Why DOCTOR STRANGE Is Marvel's Hidden Masterpiece
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- Опубликовано: 29 апр 2024
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Doctor Strange recently appeared in Spider-Man: No Way Home to cast a very important spell. And, pretty soon we can look forward to seeing his sequel, in the Multiverse of Madness. But you should really revisit the first film, because it is criminally underrated. The film is a masterpiece of visuals, character drama, and hidden symbolism. And it deserves its place among Marvel's best.
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Written and Edited by Pavel Terehovsky (pavel8866.wixsite.com/pavelt) pavel8866@gmail.com
Hosted by Ryan Arey ( / ryanarey )
#DrStrange #VideoEssay 
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I don't like sand
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@@Diggs1981 so how would they make money for the time spent making these videos? Have you been donating money to them?
Completely agree. Doctor Strange is insanely underrated. It’s easily Top 5 MCU for me.
Not that good.
@@mandeepkumarray9050 didn’t ask your opinion, Mandeep
I agree too. One of my fave. 👍
Same to me
Same here!
I really like Strange's character who is afraid to fail and lose until the final scene when he embraces failure over and over again just to defeat Dormamu.
It also ties in neatly with his strategy in IW and Endgame. Victory through defeat.
Yes, great character development.
And imagine the amount of experience he'd gain from defending himself from Dormammu over and over and over
And to add to that, what I also love is that he doesn't just embrace failure by endeavouring to do something where he might fail, like simply fight with the bad guy against terrible odds. It's much bigger than that. He doesn't just embrace failure by risking it, he embraces it by _choosing_ it, which I think is immensely powerful. He went in there not thinking that he was going to win from Dormammu, he went in there knowing he'd had to lose again and again and again.
"It's not about you" is one of the most powerful & meaningful lines in any MCU film. Tilda Swinton's delivery of the line is absolutely superb. She is simply great in this movie.
I’ve dealt with neurologists before, they act just like Strange. He really nailed it.
" I’ve dealt with neurologists before, they act just like Strange. He really nailed it. "
It's not specific to neurologists.
I've come across 3 different kinds of consultant doctors (highest level of doctor within the British NHS) in my time - they all act like this, some are just better at being humble to keep the patient at ease.
Even vet neurologist act like this. Kinda crazy.
He's a neurosurgeon
@@realrift01 Hell, I'm an Internist and know lots of neurologists and they are mostly down to earth. But, the neurosurgeons can be a different personality altogether. But, not all. Ben Carson is a pediatric neurosurgeon and hard to find a more down to earth guy than him.
I think his role as Sherlock helps that
This was the first Marvel film released after my wife died. It was so powerful and significant, full of lessons about sacrifice and service. It still hits me hard. She and I very much enjoyed the MCU together and I wasn’t sure I could handle continuing as a fan after she left us, especially because her path as a young person led her to Kathmandu and a month long trek in Nepal. She would have loved this film, she would have thought Swinton was a perfect casting for the Ancient One (despite all the controversy), and she would have wanted me to enjoy it. Thanks for doing this video, Ryan.
Sorry for your loss bro.
My condolences for your loss. I may not understand your pain personally, but I’m glad to see you didn’t let that stop you from being a fan. That’s something that should stay with you regardless and I would hope she wouldn’t want you to give up. So long as you remember her, she’s never truly gone. Lest you end up like Kacelius
Im sorry for your loss. This moved me to tears because I've suffered a similar loss, she was also a big marvel fan. It's crazy as different as all our lives may be marvel is one thing that can bring all walks of life together to enjoy the same things.
Sorry about your loss man,
Amazing and inspiring story of courage and humility brother!
I'm so glad someone finally is giving this movie the praise it deserves
👏👏👏
Same
Easier to appreciate when you see how No Way Home botched his character, because it's not easy to write about an intelligent and magical character without:
A) Making the character dumb so the plot can work, since the smart Strange would solve the film before the plot can happen.
B) Using magic as an excuse to wipe away plot holes. When magic is a crutch then anything can happen or not happen for no reason whatsoever - or just for fan service.
Hope Feige and Raimi are reading this. Don't F up Dr. Strange by dumbing him down like No Way Home just did.
@@summertyme5748 yeah I was really bothered by Strange's rash and stupid actions in No Way Home. I mean they didn't need to dumb down Strange to make things happen like this. the spell not working as intended could have been caused by many things, like MJ/Ned unexpectedly bursting in and distracting Strange, or the Multiverse still being affected by Wanda's actions which Strange didn't foresee or even Strange being mentally/physically injured from whatever happens in this own second movie (foreshadowing? preshadowing?) either way, many ways to write it without having Strange and Wong become irresponsible morons.
the easiest way to remove Strange for the middle part would also have been to have him weakened and recover from such a massive spell, thus he wouldn't be able to properly oversee Peter and help out, would also be the perfect excuse why he didn't do that much in the finale. long story short, Doctor Strange's contributions to the plot could have easily been delivered in a way without altering his established character.
....and I apologize for the long rant but it's been bothering me.
It doesn’t deserve praise
One of the best moments that’s overlooked is when Dorammu says “But You will suffer” and Strange says “Pain’s and old friend.” That’s deep.
Yesssssss!
Wasn't sold on that. He hasn't failed up till the car crash and was the world's greatest neurosurgeon for 99% of his life relative to the amount he spent being humble. Pain is a "new" friend for him.
@@hawkfandan spending more than 7 years studying and excel in it to be one of the best surgeons is a fuc*ing pain for me
@@mohb1066 Well if you're bad at it, then yeah it's torture
@@hawkfandan well the thing is he could have spent an entire century fighting dormamu at that point. We just saw snippets of their fight. It went on until he surrendered. If you think about it that way it kinda makes sense.
