Marvel’s Turn Towards The Mystical

Ever since Jon Favreau’s Iron Man came into the cinematic fray eight years ago now, Marvel’s ambitions have consistently coincided with the success that many of these hero features have upheld. Despite their being a few films that have strayed away from being critically acclaimed, in contrast to the features of Avengers Assemble and Guardians of the Galaxy that delighted audiences in their own separate ways, Marvel’s Cinematic Universe was born, grew and has now become intriguingly complex. Now into what is known as ‘phase 3’, Doctor Strange see’s Marvel polish-off yet another take on an unknown origin story (similar to Ant-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy) that not only see’s Benedict Cumberbatch comfortably slipping into the main-role that is convincing as his other notable performances, but utilises distinct CG visuals that cleverly deconstructs the environment in an imaginative fashion…

Marvel’s Doctor Strange follows the story of the prolific yet arrogant neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange who, after a debilitating car accident, finds himself no longer using his hands. But when he finds and meets a man who was paralysed that found a way to walk again, Strange seeks out ‘The Ancient One’ who teaches him the hidden secrets of mysticism, sorcery and the broaden variety of other dimensions. As much as he was enthralled by the teachings that ‘The Ancient One’ displayed, leaving him in a state of begging, Strange not only finds himself mastering the mystic arts to a high-pedigree, but stumbles upon an other-worldly war that puts the human existence in grave danger. With former student, Kaecilius, doing everything in his power to release a greater evil, can the great Sorcerer Supreme foil this metaphysical folly?…

Along with the additions of Thor and Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel has indeed introduced another peculiar and obscure comic-book character into their cinematic universe with Doctor Strange. While it can be argued that the majority of the general audience wouldn’t have heard of such a bizarre and mysterious character, in the form of Doctor Strange, Scott Derrickson’s film profoundly applies distinct and innovative film-making techniques to a genre that has increasingly seized the moving medium industry. In a year where a few too many Superhero films have been ravaged by critical opinion for their lack of creativity and assured predictability, most notably with the likes of Batman V. Superman and Suicide Squad, Doctor Strange exemplifies Marvel’s requisite of producing divergent heroic tales. Similar to how Guardians of the Galaxy goes about it’s way of presenting a narrative that was refreshing in meshing the comic-book tropes with sci-fi elements, Derrickson’s take on the illusion supreme of Doctor Strange is another Marvel feature that seemingly deviates from the anticipated grandeur that audiences have come to know of these adaptations in recent years, in favour for meaningful contextual motifs that engage towards the world of the mystical. The more comprehensible contextual motifs that audiences will be entangled by, is this contrast of scientific and faithful ideals. More will be delved into when we discuss Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance as the sorcerer supreme, but when we’re introduced to the character of Stephen Strange in the 1st act of the film, he’s an individual that takes great pride in being the best at what he does for a living. As accomplished as he is when he performs operations as a neurosurgeon, Strange, subtly similar to that of Tony Stark, revels in the capacity of science and logic. He’s so very much fixated on practise and study that when he encounters ‘The Ancient One’, an eastern mage who not only miraculously helps a paralysed man to walk normally again but explains how their are mystical offerings that bend the world as people know of it, Strange’s non-believer beliefs are ripped away into a new reality; a reality that exceedingly knows no boundaries. Indeed, the moment in which Strange is forcefully bestowed upon a fantasia of different dimensions by Tilda Swinton’s character, the film not only opens up a visual mirage that consistently pleases the viewing eye, but unlocks this friction of science and belief that Stephen Strange has to contend with in finding a place for himself and that in turn, presents something that is engaging and different for all demographics to see. As complex as Derrickson sets out Doctor Strange to be, especially when good and evil collide in kaleidoscope of buildings splitting and floors moving, the one minor set-back that this film has to adopt within the narrative is its predictability. While there are subtle differences that Derrickson tries to manipulate and that doesn’t remind the main demographic of the other more notable Marvel films there have been, the nature of this film being an origin superhero story brings forth a three-act structure that is highly formulaic. By the time you reach the climax of the narrative, where we’re presented with an underwhelming resolution that could have been presented and written better, it’s inevitable as to what the final act has in store. 

