Doctor Strange (English, 2016)

This is the best time in Hollywood to be making Superhero flicks. Every hero is getting his due & the genre is in its peak period as of now. Dr. Strange is an interesting addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Having seen the origin stories of Captain America, Iron Man & Hulk, fans got to see them more & more in the Avenger movies. So, it is finally good to see Marvel showcasing a new character altogether.

Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Strange shows us why perfect casting could overwhelm a movie by itself. We have seen some odd casting choices in some recent superhero flicks like Jessie Eisenberg as Lex Luthor in Batman vs Superman. Dr. Strange emphasises again how casting could make a difference. The character Stephen Strange, is supposed to be arrogant, egoistic & narcissistic. Cumberbatch brings out all these characteristics & looks the part. One would like to see both Cumberbatch & Robert Downey Jr having a go at each other.

Rachel McAdams, although not having an extensive role, does possess an unshakable screen presence. Chiwetel Ejiofor’s casting came under much scrutiny before the release of the film but has done her part well.

The movie features some of the most brilliant 3D usage in Hollywood film history. Although certain special effects draw inspirations from Inception, the movie does look jaw-droppingly stunning.

The tone of the movie is mystic, trippy & otherworldly. There is enough humour sprinkled throughout the movie which works. The movie also unabashedly delivers some popcorn entertainment, which is what Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) intends to deliver in the first place. It is going to be interesting to see how the MCU is going to use this character in its future movies given the unreal kind of powers Dr Strange seems to possess. Watch out for the end credits scene!

Mads Mikkelson as the prodigy gone wrong (Darth Vader anyone?) looks the part but doesn’t have much to do apart from appearing in couple of visually stunning stunt sequences. The other big bad, Dormammu is pretty much a cartoony visual with a gruff voice. So, the villains don’t make the cut.

The screenplay does look rushed. How Dr. Strange became an expert in using his powers all of a sudden, is not fleshed out. One wishes his Kamar-Taj training scenes were explained in detail.