Doctor Strange is a Mind Bending Good Time

Marvel’s Phase 3 kicks off with a mind bending roller coaster ride that will leave you wanting more. Doctor Strange follows Dr. Steven Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), an egotistical, narcissistic doctor who, after a car crash, is left with severe damage to his hands and unable to perform surgeries. Strange seeks out Kamar-Taj, an isolated community in the Himalayas, in hopes that somehow the damage done can be remedied by the healers there. Once there, Strange encounters the Ancient One who begins to train and transform him into the iconic comic book character.

Visually, this might just be Marvel’s best movie. The CGI coupled with the well executed special effects will leave the audience feeling as if they are actually experiencing the film’s actions as real life. This one is actually worth seeing in 3D and definitely in IMAX just to get the full effect.

Plotwise Doctor Strange is more of a filler movie rather than an actual standalone Marvel endeavor. As this is the first film in the Strange universe there is a lot of ground work to lay and while the characters are all introduced well, there is very little development.

Cumberbatch does well immersing himself as the title character and is a great addition to the Marvel family. The way
he bounces off the other characters provides great comedy and will have audiences excited to see him alongside the other Marvel characters in future movies. The secondary characters bring a lot of laughs to the movie, especially Wong (played by Benedict Wong) and Karl Mordo (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor).

In all the movie does exactly what it was meant to do: introduce Doctor Strange and begin the groundwork for Avengers: Infinity Wars. My hope is Doctor Strange 2 will feature the development lacking in this movie and provide a meatier story.

Heads up, there are two end credits scenes: one midway through and one at the end. You definitely don’t want to miss either, so plan to stay until the credits are done. Doctor Strange is a riotous good time and is worth seeing in theaters.

Grade: B+