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Benedict Cumberbatch

6.15 Stepping into 1917

January 10, 2020 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

In our first episode of 2020, writer/director Sam Mendes wants to take us back to 1917 where he immerses the viewer in the Great War and tells the story of two young soldiers who are given the impossible task of reaching another unit to warn them of a trap that could potentially wipe out hundreds of their men. Depicted as though a single take, the film includes stunning visuals and offers modern insight into our historical understanding. This week on the show, we welcome back Seeing and Believing’s Kevin McLenithan to talk about the nature of honour, the importance of individual stories and our Top 3 Movie Moments of 2019.

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Soundcloud! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts or Google Play!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

6.15 1917Download

Filed Under: Film, Podcast, Reviews Tagged With: 1917, Benedict Cumberbatch, Colin Firth, Roger Deakins, Sam Mendes, World War I

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch: Lost and Lonely for the Holidays

February 5, 2019 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

The Grinch (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his loyal dog, Max, live a lonely life atop the snowy crest of Mount Crumpet. Ostracizing himself from the Whos down in Whoville (the tall and the small), his main source of frustration comes during Christmastime when his neighbors celebrate the holidays with a bang. When the Whos decide to make Christmas bigger and brighter this year than ever before, the Grinch hatches a scheme to steal Christmas and end the Whos’ jovial celebration once and for all.

Produced by Chris Meledandri (Despicable Me), the greatest challenge facing Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch seemed to be whether or not The House That Minions Built could tell a story that lived up the legacy of the iconic original. Thankfully, the latest incarnation of Dr. Seuss’ classic tale is an engaging romp that treads enough new ground to feel fresh and—dare I say it?—even necessary. (Incidentally, what impressed me most about the film is that, despite coming from Illumination, the humor is mostly spared from going full ‘Minions’ with bathroom humor, allowing it to feel somewhat timeless and charming.) Star Benedict Cumberbatch plays the titular villain with snarling glee as he plots against the seemingly naïve Who’s (even if he isn’t quite as much of a ‘mean one’ as previous incarnations). What’s more, this film seems to have a lighter bounce and sense of play than in the past, making it more accessible to even younger viewers.

Still, The Grinch sets itself apart from previous versions through its sense of grace and support towards others. While we’ve seen the Grinch as either traumatized by lost love (live-action) or simply… well… mean (animated), this vision shows him as a lonely curmudgeon. Alone in the orphanage as a child, Cumberbatch’s Grinch has deliberately tried to pull himself away from others, not out of hatred but out of jealousy. Having never been invited to be a part of any sort of community, the Grinch simply doesn’t understand the blessing of being surrounded by people that care about you. (Or, he’s at least oblivious to it, as his friendship with Max and Fred would indicate.)

Conversely, however, the Grinch’s isolation is held in contrast to the Who’s desire to come together and, more specifically, Cindy Lou Who’s quest to help her mother. Out of love and respect for what she sees her mom sacrifice for their family, Cindy Lou sets out on a quest to [literally] wrestle Santa to the ground in order to ensure that her request gets through to the North Pole. Rather than give Santa a list of gifts, all she cares about is seeing her mother get the help she needs. Like Cindy Lou, this film has a much firmer grasp on the meaning of the holidays and, as a result, the film’s climactic reunion with the Grinch seems far more significant. This vision of The Grinch understands what it means for a community to lovingly support those in need—and the importance of grace that breaks through in its midst.

On video, the film transfers beautifully (especially in 4K which really allows the color to pop onscreen). Special features include 3 mini-movies (yes, two of them feature the Minions), Cindy Lou’s Yule Log and a sing-a-long version of “You’re a Mean One (Mr. Grinch)”. However, one of the most interesting pieces is also the most simple. A short video entitled “Any Who Can Draw” allows viewers to put their artistic skills to work to draw characters from the film, an activity that my whole family enjoyed.

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch is available on 4K, BluRay, DVD or Digital Download.

