SPOILERS: DOCTOR STRANGE - 7 Things It Got Right And 3 Things It Got Wrong
Doctor Strange is another awesome Marvel Studios movie, but here, we take a look at the things it got right as well as the characters and moments which unfortunately didn't work anywhere near as well...
Yes and no. There's an awful lot Doctor Strange does right and it's undeniably a strong introduction for the Sorcerer Supreme and the concept of magic in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, there are inevitably some things which don't work quite as well, and while these are perhaps minor nitpicks compared to the amazing things the movie gets right, they're definitely still worth highlighting here.
So, what you'll find here then is an in-depth breakdown of what did and didn't work in Doctor Strange. Needless to say, some big spoilers for the movie do follow, so read on from here at your own risk.
Did Work: A New Take On Baron Mordo
Chiwetel Ejiofor is a highlight of Doctor Strange, and the journey Mordo goes on in the movie is vastly more interesting than that of his comic book counterpart. Rather than predictably revealing that he too was in cahoots with Dormammu, his jealousy of Stephen Strange is just hinted at as the movie rolls on, with it ultimately becoming clear that he's grown to dislike the Sorcerer Supreme in training.
However, the fact that it's The Ancient One who betrays Mordo when he learns that she's been siphoning power from the Dark Dimension perfectly explains why he would turn his back on protecting this world and ultimately setting out on a path to rid it of sorcerers. Without this well crafted story arc, his villainous turn (which is actually understandable and a lot more complex than most bad guys) would have fallen as flat as when Sinestro donned that yellow ring in Green Lantern back in 2011.
Didn't Work: Christine Palmer
Rachel McAdams is a great actress, but she's definitely underused in Doctor Strange. Appearing in only a handful of scenes, her relationship with Stephen is definitely interesting, but she's never given the opportunity to make much of an impact despite playing a key role in saving the life of the hero during the final act. It may ultimately boil down to the fact that Christine Palmer doesn't have any personality traits which make her stand out from the crowd.
In fact, she's prety much identical to countless other love interests we've seen in both superhero and regular movies, and given the fascinating relationship between her comic book counterpart and Stephen Strange in Doctor Strange: The Oath, it's a great shame that there's not more to her than meets the eye. On the plus side, she does at least deliver a few laughs and is never turned into a damsel in distress like most female leads in movies such as this one.
Did Work: The Time Stone
As many of us suspected, the Eye of Agamotto is indeed the Time Stone. This is casually revealed by Wong in the closing few minutes of the movie, and it's mentioned that Strange will continue to use it in order to gain mastery over the ancient cosmic relic. However, it's not the source of his powers and has a very specific set of abilities, so don't go expecting to see the Sorcerer Supreme rendered powerless when Thanos inevitably comes calling.
The way director Scott Derrickson uses the Time Stone in Doctor Strange is nothing short of brilliant though, especially when we see Stephen reversing time around him as destroyed buildings put themselves back together while he's fighting Kaecilius. The time loop he creates during his confrontation with Dormammu is also extremely clever and emphasises what a great hero Stephen has become and the amazing things which can be done with just this one Infinity Stone.
Did Work: The Mid And After-Credits Scenes
I've already touched on the after-credits scene revolving around Mordo, and while I may be wrong, I believe that is possibly one of the longest ones Marvel has ever done. Either way, the studio has now perfectly set the stage for the character to return as a villain somewhere down the line (the soon to be announced sequel with any luck), and after this fantastic introduction, he has the potential to rank alongside the likes of Loki and Ultron as one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's greatest bad guys.
The mid-credits scene meanwhile revolves around Thor paying a visit to the Sorcerer Supreme in his Sanctum Sanctorum and is absolutely fantastic. If it was directed by Taika Waititi, we now know what to expect from Thor: Ragnarok in terms of humour, but regardless of who was at the helm, this first interaction between Strange and Thor is pretty much perfect. It also includes an amazing Easter Egg which I'll get to in another post this Friday.
