DOCTOR STRANGE works as a representation of what has worked for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well as working as a step forward for it as well. Though Benedict Cumberbatch's Steven Strange may appear a carbon copy of Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark, it's through his journey to the mystical Kamar Taj, and his subsequent transformation of self that reveals how different this outing is from previous MCU movies.
It seems that director Scott Derrickson wanted to explore a variety of themes underneath the the banner of a Marvel film, touching on many elements of Taoist, Buddhist, Hindu, Confucian, and Christian thought. In showing Strange's journey through the spiritual world, we are simultaneously exploring it as well. It's refreshing to see another populist work want to dig somewhat into something beyond what scores a multi-demographic success in the box office.
The elephant in the room is, of course, the issue of whitewashing. In the source material, the Ancient One (the mystical master of Kamar Taj, and Strange's mentor) was a Tibetan man. Feeling that showing this would be encouraging certain unsavory stereotypes of south-east Asian peoples, Derrickson chose to take things in another direction. Unfortunately, this had the effect of erasing a potential role for an actor or actress of, or descended from, that region. It was a lose-lose situation either way, though it's worth noting that Tilda Swinton does a fantastic job as the Ancient One, really finding a way to make her enigmatic yet clearly possessing some sort of rich internal life.
Thursday, December 1, 2016
Mini Film Review: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Although J.K. Rowling may have cut her teeth on writing the HARRY POTTER series of books, I don't think that same level of craftsmanship carried over to her first outing as a screenwriter for FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM. This film adaptation of Rowling's auxiliary publication of a fictional textbook is, at best, uneven. Tonally, it seems to want to achieve all of the emotional beats of the entirety of the HARRY POTTER films, but in only one film. As a result, much of it never really lines up.
On the one hand, Eddie Redmayne's section of the film as Newt Scamander, author of the titular book the movie is (loosely) based off of, seems to want to be mostly the first film, THE SORCERER'S STONE, what with the whimsy and somewhat forced precociousness of Redmayne's portrayal of Scamander. Unfortunately, that's essentially all he is: kinda awkward. After this film was over, I had no idea who Newt Scamander really was besides superficial details. That characterizes much of his half of the film: surface-level whimsy and wonder with not much else to it dramatically.
On the other hand, we have the more serious section of the film, with Colin Farrell's Graves. It's this section of the film, with its focus on the Second Salem Society (a sort of neo-puritanical reaction to witches), and the complex interactions between its members, wizarding leadership, and the human government, that contains all of the depth of the film. These characters have real motivations, some of them shifting and overlapping, and feel more like actual people. It's a shame it feels crudely grafted on to its sub-par, but visually interesting, other half.
On the one hand, Eddie Redmayne's section of the film as Newt Scamander, author of the titular book the movie is (loosely) based off of, seems to want to be mostly the first film, THE SORCERER'S STONE, what with the whimsy and somewhat forced precociousness of Redmayne's portrayal of Scamander. Unfortunately, that's essentially all he is: kinda awkward. After this film was over, I had no idea who Newt Scamander really was besides superficial details. That characterizes much of his half of the film: surface-level whimsy and wonder with not much else to it dramatically.
On the other hand, we have the more serious section of the film, with Colin Farrell's Graves. It's this section of the film, with its focus on the Second Salem Society (a sort of neo-puritanical reaction to witches), and the complex interactions between its members, wizarding leadership, and the human government, that contains all of the depth of the film. These characters have real motivations, some of them shifting and overlapping, and feel more like actual people. It's a shame it feels crudely grafted on to its sub-par, but visually interesting, other half.
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