Doctor Strange: Movie Review

Here's another review I did for my journalism class and that I thought I'd share here. I hope you enjoy :)

Recently, Marvel’s Doctor Strange premiered in theatres. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, the movie follows his character after suffering severe nerve damage in his hands. Once an incredibly successful neurosurgeon, Strange searches for ways to recover what he lost and get back on the field. After trying everything, he travels to Kamar-Taj, seeking the help of the Ancient One and her mysterious healing power. Long story short, he ends up in a battle defending our universe.

I went into this movie blindly, not having even heard of this superhero before the movie was announced. Truthfully, I only went because of Benedict Cumberbatch. That being said, the cast its talent was phenomenal. As usual, Marvel didn’t disappoint. The concept was very interesting. The “magic” that Doctor Stephen Strange trains in involves energies, the astral world, and other dimensions in the multiverse. I wasn’t expecting this magical and almost spiritual kind of content in a superhero movie, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, it was still a superhero movie. While there was suspense and plot twists, there were also the cliches that every superhero movie will inevitably have.

Aside from the fight of good against bad, Strange faces another battle within himself: his ego. This is demonstrated throughout the story while he tries to master what the Ancient One teaches him. Apart from that, there were really no main themes or messages that I picked up on while watching the film. As a movie centered around action and science-fiction, though, I guess I can't expect it to be a life-changing classic. Thankfully, for me, while Stephen Strange did have a small romantic life, his relationship wasn't made the focus of the story. Action and adventure fans, don't worry about this movie getting too dramatic—it doesn't.

The action included not only fight scenes, but the complete molding and manipulation of the world around the characters. Not being a huge fan of 3D movies myself, I enjoyed the film in its standard 2D format. If you are a fan of a good 3D movie, though, I would definitely recommend it. The kind of action and scenes that take place in Doctor Strange are perfect for the 3D format and I'm sure will provide a fantastic experience (though I haven't witnessed it for myself).

Overall, this was a pretty good movie for its genre, and one that I wouldn't mind seeing again. It held my attention the whole way through, and made me laugh at various points of comedic relief. The story made sense, had surprises, and featured interesting and complex characters. Last but not least, like any Marvel movie, it left room for a sequel.

Have you seen Doctor Strange? What did you think? Did you see it in 3D? Seriously, I'm really curious as to how it was.

"A diamond is a chunk of coal that did well under pressure." --Henry Kissinger