Spoilers Doctor Strange - Grading & Discussion

[Kahless the Unforgettable]

It would make far more sense if they simply said time passes differently in Kamar-Taj. Having him go from a complete skeptic to the sorcerer supreme in one year doesn't make much sense, no matter how photographic a memory he has.

He spent more time in medicine school just to become a surgeon. Why couldn't he have just read a couple of books and be bang, boom, done if he was that good? Nevermind how long it took him to get his first portal up, which is apparently the starter spell they all learn.

 

[Skywalker]

When Strange showed up at the hospital to get help from Christine, when Christine said to him "After all this time..." that would have been an ideal time to specify exactly how long Strange had been away.

 

[Mage]

It would make far more sense if they simply said time passes differently in Kamar-Taj. Having him go from a complete skeptic to the sorcerer supreme in one year doesn't make much sense, no matter how photographic a memory he has.

He spent more time in medicine school just to become a surgeon. Why couldn't he have just read a couple of books and be bang, boom, done if he was that good? Nevermind how long it took him to get his first portal up, which is apparently the starter spell they all learn.

He isn't though, Supreme I mean. The article linked to right before your post, it is stated that they he did in an earlier version of the script, but in the movie we get, he accepts that he is A sorcerer, but he is not yet the Sorcerer Supreme.

 

[Noname Given]

When Strange showed up at the hospital to get help from Christine, when Christine said to him "After all this time..." that would have been an ideal time to specify exactly how long Strange had been away.

Why is it that a lot of people want or expects things to be 100% spelled out in stuff like this?

 

[Mr Light]

I saw it a second time today and it held up very well. The first hour wasn't as tedious to sit through on a rewatch as I feared, and Benedict's lamentable American accent bothered me a lot less this time around.

 

[Skywalker]

Why is it that a lot of people want or expects things to be 100% spelled out in stuff like this?

Because it would have taken little effort and would have made a lot more sense? I'm not sure what the problem is with expecting something as simple as this. Especially since Strange was name-dropped by Jasper Sitwell more than two years ago in The Winter Soldier, when he was still just a famous neurosurgeon with zero ties to Kamar-Taj or with any reason to go there at the time.

 

[Tosk]

Especially since Strange was name-dropped by Jasper Sitwell more than two years ago in The Winter Soldier, when he was still just a famous neurosurgeon with zero ties to Kamar-Taj or with any reason to go there at the time.

Apart from being an Easter Egg, that doesn't mean much. He also mentions a bunch of other randoms, and the Insight Helicarriers target over 700,000 people just for the first salvo alone.

 

[Skywalker]

Actually, yeah, after thinking about it some more, the whole point of the Insight helicarriers was to target and eliminate not just current threats to Hydra, but potential threats, too. Stephen Strange may have just (just!) been a neurosurgeon at the time, but a man with such an exceptional mind that he could have caused trouble for Hydra in the future if he ever directed his talents elsewhere.

 

[M.A.C.O.]

Finally saw this. My job have been working me 12 hours a day for the past 3 weeks, and today was my first day off. I gave it a B+. Standard Marvel fare. The visual aspects (Inception inspired) and the 3D really made this film pop on screen and are the reasons I give this a plus. I've seen every comic book movie this year in IMAX 3D and only Dr Strange and Suicide Squad were worth the 3D experience.

 

[Mr Light]

What do you guys think of this an alternate take:

The opening takes place in 2012, and Stephen is in the city when the invasion happens, and he's caught in one of the explosions / falling debris and that's what ruins his hands. And he ends up spending six years trying to cure himself and studying at Kamar Taj before we catch up to modern events.

 

[M.A.C.O.]

What do you guys think of this an alternate take:It

The opening takes place in 2012, and Stephen is in the city when the invasion happens, and he's caught in one of the explosions / falling debris and that's what ruins his hands. And he ends up spending six years trying to cure himself and studying at Kamar Taj before we catch up to modern events.

It would make Strange more tragic character, but it wouldn't provide the humbling experience of him damaging his hands in an auto collision would. Strange had a big ego to go with his amazing intellect (a lot like Tony Stark and Reed Richards), prior to damaging his hands. Strange's journey to heal himself physically means more when Strange realizes that he has to rectify other aspects of his past as well. Making his origins caused by an external factor (an alien invasion) would lessen the impact of his growth.

