Mockingbird In A Blizzard

By Nadia Ranaputri

Source: Ranker.com

A Doctor Strange sequel isn’t on the cards yet, but hey, a girl can dream. If there are plans for it, I have cooked up three things that I think should happen in the sequel. It’s not a lot, and I do have other ideas for the sequel, but for now, here are three things that I think should happen in the sequel. There will be spoilers for the film, both live action and animated; and the comics, so beware.

A Look into Strange’s Past

Source: Marvel Animated Universe Wiki

If you’ve either read the comics or watched the 2007 Doctor Strange animated movie, you may already be familiar with the name April Strange (or Donna Strange in the comics); Stephen’s younger sister whose death motivated Stephen to become a surgeon. This was the story aspect that I was low-key hoping for in the 2016 live action film, but I knew that there was little chance of bringing it in. During a recent interview, Scott Derrickson (writer and director of Doctor Strange) revealed a certain deleted scene in which Donna drowned. There are not many details into this scene other than the fact that Donna is shown to have drowned. Derrickson admitted that it was a great scene on its own, but did not fit into the movie.

I’ve seen the 2007 animated Doctor Strange film before, and to be honest, I thought the animated film did a slightly better job at setting up Stephen Strange than the 2016 film, though I’m not saying that it’s a completely bad thing. The backstory shown with April and Stephen Strange really brought depth to Stephen as character. The first act of the animated movie does show a lot of Stephen’s arrogance and reluctance towards acts of generosity, a character trait that the 2016 film didn’t really delve a lot in. It was then through flashbacks of his past that we get to see why Stephen ended up being who he is: a surgeon, but a pretty arrogant one.

If there are plans for a Doctor Strange sequel, the backstory of this fellow sorcerer before his glorified surgeon days would add a lot of layers to his character. If the deleted scene with April that Derrickson said ends up being in the DVD, I hope that it will be brought on again in the sequel, this time delving much deeper into the arc.

Weirder, Stranger Villains

Source: The MCUexchange

The MCU’s fatal weakness usually comes with their villains. They’re mostly underwritten, and come off as forgettable. Though Doctor Strange’s baddie Kaecilius has a clear motivation to his actions, he is still underwritten. It’s true that MCU needs to improve on showing their villains on screen. On the case of Doctor Strange though, not only do the future villains have to be compelling and interesting; they have to be weirder.

It’s a strange thing to say, but hear me out. Doctor Strange’s villains in the comics are different dimensional beings that are super weird and it would be very interesting to bring these baddies to life on screen. Take for example in beings like Shuma Gorath, Stygyro, and Visimajoris (see, even the names already sound weird). They don’t have to be the main villains, but it’d be interesting to see them, even if they only appear for a short amount of time.

Bigger villains? More like stranger villains, am I right?

A Much Bigger Consequence

Source: io9

Plenty of consequences are at play here, the most obvious being Mordo’s eventual turn from ally to antagonist, but let’s see the bigger picture here. The good doctor may have already realized it, but his actions during the third act have a big consequence. In the climax of the third act, Strange flies over to the Dark Dimension and confronts Dormammu with a bargain. If anyone is familiar with the comics, they’d know that Dormammu is no laughing matter. Yes, Strange does manage to outwit Dormammu by creating an endless time loop that brings Strange flying back to Dormammu whenever he’s defeated. But what if in the future, Dormammu finds a way to eradicate the time loop when Strange returns to the Dark Dimension?

During the climax, Dormammu was able to defeat Strange countless times during the time loops before eventually giving in to Strange’s bargain. But it’s also worth noting that Strange is not the Sorcerer Supreme yet, not even by the end of the film (people have argued over the fact that the film was going way too fast into turning Strange as Sorcerer Supreme, but if you focus a little more, you would have noticed that Strange was never titled as Sorcerer Supreme. He’s a sorcerer, yes, but not yet a Supreme. The Ancient One might be dead, but that doesn’t mean that Strange immediately takes the title of Sorcerer Supreme. The film certainly did not show that). It’s possible that by the time the sequel comes, he would have already been highly skilled to face Dormammu again, this time going in full guns blazing without having to use a time loop.

