Director Sam Raimi makes his long-awaited return to the superhero genre and deliveries Marvel Studios’ darkest movie yet with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) casts a forbidden spell that opens the doorway to the multiverse, including alternate versions of himself, whose threat to humanity is too great for the combined forces of Strange, Wong (Benedict Wong), and Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen).
When it comes to the performances, there are so many solid pieces that come together to bring audiences another phenomenal Marvel movie. Chiwetel Ejiofor doesn’t get as much screen time as one would hope, but he still enjoys a nice reprieve from his role and adds the same honor, mystery, and values from the first movie with a little bit of a twist. Ejiofor is funny, makes great banter, and he is well used when he is on the screen which leads to a great inclusion. Elizabeth Olsen hits hard on the emotional feelings in this film, taking what we loved about WanadaVision and adding more layers to help flesh it out, and Olsen takes the Scarlet Witch to new heights and fans should really enjoy the character development components that come with it while also relishing in the abilities that this strong character wields. As for Benedict Cumberbatch, he seems to really be enjoying Stephen Strange. Cumberbatch is witty, elegant, and vulnerable and manages to bring all of it together nicely in a way we love to see in these characters. Everyone else hits their roles well and there is fantastic chemistry among all of them.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness brings Danny Elfman aboard to helm the film’s score, and Elfman always brings character to his work and this film is no exception. This film has solid scores and remakes of Marvel themes that you love to hear when they appear on the screen alongside those big reveals and moments. Kudos to whoever elevated the score to be utilized more than just background noise, as the creativity with this music is top-notch in how they have taken an already master score and made it have even more quality to it.
For those who are a major part of the Marvel fanbase, one of the biggest things you look forward to is when your favorite references sneak their way into the movie. This film is no exception and this movie is loaded with stuff that fans are gonna go nuts over none of which I can say without getting into spoiler territory. Regardless, this film opens the door to even more possibilities in the future of Marvel films.
Action is always a big part of Marvel films, and this film manages to bring some awesome moments that we love to see. Raimi elevated the stakes and the tone of these fights, delivering some amazing moves that fans will be jumping out of their seats with excitement. The spells offer a new level of magical chaos to engage with, and they make for some interesting bouts of spellcasting. Strange definitely is creative, using a lot of things for weapons as he combats the many obstacles that are in front of him. It’s fun and exciting, and it works well to spice up the usual tactics that we’ve seen in previous films.
The visuals are one of the best things in the MCU and this movie once again really brings the fantasy world to life as we journey through the multiverse. It’s a bit CGI-heavy at times, but it still continues to craft things we can only dream about in our minds or drawings with a decent realism to it. With solid use of the technology and props, this film has loaded the MCU with plenty of services to animation and design to really make the movie theater experience come to life.
Overall, this second trip into Strange’s world was definitely an interesting adventure that opens up many possibilities for the future of the MCU. The special effects were stunning and a true masterpiece for the most part of the animation and adventure that we love to see in these films. The acting was top-notch and the characters dive deep into themselves to help you appreciate their struggles. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is by far the darkest installment in the MCU but still manages to entertain and deserves to be seen on the big screen.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now playing only in theaters.
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