Doctor Strange (2016)

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tilda Swinton, Mads Mikkelsen, Benedict Wong, Benjamin Bratt, and Scott Adkins, with a cameo from Chris Hemsworth
Grade: A+

How in the fuck did this not win the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects over the remake of The Lion King? If you don’t think the Academy has a vendetta against superhero movies, you’re either lying to yourself or you work for them. It’s that simple.

Summary

In Kathmandu, Nepal, the mystical compound of Kamar-Taj is invaded by one of its former students and sorcerers in Kaecilius (Mikkelsen), along with his followers. He beheads the librarian who guards the books of magic teachings. Once he does this, he rips out two pages of one specific book of spells. Immediately, he is approached by the Ancient One (Swinton). She is the head sorcerer of the compound and has been the teacher of everyone who has walked through Kamar-Taj. A chase ensues, with the Ancient One trying to stop Kaecilius, fighting off his followers one by one, with both of their magic powers transporting them to London and even different dimensions. As the Ancient One starts beating major ass, Kaecilius still manages to escape through a portal he conjured up.

In New York City, wealthy and arrogant surgeon, Dr. Stephen Strange (Cumberbatch) is pulled out of one surgery he easily performs, while answering music trivia for his own amusement, by a fellow doctor and former lover Christine Palmer (McAdams). She thinks her patient can still be saved, despite Dr. Nicodemus West (Michael Stuhlbarg) deeming the man brain dead. Strange observes the x-rays and sees that West is wrong and the patient can be saved. He has Palmer assist him and miraculously, he saves the patient’s life. After this, Strange flirts with Palmer a bit, but she explains she doesn’t date colleagues anymore because of him. He invites her to some ceremonial dinner that he’s speaking at that night, but she turns him down once more, citing she never had fun with him at those dinners because they were all about him. This doesn’t kill his confidence, however. That night, Strange gets ready for the dinner, and we see his lavish condo and his taste for the most expensive of things. He drives out and after speeding like crazy around passing vehicles in the rain, while taking a call from a fellow doctor and looking at x-rays all at the same time, he gets into a hellacious car accident. It gives his hands severe nerve damage. Being that he is a neurosurgeon, not being able to work with his hands is the worst thing that could possibly happen because he can’t do his job anymore. Hell, he can barely write his own name. He starts forcing himself into experimental surgeries and spending whatever is necessary to hopefully save his hands and his career. Unfortunately, this results in him spending almost everything he has. On top of this, he’s still not getting any better.

He talks with a physical therapist while being frustrated at his lack of progress with his hand exercises and demands to know if anyone has actually managed to recover with this serious of nerve damage by doing them. The man tells Strange there was one guy he worked with who was paralyzed but managed to recover. Strange doesn’t believe it, but the man promises to show him his file once he finds it in the archives.

After hearing from another doctor that won’t help him (because what he is asking at this point is damn near impossible), Strange goes into a fit of rage once Christine comes over to console him. She tells him it’s okay to move on with his life and give up, mostly because he can’t afford it, and he doesn’t take too kindly to this attitude. He flips out on her and trashes their friendship and on/off relationship in a very disrespectful manner, so she leaves him to stew. That night, Strange observes the file of the formerly paralyzed man that the physical therapist sent to him to prove him wrong. After looking through it, Strange decides to meet the man known as Jonathan Pangborn (Bratt). The next day, he finds Pangborn playing basketball with some friends, and he approaches him, finding out that Strange refused to see him years before when the man was paralyzed. Strange asks him how it was remotely possible to come back from such devasting injuries, and Pangborn explains of a mystical place where he managed to heal himself with his mind after learning from a teacher. This place is called Kamar-Taj. So, Strange travels to Nepal to find the place, asking locals and anyone near where Kamar-Taj is. Eventually, he gets the attention of Karl Mordo (Ejiofor), a sorcerer and Master of the Mystic Arts close with the Ancient One. Strange almost gets mugged in an alley but is saved by Mordo. He takes Strange to Kamar-Taj but warns him to forget anything he thinks he knows.

