With hype intensifying for the next year and change worth of Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, which includes five releases in the next 14 months, the most recent film from Marvel Studios hits Blu-ray and DVD today, as magic comes to the MCU. Doctor Strange is now available in all home formats, and you can relive the Marvel magic on repeat.
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The movie plays well on the small screen, even if it’s not quite the spectacle it was in 3D IMAX. Repeat viewings actually made me focus less on the “Marvel formula” to the film, and more on the in-depth themes of time and self that writer/director Scott Derrickson infused into every moment. Being a film that can both provide a genuinely fun time while also making you think sets it up well for repeat viewings, and with the psychedelic nature there’s plenty more to find each time you watch.
But the real appeal of a home release is in the special features, and this release does not disappoint. From the second part of “Team Thor” to the standard deleted scenes and gag reel (which is mostly just Benedict Cumberbatch goofing off on set – looks like he did that a lot!), everything you expect is there. Then there are multiple featurettes that explore every major aspect of bringing the magic of Marvel Comics to the MCU. The topper of it all is not a look back, though, it’s the look forward at the rest of the current “Phase 3” of the MCU.
If the over ten minutes long feature, complete with teases of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, and even Avengers: Infinity War doesn’t get your blood pumping, then you’re probably just never going to be a fan of Marvel. It includes a quick look back, and if your calendar isn’t already marked for all those releases (and Spider-Man: Homecoming from Sony Pictures and Marvel), it will be after you watch.
Overall, if you enjoyed Doctor Strange in the theaters, even mostly for the visual experience, you’ll find it still remarkable at home. In fact, being less distracted by the spectacle of it all, you’ll be surprised how much more you look into what it means to bring magic, a new infinity stone, and a spiritual journey into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
More Doctor Strange/Marvel Studios News:
Thor: Ragnarok EP and Director Tease Humor and Most Amazing Action in MCU History
Doctor Strange Actor Benedict Wong Praises Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One
Team Thor Part 2: Where Are They Now?
Disney provided a copy of Marvel’s Doctor Strange on Blu-ray for review.
