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Marvel Cinematic Universe’s latest film, Doctor Strange, is visually impressive and a solid addition to the franchise.

Benedict Cumberbatch expertly takes on the arrogant yet talented Stephen Strange in an origin story that details the fall and rise of one of Marvel’s most important characters.

Unlike other Marvel films, magic plays a central role, yet magic is transformed more into a matter of perception rather than the wielding of spells. It is a matter of causality instead of sorcery, and those who can alter the cause can control the effect.

Key aspects of the movie will be discussed, so spoilers will follow. For background within the comic universe, please see our review of Doctor Strange: Strange Origin.

Magic as Science

Over the last decade, there have been two models for cinematic magic: classic conjuration and scientific power.

In the Harry Potter series, we are provided with incantations, gestures, and ingredients that allow individuals to tap into greater powers. Polyjuice does not just happen, it needs to be built and everything needs to go right. Otherwise, you turn into a cat.

For this kind of sorcery, there is a balance between the actions of the self, the offering of the ingredients, and whatever force that allows the rules of reality to change.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is magical science. In Thor (2011), we are told by the Norse god: “Your ancestors called it magic… but you call it science. I come from a land where they are one and the same.”

The Asgard power comes from various tools and items that are advanced, so advanced that they are able to do amazing things. None of these items are more advanced than the Infinity Stones, which, when combined, are able to dramatically rewrite the universe.

The audience is not exposed to engineering specs, mechanical explanations, or any other summary of how these items work. If anything, they work because they just do, which is its own type of magic.

Magic as Power

Both of these takes on magic ultimately require magic to be displayed as a force of power on the screen. During pinnacle moments of the Harry Potter films, incantations are diminished to mere flicks of the wrist, and laser blasts fly from wands as if one was pulling the trigger of a sci-fi gun.

The most important spells, however, are still retained in some form. There are words that one should not say, but they are said to denote the specific evil of the action itself. The incantations become mere decoration to emphasize tone.

That, however, is not a problem but an inevitable necessity of relying on a visual based medium. The audience requires action, and immediacy is important.

Doctor Strange exhibits a combination of the Thor and Harry Potter approaches to magic. There are some incantations and gestures, but they often tap into the unexplained power of a particular item. When the cityscapes start twisting into mind-blowing proportions, there are some various spell-looking designs, but they are only secondary to the dramatic effect.

Magic happens based on will, not incantation, and those scenes that require a traditional depiction of magic are drawn out to emphasize the moment. They are rare, but it denotes something key to the story as a whole. Of these, scenes dealing with the Eye of Agamotto are the most important.

The All-Powerful Eye

Within the comics, the Eye of Agamotto is incredibly powerful. It protects Dr. Strange, allows him to travel distances, see through illusions, and whatever else that may be needed. The film, sought to diminish this power by making it an ultimate item in another regard: the Time Infinity Stone.

The Eye is still capable of doing just about anything but only in a particular manner: it rewrites causality. The magic of the Ancient One and Kaecilius, derived from Dormammu, is able to rewrite perception and space. Windows suddenly stretch into infinity, up becomes down, and loops are made in the present. Magic, therefore, is the control over the three dimensions in a very direct manner. The Eye is able to retroactively control the dimensions by adding control over time itself.

When Dr. Strange enters into the Dark Dimension, it is revealed that Dormammu exists beyond time, yet can still experience causality. The Eye is used to create a causal loop, confusing Dormammu. Although it is not explained how a being that exists outside of time could be bound by causal loop, what is key to the scene is that the stone controls every aspect of causality.

Magic is tapping into some force of energy. We are not told where various portals and energy weapons get their power, but we know that the ability to control the three dimensions can be fueled by the energy of the Dark Dimension. The Eye, likewise, is able to serve as a conduit for the energy of the MCU dimension.

The Eye, however, controls the stone. Incantations are made to activate its power, and we do not know what would happen if the Eye is separated from the stone within. The film is, however, acknowledging that there is some element of traditional magic with its redesign.

The War on Sorcery

There are significant deviations from the traditional Doctor Strange comics, as we discuss here. However, the end of film (or second end of credits teaser) reveals that a classic comic villain does become a new villain.

Mordo is traditionally depicted as a follower of Dormammu and an enemy to the Ancient One. Within the film, he is a close ally to the Ancient One and her followers as they fight against Dormammu. He turns only after he realizes that the Ancient One has been using the power of Dormammu to fight him, feeling betrayed by the hypocrisy.

By the end of the film, he realizes that magic, as a whole, is tainted because it is derived from evil sources. As the sorcerers seek to control the abyss for power, so too does the abyss control the sorcerers.

His war, therefore, is one against beings of power that can rewrite the laws of this reality. Whether it be science, magic, or the hybrid that the Infinity Stones represents, mortals are able to tap into something greater to cause wide-spread destruction.

This should be a sympathetic view, but it lacks the grandeur and visual pizzazz that comes with sorcery. We all want to be able to flip our rooms, blast powers from our fists, and teleport long distances. But what is the cost to being able to dramatically alter reality?

Dr. Strange is warned that the Eye is dangerous because it can trap someone in a casual loop. However, we learn, by the end of the film, that the Eye, and magic in general, is dangerous because it is too much power for anyone to wield. This is the lesson of Captain America: Civil War (as we explain here) but with a more subtle presentation.

If Dormammu’s power is corrupting, what about an even greater power? As we get closer to Thanos’s appearance, it is uncertain if the Infinity Stones will be used by him to rule the universe or will they be used to stop them. Either way, there is danger in their mere existence.

Like all Infinity Stones (except for the Vision’s stone), the heroes ultimately place the Time Stone away to prevent it from being abused. However, only Mordo realizes that the Infinity Stones are not the only threat to reality.

When stripping away the coolness of the effects and the dream-fulfillment of the plot, the audience is given an impression that Mordo is right. Causality and inevitability must be protected, and those who violate the rules are the very individuals that heroes need to stop. We like Dr. Strange, but it is natural to fear him.