Finally, he enters the building and is introduced to the Ancient One. She tries to explain how Pangborn was able to fix himself but instead of just saying magic, she walks around it and explains it in a vague way where Strange thinks she’s talking about cellular regeneration and other experimental medical treatments. She tries to explain how important belief is, and he flips out because he passes her points off as religious mumbo jumbo. Seeing that he’s not getting it and is still stuck in his own ways, she strikes him, pushing his astral form of body outside of his physical form to the point where he sees his own body in front of him. Then, to show him all the things he doesn’t know, she sends him on a small adventure through numerous universes and dimensions to show what is possible through her teachings and the ancient magic that one can learn. Once he comes back, Strange begs her to teach him, but she refuses and kicks him out. As he stays outside the door of Kamar-Taj, begging to be let back in, Mordo talks with the Ancient One. Mordo is impressed by Strange’s persistence, but the Ancient One is worried he’s too similar to Kaecilius and could be lured to the darkness. However, Mordo explains that the world is in danger if Kaecilius deciphers the pages out of the spell book he stole and that they can use a cunning man like Strange to help them. Considering this, they let Strange back into the building, officially beginning his journey into the Mystic Arts and his role into saving the world as we know it.

My Thoughts:

With the exception of Captain Marvel, Marvel’s Phase Three was almost perfect. All of the sequels included during this timeframe were fantastic and the solo films specifically were phenomenal. Those solo movies were Black Panther and Doctor Strange. Happening right in the thick of the “The Infinity Saga” as we now know it, these solo films were crucial for the Marvel Cinematic Universe going forward, and they lived up to the hype.

Doctor Strange showed me a lot of things, mostly that I may have an affinity for arrogant characters like Stephen Strange and Tony Stark. It’s a level of arrogance that is cool enough to like but bad enough to where the character still needs someone to “fix” him in a way. When I say Strange is “bad enough”, I’m talking about how he refused a few potential surgeries to perform because there was a chance he would fail, and it could screw up his “perfect record”. Not only does he choose surgeries based on the likelihood of him succeeding but also the notoriety coming with the case. If there is a wrong way to live life as someone who is supposed to save lives, this would be it. It hits even harder after he damages his hands, with Christine telling him no one could’ve done any better in terms of his surgery. What’s his response? He tells her adamantly he could’ve. The irony kicks in even further when a fellow doctor who he’s willing to pay for help refuses because he has his “own reputation to consider”.

We like you Stephen, but karma is a bitch, isn’t it?

There’s a lot to like in this origin story, as we meet Stephen Strange in his prime. This man had the perfect life as a rich and famous neurosurgeon, spending money like he is Tony Stark himself. Though he doesn’t make nearly the same amount of money, he spends it like he does and loves the life he lives because of it. If it wasn’t for the car crash that ruined his hands, he would continue living that life in a heartbeat. Only after seeing the possibilities that the Ancient One shows him does he become interested. Even so, once he starts to learn more and realizes the responsibilities that come with being a sorcerer and protector of Earth, he starts to regret his decision. Of course, this is until Strange understands he’s being looked at as the only person who can help. In one way, it’s him recognizing what he’s truly meant for. On the other hand, he needed his ego to be stroked too, making this superhero much more different than your usual comic book star. Being needed/wanted motivates a lot of us but in Strange’s case, it fuels him, even though it may not be said out loud.

