‘Dr. Strange’ looks to new crowd of superhero fans

“You're a man looking at the world through a keyhole. You've spent your life trying to widen it. Your work saved the lives of thousands. What if I told you that your [reality] is one of many [others in the universe]?”

These are the words spoken by the mysterious sorceress The Ancient One as she explains to a skeptical Dr. Stephen Strange about the ways of the mystic arts. And mystified is what you will be when watching Dr. Strange, Marvel’s latest release on Nov. 4.

Stephen Strange, portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch, is a rich, arrogant-minded surgeon who suffered a horrific car accident, disabling him from work. After losing his abilities to perform surgery, Strange heads to Nepal, where he discovers a secret society of sorcerers, which grants him magical powers of the universe including teleportation and telekinesis.

While trying to protect the world and all of humanity, Strange must fight Kaecilius, a sorcerer with similar powers who turned evil. In this rivalry, Cumberbatch uses his acting prowess to entice viewers with light-hearted comedic snarking that has become a staple in his latest roles, including his performance as detective Sherlock Holmes in the BBC America show “Sherlock.”

As Cumberbatch continues on his quest to defeat Kaecilius, he goes through a character arc as he is forced to shed his arrogant behavior for a more humble and serious one.

While Cumberbatch’s acting excited viewers, the visuals also provided a unique feature.

Director Scott Derrickson, who has also created several horror movies like “Sinister” and “Poltergeist,” utilizes surreal visuals of buildings folding in on each other and streets collapsing to induce the feeling of a magical battle. These dreamlike effects amplified by the magical bolts shot by the sorcerers and lightning-quick transportation adds to the incredible experience.

But while the movie’s plot and graphics amaze viewers, many characters fall flat. Although Kaecilius plays an important role in the story, actor Mads Mikkelsen was unable to flesh out the character in his full form, making him a forgettable character.

And while a crucial part of most superhero movies is the upbeat and rhythmic soundtrack, Dr. Strange has a surprisingly underwhelming soundtrack with no unique musical score.

Since the release of “Iron Man” in 2008, Marvel Studios has been on a roll in terms of critical and commercial successes, notable for their Cinematic Universe of worldbuilding, character development and continuity nods. Most Marvel movies, including hits like the Captain America movies, “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “The Avengers,” have made for some great superhero fanfare.

And now with “Dr. Strange,” it seems like the company has taken a new approach to the traditional superheros of Captain America, Hulk, Thor and the like. With new plots, new characters and a first time superhero director, Marvel has once again succeeded in making a relatively unknown character into a cinematic success.

“Dr. Strange” is a movie with flaws, but more than makes up for them with a great lead performance by Cumberbatch, jaw-dropping visuals and a fantastic plot line.