Doctor Strange
Doomsday: T-Minus 25 Weeks
Welcome to week 14 of the 39 week countdown to Avengers: Doomsday. I’m watching the MCU films in order of release, one per week, in the buildup to December 17, when Avengers:Doomsday hits theaters. This countdown will culminate the following day, with my thoughts on that film.
After focusing most of the franchise on the Avengers, Marvel was at this point branching out, and incorporating lesser-known heroes into the mix. Turning an unknown C-Lister like Iron Man into a global icon has a way of emboldening a movie studio! After the success of two more films featuring obscurities, Guardians of the Galaxy and Ant-Man, a Doctor Strange film didn’t seem shocking at all. Marvel, at this point, could do no wrong. And so, in 2016, audiences met the strangest doctor!
We meet Doctor Strange, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, when he is still Dr. Strange, a steady-handed surgeon with nerves of steel, and a super-sized ego. After a car accident leaves his hands mangled, he exhausts his fortune, and his friends’ patience, seeking a treatment that will allow him to resume his career, but to no avail. He ends up broke and homeless in Kathmandu, at the doorstep of Kamar-Taj, the home of sorcerers. Once he accepts that magic is real, he channels the intellect and determination that made him a world famous surgeon into mastering the mystic arts.
The film is at its best when it is setting up its story, and introducing the characters. It loses steam whenever the villains show up. Led by Kaecilius, they are a band of rogue sorcerers who believe that opening up a gateway to a hell dimension, and allowing the demon Dormammu to kill everyone on earth, will bring about happier times. While the what is clear, the why is suspiciously vague. They’re a ruthless band of murderers, no doubt, and the special effects when the squads of sorcerers face off are at times breathtaking, but in all it’s a but muddy, and I found myself wanting more interaction between Strange, Mordo, and Wong, and more insight into the Ancient One.
The Ancient One, in the comics, is an ancient, old Asian wizard. Here, he’s become a she, and is played by a youngish Tilda Swinton. We’re told she’s ancient, but she doesn’t have the wizened, elderly look of her comic book counterpart. See for yourself.
It wasn’t necessarily a bad change, just an unusual one, and I definitely wish we’d learned more about the Ancient One. We pretty much only find out that she’s ancient, a master sorcerer, and something of a hypocrite, as she preaches against using dark magic, but taps into dark magic to prolong her life. Why? Who’s to say? We’re meant to forgive her for her transgression, though we don’t quite learn why we should do that, either. Doctor Strange forgives her, though Mordo doesn’t, but the movie is named after Strange, so we’re with him on this.
There’s a love story buried in here someplace, but it barely exists. We learn early on that Strange used to date another doctor at his hospital, but now they’re friends. Later, he insults her. Later still, they embrace and kiss. And that’s it, we have a love story.
How Good Is It?
If it sounds like I’m bagging on this movie, I’m not. It’s very entertaining, and it isn’t overlong. It keeps moving, and even the scenes with the villains don’t exactly drag. It’s more that I wanted more from the enemies than I got. Kaecilius is no Loki, that’s for sure. He’s not even on Malekith’s level. He’s barely present.
I don’t think this is as much fun, or as engaging as the Ant-Man movie, and it’s not one I’ll watch again in the near future, but it’s certainly not bad by any stretch. It’s a very good movie, but not a great one.
What Did Giacomo Think?
“It was cool how Doctor Strange thought he couldn’t perform magic because of his injured hands, but then, he saw the stubbed guy [editor’s note: a man missing a hand] do some impressive tricks with no problem.”
Giacomo’s younger brother Carmine adds, “He’s the strangest doctor.”
My Watch History
I watched this on its Thursday night opening, on November 3, 2016. Letterboxd tells me I watched on June 23, 2024, and again this past Monday. I’m pretty sure those are the only three times I’ve seen this film.
How Did I Watch?
I own this on a 4k UHD Blu-ray. You can click the image below to buy a copy. (I get nothing if you do, so this isn’t a ploy to make money.)
Best Scene in the Movie
I like Strange’s first meeting with Wong, and his attempt to get a laugh out of the taciturn librarian. He runs through a list of names of people who famously go by one name. Later, he tries "Beyoncé,” to no avail, though later still, we hear Wong listening to Beyoncé on his headphones, so maybe he is getting through to him after all.
Will This Tie Into Doomsday?
This is probably important to Doomsday for two big reasons.
It’s the first mention in the MCU of the multiverse. This is the film that establishes that there are universes layered upon universes, which is presumably going to be a big deal in Doomsday, as Dr. Doom likely hails from one of those alternate universes.
It’s the introduction of magic into the MCU. Dr. Doom is both a technologist and a sorcerer. He’s something of a cross between Dr. Strange and Iron Man. Since this is ground zero for MCU magic, it’s worth watching.
How May Stars Does It Get?
While contemplating this project my biggest question was whether or not I should rate the films. I’ve mentioned this before, but I’m terrible at assigning films a score. I either like ‘em or I don’t. However, I know readers like ratings, so I’ve come up with something close. I’m going to rank the films as I go along. This isn’t as easy as it sounds, and with each week it grows more difficult.
The Updated Ranking
The Avengers
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Guardians of the Galaxy
Captain America: Civil War
Ant-Man
Iron Man 2
Iron Man
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Iron Man 3
Thor
Doctor Strange
Captain America: The First Avenger
The Incredible Hulk
Thor: The Dark World
What’s Next
Next week I’ll write about the 15th installment in the MCU, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.