Best Superhero movie in a couple of years

Rating: 8/10 (8 November 2016)

There is a scene in the new Marvel Cinematic Universe film, DOCTOR STRANGE, where a character goes speeding out of Manhattan and drives around the city on the - ready for this? - Pacific Coast Highway. The car goes out of control, goes off a cliff and lands in the bay by the Brooklyn Bridge. It was a wildly unintentional incongruous scene in a film filled with intentional incongruity. I forgive the filmmakers this scene because...
Doctor Strange is the best Superhero movie I have seen since GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY.
The 14th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, DOCTOR STRANGE is based, somewhat obviously, on the Marvel Comic of the same name, that tells the tale of...wait for it...Dr. Stephen Strange, an arrogant surgeon (is there any other kind in the movies?) who's career is interrupted when he hurts his hands. When Western medicine cannot cure him, he turns to the East and the "Mystic Arts" to find a cure, he finds a whole lot more...
This film pulls together all of the things I like in Superhero movies - a hero I can root for played by a charismatic lead, stunning visuals, good fight scenes, humor (do you hear this, DC?), powers that make sense (in this world) and an ending that makes very good use of the hero and his powers.
Benedict Cumberbatch is perfectly cast as Strange. He has the poise, moves, grace, arrogance and humor to pull this complex character off. He also has the screen presence that makes you want to watch him in whatever he does - and he looks like he's having fun with the character. He is assisted by the great Tilda Swinton as the Ancient One, the Obi-Wan Kenobi of this film. She teaches strange the Mystic Arts whilst also having a secret of her own. The always welcome Benedict Wong is on board as Wang, the keeper of the library where the secrets of the Mystic Arts are stored. He seems to be going through this movie with a continual wink in his eye. They are all fun to watch.
Unfortunately, Rachel McAdams, Chewitel Ejiofor, Benjamin Bratt and Michael Stuhlbarg are all underused. My only guess is that all 4 of these are in it for the long haul and will be used again and again in later movies in this series - otherwise, why would these fine actors take these roles?
The only disappointment for me is Mads Mikkelsen as the main villain. It wasn't that he was bad in this movie - he wasn't, he was actually quite good - it is that he plays basically the same, mumbly, silent evil character that I have seen him play many times before - try something new, Mads!
But, the acting (and plot) aren't really the center of this film, the visuals are - and they are STUNNING. The special effects and mind-blowing worlds shown in this film makes INCEPTION look like a walk in the park. I don't normally recommend 3D for films (generally, its a gimmick), but the 3D really, really works in this film and helps enhance the dreaminess and mysticallness of it all.
All of which leads up to a thrilling finale. Doctor Strange has to learn to use his powers - and to learn the life lesson of putting others in front of himself - and they both dovetail nicely in a very satisfying conclusion that makes sense. I liked what they did here. Doctor Strange had to use his mind and his skills, not his fists and a gun - as a matter of fact, NO GUNS were fired in this film! And that is a plot twist I can roll with.
As always, in a Marvel movie, stay through the end credits for 2 scenes that will set up other future movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Doctor Strange is well worth the journey you will take. It's trippy and good.
8 (out of 10) stars and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)