Dr. Strange is such an interesting character and we've yet to see his full powers on the screen. Kudos to Benedict Cumberbatch for bringing this character to life, can't think of anyone else more fitting than him in this role
Im a relative newcomer to MCU, only watched them all in 2020. Dr Strange is easily one of the best. It's about his struggle with himself, so the villain isn't that important. Visually very interesting. Good cast. I did think it was funny too. It obeys its own logic and can be watched as a standalone. Very little mcu baggage
Same here. I am also new to the MCU. I find it kinda cringe at times but it's fun! Doctor strange became a character I really liked after I saw the what if episode actually-. Lol I went back and watched his movie and I dunno. He is just a fun character.
I'm not new and was also a comic book fan as a teen! And I LOVED Dr Strange! Definately one of my all time favorites and it deepened my appreciation of Benedict as an actor even more. I actually thought having the movie talked about as somehow not being appreciated and the reasons given did not ring true for me. But, not everyone enjoys the same movies, series, or books as I do and no one can tell me whether or not I like it or not haha! Or to what degree and I can not do the same to others. Regardless, welcome to the Universe :) Glad to have another who appreciated our dear Dr Strange!
The only problem I have with this breakdown is that The Ancient One did not throw Strange out of Kamartage because he reminded her of Caissilius. She did it to humble him. She knew Strange was coming, she knew he would replace her, and she knew that Strange was meant to be "The Best of Us" as she stated 5 years previously to Bruce Banner on the Roof of the New York Sanctum. Strange was arrogant and entitled; The Ancient One put him on the street to teach him a lesson; knowing full well she would let him back in days later.
If you take all the films together, sure. However, Doctor Strange came out well before Endgame, and I doubt that bit in Endgame was written or even conceived of when the script for Strange was penned. I think of the Endgame explanation as a retcon of what Ryan explained here, which feels like what the screenplay and director were trying to convey.
@@ChrisM-xx6cf Obviously you are right. The MCU isn't planned out at all. They just do it movie by movie and tie stuff up later with Retcons.
@@ChrisM-xx6cf In the scene where she's prolonging her death, she mentions, "I saw your potential." So clearly that idea was already had.
@@MrJayateabug Whilst each film is created from the ground up, Marvel does have some pencil work plans. They knew Thanos was coming. They knew the infinity stones would play a huge role. They knew Strange would have the time stone. They knew the snap would happen. They knew they needed to undo the snap. So, OP has a valid point. The dialogue was most likely scripted at time of the movie, but the plot element itself, was planned, in pencil.
Yeah, it was pretty obvious that she did it to humble him and that she knew about the future. Saying that she saw Kaecelius in him is just plain wrong.
I came for the mysticism in Dr. Strange. And got sucked into the whole MCU through him. So THANK YOU for giving the Dr. Strange movie its due.
Me too!
Indeed, supposedly after Dr Strange they were going to double down on the Cosmic/Mystic side of the MCU - but apparently James Gunn was collaborating with Feige on this plan and his firing in 2018 put that severely on the backburner.
I don't understand how this movie is so underrated. Honestly, Dr. Strange is my fave in Marvel - that line from the ancient one ("it's not about you") was like a punch to the gut when I heard it. I think most people in helping professions need to hear this line. We can get so caught up with the good feeling of helping people that we can forget that it's about them, not us.
Same it's a surprise to me it was underrated
It’s not underrated EVERYONE loves this movie
@@lbabytutorials4852 It's definitely underrated... I even underrated it, but after watching it again last night, it's actually a secret gem
@@Young_Dab the mirror dimension scenes and the storyline is top teir
I don't really love it that much. It has a by the books story covering a slew of interesting ideas.
Absolutely this movie is still very underrated and is still one of the most important MCU movies for the future , of course we wouldn’t know how important this movie would be , the Time stone , multiverses , Sorcerers in the MCU , Even Dormammu
Marvel does that so well, if a movie ever seems to not relate too well to the overarching story (eternals as another example), it’s probably a movie that’s way ahead of its story time
I had a pretty good idea it was going to be a big part in the next installment. I mean the whole movie is about time. Never ending yeah big clue
Ur a smart guy
Dormammu so fat
Best MCU movie along with infinity war and no way home
I didn't know it was a thing that this was considered a bad movie. Everyone I know loves this movie
Even my mom loves this movie😂
Me too
@Paraone Ngatai I will admit, I actually yawned and felt tired seeing this movie, then after I saw it again, which made me understand the plot some more, I realized this movie wasn't as bad as I thought
While I would rate it as one of my favourites, I'm the only person in my social circle that didn't find it slow and boring. I think it falls into a bit of a trap of being deeper than a standard turn your brain off and watch the action and comedy type movie, while most of the audience expects a simple fun action flick.
With two friends in particular, one has only ever managed to get through it once in the cinema and any time trying to watch it she gets bored and moves onto something else by the half way point. The other has seen it through a few times but to roughly quote him, "Nothing happens for an hour and then when all the weird shit kicks off, I'm too tired to follow or care about what's going on."
Which is a shame, I get where they're coming from, but I find myself easily invested with the struggles of the first half so I don't have that issue of finding it slow or boring.
Doctor Strange is easily my most watched MCU movie and one of my all time favorite movies. This movie used a scalpel instead of a hammer to tell the story. And as you pointed out, Strange beats the big bad, not through physical strength, but by out smarting him AND losing (over and over and over again)!
