Doctor Strange

A brilliant, egotistical surgeon (Benedict Cumberbatch) seeks healing for his hands, ruined in an auto accident; he finds himself plunged into a realm of magic, martial arts and the struggle to protect the world from the forces of darkness. The Marvel Comics superhero gets a handsome showcase, written by Jon Spaihts, C. Robert Cargill and director Scott Derricksen (from the Stan Lee-Steve Ditko original). Much of it takes place in the “Mirror Dimension,” an eye-popping universe that M.C. Escher might have imagined if he’d worked with CGI. That, plus a strong story and stronger cast (Tilda Swinton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Mads Mikkelsen) makes this a winner. Let’s see if they can keep it up; these Marvel origin stories usually work best, before the sequels settle into flashy but humdrum action. J.L.