Welcome Two Blockbusters That Stars the World’s Boyfriends

Benedict Cumberbatch and Eddie Redmayne are the two most popular Brits in Hollywood, and the fact that they are charming, polite, down-to-earth, and, of course, supertalented have made them more endearing in the public eyes. 

"Hmm, this is stranger than usual..."

The world's boyfriends are starring in two of the biggest hits this holiday season: Cumberbatch as the titular character in Marvel’s latest reign in the superhero biz, Doctor Strange, a superhero distinct from his ilk since his powers involves magic and energy source that can materialize into weapons or the ability to reverse time.
 
Cumberbatch is fine here, no doubt, though kind of emulating the brilliant and smug personae of his previously most famous character, Sherlock, and though I am not familiar with the comic origin but he looks awesome and imperial in his Dr. Strange getups which includes a greyish temple, well-groomed moustache, and a feisty red cloak. Once he became the powerful doctor his ridiculously high cheekbones really does most of the job.
 
The Scott Derrickson-directed film itself is a bit uneven, most notably Hugo Strange’s brief transition process from an injured surgeon to becoming a superhero. Yes there’s a training period involving Tilda Swinton’s The Ancient One, Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Karl Mordo, and Benedict Wong's, um, Wong, but in the end things are speeded up a bit once a maniacal ex-student of The Ancient One, Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen), goes rogue. (The lovely Rachel McAdams also stars as Strange’s fellow surgeon, Christine Palmer [who’s in the comic became the Night Nurse], and though she got one nice scene but altogether her role isn’t that complex and could be played by any actress. Here’s hoping the Spotlight actress gets a larger role and gets in on the action in the sequel.)
 
So the visuals might be splendid and Inception-like with all the buildings go topsy-turvy but Cumberbatch still manages to stay on top of it and radiates star power that I hope we get to see more in future blockbusters, though I’ve a feeling he’s more comfortable in low-key dramas.  It is exciting to know that he’ll be involved in the next superhero showdown that is The Avengers part 3 and 4, with the exciting possibility of an ego clash with Tony Stark. He's Sherlock, err, Doctor Strange after all...
 

"Fantastico Superiora - and that is my nickname, thank you..."

Next we got the lovable Eddie Redmayne, whom considering his background as a model you’d think he’d have that aloof “lookatme I’m so sexy” vibe, but the opposite is definitely what you get during interviews, or when he’s accepting the Best Actor Oscar for that matter. The 34-year-old is on a roll these past few years with critically acclaimed, award-winning performances in The Theory of Everything and The Danish Girl, and now he’s ready to stake his own claim in his first blockbuster franchise, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a prequel (and spin-off?) to the immensely popular Harry Potter series.
 
Here he stars as Newt Scamander, a wizard who travels to 1920’s U.S. to capture an escaped animal and contained them in his suitcase. (Spoiler alert: the suitcase leads to a magical sanctuary of sorts populated by rare and endangered whimsical creatures.) He then got embroiled in a case involving the murder of a “regular” human (or No-Maj in their lexicon) which causes further animosity between humans and wizards.
 
Fantastic Beasts has the potential to become the next big magical thing after Harry Potter, especially since it involves mighty beasts and cool wand-wielding action but somehow all of it eclipses the narrative and complexities of the characters. The visuals are dazzling and the set are deliciously retro (love the speakeasy scenes) but the proceedings felt unexciting.
 
It might be attributed to the leading character’s rather meek and inexpressive attitude but surely that’s not Redmayne’s fault as the character is written that way (by JK Rowling herself, btw). What he lacks in expressiveness Redmayne certainly made it up with endearing eccentricity and the occasional goofiness such as when he must perform an animal mating ritual dance to catch the attention of a runaway rhino-like beast.
 
Director David Yates (who also directed the last four Harry Potter films) and Rowling still deals with similar subtext of wizard equals outcast in the world of “normal” human beings (just like the plot of most superhero films, I might add), and here the plot gets darker with parental abuse and repression of true identities resulting in calamity. And I got to love also how Fantastic Beasts might also be plead to appreciate and save endangered species in our world. I’m not delusional in thinking that, right?
 
Though Redmayne is not exactly fantastic but at least the role that is perfect for his understated charm and the script definitely makes wonderful use of his unique otherworldly looks. Oh he’s definitely not a No-Maj.