Dr. Strange happens to be one of my most favorites in the MCU. When I want to work but play some MCU in the background I always choose Dr. Strange. It's calming in a way for me.
Doctor Strange being introduced into the MCU was a game changer, the potential he has is unlimited. I feel like the first movie could’ve been done a bit better, but it gets better on every rewatch and going forward, it’s going to be so exciting to see what they do with him
That's what I love most about the MCU future movies make the older ones look better as some things are confirmed or unraveled and it makes u watch each movie differently whenever U rewatch them
Idk the multiverse seems like an excuse for lazy story telling. Not that its Strange's fault, but they really like pushing the multiverse through him.
@@paper8nintendo The way (FOX) used it for the X Men? I'm right there with you... But have you seen the new spider man? Talk about the opposite of lazy.
Every MCU movie could have been done better.
Especially the ones with named comic plotlines like Ragnarok which just make me vomit for so much wasted potential shat away on a 2 hour joke fest.
Disney doesn't have the balls to make something truly risky even though they are making money hand over fist with the exception of Eternals (which was an obvious fail before it began).
@@mnomadvfx Well, Karen, Ragnorok appealed to a lot of people. I'll be honest, it wasn't really my cup of tea either. Same with Guardians of the Galaxy. I much prefer my heroes to take the mission seriously, if nothing else. That being said, you should probably throttle down the "Disney is stupid and evil because they don't cater specifically to my personal tastes" thing.
Also, every single movie ever made by anyone could have been better. That's not even a criticism. Also water is wet.
What exactly was the "risk" marvel took with the Eternals that is so explicitly praiseworthy? Is this just a post facto "there must have been more risk because the risk didn't pay off" sort of thing, or...?
I love rewatching Doctor Strange. I am obsessed with this character’s story, the magic, and the incredible acting Benedict Cumberbatch brings to this film. Can’t wait for the sequel!
same!
it irks me how long it took to finally get a sequel as it felt to me that Marvel just didn't really bother about this character, an afterthought. better push more Spider-men movies than care about Strange.....(no insult to Tom Holland's Spider-Men movies, there were a joy but it's just an example of misaligned priorities). anyway, I'm really glad we'll finally get a sequel and I do hope we won't lose what I loved about the character in the first place.
Yup…same here
Netflix and chill?
@@benzaiten933 Sony is the one pushing Spidey since they hold the rights, Marvel has to work with them on their schedule.
The sequel better set up a proper magic system which the 1st movie did not do.
Definitely underrated and Doc Strange steals the show in every movie he's in as a support player. He was probably my favorite character in Infinity War!
It’s deff not underrated everyone loves dr strange
funny thing i gotta share like i really gotta share, i didn't link it to the story structure of doctor strange, neither at those times did i think of myself as the egoistic genius sorceress supreme role. However every time during groupwork, team sports, professional group projects, every time i sought to support my team i end up uplifting my entire team because instead of grabbing onto leadership direction i was instead obsessed with making sure everyone has all the resource they need at their disposal, bridge every possible knowledge gap revealed, problem-solve every identified struggle the team have as 'room to grow', sometimes i go solo, sometimes mutual collaboration that sparks momentum for the team to reach our goals. Every time i did that, i was celebrated by the team and sometimes earmarked by staffs from various selection programmes. I didn't win in the way i controlled the flow from start to end, but i still won, and sometimes i get deeply troubled because i didn't win in the way i had envisioned to, but like all my friends and anyone who gave this a read, thank you and thanks for the smack in the back of the head, i still won, i reached victory, and that was the bigger picture to capture focus here, This was enlightening.
I don't think it is underrated. I think it is one of the most overrated MCU movies, because as interesting as the ideas of time are, it is buried in an avalanche of a mediocre story. Dr. Strange as a protagonist is not that interesting compared to him as a supporting character.
I especially love the ‘egotistical genius learns humility’ trope so this movie hit hard from day 1 and I just feel it more as time goes by. Doctor Strange is a rare gem in the MCU
I have whatched all Marvel films since Blade.
Dr. Strange is my favorite to rewatch.
I found new details, new connections, new subplots everytime.
I am very thankfull to Marvel Studios for producing this gem.
Good work Ryan.
Did you figure out the magic system and plot?
I've seen this film about 6 times and I don't think I found much new after the 1st viewing
A simple like cannot show how much I agree with this commentary.
Same as in the comics
@@jamesnoord6295 do you recomend one in specific?
The Ancient Ones last moments are in my opinion the most beautiful and well written scenes in the MCU, and in a movie in general. It’s so sad, yet mesmerizing and charming. It makes you as a person see life differently as well as Strange. Even the camera angle where it sways to the side to show that Strange’s perspective on purpose, his purpose, has changed. It’s such an incredible scenez
hell yea, gives me chills every time!
This is so far the best MCU movie I have ever seen. The story, the characters and the development is on fire. This is what I like, a movie should not focus on action but on the story.
This is an underrated masterpiece.
Doctor Strange is undoubtedly one of the most epic creations to come out of Marvel Studios
Definitely the last talk between Strange and the Ancient One is truly just underrated , and it’s still very important not only for him and his future of being the Sorcerer Supreme but also as an Avenger
I love how in No Way Home doctor Strange’s action makes sense, during his time as a doctor in the past, his biggest fear is death because that’s literally his job to prevent it happens on others, but Ancient One taught him that despite it’s sad, it’s not a curse, death gives life meaning and purpose, it’s inevitable
Agreed, I think it's one of the most beautiful moments in the entire MCU movie series, Benedict and Tilda Swinton are truly brilliant in this film.