Along with sprinkling in that signature humor that has become a staple of the MCU, there are so many cool story details added to this film that push it away from being a standard, “let’s go to an Asian country and learn from some all-knowing master” type of movie. They could’ve easily done this, and the film still would’ve made close to a billion dollars, but Marvel strives for top shelf material. They also make changes to the source material where they felt they needed to. One change was that of the Ancient One. Unless it’s handled really well, I’m always annoyed right off the bat when a character that is written a certain way in its original material is changed in a film for PR purposes. If it’s adjusted or changed for a valid reason and it’s presented well, I can be eased into it, but if it’s strictly to appease a political agenda, you’re an assclown. Admittedly, Marvel and Disney were in a tough spot because the very powerful Sorcerer Supreme was deemed by many as a racist Asian stereotype in the way the character looks and is written.

Think Pai Mei in Kill Bill: Volume 2, but it’s not a joke.

I can see why this would be problematic in terms of the look and feel of the character. However, if Wong was changed from a joke manservant to a strong supporting character that means a lot to the main story, as well as Strange’s progression in Kamar-Taj, how come they couldn’t adjust the Ancient One in the same way? You could update his look or avoid certain stereotypical issues by writing the character in a reasonable way to service the story, as well as be faithful to the character without it being racist. Wong is a perfect example of this. Would people still get mad? More than likely, but at the very least you could avoid changing the character to one that is nowhere near the original, so you don’t piss off the actual devoted fans of the comic. Here however, it was clear the decision was made to avoid backlash and not because of the story. This is where they fucked up. Ironically enough, Disney still got backlash for making the important male Asian character an androgynous Celtic woman, even with Tilda Swinton’s intriguing performance, because of it being labeled as an example of “whitewashing”.

Eat shit Disney.

The Tilda Swinton version of the character isn’t a dealbreaker per say, but I definitely would’ve liked to see what they could have done with a strong adaptation of who the Ancient One originally was. Having an all-powerful Asian character at the center of the film would’ve been huge from a diversity standpoint, but Disney overthought it to the point of still getting backlash and I find that hilarious. All they had to do was rewrite the character so he’s not a stereotype, but they decided this was too hard to do? That’s funny no matter which way you slice it. My only other issue with the movie was when Mordo and Wong explain the whole point of Kamar-Taj, the bases in the major cities, and how all the sorcerers are trained to help defend the world from mystical threats (which I felt was heavily implied from the beginning), and Strange freaks out, saying how he just wanted his hands fixed. What?! Motherfucker, you knew there was more to this the first day you signed up! You didn’t think there was a catch? There’s no way you can be this surprised. They don’t just heal people of their problems and want you to run away! They have to benefit somehow! Plus, you’ve been training as a fighter! Why the hell do you think you were doing all of that?

Besides these minor problems, this movie is so much fun. Watching the magical world of Doctor Strange being revealed to us is such a treat. You truly feel like you’re opening your mind to something transcendent. I love every detail about these characters, especially their weapons and accessories like the very Disney-like Cloak of Levitation and the cool Sling Ring that lets these sorcerers travel through the multiverse. We know about superheroes and we’re not necessarily shocked by what they can do (since we’ve seen so many of these types of movies) but throwing magic into this overarching saga changes the game. Because of this, every detail on how this is all feasible becomes interesting and must-see. In this film, it really felt like anything was possible. This is the message they are trying to send, and it works not only because of this awesome cast of characters and the idea behind it but because of the spectacular CGI and special effects that bring this story to life as well. Honestly, the CGI in this movie is pure wizardry in and of itself, seamlessly fitting in with the tone of the movie. This isn’t regular magician shit. This is a universe where sorcerers go to war and travel between dimensions and alternate timelines. The possibilities are endless when more things are shown to us. To prove this fact, there are countless jaw-dropping, game-changing sequences showing us the capabilities of the filmmaking technology we have today.

At this point, I’m indifferent to crazy CGI now because I expect all of it to be good, but the imagery presented in Doctor Strange during these sequences is nothing short of amazing.

I still remember watching this in the theater for the first time and thinking, “WOW!“.

