*This review may contain LOW level spoilers*

I must admit, as much as I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the cinematic Marvel journey thus far, and have learned so much about the comics along the way, I knew nothing about Doctor Strange. Well, I knew one detail. He is in possession of one of the infinity stones; a very important detail in the Marvel Universe, that keeps this ‘new’ character in line with the story so far.

So, Doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is an arrogant neurosurgeon who knows very well how good he is at what he does. His ego gets him into a life changing accident where he looses the original use of his hands. Seeking a cure to get his hands steady again, he’s guided to Karma-Taj, Kathmandu, a village of sorcerers that he is eventually persuaded to join. Strange has a spiritual awakening, and learns metaphysical abilities and that is what he uses to potentially defeat the villain, Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen).

The infinity stone comes to play when Strange’s curiosity and need to take matters into his own hands, leads him to the object inside the Karma-Taj library. Only the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) is trained in using it. It has a lot of power and that’s what makes his possession of it so significant. Though he teaches himself to use it, he never really knows what it actually is. As a follower of the Avengers and associated movies, we know perfectly well what the infinity stones are.

Cumberbatch is a genius in this role and the only strand out. It’s like watching Robert Downey Jr all over again as his first time as Tony Stark. Cumberbatch plays the ego maniac part so well, while still knowing how to connect to the vulnerable side. Just like RDJ embodies Tony Stark and Iron Man, Cumberbatch is Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange.

No other actor’s performance really stood out. Though they all did incredibly in their roles, none will be as memorable as Cumberbatch’s. Kaecilius wasn’t underplayed, but Mikkelsen just wasn’t getting enough screen time for us to fear for our hero. Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor), basically the Ancient One’s assistant, was able to get a bit more screen time. He plays the suspicious façade, obviously. I understand Strange is the lead, but like the other Marvel films, you expect a standout from the supporting cast.

There was of course a love interest story, with Christine Palmer (Rachael McAdams), but it was hidden behind the main focus of ‘saving the world’, which in some cases is preferred. Love stories can make an action film become cheesy. So in hindsight, this theme was portrayed perfectly.

The film progression was steady and without major hiccups. It was short and sweet. It got to the point, by explaining a lot in a little bit, and that wasn’t a major issue as you would think it would be. It didn’t feel crammed. However, there was never a wow factor throughout this film in regards to the story line. It was predicable. It was almost anticlimactic. The multi-dimension (think Inception) effects in the main fight scenes are greatly directed, making them fascinating and unbelievable to watch. The imagination used here is flawless. The sorcery itself was wonderful to witness and didn’t feel childish. As a side note, if you are into the spiritual world, you’d appreciate the film for implementing so many elements of it.

The comedy is subtle and quite perfect where it’s slotted. It’s still a serious story, but each role has a funny line or two, and it suits those particular scenes well without taking away any of the drama. We can’t forget, this film is more on the lighter side, but as the first film for this character, they are looking to make a power impact. They have not done so badly.

Overall, it’s not the strongest film from Marvel this year that is for sure. Civil War and Deadpool have definitely taken the cake this year. But, I am really excited to see where Doctor Strange goes from here and how he will be fitted into the Avengers story. Yes, that is your reminder that you must remain after the credits.

Doctor Strange is a fun film for all to watch, and is visually insane. With a performance like that, Cumberbatch is no longer Sherlock Holmes. He is Doctor Strange, and he is very welcome to the Marvel Universe. I give it a 3 and a half out of 5.

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