Despite the misgivings with the third-act ultimately being foreseeable and uninspiring, one of the biggest strengths that Doctor Strange has is the performances of the key roles; most noticeably with Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange. Like in every pristine role that he’s excelled so far in his acting career, and similar to how Tom Hiddlestone approaches his performances, Cumberbatch truly embodies this character that has many complexities in his personality and what path he wants to go down. It was mentioned earlier that Cumberbatch’s character of Strange very much resembles Tony Stark (Iron Man) in the sense that they pride themselves in the intricacies of science and don’t, at first, buy into the mysticism that this Marvel cinematic universe has displayed. However, both Stark and Cumberbatch’s portrayal as the sorcerer supreme share the same personality traits as each other; by having a perfect level of arrogance in regards to their work, wit and confusion. In saying this, it’s easy to understand why many will be attached to the central protagonist, being that he resembles another well-known Marvel figure-head. Even though the accent that Cumberbatch conveys isn’t always up-to the consistent level that it needs to be, particularly in the first-act of the film, another trait that audiences will appreciate of the main-hero, is his passion for bettering himself. He’s an enigmatic individual who takes his intellect very seriously, arrogantly so, Yet, he wants to learn everything he can, to get better at what ever he wants to do. This is why he’s seen as a successful neurosurgeon and why he masters the mystic arts throughout the duration of the story. Aside from the character of Strange, there are other major-players make this film as fun and intersting as the previous Marvel titles we’ve seen for ourselves. Although his character lacked the necessary depth that would have explained a specific point in the story that won’t be spoiled, Mads Mikkelsen as Kaecilius, a former apprentice of ‘The Ancient One’, performs rather well but definitely isn’t the most threatening of villains due to the lack range in his background. Despite the ever-predictable debacle that has resurfaced with this film in relation to the ‘whitewashing’ of a character, Tilda Swinton exudes in performing as the whimsical Ancient One. While it’s understandable to objectively look and pick-out the fact that the role of the Ancient One could (and perhaps should?) have been portrayed by a person who is actually the ethnicity of the figure you see in the original source material, Swinton professionally demonstrates her acting prowess by manifesting a character that provides an ample amount of depth then one might expect to see. Even though this character wasn’t elaborated enough, just as Mikkelsen’s villainy role was, the minor chemistry that Cumberbatch and Rachel McAdams, who plays the love-interest counterpart, was rather enjoyable to watch and is epitomised well when Strange, comically, kept on needing McAdams’ character for help; it added a nice touch of humour that Marvel films tend to place in their films. Although, the only tid-bit to say of the comedy excerpts, was that they do feel rushed and unnecessary.

As many reviewers, critics and audiences members have mentioned and have come to admire about seeing Doctor Strange,  the visual-language, in which we’re not only see a puzzling-deconstruction of city-scapes and roads mould into unimaginable spaces but also vivid and abstract dimensions that are different from anything else you may have seen in recent years, is truly a sight to see. As much as I have a feeling of apprehension towards the gimmick that is 3-D, since most films who don’t need the tool cheaply profit from it, going to see Derrickson’s developed visual art-work in 3-D is understandable. For sure, there are visionary inklings that will remind people of films like Christopher Nolan’s Inception and the Wachowski’s The Matrix series of features in the way that the space and surroundings distort the silver-screen. However, the harmonisation of time and space being bent at Strange’s will and the many psychotropic settings that truly reminisce the original source material, is something to obligated by. What will be intersting moving forward into the much anticipated future Marvel films, is how Doctor Strange’s far-out visionary style feeds into the rest of this cinematic-crowning universe, especially since Strange is tipped as a future leader of the Avengers once Downey Jr retires from his planet-saving duties.

Through it’s now eight year lifespan, the Marvel cinematic universe has indeed come along way in providing it’s main demographic, and the general viewing audience, formal and contextual information that is entertaining and engaging. While Marvel, over the years, have introduced Norse gods, nationalistic super-soldiers and bizarre extraterrestrials/crime-fighters to the mix, Scott Derrickson’s Doctor Strange is the latest superhero offering that artfully and refreshingly balances its quirky source material with innovative and impressionistic visuals, delivering to us a distinct origins story. Despite the film adopting a few mishaps within it’s script and the depth that was needed in a few of the characters, this last superhero feature of 2016 undeniably bolsters Marvel’s strategy for world cinematic domination and leaves it’s fair rivals, in check…

And with that, it’s time for me to end. As always everyone, thank you for reading my latest film review of Doctor Strange and I hope you’ve enjoyed the read. If anyone has an opinion on either my film review or on the film itself, please feel free to drop a comment down below. Next week, I will be doing another new film review that props up a few questions on the impact that Japanese animation may still have… Once again, thank you to everyone for reading my latest film review, and I’ll see you all next week. Have a nice day and weekend!! Adieu!! 🙂

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ – Alex Rabbitte