Strange left me feeling strange

Rating: 7/10 (4 November 2016)

So the next Marvel superhero makes his entrance in to the MCU, Doctor Strange is here, and I couldn't wait for it!
Being that many people, my self included aren't that well versed in the Doctor Strange lore the film is an obligatory origin story of how the brilliant neurosurgeon Stephen Strange goes from saving people on an operating table to become the "sorcerer supreme". The story wastes no time in getting on with the story and, after a short period where he demonstrates his brilliance in his profession he is involved in a car crash of his own making - let that be a lesson to keep your phone off when you drive folks - he struggles to find anyway to repair his hands through western medicine and goes off to find alternate healing in the east - and so begins the transformation to a sorcerer.
The visuals in the film as you'd expect from the trailer are stunning, with the world bending effects giving you a taste of what it would be like if LSD & crack had a baby. They convey the powers they are displaying very well, even if at sometimes you get a little confused. However on the flip side of it I thought the visuals for Dormammu were terrible and thought he looked awful - in fact he reminded me of Master Control from the original Tron film!? The cast is also very strong, with all the lead characters putting in brilliant performances throughout the film.
However, I left the cinema feeling somewhat "meh". The film was very strongly an origin story and, as a result I found the plot a little thin, and whilst the pacing of the film was good the pacing of the PLOT seemed a little strange at times. For example it is established at the start of the film that Kaecilius (A decent enough villain, but not involved in the film enough to be developed) is trying to contact the dark dimension, however he seems to take a break for a while to allow the ancient one to train Dr Strange up from nothing to a fairly competent sorcerer before he continues with his quest. Also Strange goes from being unable to conjure any spells to a master in very little screen time, now I grew up watching Rocky movies so you'll know I love a good montage! But all we get is a couple of clips of him stealing books from the library (Which is against the sorcerers ways) and also practicing spells from master sorcerer books that's he "not good enough to use" and "are forbidden to read" (which made me wonder why there weren't any sort of magic locks on them to stop anyone looking at them). I also found the comedy in this film just fell a bit flat. I'm not expecting it to be a laugh a minute movie but comedy and "witty banter" are a staple of the marvel films and all have worked well in previous movies, but some one liners & jokes seemed to miss their mark. I don't know exactly why this was but there weren't many people laughing out loud in the screening.
Unfortunately for the film as well it seems to fall foul of showing all the best bits in the trailers as aside from the fantastic opening battle there is very little else to show, with even my friend pointing out there appears to be more running away than actual fighting in the film, with his cape kicking more ass than the Doctor does.
The 3rd act seemed a little weak as well with Kaecilius outing the ancient one to Strange as a user of dark magic, only for her to appear in the very next scene with the mark on her head confirming this, which isn't really explained by her either, and almost makes you side with Mordo on his feelings. And the final battle just seemed a bit odd, and I was a little confused and surprised at how easily he manages to play Dormammu, who comes off as a bit of an idiot in the end. I Didn't expect him to be in it as much as he was and I really hope this isn't the only time we see him in the MCU.
So whilst there some good points and a lot in the film to enjoy I just found myself a little disappointed overall with it and, ironically enough left the cinema feeling a little.....Strange.