It’s Marvel Monday and we’re back on the road to Infinity War. Today’s movie is “Doctor Strange” (2016), the visually amazing film directed by Scott Derrickson and written in collaboration with Jon Spaihts and C. Robert Cargill. The film had a $165 million dollar budget and grossed $677 million dollars worldwide.

The film follows the fall and rise of Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), a world-renowned, narcissistic neurosurgeon who loses the full use of his hands after crashing en route to an awards ceremony. Dr. Strange spends his remaining wealth seeking medical solutions, eventually seeking out an alternative therapy in Kathmandu at a temple called Kamar-Taj. Dr. Strange meets The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), who introduces Dr. Strange to the impossibilities of the multiverse, and takes him under her wing to train as a sorcerer.

The biggest, and quite valid, controversy surrounding the film was the casting of Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One, perceived as another whitewashing of an Asian character in the MCU, even one steeped in its own quasi-racist origins. It is the Achilles’ heel for the entire franchise, especially since every major character, outside of the team-up films and the aliens in “Guardians of the Galaxy”, have been white males. Swinton does all right as her version of The Ancient One, but the controversy is probably the major detractor from the film’s effectiveness.

Aside from the controversy, however, is a special effects masterpiece, expertly bringing to life the delightful weirdness of the mystical side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. During this time, “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” was debuting the Robbie Reyes’ version of Ghost Rider (Gabriel Luna), and a few months later, “Iron Fist” would attack the mystical side from another angle. The mirror dimension is so insanely well done, and the gratuitous Stan Lee cameo was the reason I bought and read “The Doors of Perception” by Aldous Huxley after the film.

“Doctor Strange” (2016) is a visually stunning ride that introduces the magical side of Marvel’s multiverse, despite some issues with casting. My criticisms aren’t deal breakers, though, and now that the Ancient One is out of the picture, I think Doctor Strange can become a fun, integrated part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, especially if it comes with the insane special effects. I suspect with the post-credits scene that a sequel is in the works, and hopefully we’ll get a release date for that after “Avengers: Infinity War” this April.

Rotten Tomatoes: 90% (CERTIFIED)

Metacritic: 72

One Movie Punch: 8.4/10

Podcast: onemoviepunch.libsyn.com/episode-092-doctor-strange-2016

“Doctor Strange” (2016) is rated PG-13 and is currently streaming on Netflix or wherever you enjoy movies.

Episode 092 - Doctor Strange (2016)

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Joseph Dobzynski, Jr.

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