The chase scene between Kaecilius and his followers going after Strange and Mordo is one of the most breathtaking chase sequences you may ever see, and it’s specifically because of how it looks and how these guys chase each other through these awe-inspiring universes. For those watching it for the first time, it really makes me want to recommend watching it on a big screen because the experience of Doctor Strange is insane. We only get a tase of it in the opening, but we see it in all its glory in the second half of the film and it’s absolutely bonkers. The attention to detail and the craftsmanship in putting these backgrounds together to make it look as real as possible is something that should be studied for all future MCU productions. Once again, the technological achievements in Doctor Strange make it feel like anything is possible and honestly, that’s exactly what you need for a character and a film like this. From the initial scene where the Ancient One sends Strange through the universes to give him a taste of what he’s missing out on to the out-of-body fight scene with Scott Adkins in the hospital, you will marvel (pun-intended of course) at how this story can still be innovative and unorthodox, despite it being the seventh origin story (at the time) coming out of the same company. Adding onto it is the set design as well. The hand-to-hand combat scenes aren’t anything special but because of the otherworldly set design, the costuming, the special effects, and the look of it all combined with it, it heightens the fighting to another level.

You become invested from start to finish, even if the fights aren’t as crazy as you would expect. It’s all focused on the spells, the attraction of the wizardry, and the learning curve encompassing it. It’s because of this that you still have so much fun seeing Strange feel out his powers to figure out what he can do, just as we learn at the same time.

Belief is a big theme in the movie too. I don’t mean in terms of religion but belief in oneself. This is very important for Strange because before he walks into Kamar-Taj, his confidence is at an all-time low since he believes that without his hands, he can’t do anything. This is something he makes very clear when his frustration hits a boiling point. Funnily enough, the Ancient One introduces Strange to Master Hamir, a sorcerer with no hands who is able to conjure up a portal with ease. It’s all about belief. Sometimes, you need to be reminded how powerful the mind can truly be, even when dealing with a grade “A” neurosurgeon. Strange is the type of guy you have to prove wrong for him to believe you, and the Ancient One starts to see this early. Motivation is also important. Strange wants to be the best, and he studies like hell, but sometimes studying by itself won’t cut it. When things aren’t clicking, and he starts lashing out and blaming others instead of himself, the Ancient One pulls a drastic measure and opens up a portal to Mount Everest and leaves him there, forcing him to conjure up a portal to get back.

This is essentially the equivalent of getting thrown into a pool as a child to force you to learn how to swim.

The thing is, Strange figures it out, opening his mind in the process. He was put in one of the harshest conditions possible not only because this would expedite the process in his learning, but also to show him everything and anything is impossible if he’s able to get over his own stubbornness and ego-driven problems involving things like his hands. Sure, his personality will still have certain traits that are rooted in his conceitedness, but you can tell how his mentality and maturity levels changed after this moment, beginning his journey to superhero territory.

The Ancient One tells Strange that to gain these magical powers and abilities to cast spells, you need to have the willpower, and you need to study your ass off. In a sense, it’s like getting your master’s. This is interesting to me because in most movies about wizardry and such, the common theme is usually that you have to be “chosen”, or you have to have something special inside you to be called upon. Strange sought them out because it was his last and only option left, and he kind of got lucky and just walked into the situation. It feels like it’s possible for anyone to do it, and I feel like this is what grabbed me. It’s just the thought of “practice makes perfect”. This is how you can become a sorcerer. That’s wild, right? It really brings out the kid-like imagination in all of us. Anyway, once he becomes humbled by the Ancient One, Mordo and the other players of Kamar-Taj, and he starts progressing rapidly because of his skills at studying and his photographic memory, the attitude and cockiness gradually starts to come back at points. We have no shame in admitting we’re glad this happens because that brashness is needed to add some flavor and humor to the middle of the story. It helps Strange stand out with a cast of relatively serious characters like the Ancient One, who’s unsure of how Strange will turn out, and Wong, who will not give him an inch on the jokes he tells. Wong and Strange’s friendship becomes an underrated part of the film rather quickly because of Wong’s refusal to be charmed. It’s pretty funny to watch unfold. He becomes very likable because of it, and you kind of want to see more of him (and I’m glad we do in subsequent MCU projects).

