A new and exciting aspect to the Marvel Universe

Rating: 8/10 (30 October 2016)

A brilliant but arrogant neurosurgeon is left struggling for purpose after his hands are shattered in a car accident. His journey to heal himself takes him to seek out the mysterious Ancient One who throws him into a mystical world of wonder and terror.
Marvel has decided to raise another of its heroes to the big screen but this time, there are no mutants or men in iron suits. Instead, it's magic and sorcery and this injects a much needed twist on the Marvel Universe. We are treated to some seriously trippy moments with the true nature of the cosmos revealed and some Inception- inspired reality bending.
Benedict Cumberbatch takes on the mantle of the eponymous Doctor Steven Strange which is a superb piece of casting. He fits into this role as though it was made for him, giving Strange the annoying arrogance as he begins what is essentially his origin story. His journey into the mystical world and all the threats it contains is his hero's journey, emerging as a more rounded and selfless character. As great as Cumberbatch is in this role, it's Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One who steals the show. Her performance is amazing and delivered with such gravitas that all eyes are drawn to her whenever she's on-screen. Her effortless authority shows why The Ancient One is the defender of the cosmos and Supreme Sorcerer.
The villain of the movie is played by Mads Mikkelsen who always seems to look like a bad guy without even trying. He's the usual fallen hero who quests for power but in an attempt to make him more rounded, he is shown to be doing what he thinks is best for the world. The fact that this is having the Earth sucked into a dark dimension is beside the point.
No Marvel movie would be complete without a plethora of fight scenes and Strange delivers on this. Magic and battles in mirror worlds allow a different style of combat that takes us away from the usual Avengers-style smack-down. The sorcerers are a level above the other Marvel heroes and you could imagine Loki being swept aside with a wave of The Ancient One's hand. It's interesting to see how Marvel have shown this new aspect to their universe and immediately try to head off the 'if they're so powerful, why does the world even need the likes of Captain America?' questions. The sorcerers have their hands full protecting the world from mystical threats and leave the physical threats to the Avengers. Fair enough.
Doctor Strange is arguably the most original Marvel movie since Guardians of the Galaxy and show that it is possible to break away from what was becoming a formulaic and prosaic universe. If you like superhero movies, you can't go wrong with this one. If you don't like superhero movies, give this one a go, you might be pleasantly surprised.