Magic Eddie Vs Magic Benedict
Mages are all the rage! We have been treated with two spectacular sorcerer stories over the past couple of weeks.
Benedict Cumberbatch stars as the titular character in Marvel's Doctor Strange and Eddie Redmayne plays Newt Scamander in Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them. Which wiz wins?
WIZARDING POWERS
Anyone who can keep a wildlife preserve in his leather case has got some serious sorcery skills. Magic Eddie also has a wand with which he can cast your normal Potter-like spells such as teleportation and transmutation. He also knows his potions.
Once he finally gets his arcane act together, this dude can enter multiple dimensions, bend time and space to his will, and also conjure shields and weapons. On a purely aesthetic level, his spells look absolutely spectacular.
ROUND ONE: MAGIC BENEDICT
One guy is a magic zookeeper. The other turns the universe inside-out.
WARDROBE POWERS
Though he's an insanely powerful wizard, he looks like a meek hipster. With his floppy hair, bow tie and long wool coat, he is just a tad foppish. His trademark case give him an air of adventure, though.
Now this guy looks like a wizard! In fact, he looks like a 12-year-old's idea of a wizard, which makes sense since he's a comic-book character. Goatee, high collar, red cape, robe, giant pendant, sash and boots? Not subtle.
ROUND TWO: MAGIC EDDIE
There's something to be said for his understated stylishness.
SIDEKICK POWERS
Eddie's pals are just so-so. There are a pair of magical sisters (Katherine Waterston and Alison Sudol), the former kind of smart, the latter kind of sexy. Then there's the chubby Muggle (Dan Folger), who is pretty fun but quite useless. No squad goals here.
There has been controversy around Magic Benedict's mentor, who is supposed to be Asian but is played by Tilda Swinton. She's great. His doctor gal pal, played by Rachel McAdams, is swell. His magical colleague (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is swell as well. First-class fam!
ROUND THREE: MAGIC BENEDICT
Here are the squad goals.
THE WINNER: MAGIC BENEDICT
Quite simply, Cumberbatch was born to play Strange.