Tony Stark goes to Hogwarts

Rating: 7/10 (13 May 2017)

Typical of 'origin stories' "Dr. Strange" opens slowly and follows a trajectory similar to that of the highly successful "Ironman" (2008: an arrogant, overachiever is humbled, then acquires supernatural abilities while overcoming difficulties, then experiences an epiphany and becomes a wisecracking superhero (in this case a sorcerer)). The formula works, so why would we expect anything much to change. Benedict Cumberbatch is fine as the Doctor (although he seems to be channelling Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark during the more lighthearted parts of the film (especially the wisecracks)) as are Mads Mikkelsen and Tilda Swinton as the villain and the teacher respectively (admittedly not much is asked of them, the characters are pretty much props secondary to the CGI). I found the imagery, especially the mirror universe, initially interesting, but eventually it all began to look the same. Michael Giacchino's horn driven-music seemed out of place in a film featuring more mystic than martial heroics (and sounded too much like the theme from the current Star Treks for a film starring that franchise's 'Khan') and some parts of the film were just silly (the sentient cape comes to mind). All-in-all, an OK blockbuster-Marvell universe movie – neither particularly inventive or particularly clever, but entertaining and watchable.