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Doctor Strange |OT| By the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth
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Charles Alan Ratliff
Member
Girlfriend and I just got back from seeing this in IMAX 3D. We thought it was great. She was worried about the 3D because it usually always gives her headaches, but she didn't have any issues with this movie and is glad she saw it this way.
Doctor Strange is the first time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe where Marvel may have gone too far into pulpy, bizarre, comic lore for the general audience. Yes, going further than a talking raccoon or a man who speaks to ants, Doctor Strange triumphs because not only does it adapt some really crazy stuff, it never loses your attention.
Cumberbatch is surprisingly an inspired choice as the Sorcerer Supreme. Yes, Cumberbatch seemed like an obvious choice when he was announced, but he plays the role way differently then his other blockbuster efforts, being both restrained and having shockingly good comic timing. Swinton, Ejiofor, and Wong are all great as well, although Mikkelsen and McAdams are both wasted in their underdeveloped roles. This is Strange's film in a very good way, giving us a developed, if somewhat familiar archetype.
The script covers all the basic grounds of origin movies. This would be a problem if the cast wasn't so entertaining, or, more importantly, if the visuals were just average. This is a true visual feast, the first innovative blockbuster in visual effects since Gravity. There are shots in it that look like a modern art painting brought to life, and the Cloak is a character in its own right. The action has a lot of variety to it; more than the typical Marvel movie, and it allows each individual sequence to be memorable without thinking of comparing them.
Derrickson ended up being an inspired pick for Doctor Strange. With a surprising amount of actually disgusting shots for a PG-13 tentpole, Doctor Strange definitely wears his signature, although toned down quite a bit. Giacchino's score is disappointing, giving a great main theme, but blending into the background otherwise like in a typical Marvel fashion. Doctor Strange is a marked improvement from Marvel's last origin effort, and introduces a character and his universes for audiences to actually be excited for in upcoming films. The rare Marvel film that actually is a marvel, a flawed one, but a marvel nonetheless.
Cumberbatch is surprisingly an inspired choice as the Sorcerer Supreme. Yes, Cumberbatch seemed like an obvious choice when he was announced, but he plays the role way differently then his other blockbuster efforts, being both restrained and having shockingly good comic timing. Swinton, Ejiofor, and Wong are all great as well, although Mikkelsen and McAdams are both wasted in their underdeveloped roles. This is Strange's film in a very good way, giving us a developed, if somewhat familiar archetype.
The script covers all the basic grounds of origin movies. This would be a problem if the cast wasn't so entertaining, or, more importantly, if the visuals were just average. This is a true visual feast, the first innovative blockbuster in visual effects since Gravity. There are shots in it that look like a modern art painting brought to life, and the Cloak is a character in its own right. The action has a lot of variety to it; more than the typical Marvel movie, and it allows each individual sequence to be memorable without thinking of comparing them.
Derrickson ended up being an inspired pick for Doctor Strange. With a surprising amount of actually disgusting shots for a PG-13 tentpole, Doctor Strange definitely wears his signature, although toned down quite a bit. Giacchino's score is disappointing, giving a great main theme, but blending into the background otherwise like in a typical Marvel fashion. Doctor Strange is a marked improvement from Marvel's last origin effort, and introduces a character and his universes for audiences to actually be excited for in upcoming films. The rare Marvel film that actually is a marvel, a flawed one, but a marvel nonetheless.
SkullHydra
Member
The movie was so freaking good!
Definitely worth springing for 3D, especially for the
and the
.
Definitely worth springing for 3D, especially for the
astral projection scenes
reality warping escape/fight
George Oscar Bluth II
Banned
Nice review, Toothless! Always enjoy reading your thoughts 
Just saw it and thought it was great. Yeah it's a generic origin story, but I still very much enjoyed it. Kind of like with Ant-man, everything else around it is really well done and fun, so I really dont care that it's another movie about a superhero getting his powers.
Like others have said, Mads is underused, but that's my only real complaint. Visuals are stunning and are the obvious stand out. I liked the humor, even though I know some didnt like it as much. I thought Cumberbatch was good as well, and I'm excited to see him interact with the Avengers.
Like others have said, Mads is underused, but that's my only real complaint. Visuals are stunning and are the obvious stand out. I liked the humor, even though I know some didnt like it as much. I thought Cumberbatch was good as well, and I'm excited to see him interact with the Avengers.
