BBC Sherlock Fan Forum - Serving Sherlockians since February 2012 / Doctor Strange (spoilers)

**Posted by Vhanja** November 5, 2015 8:37 pm

I really don't think you can grow a beard like that in four days, so I am quite sure it isn't his own.

**Posted by ukaunz** November 5, 2015 8:38 pm

Hmm, Vhanja, I think I can see the attraction... But only because it's Ben! I'm sure he'll look even better when he transforms into Dr. Strange

I wonder how Ben feels about the scraggly grey beard. I wonder if they'll go with a goatee later.

**Posted by besleybean** November 5, 2015 8:50 pm

I'm hoping so!

**Posted by Vhanja** November 5, 2015 8:54 pm

Yeah, I wouldn't expect anything less. This is him before the transformation, it's only natural he will look more glamorous once that's done. To make the contrast bigger, he's shaggy-looking now.

**Posted by nakahara** November 5, 2015 10:37 pm

gently69 wrote:
http://duskybatfishgirl.tumblr.com/post/132600788266/cumberbuddy-benedict-cumberbatch-shooting
The final proof.

Hmm, I´m taking sides of Vhanja and Phantom here - he looks great. You instantly feel certain sympathy and compassion towards this face....

**Posted by tonnaree** November 5, 2015 11:09 pm

ukaunz wrote:
Hmm, Vhanja, I think I can see the attraction... But only because it's Ben! I'm sure he'll look even better when he transforms into Dr. Strange

I wonder how Ben feels about the scraggly grey beard. I wonder if they'll go with a goatee later.

The goatee is paramount!

**Posted by SusiGo** November 6, 2015 7:36 am

Something kept nagging me when I saw the pics of shaggy Benedict in Nepal. And now on Twitter someone had the same idea. You remember "Batman Begins" when a traumatised bearded Bruce Wayne wanders the Himalayas? The similarity is striking. Which gives me hope that they will indeed go for a darker and deeper story like Christopher Nolan's take on Batman. Not that I did not enjoy the other marvel films but they are not what I would expect from Benedict (or Tilda Swinton).

**Posted by miriel68** November 6, 2015 8:33 am

well, I thought the same thing, it does seem to follow the same trajectory (the hero lost and discouraged) and I think it is possible that they borrowed, so to speak, Strange's history - to a point - when making Batman begins. Only now it seems the reverse, because Batman was released earlier.But at least they are filming in Nepal, not in Iceland, lol.

**Posted by SolarSystem** November 6, 2015 8:45 am

But let's not forget that there have been Doctor Strange comics for ages, so the history of Stephen Strange has been there all along. It's not something they invented for this movie. I don't know if Wayne's backstory was invented for the movies or if it's also been there in comics. But it's quite common in the universe of super heroes for them to first having to live through hard times before they evolve into the hero. It's pretty much the same with Tony Stark, before he becomes Iron Man he's a real asshole, then he gets into trouble and then he evolves into the good guy with a good mission. To be honest, Strange's story reminds me of Tony Stark much more than it reminds me of Bruce Wayne.

**Posted by SusiGo** November 6, 2015 8:50 am

I did not want to imply that this is a copy of Batman. It was just this image of the tramp-like guy and the Himalayan background that reminded me.
As for the Tony Stark parallel - there we also have a shallow unlikeable character who learns becoming better the hard way. Although I get the impression that Strange is a darker character thsn Iron Man.

**Posted by This Is The Phantom Lady** November 6, 2015 9:08 am

I might be jumping the gun, but to me those pictures we've seen tell me they didn't go for an all glitzy glamorous fairy-tale super hero film. I couldn't imagine Benedict in one of those either...

**Posted by miriel68** November 6, 2015 9:15 am

SolarSystem wrote:
But let's not forget that there have been Doctor Strange comics for ages, so the history of Stephen Strange has been there all along. It's not something they invented for this movie. I don't know if Wayne's backstory was invented for the movies or if it's also been there in comics.

I am not that familiar with comics, but I think there is a "gap" of 7 years in Bruce Wayne's story and they invented something to fill the void in Batman begins - they could have borrowed from Strange the idea of going to mysterious East and learning there uncanny abilities (well, not magic, but the whole monastery training etc. etc. has the similar aura). Only now, since Batman trylogy came first, it could seem that Strange borrowed from Nolan's film.
Yes, for the scruffy looks, however, I would really like Strange to go in the direction Nolan's Batman went. (But NOT in the direction the new Superman went, lol).

**Posted by gently69** November 6, 2015 9:16 am

SusiGo wrote:
Although I get the impression that Strange is a darker character thsn Iron Man.

I think so too.
Did Dr. Strange loose everything in the original story? Before he became the super hero?

**Posted by SolarSystem** November 6, 2015 9:22 am

gently69 wrote:
Did Dr. Strange loose everything in the original story? Before he became the super hero?

From what I've read, yes. He did some travelling and then ran out of money - which explains why on those first pics Benedict looks like a member of the Homeless Network.
And if I am not very much mistaken, they already said that this will be a very dark film. I still hope that there will also be some humour involved, because in my opinion Marvel films work best when they're not taking themselves too seriously.

**Posted by This Is The Phantom Lady** November 6, 2015 9:25 am

I'd love it to be a dark comedy

**Posted by gently69** November 6, 2015 9:41 am

SolarSystem wrote:
And if I am not very much mistaken, they already said that this will be a very dark film. I still hope that there will also be some humour involved, because in my opinion Marvel films work best when they're not taking themselves too seriously.

I assume later in the story when Strange transformed into the super hero there would be room for a bit of humour.
That would suit me as well.

Dark comedy seems too "strong" for me. Certainly because since I watched Gatiss' "A league of gentlemen" I have a different impression of it.

Last edited by gently69 (November 6, 2015 9:44 am)

**Posted by SolarSystem** November 6, 2015 9:42 am

Oh, that's not really what I meant, Phantom. It would be great to mainly have a dark atmosphere which sometimes gets ruptured by dark humour. One can see this again and again with Loki in "Thor" and "The Avengers". Loki really brings some dark humour to the scene without turning the film into a comedy.

Last edited by SolarSystem (November 6, 2015 9:42 am)

**Posted by gently69** November 6, 2015 9:46 am

That's what I meant in my edit, Solar.

**Posted by gently69** November 6, 2015 10:24 am

http://cumberbatchlives.tumblr.com/post/132656603097/benedict-cumberbatch-filming-doctor-strange-in
Moving pictures... That's too much for me.
And I don't know why. LOL

**Posted by Ivy** November 6, 2015 11:29 am

SusiGo wrote:
I did not want to imply that this is a copy of Batman. It was just this image of the tramp-like guy and the Himalayan background that reminded me.
As for the Tony Stark parallel - there we also have a shallow unlikeable character who learns becoming better the hard way. Although I get the impression that Strange is a darker character thsn Iron Man.

But that's what I thought too when I saw the pics, Susi.
Although RDJ is hot as Tony Stark I always thought he more or less played himself.
And Christian Bale also looked more groomed when he was back home, so there is hope ;)

I have no ideo what's the story of Dr.Strange, I'm not a comic nerd and I've never even heard that name before.

I hope the script has substance, I'll see the film anyway, but it would be nice if there is a interesting storyline.