Doctor Strange : Movie Review

Visually orgasmic and well cast, this highly anticipated movie of the Marvel is a treat to watch. Like it says, "Forget everything you think you know".


Rich, egomaniac, brilliant neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange ( Benedict Cumberbatch) has his life turned upside down after a car accident robs him of the ability to use his hands due to extensive nerve damage. When traditional medicine fails him, he starts exploring outwards in search for healing, and hope. Following up on a case of miraculous recovery of a man suffering from paralysis, he is led to seek an ancient enclave somewhere in Nepal. He is saved from muggers by Mordo ( Chiwetel Ejiofor) who takes him to see the supreme guru known only as the Ancient One ( Tilda Swinton). 

Swinton does an excellent job of playing the role of Strange's mentor in the magic arts, a teacher of Zen with a touch of life's cruelty. Her screen presence really adds to the superhero origin story of Strange. Mordo and Wong (Benedict Wong) bring an element of warmth and humour to this story, offering up quite a few well-timed laughs. 

Meanwhile, the antagonist of this particular story is Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen), a former disciple of the Ancient One. Kaecilius and his followers strive to bring forth Dormammu from the Dark World, in their belief that it will make them and the Earth immortal once they are a part of him. Strange, who was still learning with the aim to heal his hands, gets dragged into this battle of the multi-verse, and is soon humanity's only chance at defeating the evil Dormammu.

The strongest character on the good side just might be an item of clothing, Doctor Strange's iconic cloak of levitation, who steals the scene with deft comic timing. Director Scott Derrickson seems to have taken a hint from Inception, with the spatial origami and mind-bending layers of psychedelic visuals, so better watch this in 3D or 4D.

I'd rate this film 8 out of 9 cups of tea and I definitely recommend this as an entertaining watch. Oh and for those of you who still haven't adapted to the Marvel movie styles, there are TWO post-credits scenes, so do not leave the theatre till the last minute. Thanks for reading!

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