Due to participation in NaNoWriMo, my viewing has dropped sharply, hence the scarcity of my reviews this month. But as some of you know, I'm a sucker for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There seemed no better way to take a break from writing a novel.
I was not previously familiar with the character of Dr. Stephen Strange (yes, that's his "real" last name -- not to be confused with Dr. Hugo Strange of DC Comics). He starts out as an arrogant surgeon, not far off from Dr. House. Leave it to Benedict Cumberbatch, actor of Sherlock Holmes and Alan Turing, to play yet another insufferable genius, even with an American accent for a change. You thought Tony Stark obnoxious at the start of Iron Man? You'd seen nothing yet. It's kind of painful to watch his interactions with co-worker and ex-girlfriend Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams, who incidentally played a love interest for a different Sherlock Holmes).
Then an accident damages the nerves in his fingers, killing his career. His search for a cure leads him to a secret location in Nepal, where the self-described Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) teaches people to unlock the powers of their own bodies -- and the multiverse. She is reluctant to teach him because of his similar character to a former student who went dangerously rogue, Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen), but student Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) talks her into it. Strange learns that the true purpose of the sorcerer training is to combat enemies, including, yes, Kaecilius, on a plane the Avengers don't frequent.
A key theme of the story is Strange realizing how little he's known about the way things work. You don't have to be religious to appreciate the idea that modern, western science still has a long way to go and will probably never explain everything. Of course, he also learns another lesson, beyond magic: There is value in looking out for people besides himself. Oh, he'd saved lives before, but not for their sake; he rejected any cases that could jeopardize his winning streak. Now he's willing to put his own life on the line.
If no one had told me that Swinton was playing a Tibetan character revamped into a Celt, with the studio stating reasons that I don't accept, then I'd have no problem with her casting. (If it helps at all, there are still plenty of Asians kicking around, including Benedict Wong as, er, Wong the library guardian; and Mordo has gone from White to Black, tho he'll apparently be a villain in his next appearance.) The Ancient One is a piece of work, a challenging mentor not as ethical as she first appears. It helps us understand why Kaecilius would defect and invest hope for the greater good in a cosmic horror called Dormammu. Perhaps Strange's freethinking does come in handy, especially when violence may not be the answer after all.
Just what kinds of powers does Strange master, sometimes slowly and sometimes with impressive speed? Well, he can create spectral shields and whips; he can open portals to places he remembers (including the hospital, fortunately) as long as he keeps the trinket all sorcerers receive; and eventually, with an Infinity Stone, he can warp time. He also receives help from the Cape of Levitation, which has a mind of its own. We never see him indulge as much in warping space as Kaecilius and the Ancient One do.
Trailers have aptly invited comparisons to Inception in terms of spectacle. It is indeed like that, only far more colorful. It makes for some of the most interesting action sequences I've ever seen in a superhero movie, especially around the climax. My dad didn't even complain that it went on too long. One warning: Some of the imagery gets quite freaky, like YouTube creepypasta on a Hollywood budget.
Surprisingly few people came to our theater in the early afternoon; we figure that others chose the 3D viewing. Well, 3D or not, it's a heck of a lot of fun. Strange may never be as humorous as Tony Stark, nor does he get as attractive a chest exposure (too medical a context), but I look forward to seeing him again.
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