Doctor Strange (2016 Marvel film)

[Obelisk ze Tormentor]

Just watched it in 3D because the price is the same with the 2D ticket here and the 3D showing schedule is more comfortable for me. Still, it’s a nice experience.

There are some point that I want to address (I’ll put the spoilery stuffs on proper tag)

• Yeah, the story definitely felt a bit rushed for me especially the way some characters’ relationship develops.
• Kaecilius is yet another so-so villain. He’s above Malekith & Ronan but not by much. Mads Mikkelsen’s acting elevate the role, but not enough to make the character a great villain. He’s yet another tool to bring the world’s destruction.
• I think Scott Adkins’ talent as a martial-art-based actor is wasted playing minor villain (does his character even had a name?) in this movie about magic & wizards. It's kinda like how Iko Uwais’ talent was wasted in Star Wars 7. But I guess they can use the paycheck.
• Chiwetel & Tilda's acting are quite earnest, natural and decent. In fact, Tilda's acting made me forget about the whitewashing hoopla because I enjoyed her character pretty much. Also, I think Tilda is prettier and look wizer without make up (and without hair) compared to how she looks during the red-carpet premiere of the movie .
• The movie's visuals are heavily inspired by Inception. But while Inception used the effects sparingly and subtly to achieve more impact, Doctor Strange just went crazy with it. If there are people out there who want to watch the VFX in Inception but are not patient enough to watch the complex plot developing in that movie, Doctor Strange might be the movie for them (for better or worse).

Spoiler for SUPER-HEAVY-MEGA spoilers are in this! DO NOT CLICK if you don't want to be spoiled!!:

• Exactly how long has Stephen studied in Kamar-Taj before he did his first mortal combat fight in the movie and become the actual Dr. Strange? It felt a bit fast to me.
• The people in Kamar-Taj claimed and showed that they already know pretty much all about Stephen before he even came, but then Wong acted surprised by Stephen’s photographic memory that allowed him to learn from the book very quickly?
• The death of the Ancient One is a little too quick for me. She basically fell for a pretty old trick and got herself killed for it (the kind of trick that Shishio did to stab Kenshin in Rurouni Kenshin, but using a goon instead of the villains' love interest). Also, from emotional perspective, it would’ve been better if they reserved that event for the sequel so that the audience can invest more to the character coz Tilda Swinton did wondes with it. How many Marvel movies has Tilda signed up for anyway? Only one?
• About the final trick with the Eye of Agamotto (aka. time infinity stone) thing: does the time loop started again only after Strange got killed? If so then why Dormammu was in a hurry to kill Strange again & again & again after Dormy knew he was in a loop? If he just wanted to get out of the loop that Strange caused (by the tool in his possession), why not try to rob the Eye from Strange? Or why not try to torture Strange Saw-style until he let go? Surely a being of Dormammu's caliber has enough imagination for such torture techniques. At least he should've tried it. Also, for a being who is all-powerful and is beyond time & death, why Dormy had to be so freaked out by the time loop where he is on the winning side (easily killing Strange again & again) and unable to calmly think of a way to force Strange to stop it without losing his plan to conquer the universe? Eh, because the plot need it, I suppose. Kinda like how Ronan was idiotically mesmerized by Starlord’s dance.
• I only stayed long enough for the mid-credit scene (I didn’t have that much time sitting on the theater through all the credits. That’s what the FF button on BD-player is for), and it was an interesting scene with Stephen & Thor. It kinda continued the funny tradition of Thor’s previous antics in that comedic special short.

As I'm not really a fan of Doctor Strange, some fans might be able to set me straight regarding some questions above.

[zztop]

I still remember the time Kaecilius was a gentleman cannibal, making fine gourmet meals out of his victims. Perhaps Will Graham will return to avenge him?

PS.I'm still waiting for the omake where Strange's sling ring accidentally causes him to be teleported into a Sapporo girls' locker room, leading to much typical anime-style hijinks with him trying to avoid being detected by the local female karate-ka team using the room...

PPS. I joke, I joke.

[quigonkenny]

Originally Posted by zztop

I'm still waiting for the omake where Strange's sling ring accidentally causes him to be teleported into a Sapporo girls' locker room, leading to much hijinks with him trying to avoid being detected by the local female karate-ka team using the room...

He'll be able to slip away during the ruckus that occurs after the girls discover a hapless, unnamed male student who has also accidentally found himself hiding in the locker room.

Luckily for the male student, he'll get off with little more than a few bumps and bruises. Since this kind of thing happens on a regular basis in Japanese schools, and is rarely done with lascivious intent, there's no disciplinary punishment for it.

