Doctor Strange (2016), PG-13, ★★★

Teach him.

There have been many origin stories, some good and some not as executed properly, but you would like to see how a group of superheroes or an individual superhero got their powers or collaborated with each other to defeat an opponent. I have to admit I did know not much about this sorcerer from the comic books because I do not read the comic books as much as I read novels. I only heard that he has developed some magic and sorcery and that's pretty much it. Based on the trailers, I thought it was visually hypnotic and stunning. The movie achieves a good balance between the visual aesthetics with the main story regarding its superhero that conclusively is created as a solid entry to the MCU franchise.

Doctor Steven Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is an intelligent doctor but is also sort of a jerk towards others. He finishes up an operation and receives news from Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams) about a man with lodged bullet in his head. Strange wants to keep his record intact so despite his co-worker's objections, he operates and manages to get the bullet out of his head. It is clear that Strange is a perfectionist. However, when Strange is driving and is being distracted by patient records, he crashes his car off a hill and wakes up to his hands being nearly inoperable. Despite his best efforts and his experiments failing, Strange loses nearly all his money and Palmer.

During physical therapy, a colleague then tells Strange about a paralyzed patient who made a successful and miraculous recovery. Strange finds that same patient and is directed to "Kamar-Taj" in Nepal. In Nepal, a mysterious figure who was also in the first scene saves Strange from being robbed and being beaten by thieves. He directs Strange to Kamar-Taj where he meets "The Ancient One" (Tilda Swinton). Strange attempts to confront the Ancient One but she force pushes spirit into multiple dimensions to Strange's fear and surprise. However, she kicks him out.

The Ancient One and Karl Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) discusses training Strange but she replies that she does not want another incident like Kaecillius (Mads Mikkelsen) who went to the dark side and having Strange exhibit the same level of arrogance. Morro persuades her to let Strange in and to commence training to become one of the Ancient One's sorcerers.

Ah, yes. There's dark magic everywhere.

I had a good time with this movie but also was immersed by the visual and vibrant special effects that is almost unlike any other movie I've seen. The visual effects with the cities bending over is similar to Christopher Nolan's masterpiece, Inception. You can argue the case that the special effects are improved and more magical than that film. I do abhor 3-D because I saw in regular 2-D but this is one of the rare instances that I could say that you would have a grand and awesome experience watching this movie in 3-D. The action sequences and majestic awe entrances you into that experience full of magic and superhero flair.

I thought all the performances were good across the board. You could not have cast a better actor than Benedict Cumberbatch in the main role as he takes his character of Strange into a different angle in which he is portrayed as a smart jerk at first but as a healed sorcerer in the end. Rachel McAdams was good as he has some chemistry with Cumberbatch. Chiwetel Ejiofor and Benedict Wong are real good as his co-working sorcerers or trainers. Mads Mikkelsen does what he can with the villain and has a natural presence on-screen. He is definitely one of the most underrated actors of our time. But, Tilda Swinton steals the movie as The Ancient One who displays masterful charm and intelligence and blends into situations and settings real well that provokes Strange with her philosophies.

Director Scott Derrickson made a visual palate of magic and action but I felt when watching the movie, that was all that was going for him. The story is a bit unoriginal in terms of its originated storyline because you have some exposition that leads you to know why each character is that trait. The villain is not as memorable as I wanted to be. And, my biggest criticism of the movie is their attempts at humor and some fall flatter than other jokes but they are real close. They try to make it as funny as they can because they are Marvel. If they have stuck with one exact tone real well, this would have been a very special origin story. But, this movie is an entertaining film full of wonderful awe of visual artistry and fascinating characters that can lead you to become welcomed into a different realm of the Marvel universe. This is a fun movie.

Stay during the credits for two scenes.

***