Also, seeing Strange not back down to the Ancient One because of his natural instinct to challenge others and lead himself not only helps him gain her respect, but it also changes the outcome of the narrative for all the characters.

You may argue Strange should’ve been more thankful and just shut his mouth but if it wasn’t for him questioning things, reading and studying harder than anyone, and wanting to be the best because he knows he can, the world may not have been saved. Strange tiptoeing the line of good and bad helps him become the hero the world needs. They need someone that wasn’t going to listen blindly like Mordo or Wong. Because he thinks in the manner he does, he understands the Ancient One’s motives in manipulating power from the Dark Dimension for seemingly her benefit. Even though she forbids these things in the case of everyone else, it needed to happen to keep the world and her students on track. It was a necessary evil and since Strange has a mind living on both sides of the coin, he is the first to understand. Since Mordo thinks too narrow-minded, he breaks and doesn’t really recover. To be a hero, and really a good protagonist, you need to have a layered mindset, much like how people are in real life. This is why strait-laced heroes don’t catch on with audiences a lot because in a way, they seem too good.

You ever wonder why people complain about Superman being too one-dimensional and good and as a result, Batman is considered to be cooler and much more interesting because of his “edginess” and dark side? It’s because Batman dealing with actual problems and going back and forth with decisions on how to deal with criminals the appropriate way is not only much more intriguing but realistic. Moral dilemmas and things not being cut-and-dry are what makes these characters compelling.

You can’t always go the same route and expect the perfect “good guy” result. Sometimes, you have to dip your toes on the bad side to get things done. Here, we are once again taught that nice guys finish last. Though you may be a good person in your own story, sometimes you have to break the rules to continue doing what you believe is right, even the Ancient One had to do it! You need to have doubt, you need to challenge things you don’t understand, and above all else, you want full honesty with the people you work with in these situations. This is why the character of Stephen Strange is able to make his mark in an overloaded cinematic universe filled with such an overabundance of characters and mythologies. Cumberbatch does a great job in showing these leadership qualities as our hero, showing everyone he will do what needs to be done, whilst giving this character the swagger he needs to set himself apart from everyone in this compound. He’s not as naturally funny as Tony Stark (though few are), but he’s eerily similar in style and attitude, making his character so easily likable. Cumberbatch already came in with so much experience playing the very similar Sherlock Holmes in the TV show Sherlock, and it was evident. He transitioned his performance as the famed British detective into the famed American sorcerer, while keeping the same charismatic and sarcastic charm with undeniable ease.

I will say that in a different world where Robert Downey Jr. was never picked for Iron Man, I could 100% see him playing Strange. Regardless, things worked out for the best. Benedict Cumberbatch has shown that even with the future of the MCU being a little different without Downey Jr. and Chris Evans, we are still in great hands with guys like Cumberbatch and Tom Holland taking over.

With an ingenious and incredibly imaginative climax that includes a fight in reverse time and Strange annoying a monstrous God-like figure into submission, Doctor Strange is right up there with the best of them as another awesome superhero movie added to an already fully loaded catalogue of characters to play with in the highly-acclaimed Marvel Cinematic Universe. The characters are interesting, the story is really cool, the CGI is out of this world, the humor and romance is there, the action is intense, and it’s mesmerizing to watch when the magic is presented to us in front of and behind the camera. The best part about all of this is they show us just enough to want more of this mystical superhero. There’s so much to learn in this endless universe, its spells, and what is possible. We’re just getting started, and this is what’s exciting. If Benedict Cumberbatch is game to keep returning, so am I.

Now, I don’t think every superhero from Marvel needs a solo franchise, but Doctor Strange is definitely one that deserved it. If the sequels keep coming, you will find me waiting in line for opening night every single time.