To hear our podcast on The Grinch, click here.

The Grinch (Benedict Cumberbatch) warns his dog Max and reindeer Fred about the seductive power of the Santa cookie as he trains them to help him steal Christmas in “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch” from Illumination.

Filed Under: DVD, Film Tagged With: Angela Lansbury, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chris Meledandri, Christmas, Illumination, Kenan Thompson, Minions, Pharrell Williams, Rashida Jones, The Grinch, Universal

GIVEAWAY! Dr. Seuss’ THE GRINCH!

January 26, 2019 by Steve Norton 17 Comments

Who says Christmas has to be over?

In Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch, the beloved titular villain and his loyal dog, Max, live a solitary existence inside a cave on Mount Crumpet. His main source of frustration comes during Christmastime when his neighbours in Whoville celebrate the holidays with a bang. When the Whos decide to make Christmas bigger and brighter, the disgruntled Grinch realizes there is one way to gain peace and quiet. With help from Max, the green grump hatches a scheme to pose as Santa Claus, steal Christmas and silence the Whos’ holiday cheer once and for all.


The winner will receive a copy of the Dr. Seuss’ THE GRINCH 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Edition and a Grinch hat.

To enter, simply like or share our post on Facebook and answer the following question in the comment section: What is your favourite Dr. Seuss story and why?

For a bonus entry, like or share the post on Twitter and Instagram.

All entries must be completed by 11:59pm on Monday, February 4th, 2019.

 

Dr. Seuss’ THE GRINCH will be released on Blu-Ray on Tuesday, February 5th, 2019

Filed Under: DVD, Giveaways Tagged With: 4K, animation, Benedict Cumberbatch, Christmas, Rashida Jones, The Grinch

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Announces its Release on Digital… and it’s Sooner Than You Think!

January 7, 2019 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

Christmas may seem over… but the holidays can continue!
Families everywhere can ring in the New Year with Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch on Digital on January 22, 2019, and on 4K Ultra HD, 3D Blu-ray™, Blu-ray™, DVD and On Demand on February 5, 2019. From Illumination and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, the film based on Dr. Seuss’ beloved tale about a cynical grouch who goes on a mission to steal Christmas from others only to feel his own heart grow three sizes larger through unexpected friendships is one “the whole family can watch and enjoy,” (Kidsday/Newsday).

The new home entertainment edition contains more than 60 minutes of bonus content, including three mini-movies: “Dog Days of Winter” starring the Grinch and his heroically loyal dog Max; and “Yellow is the New Black” and “Santa’s Little Helpers,” both starring the lovable Minions. It also includes stunning featurettes, a how-to-draw tutorial and much more. Narrated by Grammy Award® winner and Oscar® nominee Pharrell Williams, Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch stars Academy Award® nominee Benedict Cumberbatch (Dr. Strange, “Sherlock”) as the infamous Grinch, who lives a solitary life inside a cave on Mt. Crumpit with only his loyal dog, Max, for company. The incredible voice cast includes Rashida Jones (“Parks and Recreation,” The Muppets) as Donna Who, Kenan Thompson (“Saturday Night Live”) as Bricklebaum, Cameron Seely (The Greatest Showman) as Cindy-Lou Who, and featuring legendary actress Angela Lansbury (Anastasia, Beauty and the Beast) as the mayor of Whoville. Funny, heartwarming and visually stunning, Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch is a perfect night in for the whole family!


BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVE TO 4K ULTRA HD, 3D BLU-RAY™, BLU-RAY™ AND DVD:
  • Who’s Who in Who-ville (interactive map) – There are so many interesting characters that call Who-ville home that it’s hard to keep track of them all. This “Who’s Who” pop-up book uses animation to create a virtual storybook that takes us from Who-ville to Mt. Crumpit.
  • “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” Lyric Video – Tyler the Creator puts a modern spin on the Seussian Christmas classic.
MINI-MOVIES ON 4K ULTRA HD, 3D BLU-RAY™, BLU-RAY™, DVD & DIGITAL: 
  • Yellow is the New Black – Before they all make their big escape from prison in Despicable Me 3, a couple of lucky Minions get a taste of freedom as they break free with the help of one of their fellow human inmates.
  • Dog Days of Winter – Max braves the harsh winter weather and an uncooperative Who to bring a sick Grinch his favourite hot tea.
  • Santa’s Little Helpers – Fan favourites – the Minions – are back for another adventure! Having been accidentally dropped off at the North Pole, our Minion pals make the most of the situation by trying to become elves.

BONUS FEATURES ON 4K ULTRA HD, 3D BLU-RAY™, BLU-RAY™, DVD & DIGITAL:

  • The Making of the Mini-Movies – Mini in size but not in heart, these short films are fan favourites. From the Grinch and Max to the Minions – you’ll explore the themes of each of the mini-movies through the eyes of the filmmakers who made them.
  • From Green to Screen – It takes a lot to bring grumpy green to your home screen. This inside look at the making of Illumination’s Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch features interviews and behind-the-scenes moments with the cast, filmmakers and artists whose hearts have all grown three sizes bringing this classic tale to life.
  • Illuminating THE GRINCH – Using filmmaker and cast interviews, concept art and progression reels, we take a behind-the-scenes look at how the characters evolved from initial sketches to fully realized characters.
  • My Earliest GRINCH Memories – The cast and filmmakers of Dr. Seuss’s The Grinchreveal their earliest memories of the grumpy green character and the enduring appeal of this Christmas curmudgeon’s journey to redemption.
  • Grinchy Gadgets – From his body-size blow dryer to his moving mechanical chair, from his catapult to his dog drone-rig and more… you’ll get to explore the wondrous world of Grinch’s gadgets.
  • “I Am The Grinch” Lyric Video – A stylized look at Tyler, The Creator’s original song created just for the film.
  • Songs From His Little Heart – Take a deep dive into the toe tapping beats of Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch. From score to specialty songs, you’ll hear from the film’s A-list musicians on what it took to create the music behind the movie.
  • X-mas Around the World – Every culture practices Christmas in a slightly different way. We’ll highlight some of the more fun permutations of the holiday around the globe.
  • Cindy-Lou’s Yule Log – Nothing says the holidays quite like an animated fireplace blasting fake heat from your living room television. Just in time for winter, we’ll recreate Cindy-Lou’s living room on Christmas Eve for all to enjoy.
  • Production Babies – A celebration of the babies born to the filmmakers during the production of Illumination’s Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch.
  • Any Who Can Draw – Hosted by an Illumination artist and head of story Mark O’Hare, you’ll see step-by-step how to draw some of your favourite characters from this beloved holiday classic; Grinch, Max and Fred!

The film will be available on 4K Ultra HD in a combo pack which includes 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray™, Blu-ray™ and Digital. The 4K Ultra HD disc will include the same bonus features as the Blu-ray™ version, all in stunning 4K resolution.

  • 4K Ultra HD is the ultimate movie watching experience. 4K Ultra HD features the combination of 4K resolution for four times sharper picture than HD, and the colour brilliance of High Dynamic Range (HDR) with immersive audio delivering a multidimensional sound experience.
  • Blu-ray™ unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6X the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theatre-quality surround sound.
  • Digital lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favourite devices. Users can instantly stream or download

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Benedict Cumberbatch, The Grinch

5.07 ReImagining THE GRINCH

December 23, 2018 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

https://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/5.07-The-Grinch.mp3

With the return of THE GRINCH in theatres, Illumination attempts to revive a Christmas classic. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular villain, this version of the famed holiday fable creates some different sensibilities from past versions. This week, Steve welcome ScreenFish’rs Heather Johnston and Alan Sharrer to talk how the story has changed, social justice and reconciliation.

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, SoundCloud or on Spotify! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or more!

5.07 The Grinch

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

Thanks Heather and Alan for joining us!