[zztop]

Originally Posted by quigonkenny

He'll be able to slip away during the ruckus that occurs after the girls discover a hapless, unnamed male student who has also accidentally found himself hiding in the locker room.

Luckily for the male student, he'll get off with little more than a few bumps and bruises. Since this kind of thing happens on a regular basis in Japanese schools, and is rarely done with lascivious intent, there's no disciplinary punishment for it.

I wonder what other omake anime crossovers Strange could fit in.
- Natsume Yuujinchou : Supernatural SOL where Strange learns to understand the gentle side of the spirit world and non-violent means of engaging them, from Takashi Natsume and Nyanko.
- Twin Star Exorcists : An accidental trip into Magano results in Strange having to team up with Benio and Rokuro to exorcise the latest Kegare overlord and their Basara army. Meanwhile, Arima and the 12 Guardians debate how the Ancient One's passing will impact the Exorcists' anti-Basara fight (They were trading knowledge between each other).

[MrTerrorist]

Whoa. That was a trippy movie. I'll bet people who like to get high might enjoy the whole alternate dimension trips.

Spoiler for things i like about the movie:

Benedict and Tilda played their characters well.
The CG for the magic and dimensions were cool and trippy. (Heck there was even that one dimension where Hank Pym's wife got trapped.)
So Dr Strange beat Dormammu by forcing him to live through a timeloop. lol
And Strange's cape has a personality.
And then there's the stingers:
Strange has a beer with Thor and helps him and Loki find Odin and Mordo becoming the next Big Bad whose hunting down other sorcerers.

PS: Best Trippy credits song ever.

[Kafriel]

I just came back and I have to say, this is the best marvel movie to date. I wasn't expecting it to be all that much, but I was quite surprised, really.

Spoiler for Plot calls:

- Why couldn't Strange send energy coursing through his hands and still be himself?
- WTF is his relationship with Christina? He enters her working space after disappearing, just so happens to find a prepped room and basically operates on himself while showing off his astral magic to her. Aren't there, like, rules for that stuff!?
- Forget about Christina, what about the rest of his colleagues? He brings in the ancient one and joins them on the operation table - does he even have a job right now?
- What happened to the other hundred disciples, don't scrubs participate in dimensional mayhem?
- Why DID the ancient one keep on living until now? Would she have kept going if even a single timeline could show her alive? In the end, she was just a selfish acolyte, Mordo's character cannot be blamed IMO.
- Scott Adkins using his signature kick on Cumberbatch, albeit awesome, is out of place; who brings freestyle kicks in a magic bout!?
- Dormammu giving up on earth. The guy is eternal, Strange is still a neophyte with a very limited perception of time. I think he could just welcome him to hell and eventually win out.

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

\

Spoiler for reply:

- Why couldn't Strange send energy coursing through his hands and still be himself?

Because it requires 100% of his magic reserves to deceive his hands into believing that they are healthy. Basically it doesn't heal you, it just forces your body to pretend it has healed.

- WTF is his relationship with Christina?

They were in a casual sexual relationship before the accident. His watch was a gift from her before they broke up after he pushed her away.

- Why DID the ancient one keep on living until now? Would she have kept going if even a single timeline could show her alive? In the end, she was just a selfish acolyte, Mordo's character cannot be blamed IMO.

TAO is only staying alive to do her job. The job of defending Earth. She doesn't want to die either, but if that was what she really wanted then she would have been better off abandoning her post. She didn't teach others her methods because it is dangerous and can corrupt the user. It has nothing to do with being selfish. Her only selfish act was to slow down time a little before her death.

- Dormammu giving up on earth. The guy is eternal, Strange is still a neophyte with a very limited perception of time. I think he could just welcome him to hell and eventually win out.

No he can't because Strange doesn't see the timeloop himself. Dormammu is timeless and is forced to experience the timeloop, but Strange isn't so Strange doesn't remember the loops. The only person in hell is Dormammu.

[Anh_Minh]

I'm not that familiar with Dr Strange, but it felt a lot like Sherlock, only a doctor instead of a detective.

And the origin story was painful to watch. Such a waste. (Ultimately for the better, I suppose, but still.)

[Twi]

I decided to go see Doctor Strange, but the theater was empty while I was there because I went early in the morning and I saw it in 3D. It was worth the headache for the showing.

Spoiler for General Movie Stuff:

The movie started strong with a decapitation and people being crushed by buildings in a pocket dimension, and then we get to seeing how Strange was as a person. He reminded me of Dr. Cox from Scrubs, and I laughed when the physical therapist sent him the files just to show him up. This is also the first time I've seen a cloak beat someone around like a rag doll.

Though, I’ve got to say their security sucks given how easily he got his hands on that Eye and kept it. Still, it made since that he couldn't best a dimension lord and they showed exactly how a lesser power defeats a greater one.

