"Doctor Strange" English film review - this one SHOULD win a Visual Effects Oscar (finally) for Marvel Studios...
The last film I had watched of director Scott Derrickson movie was The Exorcism of Emily Rose - an authentic, brilliant horror film. This one - Doctor Strange - is a visual spectacle. The special effects and graphics are so smooth; and Marvel Studios' passion for excellence in the technical field is so evident, once again.
The story is a typical Marvel one - aren't they all univocal (!) - about the superheroes saving the planet. Only in this case it is Doctor, mind you, and not Mister. (You'll get the humour if you watch the film.)
The opening scene sets just the right tempo of the optical extravaganza that would follow. In a tiny hidden land in the Himalayas, namely, Kamar Taj - a fictional place in the Marvel multiverse - Kaecilius and his zealots enter a library and steal a page of the forbidden ritual from a book, upon murdering it's librarian. You then get to revel at the special effects, and the apt entry of The Ancient One, in what is one of the best opening scenes involving terrific CGI in recent times.
We then get introduced to the protagonist of the film, Dr Steven Strange, who is a hugely successful neurosurgeon in America. He spends quicker than he earns and his sardonic nature takes a twist following a car accident.
His healing takes him to the Himalayas, and he becomes part of a bigger plan.
This is easily amongst the best visual effects Marvel film, if not THE best, but then, they only get better and better, with each outing, which is a very good thing. The same cannot be said of the story, though, for that has loopholes, but then James Bond scripts do, too, and you enjoy it anyways.
At times through the film, I was reminded of -
It seemed like barring five of us at the movie-hall, no one else seemed to know (or care) about the fact that there is also a post end credits scene, which is a popular feature in the Marvel movies. So make sure you do not miss the 2nd one, after the credits finish rolling.
To me, the real hero of the film was Tilda Swinton, brilliantly cast as The Ancient One. That's not to take away any credit from Benedict Cumberbatch's effective portrayal of the lead character. You should also notice how he does well with his American accent (being a Brit). He is ably supported by the ever reliable Chiwetel Ejiofor (of 12 Years a Slave fame, also seen in The Martian), who holds his own.
The guerdon in watching this one is being able to savour the ocular marvel, more than anything else. Another commendable thing is that while there is a lot of destruction, it doesn't get tumultuous.
In hindsight, the role of Kaecilius could have been given more chutzpah, instead of just making him the typical, predictable bad guy. That's where you again gape at The Joker's epic portrayal by Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight, backed by the wizardly music of Hans Zimmer, and realize how such artistic genius can take a film to an entirely different level.
My verdict: 4 out of 5, with extra points for direction and the special effects. Derrickson sure is a master storyteller who connects the dots convincingly. That's a tough thing to do, especially if you haven't read the comics beforehand.
The story is a typical Marvel one - aren't they all univocal (!) - about the superheroes saving the planet. Only in this case it is Doctor, mind you, and not Mister. (You'll get the humour if you watch the film.)
The opening scene sets just the right tempo of the optical extravaganza that would follow. In a tiny hidden land in the Himalayas, namely, Kamar Taj - a fictional place in the Marvel multiverse - Kaecilius and his zealots enter a library and steal a page of the forbidden ritual from a book, upon murdering it's librarian. You then get to revel at the special effects, and the apt entry of The Ancient One, in what is one of the best opening scenes involving terrific CGI in recent times.
We then get introduced to the protagonist of the film, Dr Steven Strange, who is a hugely successful neurosurgeon in America. He spends quicker than he earns and his sardonic nature takes a twist following a car accident.
His healing takes him to the Himalayas, and he becomes part of a bigger plan.
This is easily amongst the best visual effects Marvel film, if not THE best, but then, they only get better and better, with each outing, which is a very good thing. The same cannot be said of the story, though, for that has loopholes, but then James Bond scripts do, too, and you enjoy it anyways.
At times through the film, I was reminded of -
- Kung Fu Panda - for Dr Strange has good support and is loved in the school by his teachers and comrades, just like Po.
- Inception for the graphics, whenever city structures and buildings transformed into Rubix cubes and new dimensions.
- and Interstellar - for the space and new dimensions.
It seemed like barring five of us at the movie-hall, no one else seemed to know (or care) about the fact that there is also a post end credits scene, which is a popular feature in the Marvel movies. So make sure you do not miss the 2nd one, after the credits finish rolling.
To me, the real hero of the film was Tilda Swinton, brilliantly cast as The Ancient One. That's not to take away any credit from Benedict Cumberbatch's effective portrayal of the lead character. You should also notice how he does well with his American accent (being a Brit). He is ably supported by the ever reliable Chiwetel Ejiofor (of 12 Years a Slave fame, also seen in The Martian), who holds his own.
The guerdon in watching this one is being able to savour the ocular marvel, more than anything else. Another commendable thing is that while there is a lot of destruction, it doesn't get tumultuous.
In hindsight, the role of Kaecilius could have been given more chutzpah, instead of just making him the typical, predictable bad guy. That's where you again gape at The Joker's epic portrayal by Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight, backed by the wizardly music of Hans Zimmer, and realize how such artistic genius can take a film to an entirely different level.
My verdict: 4 out of 5, with extra points for direction and the special effects. Derrickson sure is a master storyteller who connects the dots convincingly. That's a tough thing to do, especially if you haven't read the comics beforehand.
Comments
Thanks for the GREAT review!