Doctor Strange - review: Awe-Inspiring

Rating: 9/10 (4 November 2016)

I went into this movie with low expectations. I don't read comic books, and so I know absolutely nothing about Doctor Strange.
I had fun with this movie. The action, the set-pieces, and the special effects are truly spectacular. I was in awe during the action scenes.
The story is easy to follow. It's about one man on his quest to become the sorcerer supreme. I enjoyed Benedict Cumberbatch's performance, and I thought he was great as the title character. Tilda Swinton gave a stellar performance. She played her part with some conviction. Chiwetel Ejiofor was great. His character had some layers. Mads Mikkelsen was good in the movie, and he played his part (did his job). I understood his motivation. Rachel McAdams is efficient in her role, but she doesn't get to do much, and her involvement doesn't change or add anything to the story. Doctor Strange gets more screen time and development. Ejiofor's character gets some backbone that does add layers to the story. Mikkelsen's character has a plot, and at times it feels like his plot is justified. Everyone's actions here speak out during the movie. They all have cause for what they're fighting for, and so their actions make sense (even the villains).
I liked this movie from beginning to end. At first, I thought it felt uneventful, but as it progressed it slowly started to become engaging.
The Doctor Strange movie is fun, clever, witty, gripping (at times), the action scenes are compelling, and as a whole it's spectacle.
I had no real problems here except that I felt some story points felt slightly rushed. I wanted to spend more time with the characters during certain parts of the movie.
Overall, Doctor Strange is fun, witty, spectacular, awe-inspiring, but most importantly it's filled with depth and story.
Final Grade: A