MetroidPrimeRib
Banned
I'm so glad I live in the dimension where Doctor Strange gets a massive budget movie that didn't tone down any of the pulpy nature that was good.
That was fantastic, probably my favorite solo MCU film. My mom loved it too.
And that's in spite of me kinda having a terrible time. I had a bit of a panic attack about 30 minutes in (I think) and blacked out for a minute. Trying to not be spoilery, but basically there's a scene where something happens to someone's hands, and there's a bunch of things in it, and it's really graphic. And well, losing use of my hands and having them fucked up is a huge phobia of mine.
Took me about another 30 minutes after that to recover and even then I was still extremely nauseated until I got out of the theater and into the fresh air.
But yeah, even with that, I absolutely loved it.
And that's in spite of me kinda having a terrible time. I had a bit of a panic attack about 30 minutes in (I think) and blacked out for a minute. Trying to not be spoilery, but basically there's a scene where something happens to someone's hands, and there's a bunch of things in it, and it's really graphic. And well, losing use of my hands and having them fucked up is a huge phobia of mine.
Took me about another 30 minutes after that to recover and even then I was still extremely nauseated until I got out of the theater and into the fresh air.
But yeah, even with that, I absolutely loved it.
Oh yeah, it's definitely more detached than Ant-Man. Which is a good thing because Ant-Man's attachments to the MCU is one of the worst aspects of it.
Nice review, Toothless! Always enjoy reading your thoughts
Thanks, man!
BTW, new Marvel tiers because every MCU thread needs them:
Excellent:
1. Guardians of the Galaxy
2. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Great:
3. The Avengers
4. Captain America: The First Avenger
5. Iron Man
6. Captain America: Civil War
Very Good:
7. Doctor Strange
Entertaining but Flawed:
8. Iron Man 3
9. Avengers: Age of Ultron
Mediocre:
10. Thor
11. Iron Man 2
12. Ant-Man
Bad:
13. The Incredible Hulk
Thor 2:
14. Thor: The Dark World
Colonel Nasty
Member
Really liked it. What a great ending. Perfect for Strange
SargerusBR
I love Pokken!
Just came back brehs
Best MCU origin story so far.
Best MCU origin story so far.
Yes.
Megalosaro
Banned
I have a man crush on mah boi chiwetel Ejiofer
If Dr. Strance were a dnd character, I'd say he was a monk / sorceror multiclass. MAve a few levels of warlock too.
If Dr. Strance were a dnd character, I'd say he was a monk / sorceror multiclass. MAve a few levels of warlock too.
-ImaginaryInsider
Member
All the characters were enjoyable, I just wish Mads character was more fleshed out, but both he and McAdams actually did really well for what they had to work with.
Hopefully we get a better expanded sequel now that the heavy lifting is out of the way.
The sequel should absolutely open the same as the newest Doctor Strange comic series does, it's just too good of a sequence not to use, audiences would eat it up.
Hopefully we get a better expanded sequel now that the heavy lifting is out of the way.
The sequel should absolutely open the same as the newest Doctor Strange comic series does, it's just too good of a sequence not to use, audiences would eat it up.
shira
Member
hypu for tomorrow!!!!!!
SoldierIce64
Member
Got done seeing it a couple hours ago in IMAX 3D, great movie and visually spectacular.
super-heated plasma
Member
I didn't know there was a guardians 2 teaser trailer already. That was a nice surprise. How come I haven't seen a gaf thread about it?
FantasticMrFoxdie
Mumber
is this "fuck everyone else imma go watch this matinee 3D by myself" good?
It's a fuck everyone else imma go watch this on the biggest IMAX 3D screen I can find even if it takes a 4 hour drive kinda good.
Lord British
Member
I'd say so. I didn't see it in 3D but heard good things.
I think it might be the strongest Marvel movie, in terms of creativity. To my mind it's definitely top-tier (Iron Man, Avengers Assemble).
ronaldthump
Member
glad to read all the positive impressions. Really couldn't believe the posters who went to this and didn't enjoy it. I was throughly entertained. And it looks incredible to boot.
Monocle
Member
This movie is wonderful. Perfect cast. I was so pleased that Tilda's role turned out to be so meaty. She brought her characteristic depth and complexity to The Ancient One. I did not expect that disarming warmth, or the worldly wit, or the touch of wry humor. Such a charismatic actress.
