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"Doctor Strange" Movie Review
Doctor Strange is one of those rare films that you absolutely have to see in 3D to truly appreciate how stunning these visual effects really are. In fact, the film's strongest asset is the visual effects, but the second strongest asset is its story.
The film tells the story of doctor Stephen Strange, a brilliant neurosurgeon who has allowed his ego to get the better of him. When he is in a near-fatal car accident, he loses his ability to operate. His ego bruised, his hands battered, and his options limited, he travels to Kathmandu, Nepal in search of the compound Kamar-Taj in order to find a so-called healer in the hopes of restoring his hands to their full ability. Instead, he is shown how tiny he truly is and begins to train in the mystic arts.
The acting was some of the best that the MCU has dished out so far. Benedict Cumberbatch was the perfect choice to play Doctor Strange. He had the look, the attitude, and the dedication that the role required. Tilda Swinton was, perhaps, the most impressive, taking on the role of The Ancient One who trains Strange. The plot twist involving her character was stunning, but beautiful at the same time. Chiwetel Ejiofer played the part of Baron Mordo. Mordo seemed to be on the fence about what was right and wrong. Chiwetel did a good job giving Mordo that indecisive edge, but was by far the film's weakest character. Based on the second after-credits scene, it's safe to assume his role will be far greater the next time we see him. Mads Mikkelsen was yet another villain in his long line of villainous film roles. Mads's character was Kaecilius, a former student of The Ancient One who turned to darkness, seduced by the promise of eternal life. What he didn't realize, though, was not all eternities are good. Benedict Wong, who played Wong, and Rachel McAdams, who played Christine, were the film's two main side characters. Wong was the keeper and protector of the spells and Christine was Strange's kind-of love interest. Neither had much screen time but both were definitely needed to keep the story flowing well. Maybe they'll have larger roles in the future.
What made this film great, I believe, was the fact that it showed that you don't need to be perfect to be used in the great scheme of things. Before discovering the mystics, Strange was so self-centered and arrogant, but afterwards he was humbled and truly learned how to be decent and caring.
In conclusion, I have nothing but praise for this film. It's remarkable, stunning, mind-blowing, and all around beautiful. The story is strong and the meaning stronger. I give the film a total of 4 out of 4.
© 2016 Nathan Jasper