As far as marvel characters go Dr Steven Strange has to be one of the most influential and mystical of the universe, his comic book series opened up a completely different world to comic fans and gave them an alternative to the science based heroes like The Fantastic Four and The Hulk. The animated movie produced by Lionsgate and Marvel Animation studios does a great job of giving Dr Strange an origin that stays true to the source material but also makes Dr Strange's impossible life seem possible and relatable to the audience watching it.
The movie's narrative relies heavily on two major genres, the first being fantasy in this case dark fantasy, with the amount of vicious monsters and violent demons that the heroes of the movie have to face it could almost be a horror which lead into the next genre, supernatural. The movie is filled with mysticism and magic, Dr Strange's world revolves around those two elements so its fitting that they used utilised frequently in the movie's narrative.
What shocked me first with the movie was the soundtrack, its almost had a Disney quality to it sounding very majestic but then suddenly had a chilling effect on me, this mirrors the message of the story which is that magic is something wondrous but like all things powerful it has its darker, scarier side that must not be underestimated. Due to there being no real human expressions in an animated movie the soundtrack is used to convey the emotions of the characters and situation they have been placed in and the score does a very good job of reflecting them.
The opening scene is laid out in a way that allows the audience to understand what kind of world the movie is set in and has characters that will be featured through out the whole movie, it also reveals one of the many monsters that cannot be seen by normal humans only those who have spiritual gifts, Dr Steven Strange being one of them as he is the only one to see a group of mystic warriors fighting a shadowy tailed beast.
The character of Dr Strange is first seen as an egotistical and arrogant man that only cares about improving his own reputation as a doctor that cures the impossible. This would seem as a very dark take on a comic book character but staying true to the source material, Dr Strange was a pompous man before became the Sorcerer Supreme. Personally I love an origin where the hero starts out a bad guy and is shown the error of their ways because it make them more relatable, and your more inclined to see how they will develop in future story arcs. 
The movie starts off strong with Dr Strange discovering an epidemic of children falling into comas, he accidentally peers into the one of the children's minds and sees demon with a face made of fire called Dromamu this startles him and he drive back home in fear. As he drives he hears children's voices and sees an illusion of boat filled with children, as he tries to help them he instead drives off a cliff and crashes. Three days later he wakes up to find his hands are completely crushed and means that his days as a surgeon are over.
After Months of wasting all of his finances on supposed 'miracle' cures he is approached by on the mystical warriors he saw at the beginning of the movie named Wong. He tells him to go to Tibet to find a hidden temple and then hands him a map of its location. Wong proves to be a very caring and friendly ally to Strange and in some ways he is his mentor in battle.
Strange arrives at the temple to find Wong waiting for him, he takes him to see the Ancient One the current Sorcerer Supreme, who tells him that the only way to fix his hands is to master magic and free himself of his burdens. Strange reacts negatively to this development and argues with the Ancient One but he's put in his place by Mordo another mystic warrior.
In a flash back we learn that Strange became a doctor to save his younger sister of a fatal illness, but he failed and became the way he is due to his guilt and self loathing. Strange starts doing chores for the Ancient One, which metaphorically starts becoming his training, while this goes on Mordo and Wong go battle two major demonic creatures, but in Mordo's arrogance many of the mystical order are killed. Strange gives up his training decides to leave but he gets caught in a blizzard in which he subconsciously face his guilt and finally forgives himself and accepts that he couldn't do anything to save his sister.
Dr Strange's character development at this point in the film became the heart of the story and a vehicle for explaining who magic works in the Marvel Universe, this also forms an explanation for how the magical side of the universe co-exists with scientific side.
After months of training Strange learns the arts of magic but the threat of the fire faced demon Dormamu has risen, The Ancient One and the what's left of the mystic warriors to New York City to defend the Sanctum Sanctorum. But unbeknownst to them Mordo has aligned with Dormamu and sabotages them and kills The Ancient One and injures Wong leaving only Strange to face him and defeat him.
The movies age rating is actually a twelve but it features alot grim deaths that which give the impression that the makers were aiming more at an adult audience than a younger one.
In the final confrontation between Dr Strange and Dormamu, Strange accepts his new life and becomes Sorcerer Supreme and defeats Dormamu sending him back to his dimension and trapping him there. With the threat of Dormamu gone only Dr Strange and Wong are left and it is up to them to find more prospects and protect the world from the dark on that lurks in the shadows.
Dr Strange's world was by far the most radical and experimental in the Marvel Universe and the animated movie really brought that too life in a relatable and compelling story that any body could follow and enjoy.
No comments:
Post a Comment