The film brings elements that significantly expand the Marvel universe: magic, mystical objects or even upside-down action scenes in impossible scenarios

Rating: 8/10 (8 March 2020)

After some continuations of the universe, Marvel presents another of its main characters, making room this time for the exploration of the mystical world. Created by designer Steve Ditko and screenwriter Stan Lee, the character first appeared in Strange Tales # 110 (July 1963). Just like in the comics, in this movie adaptation, Stephen is described as a brilliant and selfish surgeon. After a car accident that severely damages his hands and hinders his ability to perform surgery, he travels the world until he reaches a place found between the mountains of Nepal, the Kamar-Taj, where he meets the Elder. After becoming one of the former students of the Supreme Wizard, he begins training in both the mystical and martial arts to become the Supreme Wizard of the Earth.
Directed by Scott Derrickson, known for directing horror films, such as "The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)", The Entity (2012) "and Deliver Us from Evil (2014)", Marvel takes a risk by addressing a different theme and give a darker tone to your universe, with magicians, sorcerers, manipulation of matter, and mental powers like telepathy, telekinesis. And the director knows very well how to create a more serious atmosphere, of characters tormented by mortality.
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch in the main role, the actor knows exactly how to show his main characteristics in a masterful way, especially in the first act of the feature, before he was introduced to the mystical world. The entire transformation of Stephen is shown in an interesting way, which begins the projection by emphasizing his narcissistic and arrogant side and at the same time his genius in the profession. Shortly after the car accident and all failed recovery attempts, upon hearing a tip from an acquaintance he considered intractable in the past and who healed in Kamar-Taj, he begins his journey of transformation. What appeared to be the end was just the beginning. From then on, the film follows a standard formula and has already been repeated several times: the student, the master, the villain who turned against the master, the phase of self-discovery, training and the climax of the story. Even though it is repetitive, as it is a history of origin, the formula is understandable.
A skeptic who believes only in science, when he arrives on the scene imagining himself to be an unattended medical board, Stephen soon discovers that it is about something else, "reorienting the spirit" to better heal the body, mysteries that exist outside the senses, worlds without end, some benevolent to life and others dark, where powers older than time lurk thirsty and anxious. Dr. Strenge goes on to try to find out who he is in this multiverse. The training he goes through is thought provoking to the public, in which he will have to silence his ego for his power to emerge. These are sequences that, in addition to showing the training, present more about the past of the villain Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen), about relics such as the Rod of the Living Court, the Access Rings to other worlds, the Mirrored Dimension, the Eye of Agamotto, the Mantle from Levitation, the Black Dimension where Dormammu lives - the destroyer of worlds, the Sanctums of power created by Agamotto that protect the world and the magicians that protect the Sanctums from beings from another dimension that protect our universe.
From there the plot takes us to the attempts to destroy the Sanctums and the entrance of Black Magic, travels between worlds, epic confrontations in scenarios thought to the millimeter. The visual effects of the feature are exquisite, helping a lot to present this world of magic. There are many scenes made entirely in computer graphics and that do not let us notice any artificiality at any time. The scenes are psychedelic, frantic and impressively ingenious. The dynamics of all the action through the exchange of dimensions through the portals is done with extreme originality. No wonder, it is one of the favorite productions to give an Oscar to Marvel in this category. Ben Davis' photography mixes daytime and nighttime scenes exploring and offering different possibilities to the direction. A curiosity is that the scenes that take place in the streets of London are very reminiscent of the photograph used in another film that involves magic, in the case "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows". Michael Giacchino's soundtrack also sets the story in a slightly darker and more mysterious mood.
As for the rest of the cast, we can highlight the always beautiful Rachel McAdams. More than a doctor's romantic interest, Christine Palmer is one of the doctor's connections with the material dimension and is one of the few people who sees Strange apart from his so inflated persona of the "legendary surgeon", and this is well explored in several scenes that help to humanize the doctor. Tilda Swinton, playing the Elder, also does very well as the master of our doctor, being a key player in the plot. Chiwetel Ejiofor (Mordo) as one of the grandmaster's students and Benedict Wong (Wong) as the comic relief for the production's rarest scenes of humor. The film's weak point is the villain Kaecilius, who does not prove to be a real threat. It is more a puppet than an antagonist. We don't feel a real threat when we see it, and that adds some of the strength of the final stretch of production, which is resolved in a simpler way. A waste of the excellent Mads Mikkelsen.
Scott Derrickson knew how to command a story with many interesting elements that significantly expand the Marvel universe. It's all very well balanced: magic, mystical objects or even upside-down action scenes in impossible scenarios, within the context of the film and of parallel dimensions, seem even more natural than a Captain frozen for 70 years defeating villains with a Vibranium shield . The story focuses on the presentation of Dr. Strange's universe and only briefly quotes The Avengers. A more direct link to the Marvel universe can be seen in a post-credit scene. Some tips are loose for future sequels and just imagining what this world of wizards / wizards has to offer in future films, the expectation only grows.