Dormammu is a way bigger threat than you think. The film might not show it yet, but he is the threat of all threats in the Doctor Strange lore. As our hero manages to make his bargain with Dormammu, Mordo warns Strange of the consequence for tampering with the natural law. It’s highly possible that beings other than Dormammu from various dimensions are already aware of Strange’s presence in the Multiverse once the film comes to a close. And given the fact that Wong has stated that the news of The Ancient One’s death will spread throughout the Multiverse, news of Strange’s confrontation with Dormammu might have already spread as well; and it’s not a good thing. This should not be taken as subtle foreshadowing. This is literally a warning, and I want to see that consequence being played out in future films.

Is there any other things that I missed out? If so, what do you think should happen in the sequel?

By Nadia Ranaputri

Source: Entertainment Weekly

Director: Scott Derickson
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tilda Swinton, Mads Mikkelsen, Rachel McAdams, Scott Adkins, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Benjamin Bratt.

If the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) movies have taught us anything, it’s that their movies never look the same when it comes to visual aspects. Each of their movies serve different tones within their visual canvas, with Guardians of the Galaxy (which is currently my most favorite MCU movie so far) having an 80’s sci-fi kind of tone with the old-school music, the familiar aesthetic of a classic sci-fi movie, and a whole lot of kick-ass galactic action; while Captain America: The Winter Soldier serves as an espionage and political story disguised as a superhero movie; and The Avengers as the ultimate fun superhero film with visually fun action and a well-hearted story to boot.

That being said, the MCU is also known for their all-familiar formulaic storyline. Yes, Doctor Strange is no exception. Even with its trippy visuals, it still boasts a storyline familiar to a certain white man with a suit made of iron.

Doctor Strange is the 14^th entry in the MCU, telling the story of a brilliant yet arrogant American neurosurgeon named Stephen Strange (played by the ever enigmatic Benedict Cumberbatch). He’s the kind of neurosurgeon that you can go to if you: a) have bucketloads of cash or b) your condition is interesting enough (or basically bad enough) for him to at least take a look, and most importantly, c) have both options a) and b). In other words, it is nearly impossible for anyone really to get an appointment with this a-hole (even Strange rejected a case of a certain Colonel who had a damaged spine while being in a test suit, so make of that if you will).

All this changes when Strange recklessly gets into a car crash (with a pretty reckless buildup of a reason that causes this crash), with the worst damage being in his hands, which were his vital tools for success; since Strange is known for having the steadiest hands, therefore able to perform surgery with precision and ease. Due to the crash, his hands twitch so violently every second that he couldn’t even steady his hands to properly write his own name, let alone perform surgery.

With his career seemingly destroyed, Strange embarks on a quest to heal his hands, spending his own wad of cash on treatments that have no effect even to the slightest to cure his hands. Eventually he finds his way to Tibet, spending his last bag of bills in his final attempt of curing his hands. Strange then meets with the so-called Ancient One (played by Tilda Swinton), who shows him a stranger (pun totally intended) and more mystical world, as well as a bigger purpose for his coming.

In terms of the cast, the cast is what James Gunn had said in his own post for the movie: nearly pitch perfect. He’s right, in a certain extent. Benedict Cumberbatch excels as Stephen Strange, and though it takes a while to really get in to his faux American accent (he actually slips on his accent a couple of times), his performance adds much needed gravitas as Strange is hit both physically and emotionally. In other words, Cumberbatch fits the role like a glove. However, he’s surprisingly humorous, which doesn’t always seem to work (more on that later).

Source: HeroicHollywood.com

Tilda Swinton nearly shines as the Ancient One, but with the controversy surrounding Swinton’s casting, I really can’t help but wish that they kept the race of the Ancient One as Tibetan or Chinese (either works for me); because as good as the Ancient One is, it really wouldn’t hurt to put an Asian female out there to portray the character.

Chiwetel Ejiofor is a literal scene stealer as Karl Mordo. Originally set to be Doctor Strange’s eventual nemesis, here he becomes Strange’s ally, with subtle hints of his own motivations that still seem grey, which makes him a fascinating character on his own. See, when I say subtle, I mean it.

