Something never seen before, a great addition to Marvel

Rating: 8/10 (4 November 2016)

The next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe adds a spiritual realm of magic and mysticism. Doctor Strange tells a tale almost wholly separate from the Avengers storyline that had ended in turmoil after Civil War. Steven Strange is played by Benedict Cumberbatch who does a great job as an arrogant neurosurgeon that necessitates a comparison to Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark. Strange can do no wrong as he performs complicated surgeries with the help of Dr. Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams) and speeds down the highway until a gruesome car accident. Director Scott Derrickson does a good job showing the cringy surgeries but avoiding any unnecessary violence.
The visuals will be the most memorable part of this film as Strange ventures to Nepal for a cure, he encounters the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) and learns about the trippy astral projection. Those scenes are fun and awe-inspiring. I couldn't look away at the stunning effects and will be the reason I watch this film multiple times in the future. Seeing this movie in the theater really transcends the experience and I would highly recommend this movie to Marvel fans. In the end, it is a Marvel movie and takes a lot of the story cues from that even if the shifting New York City is something we haven't seen on screen before.
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