Alien at the Movies

Marvel Studios trots out another superhero back story as it steers towards that ultimate huge showdown with Thanos, the Avengers, & umpteen other Marvel characters in the Infinity War. The life path of the arrogant & egotistical neurosurgeon Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is redirected by a horrible texting-while-driving accident injuring his skillful hands. He turns to the eastern mystical arts when western medicine fails him. The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) & Mordor (Chiwetel Ejiofor) guide Strange's healing & training when Kaecillius' (Mads Mikkelsen) greed for immortality spawns disaster for Earth. The special effects are space & time mind-bending in this apparent bridge to a much bigger Marvel Universe picture. The blend of action & humor plus the Stan Lee cameo now the standard mode of operation for the Marvel movie machine juggernaut. Rachel McAdams plays Strange's doctor/girlfriend Christine Palmer. Look for short clips at the beginning & end of the credits more clues to key characters' possible futures.

Alien gives it 3 "spell binding" stars out of 4.