Filed Under: Film, Podcast Tagged With: Benedict Cumberbatch, Christmas, Dr. Seuss, holiday, The Grinch

Meet The Rocket Man: 1on1 with Sean Gunn (AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR)

April 15, 2018 by Steve Norton 2 Comments

While he is perhaps best known from his time playing the affable Kirk Gleason in Gilmore Girls, Gunn has stepped into the forefront recently for his role as Kraglin in the Guardians of the Galaxyfilms. However, he has also found himself in the unique position of serving as physical stand-in for CGI fan-favourite Rocket the Raccoon as well. As Gunn prepares for the return of Rocket in Avengers: Infinity War, he credits his brother, Guardiansdirector James Gunn, for bringing him into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

“Really, it was when my brother got involved,” he starts. “I know that my brother, James, was at a point in his career where he was a little down on directing movies because it was such a hard job to get it on one of these big tent-pole movies. Then, when he ended up being up for Guardians, getting that job, I was totally ecstatic for him.”

“I play both Kraglin on-screen and I also play Rocket [the Raccoon] on-set. That kind of came about during the first movie. [James] and I had worked together so much on various things in our career and he knew that he wanted an actor that he knew, trusted and had worked with to be able to play Rocket on set so that he’d have a real actor there to do it and not just a tennis ball on a stick or a PA holding up script in their hands or something like that. So, he asked me to do it and we ended up kind of figuring out on the go what the method was for that to work. Then, it turned out that it was basically me just getting down on my hands and knees and playing Rocket just as though he was there and it was really helpful to the other actors and the visual effects team. They weren’t able to use me for reference them when they started to animate the character and then I think it was a matter of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. So, then you know, it worked so well for the first movie that I ended up doing it again for Guardians Vol. 2and then for both Infinity Warmovies as well.”

Though most people associate Rocket the Raccoon with Bradley Cooper who supplies his voice, it’s Gunn’s work that lays the groundwork for the performance. By providing much of the physical acting for the character, Gunn appreciates the hard work of the animators who can take his movements and bring Rocket to life.

“I play Rocket the entire time on-set…,” he recalls. “Then, the visual effects team then goes in and they start to put together a draft based on what I did–our movements, hand movements, and particularly my face, some facial expressions, things like where Rocket’s looking… For just little things like that, the animators will use what I’m doing as a reference. Then, later Bradley Cooper comes in and he does the voice of the character and they can change things then. He’ll flesh the character out and sort of put his thing on it and then if they want to make some changes based on either what he’s doing or some combination thereof, they can make those changes at that point as needed.”

Of course, playing two different characters within the same film brings its own set of challenges as well. During scenes where Rocket and Kraglin shared screen time, Gunn claims that he had work twice as hard in order to be prepared.

“There are four different scenes where [Rocket and Kraglin] are not only together [in Vol. 2], but they both have dialog. We really would just kind of shoot around each character and plug me in as much as we could. I always think that the preparation and focus are the most important components to go to acting on set and I had to sort of double my preparation and double my focus on those days. It wasn’t easy because I can’t really squat down as Rocket in Kraglin’s wardrobe. So, I was also having to do these costume changes where I would get and jumpsuit, which is a little stiff and hard to maneuver, and into my Rocket sweats, which is basically a track suit that I’m wearing. So yeah, we’d just have to go back and forth. We’d really have to just take a little longer to shoot and I would be doing the scene twice from the point of view of each character.”

Of course, the Guardians franchise signaled a shift in tone for the Marvel Cinematic Universe upon its release. While offering more humour and brighter colour schemes than other franchises (and not to mention the best soundtracks in the MCU), the most interesting thing about the Guardiansfranchise has been its ability to help audiences fall in love with the anti-hero. When asked about whether he feels this franchise looks for the good in the ‘bad guys’, Gunn argues that the backstories of characters like Rocket gives them the chance to explore what it means to be a hero.

