Only a few movies manage to get me all giddy and excited way before the chatter properly begins, Doctor Strange is one of those –  without a doubt. Combine an intriguing plot with breathtaking scenery and special effects then you have all the ingredients to produce something special. That’s exactly what Doctor Strange is…something special, not perfect but still…special. I usually don’t start my reviews with the conclusion but in this instance, I had to because that’s how impressive Marvel’s new offering is. They (Marvel) clearly have the edge and are miles ahead of their DC counterparts, they’re just untouchable.

As usual, I was first introduced to this flick through the official trailer which immediately captured my imagination. The special effects I saw reminded me of another brilliant classic movie, Inception with all the mind bending scenery and folding of buildings (yip, you read that correctly). Unlike the other Superhero movies in the Marvel universe, Doctor Strange brings a refreshing, different and another dimension to the overall make up…it’s also exciting to note that the character has been confirmed to appear in the upcoming Avengers Infinity War blockbuster. It’s going to be interesting to see how Strange is introduced and fits in with the whole Avengers make-up. Speaking of which, stick around for the end credits of the movie, like with all Marvel movies. The short snippet at the end shows Strange have an interesting chat with one of the Avengers which perfectly sets up the next (much anticipated) offering from Marvel. I don’t want to spoil it is so better go see and you’ll find out which one it is.

So, what’s this movie all about anyway?  

The plot is set around a disgraced former surgeon named Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) whose life changes after a car accident which ultimately robs him of the use of his hands. When traditional medicine fails him, he looks for healing, and hope, in a mysterious enclave. He quickly learns that the enclave is at the front line of a battle against unseen dark forces bent on destroying reality. Strange eventually becomes a powerful sorcerer under the tutelage of a mystic known as the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton). Before long, he is forced to choose between his life of fortune and status or leave it all behind to defend the world as the most powerful sorcerer in existence.

Several sequences can be found in this movie, though I would have liked to have seen more fight scenes and action – I think they could have added more especially since the movie isn’t that long of a watch. We don’t get to see enough of Strange’s bag of tricks which are quite impressive, maybe we will next time we see him, who knows.

At the start of this write up I mentioned that the movie is special but not perfect. For individuals who are not huge fans of having too much fiction (which this movie has bags and bags of) then this may not be for them, is it still worth seeing though? You bet your top dollar it is. I reckon you will be hard pressed to find another great superhero/comic book based movie than this one, both it and Captain America: Civil War (I reckon) are the best to have come out this year in that genre specifically.

Cast – Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt and Scott Adkins

Director – Scott Derrickson

Genre – Fantasy/Science fiction

Running Time – 1h 55m

Dr. Strange is a refreshing and welcome addition to Marvel’s universe and no doubt he’ll make a killer addition to The Avengers. The movie allows you to escape reality and be absorbed in its masterful scenery. Being a fan of such concepts personally I couldn’t help but be very impressed. It lived up to the hype and gets a magical 4 out of 5 rating from me.