Very well done, immensely enjoyable

Rating: 8/10 (10 December 2016)

The big difference between Marvel Studio productions of Marvel characters, and the other studios that do Marvel characters, is that Marvel Studios get it and do a really great job.
Benedict Cumberbatch initiates his role with a superb presentation of the egotistical, narcissistic and arrogant Stephen Strange. Rather than the evolution of the character being, as so many are, instant transformation, Cumberbatch's Strange demonstrates the ongoing battle with his inner unlikeable self and the person he will become.
While there was much uproar with the casting of Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One, if you can drop the default from canon argument, she does her usual high quality work.
The story remains interesting and moves along at a good pace. While there is no dearth of kaleidoscopic CGI effects, the effects do not dominate the film. It is also filled with a number of truly funny moments. For Marvel fans, who know the Marvel pantheon, there are plenty of Easter eggs, but unlike some films they do not splatter into your face, one needs to be on the game to catch them all.
I really enjoyed the movie, as did my spouse who is not a superhero movie person at all. She doesn't care for Cumberbatch generally but gave him high marks for his acting. The Mordo character was well played, but more could have been done with him to increase the overall dimensionality of the film. The Mads Mikkelsen character well played well was a bit flat, and that was a bit sad, as Mikkelsen has much more capability than was leveraged in my opinion.