“Well, I certainly don’t view them as bad guys,” he explains, “but they’re not motivated by altruistic qualities the way that the Avengers are certainly… But, I agree with your premise that over the course of the movies, I think the arc of those characters are still learning to identify the goodness that’s already inside of them. I think they’d had lives that have encouraged them to squash the goodness, like Quill living with the Ravagers or Rocket having been where he’s been, sort of lonely most of his whole life. They’ve been encouraged to not think about the good inside of them so I think part of the movies is them finding that.”

Having worked with an ensemble cast on Guardians, his experience on Avengers: Infinity Warmoves to another level entirely. Billed as the ‘largest cross-over event in history’, the film features most (if not all) of the major characters that Marvel has introduced to audiences over the last decade. Nevertheless, Gunn believes that the film honours each character and hopes that the fans agree.

“There are a lot of characters and I think that that’s handled particularly well over the course of the two movies–which, if I can’t talk about the first one, imagine how little I can say it about the second one,” he muses. “We filmed them back to back. There’s still some additional photography to do for the second movie as is always the case and but I think the way that that issue of all these different characters participating in one story is really interesting and I think it works really well. We’ll have to wait and see what people think about. It certainly is a lot of balls in the air to juggle.”

Providing the motivation for the Avengers to assemble this time is the impending threat of alien overlord, Thanos. Hell-bent on destroying the universe, Thanos’ quest for the Infinity Stones is rumoured to give the film a darker tone than other entries into the MCU. Despite its intensity, Gunn also feels that Infinity Waralso balances it with Marvel’s trademark humour.

“I haven’t seen the movie yet so I’ve got to start with that,” he begins, “but I do think that it has a heaviness to it that I think is super cool. I think it’s warranted, personally. I mean you can’t have all these disparate franchises that you’re tying together under one massive banner and be sort of glib about it. I think that these movies are going to be serious. There’s certainly plenty of comedy though. I mean, you know, we have the Guardians in there. We’ve got the crew from Ragnarok in there. I think there’s a lot of laughs, but I think the overall tone of piece is not super light. I think fans will like that because it’s pretty serious. Thanos is serious business.”

Furthermore, one of the highlights for Gunn of working on Infinity War was the opportunity to combine the Guardians crew with a more diverse cast, allowing new interactions and conflicts.

Says Gunn, “I think every actor in one way or another helps define who the character you’re playing is, particularly from Rocket’s point of view. Rocket has been in space his whole life. He knows very little about Earth or the people who live there other than what he knows through his friendship with [Peter] Quill. So, his whole relationship to the earth is based on what Quill has told him and when he comes across any of these people from the Avengers universe, he has a very different perspective of them than any of us would have of them from down here. If anything, I think they’re not quite so impressive to Rocket.”

With his success in the Marvel Universe and Gilmore Girls, one might wonder what Gunn hopes to do next. Still, rather than get preoccupied with what is to come, he prefers to simply focus on looking for great stories to help bring to life.

“I try not to prognosticate or wish too much about where my career is going to go because then you’re only setting yourself up for disappointment. I’ve been very, very lucky to work with incredibly talented people with my brother in Guardians, with the Russos and everyone else they’re working with on Avengers and the list goes on and on, but also with Amy Sherman-Palladino and her husband, Dan, on Gilmore Girls. They’re such great writers and I’ve been so lucky and I really just try to chase the words. I think story is king still. Good stories and good content still rule the day and I just want to keep doing stuff like that. I’d love to revisit Kirk on Gilmore girls if we ever make more, which I don’t think would happen anytime soon. I’d take a look at the character again at some point down the line. I’d love it.”

To hear full audio of our conversation with Sean, click here.

Avengers: Infinity War opens April 27th, 2018.

