifty-fifty to a greater extent than impressive. Also, he is a main at making his hands shake!
Rachel McAdams every bit Christine, his ex in addition to immature human being doctor... I'm simply non a fan of McAdams, thence I can't assist but mean value that almost anyone could receive got played the part, but she didn't annoy me nearly every bit bad every bit she has inwards other movies. I relish her to a greater extent than when she plays dislikeable characters, in addition to Christine splits the line. She's complicated in addition to her role every bit romantic involvement stands on shaky ground, which is interesting. What won me over was the inscription on the spotter she gave Stephen, in addition to how much he values it.
Chiwetel Ejiofor. We all know he's great, but I acknowledge I didn't know what his utilisation was for a while, plot-wise. I liked his character, but wondered where he was headed. In the moment, it seemed similar a negative, but his arc does consummate to perfect satisfaction, thence that everything nigh him makes sense. Now I'm eagerly anticipating to a greater extent than from him. On that note, the i matter I mean value maybe should receive got been done differently: the halt credit scene was of import to the closure of his arc -- too important, I think, to endure left every bit the end-credit scene. Though I don't know where it should receive got gone... simply know that I strongly recommend sticking around for it!
Tilda Swinton I enjoyed immensely! She held my attending thence well, in addition to was thence fully immersed inwards her role -- a unique, thought-provoking, in addition to moving character. She was a pleasure. Ejiofor's immature human being cast mate from The Martian, Benedict Wong, was there, generally for comic relief, in addition to handled it splendidly. Mads Mikkelsen every bit the villain is possibly slightly on the forgettable side -- some other inwards a long trace of piece of job -- but it was appropriate that he simply serve his utilisation in addition to and thence disappear; his villainy came earlier Stephen entered the life, in addition to the even out is told from Stephen's eyes. And Mikkelsen's performance was goodness in addition to convincing. It worked.
Like amongst the colors (dark, highlighted amongst neon) in addition to the tone, (earthy, highlighted amongst dazzling psychedelics) this movie's comedy is an occasional extreme highlight; it's silly. And this is something that I honestly don't know what to mean value about. On i hand, it's a fiddling jarring when the motion-picture exhibit is thence beautiful in addition to muted in addition to serious, in addition to and thence of a abrupt has cute comic relief out from left field. On the other, it's non similar it was shoehorned in; the even out almost required it inwards some places. And it was really funny. Sometimes a joke would come upward across thence awkwardly, but in addition to thence some other layer would endure added that made it funny again. There was also a fiddling subtle humour that I appreciated to a greater extent than initially.
Maybe it's non a hundred pct my loving cup of tea, but I exercise mean value it works. It's strange -- it's Strange! -- but it's right. I may vaguely wonder if the goofy comedy was a self-conscious apology for making such a wacky even out convey itself thence seriously, but deep downwards I mean value I empathize that if the even out had taken itself seriously without those highlights, I wouldn't receive got been able to endure every bit invested inwards the seriousness. Instead, every fourth dimension the silliness pulled me out of the movie's depths, I was fifty-fifty to a greater extent than eager to plunge dorsum in. And it helped me to receive got the inherent silliness inwards the plot. Like the scene on the balcony of the hospital, which was such a beautiful, beautiful scene -- visually in addition to emotionally -- but at that topographic point was a silliness to it too -- a silliness that yesteryear that betoken I had fully embraced.
Two to a greater extent than things that simply impressed the stuffing correct out of me: (this paragraph gets a fiddling spoilery!) In the climax, I was absolutely flabbergasted in addition to amazed to discovery that it rode on smarts instead of action! Almost unheard of for Marvel movie, but at that topographic point you lot receive got it. And fifty-fifty to a greater extent than unheard of, collateral damage? Destruction? Zero. Zero! There was no devastation inwards the end. But it was simply every bit involving -- if non to a greater extent than -- every bit whatever superhero flick amongst destruction. I loved that. I am thence impressed in addition to happy at that clever change-up. (End Spoilers)
I started out this review thinking this celluloid was fantabulous -- technically exceptional, in addition to practically flawless, in addition to non quite my variety of movie. It made me laugh, it made me think, it made me grinning gleefully at the hide in addition to experience the heartbreak of its characters alike, but I was sure I wouldn't autumn inwards honey amongst it until after a sequel, similar it has been amongst thence many other Marvel films. But, every bit I wrote nigh the few flaws they morphed into praiseworthy aspects, in addition to every bit I wrote nigh all the fiddling moments I expected to someday treasure, I establish myself treasuring them already.
