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Doctor Strange is 'Inception to the nth degree,' says Hollywood Reporter

'You are seeing something truly new on the big screen'

Jacob Stolworthy
Wednesday 12 October 2016 10:11 BST
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It's only a matter of weeks until Doctor Strange gets released - and the early word suggests to expect something altogether quite different.

A preview screening in the US earlier this week saw positive reaction (bear in mind, the same Suicide Squad screening generated similar chat), but now, The Hollywood Reporter has seen 15 minutes of the finished product and came away impressed

Benedict Cumberbatch is praised with his protagonist Stephen Strange descibred as a mix of House, Tony Stark and his very own Sherlock Holmes.

In the scenes where Strange finds himself on the way to The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), THR states: "There's a bit of The Matrix and early parts of Batman Begins here – but the fresh visuals remind you that this is something that couldn't have been made in 1999 or 2005 - you really feel like this is the pinnacle of what can be done with movie technology today."

Following the release of the mind-bending trailer earlier this year, many claimed it had striking similarities with Christopher Nolan film Inception. THR sets the record straight:

"Strange (inspired by creator Steve Ditko's art) is Inception to the nth degree. Monday's screening featured an extended chase scene featuring Strange and Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) fleeing from the villain Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen) across cityscapes in different realities folding in on themselves. The chase is one of those rare moviegoing experiences (like Inception was) where you are seeing something truly new on the big screen.

"It's the type of mind-bending thing you instantly want to watch again."

It also seems that the film has overcome the potential obstacle of its depiction of Asian characters with Benedict Wong's character being cited as a highlight.

"This version of Wong, rather than being a manservant to Strange, is smarter than the good doctor (or at least, he knows this world better than Strange does). Their relationship looks like it's going to be a lot of fun to watch unfold."

Doctor Strange is released on 24 October.

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