11 Must-See Movies of November

Image courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures

Doctor Strange (November 4th)

Synopsis: Doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is drawn into a mystical world of alternate dimensions after a traumatic car accident. After discovering his newfound powers he’ll need them to stop the villainous Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen).

In a year that’s the disintegration of Marvel’s Avengers in Captain America: Civil War earlier this year, our final Marvel outing for 2016 takes a turn for the strange…Stephen Strange, that is. Doctor Strange marks a new testing ground for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We’ve visited the mythical with the Thor series, but we’re going off the reservation entirely with Doctor Strange. Controversy hit early upon the word that Tilda Swinton was playing a role originally written for an Asian male. You win some, you lose some. Benedict Cumberbatch’s name definitely pricks up the ears of his ocean of fans, a group on par with Tom Hiddleston-lovers. Director Scott Derrickson is probably more of a journeyman’s director here considering he lacks anything passing for Marvel or comic credentials. Joss Whedon he is not.

In terms of advertising saturation and name branding, Doctor Strange is the biggest offering in the month of November, though the dense history and magical elements might turn off audiences more interested in the current MCU that’s grounded in more realistic elements. The success or failure of Doctor Strange determines how deep the MCU can go into their comics archive for future spin-offs.

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