Spoilers Doctor Strange - Grading & Discussion

[DBR]

Fucking loved it.

I've been meaning to jot down my thoughts for a few days now, but I've been unable to find the time. I have a few moments now, but forgive any unpolished, rambling digressions.

I was looking forward to seeing this one since Marvel kicked off their movieathonology <?>. Doctor Strange is one of the few Marvel characters I'm somewhat familiar with, and I have a man crush on Benedict Cumberpatch like the rest of the Internet population.

The company I went to see Doctor Strange with was in itself strange: my 65-year-old mother. It was one of those matters of happenstance moments that we went together. She basically had nowhere to go for a few hours while her house cleaner was doing whatever they do--I wouldn't know anything about such extravagances --and I was on my way to catch a showing already, so off we went.

She loved it, too. And that is why it's strange.

My mom enjoys comic book adaptations about as much as I enjoy romantic comedies. At times throughout the movie I was worried she didn't have a clue what was going on--time displacements, magic, other dimensions, flying capes, etc.--so for her to tell me how much she enjoyed the movie sent my brain on a kind of feedback loop . . . it's a good thing my mind didn't explode. Anyway, I digress. Nobody cares what my mom thought about the movie.

Doctor Strange must be seen on the big screen, preferably IMAX. Of course it wasn't playing at IMAX by the time I got around to seeing it, but at least I saw it in 3D: the visuals are stunning. If any movie was made for 3D, I think this was it. However, I fear the movie won't survive the test of time (as in now to six months from now,) and to help explain what I mean, I'll offer up Gravity as an example: it was really good in the theatre, but was kind of shitty on the small screen. Interstellar might be another recent example, though not to the same extent as Gravity.

Compared to the rest of the Marvelverse, Strange felt markedly different. Some of those fight and chase scenes were incredibly chaotic, and not in a bad way. And the supporting cast was superb, which, in my apparently wrong opinion, sets it apart from previous Marvel movies' supporting casts (Agent Coulson, Hawkeye: The Boringest Avenger, Antman's entire supporting cast . . . okay, those are the only ones that spring to mind off the top of my head.) I even liked Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One, despite my prior misgivings over her choice for the role. Has anybody figured out Benjamin Bratt’s role in the film? I saw the end credit scenes, but his role just felt . . . weird. Like Drew Carey could have played his character in exchange for a ham and cheese sandwich or something. Will he be back, I wonder?

Strange easily slides into my top three Marvel movies. I’ll have to watch it again, but I’d put it up there with Guardians and The Winter Soldier.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I wondered about Benjamin Bratt's character, too. I was completely thrown when he appeared in his first (and what I thought would be his only scene), particularly because I didn't know he was going to be in the film. Granted he isn't a big name, but if nothing else, people know him from Law & Order. Still, I think he's just a throwaway character and the post-credits scene was just to show how Mordo had gone bad, using a familiar face.

 

[JD]

F
I was looking forward to seeing this one since Marvel kicked off their movieathonology <?>. Doctor Strange is one of the few Marvel characters I'm somewhat familiar with, and I have a man crush on Benedict Cumberpatch like the rest of the Internet population.

The official term is the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

 

[Venardhi]

I wondered about Benjamin Bratt's character, too. I was completely thrown when he appeared in his first (and what I thought would be his only scene), particularly because I didn't know he was going to be in the film. Granted he isn't a big name, but if nothing else, people know him from Law & Order. Still, I think he's just a throwaway character and the post-credits scene was just to show how Mordo had gone bad, using a familiar face.

I just assumed that Bratt either knew someone in the production, had auditioned for Strange, or just wanted to be a part of the MCU and took advantage of a break in his schedule.

 

[Reverend]

I wondered about Benjamin Bratt's character, too. I was completely thrown when he appeared in his first (and what I thought would be his only scene), particularly because I didn't know he was going to be in the film. Granted he isn't a big name, but if nothing else, people know him from Law & Order. Still, I think he's just a throwaway character and the post-credits scene was just to show how Mordo had gone bad, using a familiar face.

I think at this point Marvel movies could cast Robert De Niro as Captain Marvel's cab driver and he'd do it for scale.
OK, I'm way over exaggerating, but they types of talent this studio has been able to attract is really quite stunning when you see them all lined up, including a few legends like Hopkins, Redford & Douglas in supporting roles. Hell, Sam Jackson originally only showed up for a post credit scene that for all he knew at the time, could be the only time he'd appear in the role.

The only thing I can compare it to is 'The Muppet Show' back in the day, when celebrities were practically kicking each other in the back of the neck, vying for a guest appearance.

 

[dahj]

The only thing I can compare it to is 'The Muppet Show' back in the day, when celebrities were practically kicking each other in the back of the neck, vying for a guest appearance.

The paychecks are *slightly* bigger in the MCU than The Muppet Show...

 

[Reverend]

The paychecks are *slightly* bigger in the MCU than The Muppet Show...

You're completely missing the point. I wasn't talking about the money, but about the level of interest the franchise can attract from even veteran actors. It's hard to appreciate now, especially if you're not old enough to remember, but back then *everyone* wanted to be on 'The Muppet Show'. It was crazy. Not just actors, but performers and celebrities of all stripes.
I'm not saying that's absolutely the case with the MCU now, but it's the closest we have at the moment. For a few years, The Simpsons sort of had the same level of attraction, but after a while, just about everyone did eventually get a guest appearance and thus it became a lot less attractive.

