Directed by Scott Derrickson to a screenplay by Derrickson, Jon Spaihts and C. Robert Cargill, Doctor Strange is the first installment in a new Marvel Comics superhero franchise.
Based on the Strange Tales comics from the 1960’s, Doctor Strange, the film, stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt, Scott Adkins, Mads Mikkelsen, and Tilda Swinton.
The story can be described as House, the character from the TV series; your brilliant yet arrogant doctor, meeting Master Shifu of Kung Fu Panda. The plot is thin and consists of our bright surgeon i.e. Dr. Stephen Strange, experiencing a car accidents that ends up his career. The mishap sets him up on a quest that leads him to meet the Ancient One; a master who would instruct him in the mystic arts of the East, so that he could ultimately save the world. And if this sounds a little like Star Wars, it is because the story elements, though much simplified, are the same. Only that the evil that Doctor Strange must face is quite corny and disappointing in lack of originality.
Despite all of the above, much of the film’s other elements are simply superb. Starting with the casting, Cumberbatch is a great fit for the role of Doctor Strange, as he perfectly nails the arrogance of the protagonist. The special effects are not just outstanding but extremely well aligned with the plot, resulting in a mind-bendging experience. And while, as mentioned, some aspects of the film may be a bit of a cliché, all in all, Doctor Strange as a whole delivers an engaging couple of hours of entertainment.