Benedict Cumberbatch sold me completely. I was neutral about the prospect of him as Strange, but he totally owned the egotism and gravitas of the surgeon-turned-warlock. His delivery in that rant about materialism was spot on. And his overall arc covered a fair amount of ground. I believed the doctor he was at the beginning, and I believed the warlock he became by the end.
Based on early impressions, I was worried that Mads would be shortchanged as the villain. He is not some over-the-top badass or scene stealer, but I found him to be an effective foil for Strange. He had a number of great fight scenes and got a fair chance to articulate his motivations and even sway Strange toward his way of thinking. I'm glad he got a good amount of screentime in the.
The visuals in this movie are a brain-scrambling next level mindblast. All that reality warping where the environment becomes a dynamic kaleidoscope of shifting fractals... phenomenal. Just so well done. If you see one 3D movie this year, Dr. Strange has got to be it.
I'm going to watch this movie again ASAP. Initial impression: a top 5 Marvel film, easily.
Benedict Cumberbatch sold me completely. I was neutral about the prospect of him as Strange, but he totally owned the egotism and gravitas of the surgeon-turned-warlock. His delivery in that rant about materialism was spot on. And his overall arc covered a fair amount of ground. I believed the doctor he was at the beginning, and I believed the warlock he became by the end.
Based on early impressions, I was worried that Mads would be shortchanged as the villain. He is not some over-the-top badass or scene stealer, but I found him to be an effective foil for Strange. He had a number of great fight scenes and got a fair chance to articulate his motivations and even sway Strange toward his way of thinking. I'm glad he got a good amount of screentime in the.
The visuals in this movie are a brain-scrambling next level mindblast. All that reality warping where the environment becomes a dynamic kaleidoscope of shifting fractals... phenomenal. Just so well done. If you see one 3D movie this year, Dr. Strange has got to be it.
I'm going to watch this movie again ASAP. Initial impression: a top 5 Marvel film, easily.
darkhunger
Member
Yeah I wasn't a big fan of the first Guardians visuals (other than maybe Nowhere). Just too much CG sci-fi stuff that we've already seen in video games and movies.
Maybe Thor Ragnarok will have an interesting look and feel too. But I don't think either are surpassing this.
dancingphlower
Member
This is pretty much my top five as well! Though sometimes I swap Winter Soldier and Guardians depending on my mood.
brotkasten
Member
Like I said, I was really surprised that I didn't like it. I was looking forward to it and didn't spoil myself, other than watching the trailers and reading the production thread very early on (first two pages or so).
But visuals aside, the movie felt incredibly bland to me. All style, no substance. I didn't like the characters, outside of Swinton and Ejiofor, the story felt rushed and the humor did nothing for me. Turning the cape into a cartoon was the worst, actually.
I can't even claim it's MCU fatigue, because this movie barely ties into the greater MCU (which isn't a knock against it at all!). But maybe it's superhero fatigue in general for me, that bores me to tears. I really like the MCU, but I wish they had more character-driven stories.
Anyway, I'm clearly one of the very few outliers.
But it's great to see that others enjoy the movie.
Great movie that taps into the parts of the Marvel Universe I enjoy the most. I'm glad that the MCU has finally opened up. I do have a few issues in regards to pacing and almost all of Mordo's motivations (Who was, in my opinion, the weakest part of the film), but other than that it was great.
The 3d was out of sync for that and the Rogue One trailer at the cinema I went to, thankfully they fixed it before the movie actually started.
Fantastic movie
I can see where you're coming from. It's very bland and safe, outside of a handful of visuals (and even that gets used too often).
The guy becomes a master wizard within five minutes, there's no obstacles or setbacks on his journey after his accident. I don't count the one-minute "Believe in yourself" scene.
How Can Magic Be Real If Our Hands Aren't Healed?
Does this mean he's of to Kathmandu?
Swinton is just the best. She's lapped any other MCU performance with ease.
Gordon Shumway
Banned
Every dream I had last night was filled with insane world shifting..I think this movie broke my brain lol.
brotkasten
Member
I explained the problems I had with the movie in a previous post a bit better. But your post kinda sums it up for me.
Uhhh... Is he going to try and be a sorcerer supreme?
Callibretto
Member
Does Strange have a kid sidekick in the comic?
Glass Rebel
Member
SocksAndShoes
Banned
Seeing this at 11AM tomorrow in IMAX 3D. It's the earliest I've ever seen a movie in the theater and it's my first IMAX 3D movie....I'm so psyched.
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