 

[dahj]

You're completely missing the point. I wasn't talking about the money, but about the level of interest the franchise can attract from even veteran actors.

I didn't miss your point, I disagreed with it.
The main attraction here is the big paycheck for little work, that's it.

 

[JD]

Sure, but for a lot of these actors money would not be a concern, and some of them, like Redford, don't usually do these kinds of movies. I don't know a ton about him, but Redford especially, doesn't strike me as the type to just do something for a pay check. I think it's pretty clear the Marvel name has becomes a pretty big draw in Hollywood right now, even beyond just a pay check.

 

[Noname Given]

Sure, but for a lot of these actors money would not be a concern, and some of them, like Redford, don't usually do these kinds of movies. I don't know a ton about him, but Redford especially, doesn't strike me as the type to just do something for a pay check. I think it's pretty clear the Marvel name has becomes a pretty big draw in Hollywood right now, even beyond just a pay check.

I believe Redford said he did it (Captain America: Winter Soldier) BECAUSE it had a lot of Green screen and other CGI effects work involved - and he's never done a movie that involved dealing with that aspect - and wanted to experience what it was like to work in that type of environment.

 

[JD]

Oh, I never heard that before, but it still kind of goes with what I was saying since he wasn't in it just for the pay check.

 

[Reverend]

Sure, but for a lot of these actors money would not be a concern, and some of them, like Redford, don't usually do these kinds of movies. I don't know a ton about him, but Redford especially, doesn't strike me as the type to just do something for a pay check. I think it's pretty clear the Marvel name has becomes a pretty big draw in Hollywood right now, even beyond just a pay check.

Exactly. Actors of this calibre don't just show up for the paycheck because at this point in their career, they don't have to. They've already made their fortunes and generally, they just do what they want to do. This is especially true of the likes of Hopkins who has flat out said he only does projects that interest him, big or small, regardless of budget.

 

[dahj]

I know fandom likes to believe that the actors are into this stuff as much as they are(heck, we're on a Star Trek board), but c'mon folks, get serious, these are $200 mil projects that expect to make $500+ mil. Of course they'll be "interested" in them.

If these were $20 million movies with exactly the same story, but crappier production values, care to guess how many of them would be "drawn to the project?"

That isn't to say they don't like these movies, or they don't enjoy working on them, they clearly do, but let's not kid ourselves at what's the real draw here.

And yes, even old people like money, and have families that like money...

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I know fandom likes to believe that the actors are into this stuff as much as they are(heck, we're on a Star Trek board), but c'mon folks, get serious, these are $200 mil projects that expect to make $500+ mil. Of course they'll be "interested" in them.

If these were $20 million movies with exactly the same story, but crappier production values, care to guess how many of them would be "drawn to the project?"

That isn't to say they don't like these movies, or they don't enjoy working on them, they clearly do, but let's not kid ourselves at what's the real draw here.

And yes, even old people like money, and have families that like money...

I'm sorry you're so cynical about this. Is it really so hard to believe that most (if not all) of these actors genuinely enjoy making these movies? Are you really suggesting that geeks and nerds can't be super talented actors?

Purely coincidental to this conversation, I happened up on this interview Tilda Swinton and Benedict Cumberbatch did last month, where Tilda expresses her desire and love for the MCU (Jump to the 16:37 mark):

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Also jump to the 20:50 mark regarding films in general.

 

[dahj]

I'm sorry you're so cynical about this. Is it really so hard to believe that most (if not all) of these actors genuinely enjoy making these movies? Are you really suggesting that geeks and nerds can't be super talented actors?

That is not what I'm saying at all, I said as much in the post you were quoting.
I was responding to Reverend's post who said that people are lining up to do MCU movies for free and that it has reached the status of The Simpsons or The Muppet Show, which is just not even remotely similar.

 

[Grendelsbayne]

That is not what I'm saying at all, I said as much in the post you were quoting.
I was responding to Reverend's post who said that people are lining up to do MCU movies for free and that it has reached the status of The Simpsons or The Muppet Show, which is just not even remotely similar.

That post says 'for scale', not for free. And it also says right afterwards that that is obviously an exaggeration.

 

[dahj]

That post says 'for scale', not for free.

Same difference.
Due to guild rules you can't work literally for free, saying someone would work "for scale" implies that they'd be willing to do it for free...

 

[Venardhi]

Scale isn't nothing. It's almost a thousand dollars a day. If someone has a significant supporting role in a big budget feature film, even at scale, they're probably taking home what a lot of people make in a year.

 

[LJones41]

Sure, but for a lot of these actors money would not be a concern, and some of them, like Redford, don't usually do these kinds of movies. I don't know a ton about him, but Redford especially, doesn't strike me as the type to just do something for a pay check. I think it's pretty clear the Marvel name has becomes a pretty big draw in Hollywood right now, even beyond just a pay check.

I think Redford did "The Winter Soldier" because he liked the script, regardless of whether it was a Marvel film or not.

 

[dahj]

I believe Redford said he did it (Captain America: Winter Soldier) BECAUSE it had a lot of Green screen and other CGI effects work involved - and he's never done a movie that involved dealing with that aspect - and wanted to experience what it was like to work in that type of environment.

Aren't most, if not all of his scenes in an office and a conference room?

If he really wanted the green screen experience he should have signed on to Corporal States: The December Warrior, or whatever the Asylum mockbuster was called.