Not only is Doctor Strange a great movie that’s underrated, Benedict Cumberbatch is an absolutely amazing actor & IMO will be the “new face” of the MCU.
It definitely seems like he's taking over from RDJ, with Wong being kind of his Nick Fury.
Worst accent ever done in film history.
@@mikediver8158 Who Strange?
@@mikediver8158 who
@@kidddogbites yes...its horrible
i never realised that Caissilius' eye makeup literally reflects the mental state that led him to the dark side. the fatc that he's "broken" and grieving (or "crying") is reflected in the broken-skin effect and the tear-like streaks
Great video essay that really made me rethink this movie (beyond its insanely good visual effects). The moment of the Ancient One's death always felt wonderfully profound and touched me deeply, but i didn't realise that this profoundness actually runs through most of the film from start to end, especially in the surgery scene -- i definitely did not consider the 'time' aspect of that scene. Thanks so much for pointing it out
Doctor Strange is easily one of my top 5 mcu movies. I remember watching it for the first time and being so impressed by the way Stephen dealt with Dormammu. Outsmarting the villain like that was a novelty in the mcu and makes his character stand out (the only other time I've been genuinely impressed by the hero's plan is the battle in Titan).
Another scene that's a favorite of mine is the argument Stephen has with Mordo because he has killed someone. I can't remember any other movie in the mcu that dwells on the morality of killing the bad guys, and the actors did an amazing job with that scene. You can tell Benedict's takes this character very seriously, not only in this movie but by his performance in Infinity War and No Way Home. And the rest of the cast is fantastic as well, they all worked really well together.
Strange comes to terms with his own arrogance; he doesn't defeat it. Like his stalemate battle with Dormammu, he only finds a way to neutralize his destructive potential. This is an important theme. We can't just change who we are. Sometimes we have to sidestep our flaws to serve our ideals.
It's not really a stalemate.
It's pretty clear that Strange wins that encounter - he gets everything he wants and Dormammu gets nothing.
Which is perhaps why Mordo does have a point that Strange won't see the cliff of consequences until he's already fallen off of it.
IMHO the MCU writers missed an easy win beat of some Black Order flunky telling Thanos they detected another Infinity Stone on earth in the end credits - that would have shown the consequence of using the time stone without thinking it through very clearly.
@@mnomadvfx My analogy is imperfect, true. Analogies almost always are.
Strange defeats Dormammu in the moment (see what I did there?) just as he overcomes his own arrogance at various times. Nevertheless both Dormammu and Strange's arrogance continue to exist, so these wins are only fleeting, and that's the best that can be achieved. In that sense, these wins can only ever be stalemates.
I actually cry every time at the scene where the AO says “it’s not about you”. The only MCU movie that’s moved me to that degree. Hit way to close to home and I’ll take that message with me forever. I LOVE this movie, it changed my life, and I LOVED your analysis. Spot on my friend. Well done, you. 👏🏻🙏🏻
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Understand that the ultimate realization of "It's not about you" was when Strange went forward in time to fight Thanos 14 million 605 times only to conclude that he could not directly stop Thanos, but rather had to be willing to die so that Tony could live. *There was no other way.*
Critical to his growth as a character is to remember that Strange and Stark are both brilliant and egocentric and naturally do not like each other.
Strange had to accept that to save the Universe - he had to save Tony Stark, because he couldn't do it himself.
It was not about him.
Take note: Future MCU directors - that's how character arcs work.
Aww Richard ☺️ I totally understand!!
oh I so loved that moment as well and when the camera literally moved around to show Strange's newfound POV. so cleverly done with such great visual help.
@@HOllyGolightlysHeart 🤗
What he said! Is it weird that a movie can touch the soul and move us so much?
The snarktastic voice in the back of my mind says, "Nah - it's just a little bit Strange."
{And cue Echo & the Bunnymen covering The Doors "People Are Strange"}
One of my favorite parts about the final fight is that he spent so much time in the dark dimension that he had thousands of years of practicing his techniques to basically brute force his way to perfection, helping him become the sorcerer supreme faster
I do really like and have liked the Dr Strange movie since its release. To me it was really the first taste of what to expect in further films but also the arc of Stranges redemption in that film is severely underrated. And I feel a big thing miss about the character of Strange in the movie is he has the ability to prevent his hand injuries with the time stone but never does. That says something about what he is willing to sacrifice for the greater good.
I never thought of this film as underrated. I feel like all the MCU films have a style that they really lean into; heist, spy, thriller, sci-fi. This one firmly lands on the supernatural/psychedelic and I think it's really well done.
The dialogue during The Ancient One's death always gets me all choked up. Dr. Strange will always be my favorite Marvel film.
1 of the best scenes of the MCU hell a gr8 scene n all of film
@Yung Murk it sucks the ancient one was gender swapped.
Skillfully and insightfully presented, Ryan.
"Doctor Strange" is, at it's core, a meditation on how precious our time is.
The performances by all concerned are excellent, and the stunning effects serve the story, rather than are the story.
An underrated gem.
I love Dr Strange and I think you did a great in-depth analysis of it. I completely missed that Strange and Kaecilius made essentially the same statement about time.
As a kid Dr Strange was my favorite marvel comic. I never thought I would EVER see him on screen. This movie is highly underrated and the visuals are beyond PHENOMENAL!
Dr strange has always been my favorite movie/character because his powers are the most grounded.
Super serum? Demi god? Super resistant alien? Nope. Just a headstrong guy who studied the inner mechanisms of the human body & its relationship to the fabric of reality
And yet 1 of the strongest characters. Love it
yeah I really like how magic in the MCU could probably be learned by anyone - same as medicine could be studied by anyone IRL - but just like IRL not everyone would be equally capable. Strange had talent, as was stated, but he worked hard for it as well, nothing was handed to him.
so yeah, as ridiculous and unrealistic as magic is, it truly was grounded.
