“Stephen Strange, might I offer you some advice? Forget everything that you think you know.”

On Nov. 4, Marvel’s newest blockbuster, Doctor Strange, was released, introducing one of Marvel’s most strange characters yet.

Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), a talented, but egotistical neurosurgeon, is a character that Marvel fans have been wondering when would be introduced in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe). Strange’s story starts with him getting into a nearly fatal car crash. He is rushed to his hospital just in time for him to live. However, the nerves in his hands have been so damaged that his hands shake uncontrollably, rendering him unfit for his career.

Strange can’t find anyone to fix his hands until he finds out about Kathmandu – a healing place in Nepal – from a man who had been previously paralyzed. When he arrives, Strange discovers a whole world of sorcery that was hidden from society.

This movie was a visual masterpiece. The effects that were used were top notch, and it showed. In a movie where reality bends in a way that isn’t easy to accomplish in a movie, Marvel really knocked it out of the park. You felt like this world could exist, that these people did have the power to bend reality by distorting buildings and changing the landscape around them. The effects looked real, and it was beautiful.

The acting, in addition to this, was amazing. Benedict Cumberbatch successfully played Doctor Strange as how everyone knows him: an egotistical jerk who only cares about himself. Right up until his visit to Kathmandu changes him.

The director, Scott Derrickson, said that Cumberbatch was the only one that could play the role of Strange.

“He has to play this arrogant neurosurgeon who goes through this emotional journey. He goes through a lot of pain, a lot of suffering, a lot of disorientation, a lot of anger and then enlightenment. There aren’t a lot of actors that I felt could cover all of that, but Benedict can.”

Of course, Cumberbatch wasn’t the only amazing actor in this wondrous film. The other main actors, Chiwetel Ejiofor (Mordo), Rachel McAdams (Christine), Benedict Wong (Wong), Mads Mikkkelsen (Kaecilius) and Tilda Swinton (Ancient One), all did marvelous in their roles. All of the actors brought these characters to life. It felt liked they truly existed somewhere out there.

Once again, Marvel hits the ball out of the park with this highly anticipated movie, and it goes to show why Marvel is so successful. All of us Marvel fans are looking forward to the next one, Guardians of the Galaxy 2, which knowing Marvel, will be just as fantastic as Doctor Strange was.