Made for TV Movies: Dr. Strange

Nothing says "strange" like a straight forward drama about a doctor and his comatose patient...

 I like this poster, but the photos to the right more accurately
reflect the majority of the scenes in this one.

The plot unfolds something like this: The world is in peril, but hardly a soul knows it. A shadowy-interdimensional-nameless overlord who's hell bent on taking over the world has given his flunky minion, Morgan Le Fay, one more chance to prove herself. He needs her to take down Earth's Sorcerer Supreme and turn his chosen successor to their side, or kill him as well. Sorcerer Supreme is suddenly forced to rush his new apprentice's training, but first he has to find him and let him know that he's the chosen one...

On paper, it sounds familiar: An interstellar being trying to destroy/subjugate the world for a shadowy figure sounds like a few of the modern Marvel movie plots, but all of those are more interesting than this dull flick. (I might watch the first Thor 20 times before I'd watch this one again.)

Problematic to boot: Nothing's really changed for women in Marvel movies in 40 years. In this movie, Le Fay is thwarted in her task to kill Strange because she finds him so irresistibly attractive. When the shadowy-interdimensional-nameless overlord finds out she's attracted to Strange, Le Fay is punished by being made to appear old and “ugly”. She begs for mercy (because apparently her only two interest are being evil and staying a hottie) and the overlord gives her one shot to turn Strange to their side and baring that, she must kill him, no matter how much she lusts for him.

The other woman in this movie: She only shows up when someone needs to be in peril. She's also the aforementioned coma patient and spends most of the first half of this flick in bed. Once she wakes up, she falls for Strange as well because of course she does.

First on screen Marvel villain: Morgan Le Fey is the first villain from the comics to appear on screen. All the other adaptations up to this point (that we could find) had generic criminals as villains, or featured villains that were created for the adaptation they appeared in. You'd think being the first on screen Marvel villain would earn Jessica Walter a cameo in the latest Dr Strange, but honestly, who's surprised she didn't get one?

I mean look at this guy, who wouldn't want to throw themselves at his feet?

Yup, that's: The lovely Jessica Walter, Oscar winner John Mills, and Clyde Kusatsu as Wong.

Could have been so much worse: In the comics, Wong is very problematic. But in this movie, he sports a three piece suits (rather than robes or religious garb), speaks with  Kusatu's native accent (he's American), works with the Sorcerer to get Strange ready to take over as Supreme Sorcerer (rather than spending any part of the movie jealous that Strange is "the chosen one"). It's pretty refreshing to watch a movie like this (especially from the time period) and see an Asian man just be a regular American-family man rather than a mystical guru who is begrudgingly compelled to bestow his wisdom on some white dude for reasons that don't exist. (Especially because people lean on these stereotypes as though they're not totally and blatantly racist.)

Speaking of "the chosen one": Strange in this movie reminds me of Danny Rand in the Netflix Iron Fist. Strange is so unlikeable and bland it's impossible to see why he's the one the Sorcerer chose to be his successor. But he (like the women in this movie) must make Stephen realize his true potential so he can take his rightful place as protector of the entire planet, I guess.

The effects: There are some interesting effects intermittently throughout this film, and at the time, they were so cutting edge that shooting them set back production considerably. Unfortunately those effects scenes aren't utilized enough to outweigh the boring straight-forward drama that is the rest of this dull movie.

Be warned: This movie would be nothing without Walter, Kusatsu, and the cheesy effects, so if you attempt to watch this one, drink some coffee first.