Mads Mikkelsen makes an overall good villain as Kaecilius. If MCU movies have a fatal weakness, it’s their villains. They’re mostly underwritten and they usually come off as “just evil for the sake of evil”. There are a couple of MCU villains on that list, but Kaecilius does not join that list. Kaecilius is still underwritten, yes, but his intentions are clear and you get why he does what he does. It’s overly similar with Darren Cross from Ant-Man. In my personal opinion, Darren Cross is also a villain whose intentions are well delivered, yet still underwritten in terms of his own storyline. Kaecilius joins Darren Cross in that particular group. Rest assured, Kaecilius was definitely a better villain than Malekith from Thor: The Dark World.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

The cast is great overall, but let’s get to the negatives first before I get to the best part of the film: it’s formulaic and similar to another certain origin of a rich a-hole who’s brilliant, yet still remains to be an a-hole; who eventually learns selflessness by becoming the hero the world needs. I’m not saying that it’s completely bad, but it would be nice to see a completely different take on their stories. Doctor Strange is packed with insane visuals that we’ve never seen before in the MCU. But at its core, is a very familiar storyline, and the longer I think about it, it’s almost a repetition of the first Iron Man movie, just with magic and mystic. Guardians of the Galaxy still remains to be my most favorite movie of the MCU, because like Doctor Strange, Guardians isn’t afraid break boundaries when it comes to their visuals. But what made Guardians such a standout from other Marvel movies for me was that it boasts quite a fresh storyline (though it might be similar to the classic sci-fi space movies) as well as a unique visual style complete with a wicked soundtrack. Doctor Strange does have that unique visual style, but the storyline lacks that freshness and originality that would have made it stand out more. Because of that, the story seems a little generic, but just a little.
Which brings me to my next negative. The first act of the movie felt rushed, and the pacing was a little off. Some parts in the first act could have been longer and could have been delved deeper, especially during Strange's training in Kamar-Taj (which was the story aspect that I was actually worried about because Strange trained for a long time there, and I was curious to see how they'd show it).

Another negative aspect for me was the humor. I don’t mind the humor in the MCU movies, but Doctor Strange doesn’t need that many humor, especially with its title character; as he is already interesting on his own complex route of a storyline. Stephen Strange’s quips sometimes put me off-guard, and it kind of took me out of the movie for a second. The humor, mostly from Strange; sometimes puts the movie off, and you’re completely taken out of what is already a good and progressive sequence.

Now to the best part: the visuals. I’m not going to spoil much, but the visuals are insane. Doctor Strange is not afraid to go beyond and break boundaries when it comes to the visuals. In fact, their visual effects give Christopher Nolan’s Inception a run for their money. Doctor Strange’s visuals are more than just bending streets and buildings. It literally takes you to dimensions that are shown like colors of crayons and paint being poured on blank canvas. I watched the film in 2D, but it’s obvious that this film was truly made for 3D (IMAX, even) with all the immersive visuals that become the film’s greatest strength. The film’s use of magic is also stunning, and each action sequence gives plenty of variety to the way magic is used in a fight.

Despite the film's slight drive to a generic story, it's the film's third act that made the film for me. I won't spoil anything other than the fact that it's creative, fun, and trippy. Some people might not be satisfied with the third act, but I found it to be refreshing. The film's third act manages to dodge the usual superhero film climaxes, which is why I loved it.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

Another great positive was the score. Michael Giacchino’s unique of a score added many needed layers throughout the movie, with the best tracks being in the film’s emotional scenes and action sequences. Trippy visuals come with trippy music, and this score is damn close to being as trippy as the visuals in the film.

With that, I still think that Doctor Strange is another solid addition to the MCU. It’s almost on par with my expectations, but not quite there yet. Doctor Strange really would have been more if it backed off the humor a little bit and let the overall story talk. As for the story itself, I think it would have stand out more if it went with a slightly fresher take on the story as a whole, going not only beyond borders by the visuals; but also by storyline.

Stars: 3.7/5
Also, there are two post credit scenes that are pretty vital to future MCU movies (I nearly screamed in the theater at the first post credit scene [mid-credit scene, to be exact] which shows a very familiar face).

By Nadia Ranaputri

Source: IndieWire

First of all, I'm starting a segment called Movie Rewinds, where I review movies that came out a couple of years ago. It can be modern or old movies.

You’ve heard of folk music, haven’t you? I don’t know much about folk music, but I grew quite fond of this type of genre after watching this movie. Not only that, this was the movie that introduced me to the enigmatic Oscar Isaac, who plays the titular role of Llewyn Davis himself.

Inside Llewyn Davis is a story about Llewyn Davis, a fellow folk singer who hasn’t got any success in the music industry. After cutting ties with his singing partner, Llewyn embarks on a journey to find success, while discovering constant difficulties in doing so.

