Gleaming with astounding visuals and storytelling, Doctor Strange makes for a swell Marvel outing

Rating: 9/10 (8 November 2016)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been boosting its numbers at the box office and fandom for almost a decade, and simply because it has made a landmark home for adventurous superhero action-packed spectacles for die-hard comic book fans; even when the cinematic world introduces them to a lesser-known superhero like Ant Man. This cinematic translation of the mystical superhero Doctor Strange is nothing special in terms of storytelling as a follows a usual origin story of it's titular hero, but it manages to paint a fun, action-filled spectacle with a surprising appealing story along with some of the most eye-popping visual effects of this year (bound for Oscar awards). The film tells the story of Dr. Stephen Strange (played by Benedict Cumberbatch), an arrogant neurosurgeon who is involved in a horrible car accident that causes severe nerve damage in his hands, rendering them completely useless. With his job in the medical field, he travels to a mysterious world overseas known as Kamar-Taj in hopes of finding a treatment to restore his usage in his hands. He instead encounters a bald sorcerer known as the Ancient One (played by Tilda Swinton) and her wizardly accomplices Mordo (played by Chiwetel Eijiofor) and Wong (played by Benedict Wong). With the help of their teachings, he must master the mystical powers and skills to help conquer the threat between the real world and the darkness that lies beyond.
As I mentioned above, this is an origin story of the titular hero which has become a common trope throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or for the most of the superhero for that matter. But with the origins of the hero playing the central in the film, director Scott Derrickson manages to cook up a fresh one so compelling, it almost feels original. Doctor Stephen Strange is introduced as a rather unlikable doctor who viewers himself as the sharpest tool in the shed, and is shown to be very arrogant towards his colleagues as well as his former lover Christine (played by Rachel McAdams). Over time, his character develops into a selfless, charismatic hero is willing to set aside his cocky persona to master his mystical skills and destroy the evil force that threatens the world as we know it. This all comes down to a plethora of adrenaline-fueled action sequences where we witness intoxicating, abstract visual imagery and environments folded and manipulated into complex, mandala-like figures in a fashion that owes physics to Christopher Nolan's 'Inception'. The visuals may triumph over the storytelling, but it's not to say the plot doesn't deliver nor does Benedict Cumberbatch in the role as the titular hero; though his attempts at comic relief come off a bit dull more than not. The same can said for his co-stars Tilda Swinton, Benedict Wong, and Chiwetel Eijiofor who do nothing short of a worthy job.
Doctor Strange is a gleaming superhero spectacle that gracefully introduces a new hero to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and pumps sheer anticipation for fans everywhere see him make an appearance in upcoming Marvel outings including a hopeful spot in the Avengers franchise. This film is no groundbreaker in the superhero genre nor in the MCU, but it sure his one that proves worthy.