So the other day we watched Dr. Strange, mostly because of Benedict Cumberbatch and Tilda Swinton.

I thought they did a particularly good job of introducing the character of Dr. Strange and his desires.  You see a glimpse of his normal life before his world is upended. This glimpse tells us all we need to know about the character and why he is so driven to try anything to regain his motor control after a horrible accident. This desire drives every action and decision he makes.  There’s the old saw of giving your character a desire, even if it’s for a glass of water (Bradbury, among others, recommends this).  Not only do we know Dr, Strange’s desire, we know why he has it.

He also, pointedly, keeps reminding people that his title is doctor when they try to address him by anything else.  This serves to remind us of his chosen identity – he is a doctor, is known for being a doctor, and wants to keep being a doctor.

Interestingly, I think they also erred in a way a lot of beginning novelists err – in starting with action without context. It’s hard to know who we’re cheering for or why we should cheer at all when we’re dumped in the middle of something.  Yes, the special effects were cool – but while I enjoyed them I was also frustrated.

Is this a perfect movie?  No. I think they tried to cram too much into it, with the thought that more, bigger, faster always equals better (spoiler: it doesn’t). But there are certainly lessons to be learned from it.