Source: The Athena Cinema

It’s a simple premise, but the movie delivers. For most people, this was the breakthrough performance for Oscar Isaac. He’s been in several movies before this, but Llewyn Davis is the role he’s most known for. Playing Llewyn Davis isn’t easy. Davis is a conflicted character that goes from someone that doesn’t give a damn to someone who actually gives a damn (mostly for a certain cat that’s been in most of the movie’s marketing). The rest of the cast also gave impressive performances; with each character having their own unique interpretation (I liked Carrey Mulligan’s character the most, despite her frequently using the s-word and the f-word).

I would like to point out something else impressive other than the cast, which is the cinematography. I loved the coloring that they use in the movie. It sets a moody kind of tone.

Source: dreamsandvisions.squarespace.com

And of course, one could not forget about the folk music. I loved the music because it sets some playful elements to the already moody tone. Personally, my favorite piece was “Fare Thee Well”, played somewhere in the beginning as we see segments of who Llewyn Davis is and does as a character.

Overall, this movie was very enjoyable. I liked the tone of it, and the pacing was good. The folk music sets up playful elements and the actors (especially Oscar Isaac) had great performances.

It’s not a movie for everybody. For some, it could be a slow burn (you think this is slow burn? I suggest you watch Oscar’s other movie, A Most Violent Year) and some people would feel a little uncomfortable with the tone of the movie. For me, however, Inside Llewyn Davis was a unique movie with a simple premise that is delivered and handled very well.

Stars: 4.5/5

By Nadia Ranaputri


Mike Colter as Luke Cage (source: thewrap.com)

Sweet Christmas! Luke Cage is here. With Daredevil and Jessica Jones confirmed to have a new season in the near future, and Iron Fist around the corner, Luke Cage is the latest Defender to have his own series. While Daredevil and Jessica Jones have received rave reviews, does Luke Cage live up to the hype?

Taking place somewhere after the events of Marvel's Jessica Jones, Luke Cage lays low in the city of Harlem and blends in with the locals. While in hiding, corrupt forces appear in the shadows of Harlem and plan to take over. Amidst the dangers of the upcoming threat. Luke must choose if he should stay in hiding or come out to protect the city of Harlem from danger.

Mike Colter returns as Luke Cage, and he is killing it. Colter's performance shows depth and humanity to what is an unstoppable force that is Luke Cage. Simone Missick's Misty Knight brings a lot of girl power and is interesting enough to have a story of her own throughout the series. Mahersala Ali brings a lot to the table for his role as Cornell (aka Cottonmouth) Stokes. Marvel/Netflix shows have brought great and compelling villains on screen, and Cottonmouth was no exception. Like Daredevil's Wilson Fisk, Cottonmouth is a villain that you eventually start to side with, and will solely root for. The most interesting character for me, though, was Alfre Woodard's Mariah Dillard. She starts out as a grey character for the start of the series, but as her true motivations and secrets come to light, she becomes the character to truly watch out for.

Mahershala Ali as the show's main antagonist Cottonmouth (source: fortressofsolitude.com)

Marvel's Luke Cage feels like a superhero show that is also a love letter for Harlem, displaying its culture and citizens. The cinematography makes Harlem look spectacular, showing beauty even in its darkest corners. The characters are a spectacle to watch. They can be nice, alluring, cunning, or even just pure evil. Whether you're on the good side or the bad side, you can't help but actually root for one side while you're in the other, and you can thank the script and storyline, because they gave so much development to these characters.

From left to right: Rosario Dawson as Claire Temple and Mike Colter as Luke Cage (source: metro.co.uk)

One flaw that I had with this show though, is very much a spoiler, but to keep it spoiler-free, that flaw comes in sometime during the second half of the season, where the presence of another baddie becomes the show's downfall. As the first half of the season starts out strong, the third act in the second half of the season caused the show to fall downwards, almost on the edge of a cliff, but not quite there yet.

All in all, Marvel's Luke Cage is a great new addition to the Marvel/Netflix universe. Its characters are compelling spectacles, the storyline has great development, but the show's third act becomes its sudden downfall. For me, Luke Cage can stand mighty well on its own, but it is the weakest of the Netflix Defenders series.

Stars: 4/5

HELLO THERE!

Categories

Contact Form

Advertisement

Report Abuse

Search This Blog

Blog Archive

Pages

Popular Posts

featured posts

Advertisement