‘Doctor Strange’ review: “Marvel conjure up an instant classic”

Doctor Strange review: Watch out Tony and Steve – there’s a new superhero on the block. Derrickson delights with the best Marvel origin story yet.

Doctor Strange review, Paul Heath.

Marvel deliver their second film of 2016 and they’e got a tall order to fulfil following their Avengers-filled spring release Captain America: Civil War – but have they managed to surpass that movie’s majestic wonder.

Well, that’s a tall order as Benedict Cumberbatch and co. are tasked with carrying a fresh origin story to the screen – a largely unknown property – well, compared to Captain America and Iron Man anyway – but they may have indeed pulled a rabbit out of the hat and conjured up a comic-book classic anyway.

The action kicks off in modern day New York where Dr. Stephen Strange is at the top of his came as an accomplished neurosurgeon. However, when he’s involved in a horrific car crash on his way to a fancy dinner, he loses the use of his million-dollar hands and thus his glittering career. Having exhausted western medicine and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in the process, Strange turns to a mysterious enclave in Kathmandu. After discovering mystic powers the former doctor is forced to choose between his life of fortune and status or leave it all behind to defend the world as the most powerful sorcerer in existence.

Revealing any more would be a spoiler and we’ll continue through this review without spilling any more details or going into an detail in terms of what happens on screen as Doctor Strange is to be experienced fresh and free from as much prior knowledge as humanly possible. What we can tell you is that it is excellent. From its visuals, of which have to be Marvel’s most ambitious and impressive to date, all of the way through to its stellar, largely British cast. A lot is asked of Cumberbatch, but of course he pulls out all of the stops to truly embody his character and own the movie from the opening frames. His support, from the superb Chiwetel Ejiofor as Karl Mordu, Benedict Wong as ‘Wong’ and an outstanding turn from Tilda Swinton as the the Ancient One are also on form, as too are the likes of Rachel McAdams and the film’s bad guy, Mads Mikkelson giving another delicious bad guy turn previously evident in the likes of Casino Royale and, more recently, as Hannibal Lecter in the cancelled TV show of the same name.

Scott Derrickson brings a darker ton to proceedings – and his background in horror seeps through into the material here – but don’t worry, we’re not talking Batman V Superman level of darkness or butt-numbing bordom. While Michael Giacchino‘s score is grand and booming (and one to hunt down for future consumption away from the movie) it is the visuals that truly astound. From the wonderful cinematography by Ben Davis (Kick-Ass, Guardians Of The Galaxy) to the mid-blowing (and bending) visual effects, Doctor Strange is a film to be on the biggest, grandest screen possible – preferable in IMAX but definitely in 3D, which enhances the movie massively. No, really.

In a genuine surprise (for me personally anyway), there’s tons of fun to be had with the film. Action packed – genuinely funny, though not overly so or forced, full of terrific performances and focussed, well executed direction from Derrickson make a huge one-two for Marvel in 2016. While it won’t potentially live up to the repeat viewing of the Avengers movies or even Guardians, it certainly gives the likes of Iron Man and Captain America a run for their money as potentially the best Marvel origin story so far, and a wonderful introduction for a new superhero on the block.

Doctor Strange review by Paul Heath, October 2016.

Doctor Strange is released in UK cinemas on Tuesday 25th October 2016.