Dr. Stephen Strange (Cumberbatch) is a top neurosurgeon. He is highly acclaimed and has a long list of potential clients, but he is only interested in the most interesting and difficult cases. On the way to an event, he is in a car accident. He survives, but his hands are badly injured. Despite the efforts of his colleagues, including his ex-girlfriend Dr. Christine Palmer (McAdams), his hands are stiff and shaky. Desperate to get his hands and career back, he seeks Jonathan Pangborn (Bratt), a paraplegic who made a miraculous recovery. Pangborn sends him to Kamar-Taj to seek the Ancient One (Swinton).
In Kamar-Taj, he meets the Ancient One and learns about a new reality and magic. He stays in Kamar-Taj to learn sorcery, in hopes that it can help cure his hands. He is guided by Baron Karl Mordo (Ejiofor), a sorcerer who was trained by the Ancient One. He also reads as much as possible from the library, under the strict tutelage of Wong (Wong). But his studies are interrupted by the threat of Kaecilius (Mikkelsen), a sorcerer who is disillusioned with the Ancient One and her practices. Kaecilius and his followers are serving Dormammu, who rules the Dark Dimension, and want to bring him to our world. Can Strange and the other sorcerers stop Kaecilius and save the world?
This is the 14th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is the second film in Phase 3 of the MCU, following Captain America: Civil War. This film introduces magic to the MCU and does not include characters from the previous film (until the scene in the closing credits).
Marvel hired horror director Scott Derrickson to direct. Derrickson lobbied for the role and was hired, based on his 12-page scene of Dr. Strange fighting on the astral plane while a doctor works to save his physical body. The film was written by Derrickson, Jon Spaihts, and Robert Cargill (who frequently worked with Derrickson) and focuses on the origin of the character.
Dr. Strange was created in 1963 by Steve Ditko and Stan Lee. He was modeled on actor Vincent Price. The character received his own comic in the late 1960s and later partnered with the Avengers and Defenders. This is the second live-action Dr. Strange film, following Dr. Strange in 1978 with Peter Wooten and Jessica Walter. The character also starred in a direct-to-video animated film Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme in 2007.
Visually, the film is stunning. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. It's visual effects were honored with nominations (and some wins) from numerous award shows. They effects team had to create the look of the magic, along with other realms. You can't look away and want to see what will pop up next.
The story is interesting as are the characters. All of the characters come from the comic, but a few were changed. They changed the sex and the race of the Ancient One, here portrayed by Tilda Swinton. They also changed the role of Wong, here portrayed by Benedict Wong. Wong is Strange's valet in the comics, but for the film, he is a teacher/librarian. Kaecilius appears in the comics, but the version in the film, played by Mads Mikkelsen, is a combination of other Strange villains. Benedict Cumberbatch puts on an American accent and is game for anything that comes his way as Dr. Strange. He is set to appear in the more MCU films, including the next Avengers film. Chiwetel Ejiofor is impressive in the fight sequences and compelling beyond that.
It is an interesting and enjoyable film, and I'm intrigued to see how they will use the character (and magic) in subsequent MCU films.
Doctor Strange (2016) 115 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for sci-fi violence and action throughout, and an intense crash sequence
Director: Scott Derrickson
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange
Chiwetel Ejiofor as Baron Karl Mordo
Rachel McAdams as Christine Palmer
Benedict Wong as Wong
Mads Mikkelsen as Kaecilius
Tilda Swinton as Ancient One
Michael Stuhlbarg as Nicodemus West
Benjamin Bratt as Jonathan Pangborn
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