DOCTOR STRANGE (2016) MOVIE NEWS & REVIEW

doctor strange (2016) movie

Genre              |   Supernatural Thriller

Classification   |   M

Running time   |   115 minutes

Released         |  27 October 2016

cast

Benedict Cumberbatch ... Dr.Strange
​Chiwetel Ejiofor ... Mordo
Rachel McAdams ... Christine Palmer
​Benedict Wong ... Wong
Mads Mikkelsen ... Kaecilius
Tilda Swinton ... The Ancient One

director

Scott Derrickson

writer

​Jon Spaihts ... (written by) and
Scott Derrickson ... (written by) &
C. Robert Cargill ... (written by)
 
Stan Lee ... (based on the Marvel comics by) and
Steve Ditko ... (based on the Marvel comics by)

cinematographer

​Ben Davis

music

​Michael Giacchino

film editor

Sabrina Plisco ... (edited by)
Wyatt Smith ... (edited by)

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box office result

Worldwide               $​ 677,718,395 ​ 

Australia                 $​​​15,902,123

North America        $​​​232,641,920

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the best dialogue

The Ancient One: Arrogance and fear still keep you from learning the simplest and most significant lesson of all.
Dr. Stephen Strange: Which is?
The Ancient One: It's not about you.

Dr. Stephen Strange: I'm not ready.
The Ancient One: No one ever is. We don't get to choose our time.
[takes his hand]
The Ancient One: Death is what gives life meaning. To know your days are numbered. Your time is short. You'd think after all this time, I'd be ready. But look at me. Stretching one moment out into a thousand... just so that I can watch the snow.

Dr. Stephen Strange: [after Mordo hands him a card] Well, what's this? My mantra?
Baron Mordo: The Wi-Fi password. We're not savages.

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DOCTOR STRANGE (2016) MOVIE IMAGES

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Posters

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DOCTOR STRANGE (2016) STORY SYNOPSIS

​Dr. Stephen Strange's (Benedict Cumberbatch) life changes after a car accident robs him of the use of his hands. When traditional medicine fails him, he looks for healing, and hope, in a mysterious enclave. He quickly learns that the enclave is at the front line of a battle against unseen dark forces bent on destroying reality. Before long, Strange is forced to choose between his life of fortune and status or leave it all behind to defend the world as the most powerful sorcerer in existence.

DOCTOR STRANGE (2016) MOVIE REVIEW

Reviewed by Mark Geraghty   |   Review date 26 October 2016
Pop ​Movee Rating ⭐⭐⭐½

The Doctor is in! Doctor Stephen Strange, that is. World renowned (albeit fictional), brilliant (albeit self-anointed) Neurosurgeon and newly-installed Supreme Sorcerer of Earth! With such a long job description it’s hard to see how this particular Marvel character fits all of his work into one day. Fortunately, Doctor Strange has the ability to manipulate time, so he’s more-than-prepared when it comes to dealing with meddlesome Zealots who insist upon setting the Earth on a collision course with Dormammu, the (sometimes) ruler of the Dark Dimension.

While DOCTOR STRANGE has the visual cues of a Marvel Studios movie, it’s quite different to the Phase Two and Phase Three films such as AGE OF ULTRON and CIVIL WAR. Despite its abundance of visual effects, Doctor Strange stays squarely focussed on its central character from start to finish. There’s a distinct absence of sub-plots that feed into and out of the story, to be explored at a later date (or movie). This will comes as a blessing to casual Marvel movie viewers. The result is the studio’s leanest (115 minutes) and narratively cleanest film in a long time.

Writing credit for DOCTOR STRANGE goes to PROMETHEUS (2013) screenwriter Jon Spaihts along with the film’s Director - Scott Derrickson - and his sometimes co-writer C. Robert Cargill; not forgetting the original comic book character creator Steve Ditko. Much of what the trio have based DOCTOR STRANGE on comes from the comic book character’s origin story.

Derrickson and Cargill have taken key events and expanded upon them to allow leading man Benedict Cumberbatch to explore the character’s journey into the depths of despair and back again. This is where DOCTOR STRANGE succeeds and gives the viewer a different kind of Marvel movie experience. While Doctor Strange is not shy when it comes to getting into the action, his intellect is his greatest weapon and viewers are in for a real treat with a Marvel hero whose ability to solve problems is achieved as much through force-of-will as it is through sheer brute force. The entire cast benefit from Cumberbatch’s prowess, but Rachel McAdams’ Christine Palmer, Benedict Wong’s Wong and Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One work the best with him and the scenes with these four characters are the most interesting and enjoyable in the film.

There are a couple of things that don’t quite work...

Once again, it’s not hard to level criticism at the another Marvel film for one-dimensional villains. Mads Mikkelsen is a cut above recent Marvel bad guys, but he’s a long way from being labelled a “scene stealer”. Derrickson, to his credit, gives Mikkelsen’s Kaecilius genuine motivation but the character’s actions are so intertwined with visual effects, there’s precious little time for the Danish actor to get his lines out before he has to “pretend” his next trick.

The Big Bad of DOCTOR STRANGE is Dormammu, but he hardly feels like it..

In the comic book, the character was the ruler of the Dark Dimension, a place where he had been banished by his people, the Faltine. He could teleport between dimensions, change his appearance, slide back and forth through time and impose his telepathic powers upon those around him.

The movie version doesn’t take advantage of these powers and Doctor Strange comic book fans may feel a little let down be the character’s design and limited impact on the story. To be honest, DOCTOR STRANGE, as the title suggests, is all about Doctor Stephen Strange. Without going on about it, Cumberbatch is excellent and, despite the wavering American accent, was the perfect choice for the role. The strength of Cumberbatch’s presence allows Scott Derrickson the luxury to explore his leading character’s relationship with those around him. While Rachel McAdam plays a critical role as Christine, DOCTOR STRANGE works because of the dynamic between Tilda Swinton and Cumberbatch.

​This Marvel film proves that being Strange isn’t necessarily a bad thing!

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