DOCTOR STRANGE
US, 2016 115 minutes, Colour.
Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwitel Ejiofor, Tilda Swinton, Mads Mikkelsen, Rachel Mc Adams, Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt, Scott Adkins.
Directed by Scott Derrickson.
Phantasmagoria.
Does every film reviewer have a yen for using the word Phantasmagoria at least once in a lifetime? Well, Doctor Strange certainly offers the opportunity. In visual style, special effects, in complex plotline, it certainly is a phantasmagoria.
We are in the Marvel World, and audiences have relished being in that cinematic and comic book world of the Avengers, singly and in combating people together. Dr Strange is now newly introduced but, for those who wait during the final credits, there is not only a trailer for forthcoming events but two trailers (in the first doctor Strange is sitting down and having a conversation with Thor!)
Audiences have plunged into this exotic and fantastic world right from the beginning of the film, scenes of combat in London between the ferocious villain, Kaecilius (Mads Nicholson) and The Ancient One, an androgynous guru figure with an impeccable British accent (Tilda Swinton). While the battle is powerful, it is the special effects that begin to boggle the mind. Buildings begin to fold in on themselves, sweeping vistas of the city begin to fold in on themselves, activities go upside down and sideways, intriguing the imagination. and, thankfully, there is more, when some of the action goes to New York City, the folding and in-folding continues and, we avoid any disappointment when the final action transfers to Hong Kong and then we have it again.
Then we are introduced to the supremely arrogant surgeon, Dr Stephen Strange, with more than a touch of the obsessive in his knowledge of popular music, tapping his feet as he does intricate operations, absolutely confident in his abilities and prowess. As everybody knows, he is played by Benedict Cumberbatch as something of a distant relation to Sherlock but with more openness, eventually, to versatility in action.
One of the things about this Marvel hero is that initially, he is not part of the world of superhero powers with mystical and mysterious origins. That comes later. In matter-of-fact terms, he is severely injured in a car accident, with great detriment to his hands, impatient in physiotherapy, informed about somebody who was able to transcend injuries (Benjamin Bratt) and is advised to travel to Nepal, to a monastery with Buddhist overtones where he is invited to submit himself to experiences of discipline, asceticism, self-abnegation. This is not an easy call for Dr Strange and we follow his training under the instruction of The Ancient One, her assistant Mordo (Chiwitel Ejiofor) and some comic touches from the librarian (Benedict Wong).
It is here that the audience is drawn, as with Dr Strange himself, into a world of time and times, doors into other worlds, parallel universes… and an overall demonic universe controller.
And, it is here we learn that Kaecilius is a renegade from this world, with a power complex, wanting to dominate his world and every world, taking a discipleship of thugs with him. It is inevitable that there will be a showdown, or showdowns between Dr Strange and Kaecilius. Which leads to the confrontations in New York in New York and in Hong Kong. (There is another medical interlude after Stephen Strange’s injured and he goes back to get the help of his former love, also a surgeon, played by Rachel Mc Adams).
The upshot of the confrontations is not quite what we expected either in terms of The Ancient One, Dr Strange’s Groundhog Day battle of wits with the demonic, or in terms of Mordo and his experience with Dr Strange – which leads us into the post-credits previews and the news that “Dr Strange will return�.
1. The Marvel universe? Success in comics? Success in films?
2. The title, expectations, the comic world, the real world, the ordinary world – transcended? The accident, the self-searching? The different range of worlds and times?
3. The London locations, the streets? New York, ordinary, the hospital, streets, the mansion? Hong Kong, the markets and locations? The musical score?
4. The impact of the special effects, the touch of magic, the folding and in-folding of the buildings, the cities? Interiors? The doors to other worlds? Nepal as the centre, the monastery, Everest? Time travel? Astral experiences? The battles and confrontations?
5. Good versus evil? Heroes, super-heroes? Villains? The call to heroism, learning, self-surrender?
6. Eastern concepts, Buddhism? The self, the ego? Self-surrender? The role of the teachers? The Guru? The programs, the tutors, the powers, the exercise of powers, flying? Transcendence, asceticism, abnegation?
7. The introduction to the film, the Ancient One, played by Tilda Swinton, the presence, her appearance, bald, thin and ascetical? Accent? Her powers, initially veiled, in the city? Kaecilius? Appearance, his face, eyes, his cohort? The attack, vivid, the folding and in-folding? Setting the tone? The touch of the weird?
8. Doctor Strange, his name, personality, played by Benedict Cumberbatch? Touch of obsession, even autism? Knowledge of music, tapping his feet, the operations, his assistants, his relationship with Christine, the past, in the hospital? The break? The assistant doctor, his diagnosis, Strange, his diagnosis, the bullet, running the risks, his success?
9. In himself, arrogant, driving, speeding, going to the conference, the accident, the effect, the destruction of his hands? His impatience in rehabilitation? Christine and her support? The report about the man who survived and transcended his injuries? Going to visit, the information?
10. The decision to go to Nepal, the atmosphere, Mordo and his welcome, guide? The Ancient One? The stories, the nature of time, of existence, the librarian and the humour? The issues of good, evil? The dark presence in the universe? Kaecilius and his group leaving?
11. The detail of the training, difficulties, Strange and his failing, having to overcome himself, discovering the powers, his ability to change reality? Becoming quicker, the exercise in powers, the effects? The response of the Ancient One? Mordo?
12. The challenge, going to New York, the detail of the mansion, the streets? Confrontation with Kaecililus? Success, failure, his being stabbed? Becoming more introspective? Going to the hospital, getting Christine to help? The associate of Kaecilius, in the hospital, his apparitions, the astral selves?
13. The Ancient One, sage, timeless, the accusation of her getting help from the Dark, a motivations? The attack, her death?
14. The librarian, his character,, touches, assisting?
15. Hong Kong, Kaecilius wanting the power, the confrontation, the fights, the exercises of particular powers, the freezing of the population in
time? Strange and his going beyond, the confronting of the Evil One, the bargaining, the Groundhog her effect, wearing down the Evil One? Strange prepared to sacrifice himself for others? The world returning to normal? The destruction, Kaecilius defeated?
16. The future, Mordo losing faith, confronting Strange, leaving?
17. The effect of the trailers, the discussion with or and conquering evil in the universe? Mordo and the future?