You're wright, he's the only superhero real nerds could grow up to be.
@@benzaiten933 So how did Ned did it?
I'm not sure why you have to frame it like that, early MCU always put the humanities of their characters upfront to give weight to their fantastical aspects, so they don't feel too out their.
I'd add that the god and supersoldier went through better exploration of their powers.
wow! this is the commentary I didn't know I needed!
I've liked strange from the moment I first saw it, and it's easily one of my most beloved MCU films ever.. your thoughts and reflections on it have really helped to put into perspective and understand why I feel that way. In a way it has been a movie therapy session :D Thank you for your work 😊
I actually liked the pacing of the movie. The first half focus on why Stephen is flawed and the second half is his development
I never got the impression that this movie was underrated, it introduced so much into the franchise. With the character building they've done with Dr. Strange in, The Avengers, What If?, and now Spider-Man, I would argue he's the most important character in the MCU right now.
Hands Down, Dr. Strange is my FAVORITE MCU MOVIE! I watched it on on demand and I was blown away, I’ve been waiting for a sequel for 5 years. I think anyone that’s a matrix fan will also like dr strange based on the esoteric subject matter
This is my favorite MCU to rewatch it gets better and better i wish my first time seeing was in theaters . How did you like the new matrix ?
@@miccheckmonday5554 haven’t seen it yet, but I’m gonna try to catch it this weekend.
It's about "time!" Someone said this! "The Hands of Time" this theme is prominent in the movie, Strange's actual hands, his numerous watches in his drawer, the raising of his hands whilst prepping for surgery and other times when he shows his damaged hands to others also when looking at his own hands. The part when he is attacked and says, "Not the watch! It's all I have left!" It shows Doc's sacrifice for his hands and later the connection to Dr. Palmer, the connection to his old life, this is why I think he keeps the broken watch, not exactly the love he has for her, he is to egotistical for that, but still the "time" she gave him, at this point he is the same person that took her to events about him, and said "We were barely lovers!" I wonder why his relationship broke down, but still she stuck by him. Yes he was excellent at his profession, top of his game, but at what cost, he seemed not to care, even after the car crash was still very egotistical and selfish, quote "I could have done better!" Still elevating his ability over all others, his arch doesn't change his personality completely, even now Wong (met him, nice guy!) buts heads with Strange. Wong has been involved with magic a lot longer than Strange, just because you have a natural ability to do something doesn't mean you have the right to crap on someone with more experience than you, but Stephen ("That feels weird, but I'll allow it!") Seems to do this with everyone, quote "Saving your reality, douchbag!" I must admit it was a comeback to Tony's chatshow quip about "balloon animals" it's on RUclips I think it was Jimmy Kimmel, hilarious and meta, anyway. There's a moment just after he meets Spider-man, when he says to Tony that he will sacrifice both Spidey and Ironman over the time stone, specifically quote "I will not hesitate" is this stating the importance of the stone or is it quoting the ancient one "your fear of failure" is Strange's ego based on his fear to not fail, is this why the ancient one refers to him as "The best of us" and that's before she's met him. Maybe his self elevation is not what drives him but the opposite, his fear to make a mistake, makes him seem egotistical, but if you peel away that hard exterior, is actually a curious mind that wants to help people, I mean he became surgeon, maybe he lost his way after all his glory and awards, but when the ancient one says "it's not about you!" just before her death, it resonates with Strange. When Strange visits 14000605 (I hope that's right) realities maybe he has "time" to contemplate his views. Maybe seeing so much failure changed him, I think it would change anyone, in a way it's PTSD, I mean there was only one positive outcome but also included the demise of a new friend, and a secret that must have been eating him from the inside. There is also quote "Hasn't he been though enough" that I think helps his case. But his arch has only just started, so watch this space. He is a changed man, but still rough around the edges, he sees more of the good in people and worked as a team member, a long cry from doing complicated surgery on his own with minimal assistance. So there's still hope for Doctor Stephen Strange, but I wonder where he will take us next..
That was different with Tony. In a way, Strange is everything Tony could have been as a person. Not perfect mind you, but wiser and more disciplined. Learning the lessons that Tony barely could until the end. So for Strange to quip back is actually better because Tony didn’t get enough of that. Strange was fortunate to gain new companions who did not put up with his arrogance and were not afraid to challenge him on it in order to better teach him.
Dont have to convince me. This is one of my fave films in the MCU. It did take a few viewings but theres so much going on. Everything in this video is spot on. I love how relatable he is to a normal human. He learned everything that makes him special (now that Time Stone is gone) but that was just a tool. He still had learned and perfected a ton of magic.
A bit biased comment, but Strange is one of my favourite characters, and this video just made me appreciate even more the movie! And yes, I have goosebumps every time when the Ancient One opens Strange’s third eye, and they created a really good spiritual representation of heaps of studies about it out there.
Doctor Strange is easily in the Top Five of all MCU films thus far. Multiverse of Madness feels like it’s gunning for the top spot.
The overture to this film was amazing, I have rewatched this film more than the others, it really is a powerful piece of artwork.
