STACK March 2017 Issue 149

36 / 97

Strange things are happening in
the MCU with the introduction
of Marvel’s Master of the
Mystic Arts, Doctor Stephen
Strange, as incarnated by
Benedict Cumberbatch sporting
a Machiavellian goatee, a high-
collared Cloak of Levitation
(which has a life of its own),
and possessed of an ego to
rival Tony Stark’s. When this
arrogant neurosurgeon’s hands are ruined in an auto
wreck, the solution to repairing the nerve damage
and regaining his skills turns out to be spiritual, not
medical. Tutored in the power of mind over matter
by the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), Strange proves a
quick learner and together with fellow mystics Mordo
(Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Wong (Benedict Wong), must
prevent a rogue master, Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen),
from using forbidden knowledge to open a portal to
the Dark Dimension. Strange is an atypical Marvel
hero, using magic not muscle to get results. This
arcane adventure both refreshes and expands the
MCU while retaining the trippy quality of the comics
and the sixties’ sensibility in which the character has
his roots. As John Lennon would say, “Strange days
indeed.” SH (See page 26)
Open your mind. Change your reality.
DOCTOR STRANGE
There are certain immutable facts
about war, the chief amongst
which is that you may be required
to kill. Due to both a childhood
experience and his religion – after
all, “thou shalt not kill” – this didn’t
sit well with young Desmond
Doss (Andrew Garfield). Yet he still
wished to serve his country during
WWII. So what to do? Become a
combat medic! Easy, right? No,
actually, as Doss soon discovers
when he ships off to Fort Jackson for training. His
refusal to touch a weapon – not to mention declining
to train on Saturdays for religious reasons – sees him
become the company’s outcast. Yet despite being
tormented by his fellow enlistees and attempts by his
army superiors to have him kicked out on psychiatric
grounds, Doss remains resolute. He ends up in
Okinawa, in the heat of battle, and you can likely guess
how things play out... Akin to a singular Revenge of the
Nerds, just without the comedy and sexism, director
Mel Gibson’s tale – based on actual events – combines
gritty and horrifying battle recreations with a love story
and father/son politics. But ultimately it’s Garfield’s
show. Highly recommended. AF (See page 28)
The US war hero who never fired a shot.
HACKSAW RIDGE
BD ONLY
A Strange Transformation
Strange Company
The Fabric of Reality
Across Time and Space
The Score-Cerer Supreme
Marvel Studios Phase 3
Exclusive Look
The Score-Cerer Supreme
Team Thor: Part 2
Deleted & Extended Scenes
Audio Commentary with
Director Scott Derrickson
JB HI-FI EXCLUSIVE
Limited Edition Steelbook
Batman Begins
EXTRAS
FURTHER VIEWING
Release Date: 01/03/17
Format:
The Pacific
EXTRAS
FURTHER VIEWING
Release Date: 15/03/17
TOP
HITS
TOP
HITS
JB HI-FI EXCLUSIVE
Alternative Artwork
Limited Edition Steelbook
Format:
Desmond’s Bible was actually
lost during the battle, but
was not retrieved until after
he had returned home due to
his injuries. His division, after
capturing the area, searched
for some time until they had
found it.
The battlefield sequence
was staged near Sydney on
a dairy farm that was about
100 meters squared. Smoke
trucks circled the perimeter to
ensure that any ‘scenery’ that
didn’t look like Okinawa was
effectively blocked out.
DID YOU KNOW...
In the comics, the Ancient One is
an old man; in this film, the Ancient
One is played by a woman. This
was a deliberate decision as Scott
Derrickson felt the Ancient One was
a title rather than a person.
DID YOU KNOW...
34 MARCH 2017
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