Marvel's "Doctor Strange" is a Magical Breath of Fresh Air in the World of Spandex-Wearing Superheroes

   

   Is there a possibility that we as a movie-going society will get superhero fatigue? Between the Goliath production companies at Marvel and DC, the amount of comic book-based superhero movies coming our way is insane. How does one maintain a growing, cinematic universe without falling victim to audience fatigue? I'll tell you (because I have all the answers, right? LOL!) You forgo the working model and make singular movies within the larger narrative that have an individualistic identity within the larger whole. You do this by allowing creativity and art to surpass the machine of committee-made movies. Marvel's latest chapter in their insane cinematic saga Doctor Strange is a mind trip of a movie if ever I've seen one. Though not the greatest Marvel movie to have ever come out, its originality and utter weirdness is such a breath of fresh air.

   Benedict Cumberbatch makes his glorious debut into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Dr. Stephen Strange, a highly skilled, highly egotistical neurosurgeon who saves lives and doesn't mind taking the credit for it. When a horrific car accident leaves the gifted surgeon with nerve damage in his life-saving hands, he embarks on a journey of healing only to eventually be drawn into the world of the mystic arts. Strange is an interesting character, one I really knew nothing about going in to seeing it. Cumberbatch does a fantastic job at both an American accent as well as convincing the audience that this guy is deplorable. Stephen Strange does some miraculous work as a surgeon, which makes his self-righteous attitude that much more interesting, given the selfless nature of his work. Losing his hands, Strange feels as though he has lost himself entirely, throwing every dollar he has and then some at trying to restore his life back to the way it was.

   Strange's path leads him to The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) who begins to train him in the mystic arts, and wouldn't you know it...the guy has a knack for it. The acting across the board is pretty good. Swinton does a fantastic job as the humble, polar opposite to Cumberbatch's Strange. Fellow sorcerers played by Chiwetel Ejiofor and  Benedict Wong help bring balance and comedic levity to the mix. The big baddie, played by the awesome Mads Mikkelsen isn't the best Marvel Cinematic villain, but he's intriguing as a foe for the newbie Strange. Rachel McAddams plays the former love interest and only friend of Strange, Christine Palmer, who at times feels like a throw-away character--only used to help further the plot--but she does a great job at grounding Strange.

   The standout character of this movie, though, is The Cloak of Levitation. In all fairness, the special effects of this film are what steals the movie entirely. When the sorcerers manipulate the world around them, it becomes a kaleidoscope of "what the heck?"! The shifting worlds and temporal plains of this movie make Christopher Nolan's Inception look like a trial run. I didn't get a chance to see this movie in 3D, but I would imagine if ever there was a movie worth seeing in that format, this would be it. I have every intention of doing just that in the near future. Again, the special effects of this movie are outrageous and a joy to watch. The culmination of coolness funnels towards the Cloak of Levitation, a magical relic that attracts itself to Strange that can make him fly. It also has a mind of its own, beating up baddies and doing as it pleases. It's like the magic carpet from Aladdin, only much cooler.

   Director Scott Derrickson had what seemed like an impossible task bringing such a unique and different character to this universe. Doctor Strange is really quite different from the other Marvel films, and yet it maintains that Marvel flair that makes it fit right in, despite how wacky it is. This movie is very much connected to the Cinematic Universe as a whole, and the mid and end credit scenes hint at some really fun ideas coming down the pipeline. Again, though not the best Marvel film, Doctor Strange is still one of the more different and visually stunning movies to come from this behemoth of a studio. Definitely check it out, and if you can, see it in 3D.

Just don't see this movie stoned. That might be bad.