An absolute spectacle. Apart from that, pretty standard

Rating: 7/10 (3 February 2017)

At this stage in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the standalone movies have become pretty predictable. The sheer frequency of these films and the existing knowledge that they're not going to kill any of the characters off because they need them for ensemble films is common at this point, so there are no major stakes.
Also, after thirteen films in the MCU where they have more or less fleshed out the majority of these superheroes, suddenly now we're being introduced to a fresh face? Just a tad jarring. The introduction to Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange is nothing we aren't used to. Typical fall from grace and redemption story.
The cast are all respected thespians in their own right, but there are no Oscar worthy scenes here. Well, in terms of acting, anyway. The CGI, absolutely. The visuals in this film are so trippy and well done that it deserves its Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects. It certainly took a few leaves out of 'Inception's book and the result is truly mesmerizing.
Otherwise, it's just a pretty standard addition to the backlog of Marvel films. The villain isn't that impressive, the threat is easily stopped and it's pointless to get invested in emotional stakes.