Ok, fanwarriors, so it's not a video because I'm still kinda sick and feeling disgusting but it IS a ...

Ok, fanwarriors, so it's not a video because I'm still kinda sick and feeling disgusting but it IS a #DoctorStrange review!
Firstly: OHMYGOSH. OK so, I'm a big Marvelite - have been since my dad brought me to see the first Thor movie when I was 12. (And probably obvious to many of you as my original signature was ~Samantha the Legendary Narnian Avenger). Ever since then it's been a roller coaster of a ride - I quickly binge-watched all of Phase One (pre-Avengers), saw most of Phase Two in theaters (between Avengers and Age of Ultron) and went, (somewhat reluctantly?) to all of the Phase 3 films.
Marvel movies are FUN. They don't take themselves too seriously but at the same time can make for some downright good life lessons. What do we love most about Captain America? It's not his six-pack or his perfect hair (although granted, those are NICE). It's his unfailing loyalty. It's his pride for a nation even if things have changed drastically around him. What do we see in Black Widow and Hawkeye's friendship? We see a pair of people who see each other as flawed, highly complicated PEOPLE first, not superheroes. We can see ourselves in Loki, always trying to be better but being told better isn't enough, and we're warned by his actions of what jealousy can do. We see sacrifice with Agent Coulson, tenacity when the world tells you no with Agent Carter. We see strength in leadership in Nick Fury and the willingness to see the best in people in Vision. We see men who can admit that they're flawed and women who are powerful. Iron Man battles PTSD, Scarlett Witch loses a brother.
So Marvel has been doing a good job. However, some more recent films have been lacking in what makes an origin story truly good. Ant-Man was fun. It was the equivalent to grabbing candy after just having had slice of cake (still AWESOME but slightly unnecessary.)
Captain America, Civil War was good as well, more like a box of chocolates with almost too MUCH awesome to comprehend.
Enter, Doctor Strange.
Guys, this movie is everything we love about the Marvel Studios films. It takes the origin story of Iron Man (a selfish, rich brat who can't see past his own ego), combines it with the humbling aspect of Thor (stripped of the thing that makes him special). This movie throws our hero into the capable hands of a teacher who's ethics are in question (think Captain America and Nick Fury in Winter Soldier) and gives him strength that he needs to learn to work with and not fight against (sounds like Scarlett Witch or the Hulk, doesn't it?).
Do you see what I mean?
Stephen Strange is flawed at the beginning of the movie and flawed at the end. His is a uniquely human film - we watch him change slowly, then quickly, then we see his old habits kicking back in. We root for him to change and we laugh when he shortcomings end up making him look kinda silly. We cry when he feels like there's no hope. We laugh when the movie, filled with UNPARALLELED graphics/effects and an almost completely unknown other dimension makes jokes about a Wi-Fi password. We recognize the fact that Stephen Strange, a brain surgeon with gifted hands has that all taken away because he prioritizes a text over safe driving. We get to see Benedict Cumberbatch deliver a performance that is both compelling, repulsive, and hilarious as Stephen goes from narcissistic to deeply unfeeling/ungrateful, to humbled, to quirky, to understanding.
The villain in this film is, like all Marvel villains except Loki, underwhelming. But my thought is that this villain doesn't even really need to be there. It's enough of a fight watching Stephen fight himself. He has to relearn everything, basic kindness being one of them. Watching his journey is incredible.
There's so much I can say about this movie - the effects are STUNNING, the acting is impeccable, and the character development is OFF THE CHARTS. (It's important to note that Tilda Swinton's Ancient One character wasn't whitewashed - they changed the character from Asian to Celtic. No idea why and I would have preferred they kept it as written, but Swinton did a really good job with a role that was much too short in my opinion.)
Benedict Cumberbatch WOWED me. The range of emotions as well as the physicality used in this role blew me away, especially when much of what was done was greenscreened. This is one of his BEST roles in my opinion, and as you can probably tell I'm a fan of Sherlock. ;)
This film looks at a man with gifted hands and an ego bigger than the Earth and then strips both away. Doctor Strange has to learn about this other dimension, has to learn what being part of a team is, has to learn about why a rule-bender like himself needs a "stiff" rule-abider to balance. At the end of the movie, his hands, damaged by the car accident, are STILL DAMAGED.
And maybe that's the best thing about Doctor Strange, and the best thing about the Marvel Studios films: their characters never "rid themselves of their demons - they learn to rise above them."
That's an important lesson , one that the Doctor Strange movie presents again and again through effects, a stellar cast, humour, feels, and fun.
Thanks, Marvel, for showing everyone how to do a proper origin movie.

What did you guys think of #DoctorStrange ? Let me know below!
~Samantha the Sherlocked Jedi Nerdfighter
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