Trailer Tuesday: Doctor Strange

Written by Logan J. Fowler and Justin Matchick

Release Date: November 4th, 2016

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Tilda Swinton, Rachel McAdams, Mads Mikkelsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor

Director: Scott Derrickson (Deliver Us From Evil, Sinister, The Exorcism of Emily Rose)

Pre-Trailer Thoughts: Doctor Strange is the next big standalone film to feature a Marvel Comics character that will eventually play a part in the bigger Cinematic Universe. His name was actually dropped during The Winter Soldier (and Spider-Man 2, not that that really had payoff) but this will be the first time we actually meet him, as he is being portrayed by the wonderfully named Benedict Cumberbatch. I’ll admit, my interest in this property wasn’t really high, but then I watched the trailer. –LJF

Pre-Trailer Thoughts: The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand and delve deeper into comic book lore with Doctor Strange. While elements of magic have been explored in the Thor films, this looks to be the first time that the more mystical elements of the Marvel Universe will be shown in full force in a movie. Horror director Scott Derrickson will have a lot of work to do to wrangle in the multi-dimensional abilities of Doctor Strange and bring them into the increasingly crowded world of the MCU. – JTM

Rate the Trailer: 3 out 5. This movie looks like Inception and The Matrix had a baby. The visuals are stunning and lend themselves to what could be a mind blowing cinematic experience. Therefore, I’m already game. The cast is also pretty solid, although I know there is backlash due to a primarily white roster of actors. Look, I know nothing about the comics the film is based on, so I cannot really give my opinion on the matter. However, I did research The Ancient One, played by Tilda Swinton, and it appears that the comic book version of Strange’s mentor is actually a male. So you can’t fault them for trying to shake things up a bit. The only real flaw I have is why did Cumberbatch had to drop his accent? I would’ve much preferred a British Doctor Strange, since most of the MCU characters are American. Oh well. –LJF

Rate the Trailer: 3 out of 5. The special effects looks amazing and positively mind bending. Derrickson has done a great job of showcasing the reality-bending abilities of both Strange and his mentor The Ancient One, played by a totally bald Tilda Swinton. My issue is that outside of the beautiful special effects I really wasn’t drawn into the more dour scenes of Strange’s backstory, and I’m wondering if this might be an issue indicative of the whole film. The trailer never really gave me the vibe of this being a “fun” movie, which is what the MCU has succeeded at all these years. Even in the face of the most serious of storylines, the films never stopped being fun at heart. The more fantastical elements in the MCU have never really been entirely engrossing to me, and I’m wondering if a whole film of nothing but sorcery and a darker origin story might not work the way Marvels hopes it will. – JTM

Theater, Rent, No Thanks, Undecided? Theater. I was going to probably bypass this film originally (I know, it’s nutty, especially me as a lover of comic book films) but the trailer really drew me in. I give extreme credit to Marvel Studios for trying to break up the standard of the superhero genre, and Doctor Strange, much like Ant-Man, or Guardians of the Galaxy, or even Captain America: Civil War, seems to go off the beaten path because it has to from keeping people from feeling flooded. With the special effects shown in the trailer alone, I know that Doctor Strange is going to be a wonder to watch on the big screen. Therefore, it’s theater for me. –LJF

Theater, Rent, Undecided, No Thanks? Rent. I’m not sold on seeing this in the theater just yet, even with the mind-blowing special effects that will probably look very good on the big screen. With the bevy of superhero films already out this year (with more to come still) I’m wondering if I’ll be experiencing some big screen superhero fatigue by the time fall comes around. At the very least I’ll be watching this eventually as it is part of the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe, but I’m not in a huge rush to get around to it. – JTM

Doctor Strange opens his mind on November 4th, 2016

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