Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme (2007)

Peel back the layers of reality and behold a stunning realm hidden beneath. One of magic and wonder. Of sorcery and enchantment. Of ancient spells secret doors and remarkable heroes who protect us from evil. Because this is also a world of dark mysticism malevolent forces and unspeakable horrors. And within the shadows around us a supernatural war is waged. But the balance is shifting. Darkness is winning. Yet there is hope... Join us as Dr. Stephen Strange embarks on a wondrous journey to the heights of a Tibetan mountain where he seeks healing at the feet of the mysterious Ancient One. But before his wounds can mend Strange must first let go of his painful past and awaken a gift granted to very few. The gift of magic. Empowered as the new Sorcerer Supreme Dr. Strange now tests his limits rising up against monsters that push at the gates facing the most terrifying entity humankind has ever known.System Requirements:Running Time: 95 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: PG-13 UPC: 031398216896 Manufacturer No: 21689 Product Description

Marvel Comic Creation

Good amination, stuck mostly to the original stroy line from the comic, a good movie if you are a Dr. Strange fan or a marevel comic fan. February 18, 2008

Another Awesome Marvel Production!!!!

Marvel puts out another great straight-to-video production. Doctor Stephen Strange has never been better portrayed!

Pick this video up and sit back with a bowl of popcorn and enjoy!!!!

'Nuff Said!
Excelsior! February 14, 2008

Totally misses the genre of Doctor Strange comic

Wow, what a mess up! An animated movie with a reasonable budget about Doctor Strange could be an opportunity to travel into untold worlds and have all kinds of amazing experiences with the Doctor.

But instead we get a badly done 'origins of the character' film that leaves very little to the viewer's imagination AND, WORST OF ALL, becomes a sword-fighting film.

When the first character pulled a sword of out thin air, I thought "hey, that's cool". But when everyone did it, including Doctor Strange, I thought, "OMG, they never read a single Doctor Strange comic!"

The animation was decent, and the monsters and enemies weren't horrible, but the filmmakers really blew it on STORY and CONCEPT. What were they thinking?!??!

This could have been a film starting with Dr Strange (already super-powerful) and with maybe a brief flashback entailing how he became the Sorceror Supreme -- but to devote the whole film to a bunch of magical cohorts who die easily (and no viewers care b/c they're not part of the comic anyway) and really miss most of what Doctor Strange was about -- what a waste.

Its like doing the only Superman movie and having 95% be about Krypton and the folks that live there... and then boom, everyone's dead except this one guy who can fly. The end.

I was suprised to discover from watching the production team interviews that they actually were fans of the original Doctor Strange comics.

But the telling line came from one interviewee who said (I'm paraphrasing), "We gave them each different abilities, and then from there it was similar to mutants and other superheroes." ie you blew it!

Another person also said (paraphrasing), "We only had a few panels of origin, so we had to make up all this other stuff." Take it from a Doctor Strange fan -- I wish you hadn't made up any of that ridiculous non-sensical origin material, and just stuck with the 100+ issues of much more interesting material -- that sticks to the Doctor Strange genre!

This is why the film was a waste -- Doctor Strange is a magician of utmost power and knowledge who can travel all realms of reality to stop evil doers on a grand scale.

He is not a sword fighter, martial artist, or Zen monk. He has a few very powerful items he uses frequently -- his cloak and necklace -- but he doesn't use a SWORD!!! Talk about 'missing the point'!

They didn't have ANYONE intone a chant for a spell, didn't have ANYONE explain about magic, and while they did go thru a few world portals, no one really did much in other dimensions. WHY!?!?!?

Damnit! C'mon, Marvel -- don't blow it! With each of these animated flicks, your company has a chance to do something great with your characters, but instead you are going for cheesy poorly written screenplays!

Stay away from 'origin' films. Have the courage to start your movie with a full-blown superhero, and don't take their powers away. Don't make them have amnesia. Don't go back in time or off to another place. Keep them in their spot, leave them with their powers, and let them do what they do in the comics! Is it REALLY that hard?!?!?

Hint -- do your film like a comic. It worked for Sin City, and it can work for you. Don't do films like films. We don't need any more 'origin' movies ... at leat not before the 2nd or 3rd movie. Just give us a flashback scene and explain more later...!

** NO MORE 'origin of superhero' movies!! **

I'm a screenwriter and promise to help you if you ask. Just ask me! January 14, 2008

Is there a doctor in the house?

Please refer to the previous review by J.A. Eyon entitled "The Magic's Gone." I couldn't agree more. All the producers had to do was go back and read the wealth of stories that Marvel Comics has created over the years. And simply pick ONE! Instead, they hire a bunch of no-talent wanna-bes and come up with a lame, unbelievably cliched, pointless work of juvenile fiction that has nothing at all to do with the concept, intent, quality and integrity of the original character the movie is (supposedly) based on!

Don't you think that's "strange"...?!
January 1, 2008

The magic's gone

For fans of the 60s and 70s Doctor Strange comics, this animated film will seem as removed from those as the Tom Cruise versions of Mission Impossible from its source. Here, magic has given way to swordplay and martial arts. And the storytelling is pathetic. The first half is too slow, the latter half is too actiony. Worse, the story reeks of "borrowing" -- from The Karate Kid, Lost Horizon, The Shadow and every manic action movie since the birth of CGI. Not only is this movie unoriginal -- it's un-Doctor Strange. Someone just "borrowed" the names and faces. December 22, 2007

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