In the comics, Dr. Strange wasn't the hero anyone would root for. He's about mystic arts in the psychedelic '60s. But after Kevin Feige brought this character to the MCU with Benedict Cumberbatch as the bonus, he's my favorite Marvel character. If you think the first standalone was not good enough(I enjoyed it as well as the other appearances in Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers IW & Endgame, and Spiderman 3: NWH), then you should watch Dr. Strange in the TV series, "What If...". Total badass. I'm looking forward to Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
The other MCU films never had the effect on me that Strange did. This movie and its morals have meant a lot to me. “We never lose our demons, we only learn to live above them.” I try to keep this in mind when I struggle with my demons and try to impart on others. Along with “it’s not about you” have meant so much.
Thank you.
Doctor strange is honestly one of my favorite solo MCU movies. The visuals, the acting, the set pieces, it was just a HUGE amount of fun.
I definitely agree, Doctor Strange is one of my most rewatched MCU films after Iron Man. Love the visuals and I love the ingenious way he defeated Dormammu. I'm really looking forward to the Multiverse of Madness, especially after we see Strange Supreme's appearance.
Profound and well articulated. I absolutely love Dr. Strange, I think at times it was overshadowed by the major heavy hitter films that came out around that time, but it will always stand out to me as a deeply underrated movie. It has a powerful and rich message. I thought it was beautifully done. Thanks for highlighting this movie.
It’s not perfect but I wouldn’t put this anywhere near the worst MCU movies. How he handled Dormammu is still my favorite moment in any MCU movie.
What I love about it is that it's smarter than many MCU fans understand. What actually happens is different than what they think.
They think Strange is looping Dormammu. He's not.
Watch carefully. He sets the time-loop on *himself* before Dormammu is even there.
Here is how it works ->
If I lose contact with the time stone (say I should be blown to a billion bits by Dormammu) then reset to the moment I set the time stone. It's a 'reverse' time bomb.
It's an auto reset mechanism on *Strange.*
Dormammu resets with Strange because he is what *caused* the reset.
For Dormammu to stop looping with Strange he must stop causing Strange to loop.
It's causality. It isn't just anything goes plot magic. It makes sense. And it was genius.
I'm hoping that somehow Dr. Strange II can get back to Savant Strange.
No Way Home just turned him into a clown magician who is completely irresponsible and utterly stupid.
This is because that film is only concerned with providing max fan service for Spidey friends, and they used Dr. Strange to make the ridiculous plot happen.
@@summertyme5748 I liked seeing Doctor Strange but I’m not too happy with how his overall treatment in it.
@@summertyme5748 u summarize that very well. And I agree with your statement.
@@summertyme5748 Dr. Strange must have played video games before, because he basically set a respawn point for himself knowing he would repeatedly get killed by Dormammu.
@@summertyme5748 basically a checkpoint
Strange is my favorite. Always has been. We can see why he’s not hesitant to let someone else die for the greater good. He’s been there and done that … a lot.
Also I like the way magic users have these interwoven emotional strings that coincide with their powers.
I love the review of this one. It is my favourite MCU movie visually and I 100% agree that Strange’s intelligent approach to overcoming his enemy is a refreshing contrast to the lovable brawn. Definitely underrated and a classic in my comic adaptation collection.
I'm glad you put a well deserved spotlight on this movie. It has so many merits, one of which I always come back to being the unique way the third act is played out. It stands out compared to the typical final battle between the protagonist and antogonist
This felt so validating to watch! Doctor Strange is my favorite MCU origin movie and I think it's grossly underrated. The themes are universal and compelling, the visuals are stunning, and all the actors are phenomenal. The moral of selflessness is something that really resonates with me, as does Kaecilius' pain. Mads did a fantastic job acting with such limited material, and his performance deserves more praise. Honestly, this is the one MCU film that I could watch over and over and never tire of. Thank you so much for making this video essay. You've done a wonderful job articulating everything that fans like myself have felt for years. Bravo!
I’ve been preaching this film as my favorite in the canon since it came out. Fantastic origin and introduction to the deeper magic in the universe. Always wished it was a half hour to 40 longer.
I was never a huge fan of the character, but this is actually one of my favourite MCU movies. I watched it twice just a couple weeks ago.
To be honest, Doctor Strange immediately became one of my favorite MCU movies even when I first saw it. I loved it. It is certainly one of the most unique movies in the MCU and looks like no other. Benedict Cumberbatch was absolutely perfectly cast as Doctor Strange.
It's definitely unique.
I hopped into the MCU right after Endgame had came out, and Doctor Strange was the first movie I was able to watch and it's what really got me into Marvel. It's been a favorite ever since
That scene between Dr. Strange and the Ancient One has stuck with me for years. Definitely made an impact when he said that’s what made him a good surgeon and she said something along the lines of “that’s exactly what kept you from being great”...powerful stuff!
Dr. Strange was my favorite when I collected the comics as a teen. Thank you for the tie-in to mental health issues in such an insightful way, which I hadn't considered. A masterpiece indeed.
I feel the same way. Dr Strange was one of my favorites in the MCU. It presents the multiverse in a way that makes total sense. The visuals were stunning and the subject matter was so interesting.
Dr. Strange is by far one of the best Marvel movies. The synchronicity of when the movie came out is also when I was on a spiritual journey with my yoga certification. This union started to put together the world that had been broken to me. Watching the opening of the movie solidified that it’s not all about me. Thanks for making this video!
What I like about this analysis is that, in a way, it makes more sense of the Strange that we saw in No Way Home and will likely see in Multiverse of Madness. He directs his gifts towards the greater good, but he still has a towering ego. That doesn’t just go away when you find a purpose.
When he tells Peter, “we saved half the universe together,” he’s very aware of what he achieved. Hey, I set up and helped execute a five-year multidimensional chess game that saved trillions of lives! Erasing Spider-Man’s identity from 8 billion people? Piece of cake!