Filed Under: Film, Interviews, Podcast Tagged With: Avengers, Avengers: Infinity War, Benedict Cumberbatch, Black Widow, Captain America, CGI, Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Doctor Strange, Groot, Guardians of the Galaxy, Hulk, Iron Man, James Gunn, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr, Rocket Raccoon, Scarlett Johansson, Sean Gunn, spider-man, Star Lord, tom holland

Doctor Strange: Marvel’s Magical Formula

February 28, 2017 by Jacob Sahms Leave a Comment

strngeBenedict Cumberbatch is everywhere, and I don’t even mind. Sometimes Khan and sometimes Sherlock Holmes, occasionally historic and periodically period piece, Cumberbatch now arrives as the latest name actor to populate the Marvel Universe. As mangled Dr. Stephen Strange, Cumberbatch shines with an American accent, action figure moves, and a magnetic, sardonic sense of vicious humor. For fans longing to see what happens when the Marvel Studios’ lens is turned toward the mystical corners of the comic universe, Doctor Strange is just the mind-bending, faith-and-science combo that they’ve been hoping for.

strange3Strange is a ‘class A’ jerk (and gifted surgeon) before  a traffic accident mutilates his hands and leaves him unable to grip anything. Exhausting his medical options, he heads to Kamar-Taj where he meets the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) and her other Masters, chiefly Karl Mordo (Chiwetel Ejifor). Before he can fully be indoctrinated in the ways of the Mystic Arts, Kaecilius (Madds Mikkelsen) and his hench-wizards blow into town and cause all kinds of trouble.

Marvel's DOCTOR STRANGE..Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen)..Photo Credit: Film Frame ..©2016 Marvel. All Rights Reserved.

What follows is a mind-bending spectacle of epic proportions that seems more grounded than the visuals of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, highlighting the way that writer/director Scott Derrickson has kept the world we can see closely wound to the spiritual one in his previous films. While this film takes us into spiritual dimensions that seem inspired by LSD (and given Marvel’s background with the title, seem probable), it also has a darkly funny and poignant take on humanity, spouting witty near Kung Fu-isms that seem to be Matrix-like morals we’d get if we blended Jesus, Buddha, and Gandhi together.

strang4Is it derivative? Well, no, but it certainly reeks of the Marvel Formula for a standalone story of our heroes, both well known and obscure. We might even recognize that Strange solves the ‘big’ problem in the film by making the same choice that Tony Stark does in The Avengers… even if he does so in a more humorous, less final, way. We might even say that Doctor Strange (gasp!) seems to echo not just the Marvel use of pattern-making for debuts, but that first modern hero film (when we switched from a ‘white’ knight to a slightly muddy, gray hero with issues): Batman Begins. That is not, however, to say that I didn’t enjoy or appreciate the film because I did.

When the Ancient One tells Strange to “forget everything you know,” we realize he’s about to have his mind blown. When she tells him that he will never have control until he relinquishes control, we might hear Jesus telling his disciples to let go of their lives to find them (Luke 9:24). When she tells him that he has tried everything he knows, everything scientifically possible, and now he wants to ignore the mystical possibilities, we can see the development of a person’s faith – or the journey toward recognition – in every person, not just in a Marvel superhero. All of that is to say that Derrickson has imbued this film with more than the formula even if, underneath some of the more meaty parts, the skeleton remains the same.

Disney’s plus-size special features include the audio commentary by Derrickson, deleted scenes, and a lighter gag reel. But on the Blu-ray/DVD/Digital HD, audiences will also get “A Strange Transformation” (basically, the making of featurette) plus “Strange Company” (a more nuanced cast’s take on doing a Marvel film), “The Fabric of Reality” (the set assembly), a look at the Phase 3 ideas brewing (Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, and, of course, Infinity War), and the unexpected laugh looking at Thor and his roommate in “Team Thor: Part 2.”