[SuitUp]

Well I for one loved it, even the Ancient One was played properly, and the last trick was exactly the kind of shit Stephen pulls in the comics when faced against forces far beyond his power level, wich is pretty much everyday tbh

[Magin]

Just got back from seeing it. Sure, this movie wasn't Civil War level, or even Winter Soldier level... but it's still a strong movie. The visual effects were amazing (even if trippy), and there was plenty of humor in this movie. Even though the villain was pretty standard, this allowed for plenty of development of Strange.

Spoiler for Mid credits and post credits:

For the post and ending scenes, first off, a team up with Thor sounds AMAZING, simply due to all the effects that can be used through the Multiverse and Nine Realms. However, now having Mordu become a Bad Guy... I hate this kind of plotline, especially with hunting down sorcerers. He actually reminds me a lot of Sensui from Yu Yu Hakusho in that regard. But, at least it means there'll be a few more Doctor Strange movies.

[quigonkenny]

Originally Posted by Magin

Just got back from seeing it. Sure, this movie wasn't Civil War level, or even Winter Soldier level... but it's still a strong movie. The visual effects were amazing (even if trippy), and there was plenty of humor in this movie. Even though the villain was pretty standard, this allowed for plenty of development of Strange.

Spoiler for Mid credits and post credits:

For the post and ending scenes, first off, a team up with Thor sounds AMAZING, simply due to all the effects that can be used through the Multiverse and Nine Realms. However, now having Mordu become a Bad Guy... I hate this kind of plotline, especially with hunting down sorcerers. He actually reminds me a lot of Sensui from Yu Yu Hakusho in that regard. But, at least it means there'll be a few more Doctor Strange movies.

Spoiler for movie spoilers:

Mordo was a bad guy pretty much from day one in the comics, from what i understand. He was another disciple of The Ancient One, as in the movie, but was always in it for power; he tried to betray TAO and was kicked out. According to people related to the movie, a closer relationship was built between them in order to better set up their rivalry later on. Otherwise he would have just been a one-note baddie like Kaecilius, and there would be no emotional investment from the audience.

Personally, I think we could do worse than a full movie's worth of Benedict Cumberbatch and Chiwetel Ejiofor trying to out-act each other in DS2. The latter completely cleaned out my last remnants of uncertainty of casting him in this role, brought on by my personal preference of having him play a younger T'chaka in flashback (something that never was going to happen because T'chaka's death takes place in the present in the MCU).

Also, apparently you can blame China for The Ancient One's casting. Apparently a Tibetan hero doesn't play too well in that market for some reason...

[SuitUp]

This Ancient One was pretty good, tbh.
And yes, Mordo is an european noble, moustache twirling villain

[Anh_Minh]

With ties to the Nazis.

[Obelisk ze Tormentor]

And believe it or not, from what I've read, Kaecilius is actually an improvement compared to his comic counterpart in which he's pretty much just Mordo's follower. I guess Dr. Strange's villains are not big on characters, not even Dormammu .

[SuitUp]

The big bad is Shuma Gorath tho

[Obelisk ze Tormentor]

Originally Posted by SuitUp

The big bad is Shuma Gorath tho

Does he/she/it has interesting character?

[zztop]

I liked the part where Saitama from One Punch Man punched out Strange's soul. He should do that again for OPM Season 2.

Spoiler for Ancient One is Saitama:

[FlareKnight]

That was a pretty fun movie. A good origin story and now has Strange ready to take part in events to come. The visuals really did live up to the hype and I'm glad to really just see magic become part of the MCU.

Plus we got to see Doctor Strange's most powerful magic...

Spoiler for Move Spoilers:

Infinite alcohol! Thor is a fan.

I'm glad they gave Mordo some solid reasons for becoming a villain and a threat. In the end he's the type that is so utterly strict to what he thinks is the proper way of things. He can't forgive the Ancient One for breaking the rules in order to be around to even help him in the first place. He can't forgive Strange for using that time magic to save the day. Even though they would all be dead without it. I feel bad for the guy who just used that magic in order to be healed and live his life quietly.

Best cape ever . That thing just helps out by beating enemies to death for you. Plus it knows what weapons to turn to. It's a smart bugger .

Best thing was how Strange got around the threat posed by the villains. They couldn't win that fight and couldn't stop what was happening. So....he cut a deal. He was willing to go through and probably did go through untold torment for who knows how long. He did it because he knew what had to be done. Awesome effort.

Good and enjoyable movie. Not the best movie of the year, but was interesting to watch.

[SuitUp]

Originally Posted by Obelisk ze Tormentor

Does he/she/it has interesting character?

As much as an eldritch abomination can possibly have