I could see that being one of the lessons of Multiverse of madness: no matter how much you achieve, no matter how dedicated you may become to a greater purpose, the old ways die hard. And for Doctor Strange, the old ways involve arrogance, ego, and always being the winner in whatever battle.
So glad I found this video. I really like Dr. Strange, although he's not my 'favorite' MCU hero. That said this video has had a profound impact on me, which renews with each rewatch, and I can't say that about any other hero movie I've seen. It's deeper narrative was unreal at the time, and watching this commentary was really validating. Thanks to the SC teams work in this one! Love all your work, but this one hit home.
I've held the belief that Strange is one of the best MCU movies and discussed it with friends until my face turned blue (not literally). Also towards the end I saw the parallel between the end and the end of What If when Strange opted to stay and hold Ultron in stasis
My favorite character in this movie is THE ANCIENT ONE. Tilda really did justice to it. Her aura was just out of this world
To me, the brilliance of this film is that it managed to fulfil its thematic discussions in dialog that drives the characters forward, while introducing magic and its rules to the viewers with such short and enjoyable scenes. There was so much to cover and of course doing it in such a short time will definitely leave some characters archs out but this is an origin tale and the focus is supposed to be on Strange, and as long they delivered that epic journey of self transformation aka hero's journey in a satisfying way, I won't hold it against the filmmaker for it. Hey, that's what sequels are for. And like Ryan said, the film just oozes with creativity in it's multiverse introduction as well as the mirror world and use of geometry etc is just on another level. I'm happy that I've maintained since the first watch that this is definitely in my top 3 marvel films and rewatching it since then have proven me right. Enjoyed the breakdown very much SC!
It's very flawed though.
His huge ego at the beginning shows that the Hippocratic Oath is far from foremost in Strange's mind - which makes his sudden attack of conscience on killing someone in self defence ridiculous.
I mean did they even show him give a moments thought for the guy he hit on the road while speeding and taking a phone call?
Nope!
They needed a set up scene to establish his morality beneath the ego - otherwise there is no payoff when he suddenly spouts it to Ancient One and Mordo, he literally does look like a coward because the film has shown he cares nothing for the patients themselves and only the acclaim from fixing the difficult ones.
@@mnomadvfx what you said was clearly the entire point of scene
I recently rewatched Dr. Strange after only seeing it in theaters when it came out. It really is quite good! And Dr. Strangers introduction brings so many possibilities to the MCU we didn’t consider at the time that we are now seeing.
I tear up every time I watch that scene with the Ancient One passing. Just beautiful.
Strange is the hidden rational, organized masterpiece.
Wanda is the unstable, misguided masterpiece.
The yin and yang ❤️
But Wanda could easily delete strange, no matter how hard he tries to swirl his sparkle art shapes.
@@obiwankenobi2565 actually not really she gets killed multiple times by strange in the comics
@@penialdelicatesance good thing this isn't the comics
@@penialdelicatesance
This isn't the comics its the MCU. Character's like captain marvel and thor are very different to their comic book counterpart's.
Stop crying and accept wanda will solo every sourcerer at once.
@@obiwankenobi2565 Im not crying lol just stating facts are you in love with her or something
I don’t see how anyone didn’t love this film… especially when it released. Even till this day it’s still is a top 10 MCU film. Anyone who couldn’t see that years ago was focused on comic book facts, not actual cinema and what the MCU is creating. Dr. Strange was more entertaining than NWH and DR. Strange 2 will be too 5 MCU film. Can’t wait for it! One of the best characters by far!
Till this day?
It's only 5 years old.
"Anyone who couldn’t see that years ago was focused on comic book facts, not actual cinema and what the MCU is creating."
The MCU is creating brainless popcorn flicks with cookie cutter storylines.
That's it.
The MCU incarnation of Dr Strange is literally magic Tony Stark because they knew RDJ was eventually going to leave and so they created the next best thing to replace him.
That's not to say that some of the MCU hasn't produced great films - or at least parts of great films in some cases.
Captain America Winter Soldier was for me easily the best Cap film despite being the most low scale because it was primarily a character film that could have been just about 2 spies instead of 2 supersoldiers.
Thor 1 was great when it was on Asgard and Jotunheim, but terrible for the most part on Earth because they chose the most boring cardboard studio set looking town to shoot the New Mexico scenes in.
This is either 1 of 2 things or a combiination of them:
1) They ran out of money after spending most of it shooting Asgard, Jotunheim and accounting for the VFX budget.
2) They simply couldn't figure out how to make Thor relatable within the MCU.
I think for Thor 1 it is a combination of 1and 2, but for the rest of the MCU it's just 2 because they have steadily turned Thor into a weaker and weaker more human like person - case in point fat emo Thor in Endgame.
They have no talent in writing, pure and simple - and they are too dead set against using comic storylines because they don't want the audience knowing the plot before the film comes out (not that it stops them from making live action remakes of their animated films).
Comic book facts? The fact is that this movie nailed Jack Kirby's (the original artist) better than any Marvel movie. As an original fan of the comic books from 1962 or so I'm gonna keep beating the Kirby drum. His name should be as well known as Stan Lee's. Let me say again--I was THRILLED!! Like no other Marvel movie.
@@mnomadvfx I didn’t like Tony yet I liked Strange, so there’s def a difference.
But whatever, yes they ain’t great, but they ain’t as shit as your essay says.
You be expecting miracles and then complain when you don’t get them 🤣
I remember watching it at the theatre, and I was in awe with the visuals! It was a refreshing change from the usual Captain America and Iron Man. Took me into the side of the MCU I really REALLY love!
