****
After his hands are all but destroyed in a car accident, talented neurosurgeon Doctor Strange travels to Nepal in search of healing. There he meets The Ancient One, who begins to teach him of alternate universes and the terrible evil that threatens to destroy the world.
Another day, another superhero movie. Only Doctor Strange isn't your typical superhero film - it's more mind- and reality-bending than that. Focusing on the premise that there is more than just our universe, the film plays with different dimensions and layers of reality to create a multi-faceted story with some truly imaginative set pieces. Obviously, the visuals and premise can be called Inception-esque, and, of course, parallels can definitely be drawn between the two, but Doctor Strange inevitably feels more frothy than Christopher Nolan's philosophical study. That doesn't mean that Marvel's latest offering is anything less than spectacular, however. Supporting the reality-bending visual effects is a mischievous score by Michael Giacchino, which perfectly complements Strange's character.
Taking on the eponymous character is Benedict Cumberbatch, essentially playing the same arrogant super-clever type we're so used to seeing him impersonate now, only this time with a somewhat distracting American accent. However, once you see Cumberbatch in his full superhero regalia, it's hard to imagine anyone else playing the role. Fusing both humour and arrogance with pain and suffering, Cumberbatch's Strange is at once both sympathetic and infuriating (sound familiar, Sherlock fans?), and yet always compelling. Supported by an impressive cast, including the likes of Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tilda Swinton and a seriously under-utilised Mads Mikkelsen as the generic bad guy, Doctor Strange certainly possesses serious A-list credentials.
The script walks a dangerous line, fusing discussions of both life, death and immortality with quips about Drake and Beyoncé, and could have so easily tipped into being irritating and cliché, and yet it somehow manages to find the balance between the philosophical and the pop culture, to create a film that's both humorous and thought-provoking. Similarly, to the film's credit, it doesn't outstay it's welcome with an extended final act, which leaves you wanting more as opposed to being reminded how uncomfortable cinema seats are.
If you like your superhero films a bit more magical than seeing a group of gifted characters gather in a car park and fight one another, Doctor Strange is the injection of mysticism you've been looking for. Fronted by an impressive cast and boasting a smart script, it's certainly one of the better additions to the Marvel multi-verse.
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