Doctor Strange (2016)

Doctor Strange: Directed by Scott Derrickson. With Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong. While on a journey of physical and spiritual healing, a brilliant neurosurgeon is drawn into the world of the mystic arts.

“In terms of the quality of the film as a whole, I would give Doctor Strange a 7, but because of its visual effects and implications for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I am totally giving it an 8. Let me explain.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWatching this in theaters with the sometimes too-loud sound, seeing the buildings and streets give way and rotate and otherwise bend themselves completely to a personu0026#39;s whim, immediately made me think of Inception. But this was even more hectic. This wasnu0026#39;t imaginary, this was real.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAnother thing. Finally in the MCU we have some sorcery, direct utilization of magical energy for combat. Discussion of other dimensions; even traveling between them at will. Doctor Strangeu0026#39;s final outfit is just wicked cool. If you know the character from the Marvel comics, then youu0026#39;ll know that heu0026#39;s pretty damn powerful. Unfortunately this is an origins film, that is, it reveals how Doctor Strange became Doctor Strange the Sorcerer Supreme; the real deal will come in the third Avengers film hopefully.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAs a follower of the MCU whou0026#39;s seen basically all of the released films to date, I was eagerly awaiting this one, and I was not dissatisfied. The music was riveting as usual per a Marvel film (Giacchino), the fight sequences intense, the otherworldly conflicts enormous. Iu0026#39;m so glad this guyu0026#39;s joining the Avengers in their imminent battle with Thanos, or at least Iu0026#39;m pretty sure he is. Now all that being said, Doctor Strange wouldnu0026#39;t fall in my top 5 MCU films; Captain America, Avengers 2, for example were much better, but itu0026#39;s part of the MCU, and therefore is a must-see for any MCU fan.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI also noticed a lot more wit and almost off-character humor in this film than in other MCU films. And of course, as all the MCU films are taking place chronologically within the same universe (or multiverse?), there are several references to the bigger pictures, i.e. the Avengers.”