This was non a even out that I was determined to honey because of a sure grapheme or histrion or even out trace of piece of job that I was biased towards. Doctor Strange is wholly new, in addition to I knew it would involve time. It snuck upward on me, amongst its subtly welcoming heart, cool beauty, in addition to jarring highlights of total craziness, in addition to has since sunk correct into my heart. I was going to quote the motion-picture exhibit in addition to tell "Doctor Strange, 'time volition tell how much I honey you,'" but... it already has.
Marvel's latest rootage celluloid stars the unstoppable Benedict Cumberbatch every bit Doctor Stephen Strange, a highly skilled, highly sought-after, highly rich in addition to highly pompous neurosurgeon. On transcend of his game in addition to on transcend of the world, Strange's cracking life is obliterated inwards a unmarried devastating moment. And piece on a desperate journeying to discovery healing, he finds thence much to a greater extent than when he finds a mystic known every bit the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) who expands his worldview -- in addition to simultaneously the MCU -- into the vast realm of magic.
 |
| And I exercise hateful vast. |
Marvel it may be, but Marvel it sure as shooting doesn't feel. Doctor Strange convey a giant saltation into the unexplored, leaving behind practically everything nosotros know nigh the universe. It's really much its ain movie; simply every bit much as, say, Iron Man was, solely Iron Man had the wages of no canon to dictate to it. Strange is inwards such a unlike house from other Marvel flicks that it was costless to exercise novel things in addition to gear upward its ain world, in addition to it takes cracking wages of that.
There are 3 really minor references that necktie it to the preceding Marvel films, in addition to likewise that, my encephalon was having a difficult fourth dimension accepting it every bit beingness from Marvel at all. And I notwithstanding similar Marvel-y Marvel films, but it's cracking to know that the box tin -- in addition to has been -- broken out of. It's solely the similar on a really base of operations degree inwards the story; the skeleton of a superhero origin. How it builds on that is, appropriately, all yesteryear its ain rules.
 |
| Ugh, this photo! I never idea I would autumn inwards honey amongst Marvel cinematography inwards this way... |
The starting fourth dimension matter I noticed nigh it was the tone. And non that it's really darker than other serious superheroes, but at the same time, it is. Literally. The color palette is dark, chocolate-brown in addition to muted amongst highlights of neon. The lighting is beautiful in addition to minimal, amongst lots of silhouetting in addition to scenes that seem barely lit at all, but are done expertly, to create in addition to heighten an edgy darkness. Unexpectedly, handheld cameras are oftentimes used, which lends the celluloid some earthy grit; a cracking counterbalance for the trippy, spacey psychedelics that popular up. The contrast of the shiny, crisp in addition to sparkling magic amongst the deeply sturdy in addition to grounded experience of the physical public is excellent. I applaud the filmmakers for going inwards that direction.
Director in addition to co-writer Scott Derrickson is known for horror films, in addition to piece there's cipher really scary nigh Doctor Strange, the agency translates really well. (That also accounts for an incredibly decent boundary scare inwards the movie!) Writing is the i house where I wished for more. It's really non a negative because I know at that topographic point will endure to a greater extent than afterward inwards sequel films, but for now, the public isn't every bit explored every bit it should be. It's non overloaded, which is great, but I did experience slightly pandered to occasionally. I could receive got handled more, but the celluloid needed to endure accessible to fifty-fifty casual fans, in addition to I mean value it hitting the optimal middle ground. And I firmly believe that the celluloid volition amend inwards retrospect, i time fifty-fifty to a greater extent than evolution is added to the characters in addition to their worlds.
 |
| Fine histrion makes for fantabulous character! |
Segue: Characters! To endure perfectly candid, I expected to non really attention for Benedict Cumberbatch in addition to his grapheme inwards this film. Not that I don't similar him or mean value him a bad actor, I had simply seen too much of him recently. And I was feeling cynical in addition to thinking he was belike solely cast inwards the role because he looked similar the grapheme in addition to was the hot novel matter who everyone wants inwards their movie. But no -- he was excellently cast, in addition to gives a practically mesmerizing performance every bit Stephen. There's lots of drama to handle, in addition to he never takes it too far over the transcend where nosotros viewers are unwilling to follow. The grapheme arc is handled expertly; at starting fourth dimension he's really reminiscent of Sherlock, which wasn't a cracking start for me amongst my cynicism, but that solely made his elegant transition into zen in addition to gentlemanly hero fifty-fifty to a greater extent than impressive. Also, he is a main at making his hands shake!
 |
| Basically, I liked her because of the ii character's relationship. |
Rachel McAdams every bit Christine, his ex in addition to immature human being doctor... I'm simply non a fan of McAdams, thence I can't assist but mean value that almost anyone could receive got played the part, but she didn't annoy me nearly every bit bad every bit she has inwards other movies. I relish her to a greater extent than when she plays dislikeable characters, in addition to Christine splits the line. She's complicated in addition to her role every bit romantic involvement stands on shaky ground, which is interesting. What won me over was the inscription on the spotter she gave Stephen, in addition to how much he values it.
