Doctor Strange

This topic contains:

• overall comments and recommendations
• details of classification and consumer advice lines for Doctor Strange
• a review of Doctor Strange completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 1 November 2016.

Overall comments and recommendations

About the movie

This section contains details about the movie, including its classification by the Australian Government Classification Board and the associated consumer advice lines. Other classification advice (OC) is provided where the Australian film classification is not available.

ACCM review

This review of the movie contains the following information:

• a synopsis of the story
• themes
• use of violence
• material that may scare or disturb children
• product placement
• sexual references
• nudity and sexual activity
• use of substances
• coarse language
• the movie’s message

A synopsis of the story

The movie begins with Dr Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) as a top-level neurosurgeon. His arrogance and overconfidence distance him from others.

After a car accident causes permanent and serious nerve damage to his hands, Stephen embarks on a quest to find a cure that will allow him to recommence his work in the medical field. Upon hearing about a strange cult of healers who may be able to assist him, Stephen crosses the world to visit Nepal. He is at first highly sceptical of their discussion of the mystic arts, but is gradually forced to re-evaluate his entire view of the world and reality itself. The leader of the group, the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), then begins a process of mentoring Stephen and he quickly advances in his mystical skills.

Stephen’s progress is interrupted by the ongoing threat posed by a previous student, Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen). Kaecilius seeks eternal life and intends to summon a powerful creature from the Dark Dimension in order to achieve his desired outcome. Stephen finds himself thrown into a war he did not know existed, where he must utilise his newfound skills not only as a source of physical and psychological power for himself, but also in order to protect humanity.

Good versus evil; the supernatural; eternal life; romance and love

There is considerable violence within the film, including:

• The film opens with a group of robed men using mystical threads to raise a man up in the air. His head is then cut off (shown in silhouette) and a scream is heard in addition to the sound of dripping blood. We find out later that he had stolen a book from the library, the punishment being execution.
• There are many sequences of physical fighting and violence using hand-to-hand combat, as well as with weapons like swords and knives. Sound effects of clashing weapons and injuries/screams are heard, and wounds are occasionally shown (although very briefly).  
• When driving dangerously, Stephen has a car accident. His car swipes the side of another, and is catapulted into the air and flipped upside down, his hands are crushed and he is seen with a bloodied face. He is later seen on a hospital bed with serious bruising and cuts to his face and his hands full of steel pins.
• During an attempted mugging by three men, Stephen throws a punch and is knocked to the ground as the three men beat him. They are shown using their hands and feet to physically hurt him.
• Kaecilius sends a large ball of magical fire through a sanctum entrance, causing part of the building to collapse and sending Stephen flying backwards.
• Kaecilius conjures a mystical sword made of glass, and uses it to stab a man in the chest. No blood is shown, although the injury is seen.
• Kaecilius manipulates the environment during a fight sequence and throws Stephen around, causing him to smack his face into a sheet of glass – some blood is shown.
• The Cloak of Levitation flies off Stephen’s body at one point, and begins to suffocate an enemy by wrapping itself around his face.
• The Ancient One is stabbed in the stomach by Kaecilius, after which she is thrown from the top of a building and  seen crashing to the ground. She is then rushed to hospital, where she is seen with injuries and blood on her face on a hospital bed.

Material that may scare or disturb children

In addition to the above-mentioned violent scenes, there are some scenes in this movie that could scare or disturb children under the age of five, including the following:

• Stephen performs brain surgery to remove a bullet from a patient – some blood is seen when the bullet is removed.
• There are scenes where characters use magical powers to manipulate the world and environment around them at their will. Characters also forge weapons using magic.
• The Ancient One pushes Stephen through the astral plane, causing him to fly through space. He screams in fear as he passes through colourful surrealist tunnels.
• Hands begin growing on each of Stephen’s fingers, and hands start to grow out of the walls.
• Scenes of dead bodies include a man impaled on a metal rod

Children in this age group are also likely to be disturbed by some of the violent and scary scenes described above and the deaths of several characters including the Ancient One.

Children in this age group are also likely to be disturbed by some of the violent and scary scenes described above

Younger teens may also be disturbed by some of the scenes described above.

Product placement

The following products are displayed or used in this movie:

• Jaeger LeCoultre watches are repeatedly shown.
• Mentions of musicians including Adele, Eminem, and Beyonce (with the lyrics ‘If you like it then you should have put a ring on it’ played at one point).
• Reference to ‘Google Translate’.

Sexual references

There are mild sexual references, including:

• Stephen asks Christine whether she is ‘sleeping with’ another colleague.
• Christine tells Stephen at one point ‘We weren’t friends, we were barely lovers’.

Nudity and sexual activity

None noted.

Use of substances

None noted.

Coarse language

There is mild coarse language, including:

• ‘arrogant ass’; ‘asshole’

In a nutshell

Doctor Strange is a Marvel superhero film that follows an acclaimed neurosurgeon as he sets out on a journey of healing, but ultimately ends up gaining a great deal more than he had initially bargained for. There is plenty in the film to discuss with older teens, but the film is definitely not suitable for children under 13 and parental guidance strongly recommended for children 13-15. It is a dark film, dealing with the supernatural, with violence throughout and some disturbing scenes.

The film demonstrates Stephen’s gradually developing humility as he begins to recognise individuals with skills and knowledge greater than his own. As he opens his mind to possibilities he had previously never acknowledged, he finds not only great personal fulfilment and a sense of purpose, but also newfound connections with others.

The film highlights the importance of being prepared to fail, and to try new things despite strong fears of failure being present. It explores beliefs about death, and questions of whether eternal life would ultimately be a positive or destructive thing. The film also highlights the importance of understanding that all actions have consequences, and that if people do not abide by the ethical rules and standards that they themselves value, there may be a price to pay.