 

[Mr Light]

I was expecting the accident to overtly be the cause of his arrogance and reckless driving, so I was surprised that the movie didn't really touch on that. He looks down at his phone for one second to be sure, but.... they never mention it past that. He or anyone else never says he was the cause of the accident or that he did anything wrong. He never expresses any guilt or blame for the accident itself, only his hands being injured. (and blaming the other doctors)

 

[Kahless the Unforgettable]

I was expecting the accident to overtly be the cause of his arrogance and reckless driving, so I was surprised that the movie didn't really touch on that.

I'm assuming you mean "be caused by" rather than "be the cause of," because otherwise that sentence doesn't make any sense. Why would an accident make him arrogant and a reckless driver? o.O

Anyway, that said, his reckless driving was due to his arrogance. He didn't care about the rules of the road or anyone else. He was invincible and superior to everyone and everyone. His driving skills were so superb that he could easily check his phone while speeding like a maniac at night. No problem; he was Dr. Strange, super surgeon and playboy extraordinare.

 

[Reverend]

I was expecting the accident to overtly be the cause of his arrogance and reckless driving, so I was surprised that the movie didn't really touch on that. He looks down at his phone for one second to be sure, but.... they never mention it past that. He or anyone else never says he was the cause of the accident or that he did anything wrong. He never expresses any guilt or blame for the accident itself, only his hands being injured. (and blaming the other doctors)

The reason for his accident is sort of besides the point. It could have been anything. The core of his character arc is in how he defines himself. When the thing that he believes defines him is taken away, who is he then? It's about overcoming ego and removing oneself from the equation. He knows it's his own damn fault, there's never any question of that as his self-hating tirade against his ex demonstrated.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I loved, loved Doctor Strange. It's a lighter film in comparison to the likes of Iron Man, Winter Soldier, and Civil War, but it's still a lot of damn fun like Guardians of the Galaxy.

The special effects are top notch, taking Inception and going several levels deeper, without leaning onto them too heavily (*cough*Lucas*cough*).

The acting is superb, but of course Benedict Cumberbatch is the runaway star (and not just because it's his film). Sure, there are moments, especially early on, that scream Sherlock (with a heavy dose of Gregory House), but he's clearly having a ball.

Hell, there's a moment when Strange admits he made a huge mistake and Mordo gives him the "No shit, Sherlock" look. I'm not saying it was intentional, but I'm saying it was intentional.

I agree with others that Rachel McAdams and Mads Mikkelsen were largely underutilized and their roles were underwritten. Hopefully, McAdams will have more to do in the next solo film.

Regarding the Thor cameo, has it actually been confirmed that Doctor Strange appears in some capacity in Thor: Ragnarok? The only information that I can find only refers to the scene in this film as proof.

 

[Skywalker]

We're assuming he is. Taika Waititi (director of Ragnarok) actually directed that scene, and I read that it was actually a scene from Ragnarok itself, though I don't know if that part is correct.

 

[Mr Light]

What would be the point of having a scene Dr Strange offering his help to Thor about Loki and Odin if he didn't appear in Thor Ragnarok? That would be such a cruel tease

 

[davejames]

Man, it would definitely make the next Thor movie a whole lot more fun and interesting if Strange were along for the ride. Unfortunately I suspect he'll only show up for a few scenes at most.

 

[M.A.C.O.]

Man, it would definitely make the next Thor movie a whole lot more fun and interesting if Strange were along for the ride. Unfortunately I suspect he'll only show up for a few scenes at most.

What else are they going to do? Ragnarok has Thor, Loki, Hulk and now Strange. I mean, we know that people aren't going to Thor solo movies to see Thor himself. Haha.

 

[Nerys Myk]

What else are they going to do? Ragnarok has Thor, Loki, Hulk and now Strange. I mean, we know that people aren't going to Thor solo movies to see Thor himself. Haha.

Hulk, Strange, Valkyrie.... It's a Defenders film!!!!!!