Dr Strange is my favorite MCU character! His character is human - complex layers and all - and delves into the deep suffering and realities of being human. He has so many qualities and emotions that many of us can resonate and relate to in our own lives. The TV show in What If added additional layers to Dr Strange when it comes to his grief experiences. I am so excited for the next film!
Dr. Strange is one of my favorite MCU movies and character. I lose count how many times i have rewatch the movie, all the quotes and lessons given, his background story, all the visual effect, they are just so beautiful.
Glad i found this video, it gives me deeper meaning to what every lessons The Ancient One gave to Strange. Since English is not my first language, some of them didn't really hit me deep, but watching your explanation gives me all these goosebumps. It shows how big Stranges character development is.
Great work!! Thankyou!!
Now i really can't wait for dr. Strange MoM
This movie is very underrated from the effects, performances and dialog. Their so much to like about Dr. Strange
It's one of my favorites. I originally saw it at the Disney IMAX in LA, being an incredibly visual person and a huge fan of Strange from the comics, I was blown away. And the line, "It's not about you," hits me every time.
I knew how good this movie was when i found you referencing this movie in every MCU video you made... and the Dr. Strange What If episode... man that one just hit so hard.
I’ve always gave bonus points to any MCU movie that didn’t end in a mirror match as the end scene. And the artists who worked on this films clearly had group psychedelic ‘working
meetings’
I feel like Doctor Strange was the first, or at least one of the best, presentation of a astral deity in the MCU. Also, Rachel McAdams is great in this too! One of my favorite MCU movies!
You help understanding a character’s perspectives so much. Brilliant video, loved it. 🙏🏽
That moment at 15:03 where you flipped through the window scenes was so dope! 🔥 definitely a great I See What You Did There moment.
While I never read the comics, I LOVE (and always have) this movie. I love re-examining various aspects of it.
For example, I love the design of the Dark Dimension. While much of the visuals are taken from the original comic artwork, I love how the aesthetic matches the concept. The Dark Dimension is a place "beyond time" "beyond death." Meaning it is a place without entropy and possibly without motion (time = movement over duration). As such, everything is tethered to each other; all worlds/sphere are bound to each and unable to break free or move on their own; both a notion of Dormommu's control as well as a hint towards the lack of motion/entropy.
Dr Strange was one of the few MCU films I chose not to go see at the cinema. When I saw it on Blu ray, I realised I'd made a mistake - it's an interesting story with flawed characters and you are so right about it being beautiful.
Since then I haven't missed an MCU cinematic release (going to see No Way Home this week)
I actually just rewatched Doctor Strange a couple of days ago, and I completely agree with your assessment! In fact, after watching it I was thinking to myself how great the final scene between the Ancient One and Doctor Strange was.
One minor thing about that scene you didn't mention was how abruptly it ended, as she talks about trying so hard to stretch out her final moments, Strange looks into the distance, she lets go of his hand, he turns back and she's gone. Something about that - to me at least - was very powerful.
The Ancient One and "Dormamu, I've come to bargain." Are the main reasons I love the movie
I have always been a Dr Steven Strange fan, starting from the comics. So when they made a movie with the excellent Benedict Cumberbatch, the look and style of the film were very comic accurate ok, someone did their homework. And yes, the dialogue here is deep and meaningful. I can remember watching Dr Strange in the theatre, thinking when are they showing the cloak and will it look good, and indeed it did look amazing.
Ryan, your thought provoking breakdowns of these films are, frankly, beautiful. Thank you for them.
I think it's important to note how long Strange may have spent with Dormamu. It feels like Dormamu gives up after a few dozen times. But some people estimate decades, to hundreds of years.
This was a beautiful breakdown of one of the too 3 MCU movies !
This is my favorite video I’ve ever seen you in, simply because of your genuine love for this movie. It’s so contagious, that I’m going to have to give this one another chance!
A small thing I always loved was when Doc Strange created a time loop to trap dormamu the motion to put the spell around his wrist was similar to how he washed his hands for the surgery at the start of the movie.
And I like that.
This movie plays endless amounts of times on tv yearly and through these rewatches, I've definitely come to appreciate the movie more.
I always loved the Doctor Strange movie. I thought it was weird lots of MCU fans didn't feel the same way. It was never my favorite of the bunch, but it had soo much heart. Thank you for articulating it so well for me
I loved Doctor Strange when I first saw it in the movie theater, in part because it tackled themes that were on my mind a lot at that time (like death, immortality) and of course the unparalelled special effects.
This was a beautifull video ! Perfect AD to tie into what you were talking about ! Hahah you are good at this sir ! 🙏🏻
Ryan… my dude… a sincere thank you for all your content. There are A LOT of people out there doing this and I watch most of them. But your videos are always first now because I legit feel like you are the best and the most well versed in everything related to these properties. You have given me new respect and revealed deeper meaning to a lot of comic IP’s I enjoy.
I randomly decided to re-watch Dr. Strange while in my 2nd Christmas covid quarantine in a row 😑 and I have to agree, this movie is underrated. I was so pumped to see this on my subs today 🙌
I actually went back and watched your original video on this movie after, and realized it was in your old format that had me craving a more modern version of your work. And here we are! Thank you again! I enjoy these way too much and the “explained to a dog” series is easily my new favorite on RUclips.
I just wanted to take a second to appreciate you for what you do. Sincerely. Thank you!
Dr. Strange is easily my second favourite MCU movie. I didn't like it when it came out, but on each subsequent viewing I enjoy it more and more.
Dr. Strange was the first date my now fiancé and I went to almost 6 years ago now so it'll always hold a special place in my heart.