Didn't Work: Another Forgettable Villain
As great as Marvel's movies are, there's no getting around the fact that they have a problem when it comes to villains. Malekith, Yellowjacket, Whiplash, and now Kaecilius are just a handful of forgettable big bads the studio has delivered, but Doctor Strange's villain is at least one of their better efforts. Much of that is thanks to the performance of Mads Mikkelson, and while it would have been nice to see him take on a more significant role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the movie mostly makes pretty good use of the talented Hannibal alum.
It's just a shame that his personality and plan aren't special enough to make him really stand out from the crowd, and in a movie which delivers an awful lot of memorable and amazing moments, it's a great shame that Kaecilius is someone who very few people will probably end up talking about when all is said and done. If nothing else though, he at least serves a purpose.
Did Work: The Visuals
The trailers and TV spots for Doctor Strange have hinted at it being a very trippy and visually unique movie, but you ain't seen nothing yet! Whether we're exploring crazy looking alternate dimensions, a New York City which is folding in on itself, or Hong Kong being repaired via time travel while Stephen battles Kaecilius, this isn't just unlike any other superhero movie, but completely different to anything that's ever hit the big screen!
Some of the scenes are so dizzying that you'll probably end up feeling a bout of vertigo here and there, and the effects work done on Doctor Strange are surely Oscar worthy. In fact, this is the first Marvel movie since Guardians of the Galaxy which actually uses 3D well, and it goes without saying that an IMAX ticket should be your priority. Like they did with Ant-Man, Marvel has delivered something truly special here, and Steve Ditko would definitely be proud.
Did Work: A New Take On Wong
In the comic books, Wong is Doctor Strange's manservant. Created in a very different time period, what was acceptable then obviously isn't now (especially as Wong embodies pretty much every Asian stereotype there is), so no one could have blamed Marvel for leaving the character on the shelf here. Thankfully, they found a way to reboot him, and the results are excellent.
Benedict Wong may very well be the breakout star of the movie, and making him a librarian with a huge knowledge of the mystic arts and a mentor to Stephen ensures that his role here is interesting and should continue to be moving forward in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We already know that Wong will return in Avengers: Infinity War, and given his dire warning at the end about word spreading throughout the cosmos of there no longer being a Sorcerer Supreme, expect to see him play a very exciting and important role there.
Didn't Work: Dormammu's Appearance
As expected, Dormammu does indeed make an appearance in Doctor Strange, but he has very little in common with his comic book counterpart beyond being the ruler of the Dark Dimension. Rather than being the fiery headed demon we know from the source material, he's essentially a gigantic head made out of energy, and it's hard not to be a little disappointed by that.
Director Scott Derrickson has since explained that Dormammu wouldn't have a physical body as such and what we're seeing when he confronts Strange is a twisted reflection of the doctor (hence why Benedict Cumberbatch provided the facial capture for the villain). That makes perfect sense to be fair and makes this easier to forgive, but I'm sure that myself and many other fans will have come out of this movie hoping to see Dormammu arrive on Earth somewhere down the line in the body we've all become familiar with over the years.
Did Work: Stephen Strange's Story Arc
While I would have possibly liked to have spend a little more time with Stephen Strange before that fateful car accident, the movie handles his journey from arrogant neurosurgeon to Sorcerer Supreme pretty much perfectly. Like Iron Man, this is very much a redemption story, and after seeing him broken during his quest to regain the use of his hands, it's perfectly understandable and believable that the doctor would end up embarking on the path he ultimately does.
Even just subtle things like him passing the scalpel to Nicodemus West during a key scene near the end of the movie shows how he's changed, and it's in many ways easier to buy into Stephen being a hero than it ever was Tony Stark. Doctor Strange doesn't magically just wash away its titular hero's arrogance though, something we learn when he starts teaching himself and plays around with the Time Stone. As a result, Strange is one of this world's most interesting leads.
Did Work: The Humour
Crucially, Stephen's particular brand of humour isn't too over the top; he may share a similar origin story (and facial hair) to Tony Stark, but we won't see him standing alongside The Avengers cracking off an endless stream of one liners. Doctor Strange manages to find a perfect balance of seriousness and levity, and that's no bad thing.
Have you seen Doctor Strange? If so, what did and didn't work for you? As always, be sure to let us know your thoughts on that and more in the comments section below.