Chiwetel Ejiofor. We all know he's great, but I acknowledge I didn't know what his utilisation was for a while, plot-wise. I liked his character, but wondered where he was headed. In the moment, it seemed similar a negative, but his arc does consummate to perfect satisfaction, thence that everything nigh him makes sense. Now I'm eagerly anticipating to a greater extent than from him. On that note, the i matter I mean value maybe should receive got been done differently: the halt credit scene was of import to the closure of his arc -- too important, I think, to endure left every bit the end-credit scene. Though I don't know where it should receive got gone... simply know that I strongly recommend sticking around for it!
 |
| Great materials from these two. |
Tilda Swinton I enjoyed immensely! She held my attending thence well, in addition to was thence fully immersed inwards her role -- a unique, thought-provoking, in addition to moving character. She was a pleasure. Ejiofor's immature human being cast mate from The Martian, Benedict Wong, was there, generally for comic relief, in addition to handled it splendidly. Mads Mikkelsen every bit the villain is possibly slightly on the forgettable side -- some other inwards a long trace of piece of job -- but it was appropriate that he simply serve his utilisation in addition to and thence disappear; his villainy came earlier Stephen entered the life, in addition to the even out is told from Stephen's eyes. And Mikkelsen's performance was goodness in addition to convincing. It worked.
 |
| The vagueness in addition to mystery worked for him. |
Like amongst the colors (dark, highlighted amongst neon) in addition to the tone, (earthy, highlighted amongst dazzling psychedelics) this movie's comedy is an occasional extreme highlight; it's silly. And this is something that I honestly don't know what to mean value about. On i hand, it's a fiddling jarring when the motion-picture exhibit is thence beautiful in addition to muted in addition to serious, in addition to and thence of a abrupt has cute comic relief out from left field. On the other, it's non similar it was shoehorned in; the even out almost required it inwards some places. And it was really funny. Sometimes a joke would come upward across thence awkwardly, but in addition to thence some other layer would endure added that made it funny again. There was also a fiddling subtle humour that I appreciated to a greater extent than initially.
Maybe it's non a hundred pct my loving cup of tea, but I exercise mean value it works. It's strange -- it's Strange! -- but it's right. I may vaguely wonder if the goofy comedy was a self-conscious apology for making such a wacky even out convey itself thence seriously, but deep downwards I mean value I empathize that if the even out had taken itself seriously without those highlights, I wouldn't receive got been able to endure every bit invested inwards the seriousness. Instead, every fourth dimension the silliness pulled me out of the movie's depths, I was fifty-fifty to a greater extent than eager to plunge dorsum in. And it helped me to receive got the inherent silliness inwards the plot. Like the scene on the balcony of the hospital, which was such a beautiful, beautiful scene -- visually in addition to emotionally -- but at that topographic point was a silliness to it too -- a silliness that yesteryear that betoken I had fully embraced.
 |
| This is simply crazy. |
Two to a greater extent than things that simply impressed the stuffing correct out of me: (this paragraph gets a fiddling spoilery!) In the climax, I was absolutely flabbergasted in addition to amazed to discovery that it rode on smarts instead of action! Almost unheard of for Marvel movie, but at that topographic point you lot receive got it. And fifty-fifty to a greater extent than unheard of, collateral damage? Destruction? Zero. Zero! There was no devastation inwards the end. But it was simply every bit involving -- if non to a greater extent than -- every bit whatever superhero flick amongst destruction. I loved that. I am thence impressed in addition to happy at that clever change-up. (End Spoilers)
I started out this review thinking this celluloid was fantabulous -- technically exceptional, in addition to practically flawless, in addition to non quite my variety of movie. It made me laugh, it made me think, it made me grinning gleefully at the hide in addition to experience the heartbreak of its characters alike, but I was sure I wouldn't autumn inwards honey amongst it until after a sequel, similar it has been amongst thence many other Marvel films. But, every bit I wrote nigh the few flaws they morphed into praiseworthy aspects, in addition to every bit I wrote nigh all the fiddling moments I expected to someday treasure, I establish myself treasuring them already.
 |
| And eager for to a greater extent than magic from Marvel! |
This was non a even out that I was determined to honey because of a sure grapheme or histrion or even out trace of piece of job that I was biased towards. Doctor Strange is wholly new, in addition to I knew it would involve time. It snuck upward on me, amongst its subtly welcoming heart, cool beauty, in addition to jarring highlights of total craziness, in addition to has since sunk correct into my heart. I was going to quote the motion-picture exhibit in addition to tell "Doctor Strange, 'time volition tell how much I honey you,'" but... it already has.