STRANGE-ly MARVELous

Rating: 9/10 (7 November 2016)

DOCTOR STRANGE (2016) ***1/2 Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Mads Mikkelsen, Tilda Swinton, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt. Way-cool origin story of the cult classic Marvel Comics superhero Dr. Stephen Strange (Cumberbatch killing it), a brilliant yet arrogant surgeon whose rad skills are destroyed in a car accident leading him to a path of inner psyche discovery in the Far East trek encountering a legion of meta cosmic guardians led by The Ancient One (bald and beautiful Swinton) who helps him discover and unlock his true powers just in time to thwart the nefarious plans of her former student Kaecilius (mad Mikkelsen)hellbent on eternal life and mankind's doom (what else is new?) Director Scott Derrickson perfectly blends jaw-dropping state-of-the-arts CGI (finally a MUST see in Imax 3-D) - echoing Christopher Nolan's INCEPTION - showcasing the doorways of inner and outer space with a co-adaptation with Jon Spaihts and C. Robert Cargill - based on Stan Lee (yes with his notorious cameo) & Steve Ditko's colorful character - interspersing mega and meta set pieces with gleeful abandon and a peppering of script doctored well-injected good humor thanks to an uncredited Dan Harmon.