JessicaRulestheUniverse.com

Doctor Strange opened in local theatres today, more than a week ahead of its US debut. The latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Mads Mikkelsen, and Tilda Swinton, who can play any role she wants as far as we’re concerned.

Saffy’s Wow face

You will enjoy Doctor Strange if

– You’re into eastern mysticism, magical arts, astral projections and that mind-bending stuff that was big in the Sixties when the comic book first came out.
– You like seeing Benedict Cumberbatch playing another arrogant genius (See Sherlock, See the Star Trek Khan redo, See The Imitation Game, See The Fifth Estate). Typecasting!
– You like seeing Benedict Cumberbatch as an arrogant genius who has a life-threatening experience and learns to see past his enormous ego to serve the greater good (See Iron Man, which launched the Marvel movie universe).
– Tilda Swinton is your life guru.
– The concept of alternate universes and time loops appeals to you.
– You’re a completist and you have to see where one of the Infinity Stones comes from (That is not a spoiler).
– Years of watching two Marvel superhero movies every year have trained you to sit through the end credits for a surprise guest appearance. (There are two closing credit sequences.)
– You get a kick out of random pop references in your superhero flicks.
– You prefer your superhero flicks to be fun, because life is grim enough.
– You approve of the Petyr Baelish/Littlefinger look that Stephen Strange ends up with.
– You’re thrilled by reality-bending, folding, splintering effects, like Inception without the “Look, this is the greatest thing ever!”
– Seeing Stan Lee reading The Doors of Perception makes you happy.
– You are not yet exhausted by the endless parade of superhero movies.
(You live for superhero movies/You do not live for superhero movies.)

Saffy’s side-eye

You may have mixed feelings about Doctor Strange if

– You’re not into eastern mysticism, magical arts, astral projections and that mind-bending stuff that was big in the Sixties when the comic book first came out.
– You don’t like seeing Benedict Cumberbatch playing another arrogant genius (See Sherlock, See the Star Trek Khan redo, See The Imitation Game, See The Fifth Estate). Typecasting!
– You don’t need to see another arrogant genius who has a life-threatening experience and learns to see past his enormous ego to serve the greater good (See Iron Man, which launched the Marvel movie universe).
– Tilda Swinton is not your life guru.
– The concept of alternate universes and time loops does not appeal to you.
– You couldn’t care less where the Infinity Stones come from (That is not a spoiler).
– Years of watching two Marvel superhero movies every year have not convinced you to sit through the end credits for a surprise guest appearance. (There are two closing credit sequences.)
– You don’t get a kick out of random pop references in your superhero flicks.
– You prefer your superhero flicks to be dark and feel important.
– You disapprove of the Petyr Baelish/Littlefinger look that Stephen Strange ends up with.
– You’re not thrilled by reality-bending, folding, splintering effects like in Inception, or want them to say, “Look, this is the greatest thing ever!”
– You are indifferent to Stan Lee and/or Aldous Huxley.
– You are exhausted by the endless parade of superhero movies.
(You do not live for superhero movies/You live for superhero movies.)

In short, you will love Doctor Strange for the exact reasons you will hate Doctor Strange. The choice is really up to you. And that, Grasshopper, is the lesson.

Our rating: Very highly recommended. During the long weekend we’re doing a pilgrimage to IMAX to see Doctor Strange again in 3D IMAX.

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By the hoary hosts of Hoggoth! It’s even better in 3D IMAX. I like how the movie feels almost diffident about its own feats. Whoosh his astral body exits its physical form. Whoosh they go through a portal. Swish the cape appears in a case. What fun! I’ll watch it again.