Doctor Strange is a difficult character to not just bring to the big screen but to also fit in with the existing Marvel cinematic universe and not alienate fans with multiple dimensions, time travel, psychedelic visuals and what is essentially, magic.
Sure, this kind of thing has been done to an extent with Thor, but the story of surgeon Stephen Strange’s foray into sorcery after a car accident leaves him with physical and mental walls to break down, is quite experimental for fans of both comic books and superhero movies.
Although Doctor Strange occasionally feels like a paint by numbers Marvel origin movie with a protagonist who feels distinctly familiar (although his comedic moments feel far less natural than Robert Downey Jr’s delivery as Tony Stark), there’s enough here to set it apart from a lot of the other films in the Marvel franchises. Doctor Strange doesn’t spend too long getting to know the central protagonist before he develops his abilities as a sorcerer, which kicks the film along at a nice pace that is split up with phenomenal action set-pieces that are incredibly thrilling and unique (albeit a bit complicated at times with mirror dimensions and time loops coming in to play).
The supporting cast have a lot to do and the talents of those on show really elevate the entire movie. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams and especially Tilda Swinton stand out but it’s the villain of the piece played by Mads Mikkelsen who suffers from MVS (Marvel Villain Syndrome) in being kind of threatening but also kind of forgettable.
Director Scott Derrickson has achieved a lot although it is the cinematography (that often makes the film seem like a version of Inception or The Matrix) that really stands out. Occasionally the hand-to-hand combat sequences can feel a bit too kinetic and close quarters, but overall Doctor Strange is a solid introduction to a character who will no doubt have a big part to play in future Marvel films.
7/10
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