Only one word is adequate to describe the visual wonder that was Doctor Strange: wow.

That was all I could say as my family and I walked down the hall toward the theater exit after viewing Marvel’s newest offering last Friday evening.

The creative minds at Marvel outdid themselves with this film in many ways.

This is what you get when you cross Harry Potter with Inception and throw in the star of Sherlock.

Step aside, everyone. There’s a new king in town—and he wears a red cape.

Movies are so often redundant, predictable, with the inevitable explosion, high-speed chase, too-hot-to-handle love interest. Doctor Strange wasn’t afraid to boldly go where no man has gone before. Fantasy and sci-fi, for all the potential to craft incredible worlds, fall short the majority of the time.

Doctor Strange pulled out all the stops and the creativity poured forth. It imagined, dreamed, and explored on an entirely new level.

The result? A riveting movie.

Plot

As far as plots go, this one wasn’t breathtaking. It had some good elements yet didn’t pack the punch I like. Huge, awful, terrorizing enemy that, as per the standard, wanted to destroy everything.

A few surprises snuck into the plot, but nothing to keep me from barely maintaining my seat as I leaned forward in giddy breathlessness.

Even with that, the story trajectory itself was different and new enough to prevent a bland, heard-this-before monotone. The tie-ins to the larger MCU kept my Marvel fanboy side happy and the plot didn’t drag.

Watch to the end. Two credit scenes made an appearance, and you’ll definitely want to see them both.

Setting

Let the wows and wide eyes and wonderfulness commence.

Sure, it screamed CGI as much as Lord of the Rings screams hobbits. But finally, something original and creative. The visuals were stunning.

Ever wondered what it’s like to be inside a kaleidoscope?

Or to travel through a drawing by Escher?

Wonder no more.

As I write this several days later, I still shake my head at the spectacle on display. Not only did it make for a visual feast, it provided a backdrop for the characters to do awesome things. Nothing was off limits. Speculative fiction in its prime.

The mirror dimension was cool beyond words. If you watch this movie, chase scenes in the ordinary world will be ruined forever for you. And that’s fantastic news.

The only thing that bothered me was the lack of consistency with the magic. A few times, what the characters could or couldn’t do contradicted itself. Even with that, this is easily one of the most enthralling story worlds I’ve seen.

Characters

Benedict Cumberbatch is the man. At this point, I’d watch pretty much anything he’s in. I’m not familiar with the comic version of Strange’s character, but Cumberbatch nailed the performance. Apparently he can pull off an egotistical, rich American neurosurgeon turned magician as well as a high-functioning sociopath.

Strange’s story arc was compelling, his flaws real and potent. Cumberbatch beautifully translated every aspect of the doctor’s unique character onto the screen.

The only negative thing I can say? (And it’s not even negative). His non-British accent is, wait for it…strange. 😉

The supporting cast was solid, too. I wasn’t a huge fan of Tilda Swinton, but in the end it didn’t detract from the story for me. I wish other characters had stood out more.

However…Stan Lee. It never gets old.

Conclusion

As I expected from the first time I heard Doctor Strange was becoming a movie, the story contained references to Eastern mysticism and a heavy dose of magical elements. I simply took it as another facet of the storyworld, something that fits in the fictitious setting of the MCU.

The movie included several themes: good versus evil, the nature of death. Excellent fuel to spark thought and contemplation.

Memorable humor alert. Marvel knows how to spice the story up with humor. Judging by the countless explosions of laughter through the nearly packed theater, this film was no exception.

Throughout the movie, a certain buzz of energy filled the theater, and at the end, the audience cheered. What it comes down to is this: despite the flaws and weaknesses, Doctor Strange did its job. It entertained and inspired.

P. S. If possible, watch this in 3D. Totally worth the extra cost.

If you’ve seen Doctor Strange, what did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts here or on social media.