Filed Under: Featured, Film, Reviews Tagged With: Ancient One, Benedict Cumberbatch, Doctor Strange, Madds Mikkelsen, Marvel, Scott Derrickson, Tilda Swinton

3.5 Calling DR. STRANGE

November 7, 2016 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

doctor-strange-teaser-poster

https://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/3.5-Dr.-Strange.mp3

This week, Steve and ScreenFish comic guru Arnaldo Reyes take a step into Marvel’s mystical multiverse to discuss DR. STRANGE. Directed by Scott Derrickson, this film features eye-popping special effects but also reveals a spiritual conscience that surprises. Only on ScreenFish.

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

3-5-dr-strange

A special thanks to Arnaldo Reyes for joining us!

ancient one astral punch

 

Filed Under: Film, Podcast Tagged With: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dr. Strange, Mads Mikkelson, magic, Marvel, Marvel Studios, MCU, Scott Derrickson, The Ancient One, Tilda Swinton

Dr. Strange(r Things)

November 7, 2016 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

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“You’ve spent your whole life looking through a key hole.” – The Ancient One

When Robert Downey Jr. first brought Tony Stark to life in 2008’s Iron Man, none of us had any idea that we would be this far down the proverbial Marvel ‘rabbit hole’ at this point. A mere eight years later, we have seen everything from shrinking ex-cons to hammer-wielding demi-gods to talking raccoons do battle on the big screen and, over that time, I had become fairly convinced that Marvel Studios simply had no surprises left.

Dr. Strange has proven me wrong.

Dr. Strange enters another hero (are there any left?) into the Marvel Cinematic Universe by introducing Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), a brilliant—but arrogant—surgeon. When a tragic car accident leaves him unable to practice medicine, he becomes emotionally lost and searches for answers amongst the mystics of the East. Learning from his otherworldly mentor, The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), Strange’s eyes are opened to the spiritual realities around him. Then, when a former student of the Ancient One threatens Earth’s balance of power, Strange is forced into a battle that he never sought out but of which he finds himself in the middle.

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Directed by Scott Derrickson (Sinister, Deliver Us From Evil), Dr. Strange gives the veteran director the daunting task of creating a visual atmosphere that is both terrifying and beautiful at the same time. Largely known for his horror films, Derrickson was clearly given the keys to the Kingdom regarding his special effects budget yet he manages to create this CGI wonderland in (sorcerer) supreme fashion. While the film’s visuals will undoubtedly be compared to other sci-fi entries such as Inception, The Matrix and even 2001: A Space Odyssey, Derrickson’s spin on the film is nonetheless both dazzling and unique.

The film has drawn several comparisons to Iron Man for its tale of the redemption of the powerful—and that’s not inaccurate. (In fact, given the quality of some of the other Marvel entries, it’s actually a high compliment.) As Stephen Strange, Cumberbatch delivers a solid and charaismatic performance (though they don’t give him much to work with in terms of the character’s depth).

Still, the real surprise of the film for me was its unabashed conversation about spirituality.

While it seems obvious that a film that includes magic and Eastern philosophy would contain some discussion of faith and believe, what really struck me was how enthusiastic about it. As the film opens, Strange himself has a very strict scientific mindset, believing only in his own abilities as a surgeon. When that worldview is threatened by the mysticism of the Ancient One, he exclaims, “There is no such thing as spirit. There is only matter!” His is a heart hardened by knowledge and self-amazement.

ancient one astral punch

However, after The Ancient One opens up his eyes—ever so briefly—to the world beyond his own understanding, Strange is completely transformed. For the first time, he recognizes that he is not the most powerful force in the universe.

And he is completely awestruck by it.

In the story he tells, director Scott Derrickson doesn’t just dip his toe into the idea of a larger spiritual reality, he dives in headfirst. In Dr. Strange, he demonstrates the supernatural to be something that actually has a vested interest in protecting the lives of the people, even if they continue about their lives blissfully unaware. (After all, like Strange himself, they too have ‘spent [their] whole lives looking through a key hole.’]

As a pastor, this depiction of belief strikes as a cinematic representation of ‘he who has an ear, let him hear’, as all are called but few are interested in seeing beyond their own world. Like Strange, we too can often become so wrapped up in ourselves that we miss the calling to experience the Kingdom beyond us.

