Dr Strange is not one of my favourite character in Marvel Universe. He seems so.. unreal. Even though the mystic characters were my initial introduction to Marvel (Ghost Rider, Spirit of Vengeance, Blaze, Nightstalker, Darkhold), somehow Strange did not appeal at that time. However, there is a new reason to catch Dr Strange in the silver screen: Benedict Cumberbatch.
Ever since Sherlock, Cumberbatch had been one of Lyn and my favourite actors around. As much as we like to watch him showcase his intelligient alongside Watson, his American venture had not been my favourite. His portrayal of Khan merely raise Star Trek to an average watch. So, again, I entered into the cinema with such a high hope, but at the same time, some reservation on Marvel recent efforts.
The formula had been recycle for so many times in so many super heroes origin movie that it had became stale. Heroes with high potential but flawed in personality (nearly ALL superheroes). Heroes met with great tragedy (also ALL superheroes). Heroes rise up and beat the baddie (need I repeat?). Heroes with moustache (so much similarities with Robert Downey Jr's Ironman). Here, Stephen Strange is an arrogant neurosurgeon who experienced the lowest point in life when he met with and accident leaving him with nerve damage over the hand. Crippled, and lost without a purpose, he seek unconventional help to recover his skill, which landed him to Nepal, and learn the power of the mystic and supernatural. Of course, there is always a deviant former student which hunger for power who tried to destroy the world to achieve eternal life from some dark dimensional world. No spoiler there to guess that Strange manage to beat the villain to emerge as the new sorcere supreme.
So, what lift Strange above the rest? Nothing, I feared. Cumberbatch is cast perfectly as Strange. Even as weird as it felt, but Tilda Swinton felt comfortable as the Ancient One, despite having to change the ethnicity of the original character. The script is written nicely, with nuggets of philosophical wisdown thrown in and adequate humour in between. One of the main problems is the villain by Mads Mikkelsen is not menacing enough. He is much much more scary in Hannibal. The ultimate threat seems OK but not threatening enough. Having the last demon appearing is rather cartoonish, it exactly the same with the appearance of Galactus in Fantastic Four Rise of Silver Surfer movie. The biggest problem is the plot idea had been recycled so many times, it actually felt stale. That is why Deadpool brought some fresh air to the superheroes movies earlier.
Does it mean Strange failed? Far from it, it is one of the better ones lately. The action is mind bending and out of this world. That itself is worth the ticket admission. Yes, probably we had seen it in Inception (cant blame me for spoiler, but the battle scene is portrayed in the trailer), but the way it was ulitized in the battle scenes is really exciting.
My advice? Do not miss it for the action.
ratings: 3 half poink~!
comments: definitely one of the better origin movies by Marvel. I hope by Strange, there will be more movies on these stories and reboot Ghost Rider.
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