Like Strange, we too need to be humbled and shaken from ourselves.

If we are, maybe we’ll be able to see beyond the key hole for the first time.

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Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Ancient One, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dr. Strange, Iron Man, Mads Mikkelson, magic, Marvel, MCU, Mordo, mysticism, philosophy, Scott Derrickson, Sorcerer Supreme, Tilda Swinton, Tony Stark

Dr. Strange – It’s Not About you

November 4, 2016 by Arnaldo Reyes Leave a Comment

doctorstrangeThe Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) expands once again with the addition of Dr. Stephen Strange.

Dr. Strange brings us to a world of magic within the MCU that has been hinted at but never actually seen. Although we’ve heard his name before (Captain America: Winter Soldier), Stephen Strange had never been featured onscreen and now, finally, he makes his debut. In the comics, he is known as the Sorceror Supreme and carries a heavy burden of keeping our world and reality safe from the threats that others like the Avengers cannot see. However, Dr. Strange wasn’t always a believer of the spiritual and the mystical and that’s where this film begins.

Dr. Strange is an origin story that carries a similar feel to it as the film that started it all, Iron Man. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a man at the top of his profession who only thinks of himself. What a personal tragedy changes the way he sees the world, he begins a journey to find the true purpose of life.

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Dr. Strange features amazing Inception-like visuals that takes us into uncharted territory for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A number of different supernatural elements have been introduced throughout the Marvel films in recent years. In Thor, we first heard of the 9 realms. The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy introduced the idea of aliens and space. The series has also introduced us to the idea of the all-powerful Infinity Stones, eventually leading us to 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War (and Thanos, biggest of the bass). In Dr. Strange, we get to explore the ‘multiverse’, or the manner in which different dimensions intertwine with (and even on top of) each other. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Marvel film with out the adventure, a bad guy trying to destroy the world and a sense of humor that seems to hit at just the right moments.

With all that said, I believe that Dr. Strange is a good film–but not a great film. Visually, it’s stunning (except I felt that the climax was a let down). Story-wise, I felt it was average given that we’ve seen this before (and, frankly, done much better). I feel like they rushed his mystical progress and I would’ve preferred to see Strange “earn” it just a little more. (In fact, several years back, there was an animated film that, despite it’s faults, actually told the story of his journey to master the mystic arts more effectively than this film.) Personally, I feel that, by going big on the visuals, they took a little bit off on the storytelling, making the overall film just good and not great–and it could have been great. Benedict Cumberbatch did an amazing job as Dr. Stephen Strange. At any given moment, he was both charismatic and funny, compelling and arrogant and, in the end, embodied the character very well. However, the rest of the cast were mostly mediocre, leaving few memorable moments. In addition, the villain  really fell short to my expectations (almost to the level of Galactus in the second Fantastic Four film).

ancient one astral punch“Arrogance and fear still keep you from learning the simplest and most significant lesson of all… It’s not about you” -The Ancient One

In many ways, Strange’s journey is similar to many of ours as so much from this story applies to real life. Most of the time, our pride, our fears, our knowledge (or lack thereof) drive us and guide us. The reality is, there is so much more that we can tap into spiritually if we just surrender ourselves. There is a perfect plan and perfect path laid out for us but we just have to open our eyes and open our hearts. Jesus says in Matthew 16:24-25 “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” It’s not an easy thing to do, and its something we have to do daily. Still, when we finally realize that our lives are not about us, we can freely open our hearts to Jesus and find that what we thought was the perfect life was actually far from it.

Dr. Strange is a film that I wish would have challenged the main character a little bit more in order to reach his inevitable potential. However, the visuals and overall film are good enough and therefore watchable.

Just maybe not at premium price.

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Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Avengers, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejofor, Disney, Dr. Strange, Mads Mikkelsen, magic, Marvel, Marvel Studios, Scott Derrickson, Thor, Tilda Swinton

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