Dr Strange Multiverse of Madness

Here's our review for “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” which hits theaters everywhere on Friday…

Get ready to have your mind blown at least a couple of times before the final post credits scene arrives (and there are two of those in case you’re curious). I guess the only real complaint is this film could have easily been called ‘The Scarlet Witch Featuring Doctor Strange” and it would have been even better. As previously stated, there are a lot of times in this film where it feels like Dr. Strange is playing a supporting character in his own sequel. She’s that damn good and her story is the emotional anchor at the heart of this script. Actually, Raimi created one of the single greatest comic book films in history with “Spider-Man 2” so he definitely knows his way around a superhero story. Because America is popular amongst readers yet still largely an unknown to movie going audiences, Gomez really did make the character her own and she’s unbelievably charming in the role.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness director: Sam Raimi Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, ...

Even in all those many universes though – in one sequence, Strange and America fly down a dizzying variety of them – the magic belongs to actual verses, captured in two books. It may be the Multiverse of Madness (which it is), but it is above all the Multiverse of Marvel. Space continuum will only take you from one character to another, as many as you can cram into two hours of movie time. You may go universe to universe, forwards and backwards, to the 838th version of Doctor Strange or the 613th one (the two specifically identified here), one thing remains constant.

Don't expect Marvel business as usual from "Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness," now exclusively in theaters and taking an early run at the summer ...

What can be told is that Raimi survives a draggy start and herky-jerky pacing to create a dizzying wall of multiverse mirrors for audiences to lose themselves in as they indulge in more Strange adventures. No knock on original "Strange" director Scott Derrickson, but there's nothing like the experience of Raimi breaking bad. Strange and his sorcerer pal Wong (the invaluable Benedict Wong) rush to her rescue, but are they enough to keep Wanda from seizing America's power for herself? If you've been binging "Wanda/Vision" and the animated "What If...?" on Disney+ -- and if not, get busy -- you know Wanda has suffered the grievous loss of husband and children. Don't expect Marvel business as usual from "Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness," now exclusively in theaters and taking an early run at the summer box office. Strange still pines for his former fiancée, Dr. Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams). But it's Wanda Maximoff, aka the Scarlet Witch, played by an off-the-charts fabulous Elizabeth Olsen, he needs to keep tabs on.

After helming a few TV shows, when it was announced that he is replacing Scott Derrickson as the director of Doctor Strange's (Benedict Cumberbatch) new outing, ...

And it’s high time that Kevin Feige learns that self-contained, character-driven, director-driven endeavors are better than whatever interconnectivity he is trying to achieve via the Multiverse. Because it is Raimi’s horror-based touches, his eye for visually-stunning imagery, and his ability to craft engaging action set-pieces that prevent “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” from breaking in half. Olsen does a marvelous job of balancing the unhinged and the nurturing sides of Wanda/The Scarlet Witch. You do need to watch “ WandaVision (2021),” though, to connect with her, which is kind of a bummer. The performances from the cast of “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” are some of the best in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s important to point out that it’s the best in the MCU because this is merely a glimpse of what Cumberbatch, Olsen, Wong, and even Chavez are capable of if they aren’t bogged down by the expository dialogues. The journey started with his “ Spider-Man (2002)” and by the time of “Spider-Man 3 (2007)”, we were old enough to watch “The Evil Dead (1981),” “Evil Dead II (1987)”, “Darkman (1990)”, “Army of Darkness (1992)”, and “Drag Me to Hell (2009)”. After helming a few TV shows, when it was announced that he is replacing Scott Derrickson as the director of Doctor Strange’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) new outing, there was a bitter-sweet sentiment in the air. Directed by Raimi and written by Michael Waldron, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” opens with a variant of Strange and a girl named America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) running away from a demon of sorts and towards the coveted Book of Vishanti. In an attempt to stall the demon, the variant-Strange decides to extract her power because he can control it and keep it away from the demon, since Chavez can’t. Accidentally, Chavez opens a portal through the Multiverse and ends up on Earth 616, the universe in which the Doctor Strange exists. But as soon as the first trailer for “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)” dropped, it was evident that we’re in for two movies: one is Raimi’s “Doctor Strange 2”, and the other is Marvel Studios’ “Multiverse of Madness.”

Possible, or science fiction? As Doctor Strange himself says in the upcoming film: "The multiverse is a concept about which we know frighteningly little.".

"You could actually go out and look in the sky for evidence that we live in one of these bubbles, and that it collided with another one. He never had the opportunity to further test his own theory, dying days after submitting the paper, although Hertog said he planned to continue their research. In that role, Frank gave guidance on how physics and philosophy could gel with the film's mind-bending magic. explains professor Katie Mack, a theoretical astrophysicist at North Carolina State University. She describes Everett's theory as "very appealing" to us as humans. Frank, despite his skepticism, has helped shape that story on the silver screen. Ever wondered if there's another you, somewhere out there in the universe?

The latest MCU film is at its best when director Sam Raimi leans into its horror elements, and at its weakest when it coasts on cameos and callbacks from a ...

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Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness movie review: Director Sam Raimi brings horror to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a stunning fashion.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is part of Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 4. Also read: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness earns ₹ 20 crore in advance booking in India, eyes huge opening And that is the USP of Doctor Strange 2. Doctor Strange 2 deals with the concept of variants and multiverse and hence, there were reports of several actors making cameos either as variants of existing characters or returning to play fan favourite roles from other franchises. She combines the torment of a mother and the menace of a deranged magical being quite seamlessly. Also read: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness first reactions are in: Critics praise 'magical moments to remember forever'

Sam Raimi brings his horror sensibilities to the MCU to create a truly distinct title within the Marvel catalog.

Whether the Scarlet Witch or Raimi return to the MCU in front of and behind the camera remains to be seen. It’s the mark of a great villain, which remains decidedly rare in the MCU, and Elizabeth Olsen relishes the opportunity to fully break bad. Wanda’s arc in Multiverse of Madness follows in Norman and Otto’s footsteps: a journey steeped in pain, bloodshed, and ultimately, tragedy. For Wanda, harnessing America’s powers would allow her to live in an alternate universe with her children, Tommy and Billy, who ceased to exist following the tragic events of WandaVision. But taking those powers would also mean killing America, something Strange could never be comfortable with. America is being pursued across the multiverse by an unknown adversary sending monsters after her using witchcraft, including a tentacled foe that wreaks havoc on the streets of New York. (Side note: I’m not sure why anyone would still choose to live in the city when it’s ground zero for superhero fights.) After defeating the monster, Strange seeks out Wanda Maximoff, who is living a life of solitude on an orchard. But while Multiverse of Madness has the typical hallmarks of an MCU movie, Raimi’s personality still manages to shine through.

Benedict Cumberbatch is returning to star in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – the second solo Doctor Strange movie in the MCU.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will have a runtime of two hours, six minutes. I do it, I become the enemy. Who will be in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness? Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness latest trailer breakdown Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness trailers Here’s when Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will come out in the UK and what the trailer tells us about the upcoming release.

When Marvel announced that Scott Derrickson, the director of the original Doctor Strange, was leaving its sequel and that Sam Raimi was taking over, most of the ...

It is, occasionally, a horror movie, and when it is a horror movie it is quite fun. And if it gets Raimi the chance to make something a little more stirring, well, it’ll have been worth it. Olsen is fantastic as the mourning mama bear and Cumberbatch does a fine job selling Strange as an arrogant surgeon given godlike powers; the fact that he is, by and large, considered a menace throughout the multiverse, regardless of the circumstance, feels about right. Multiverse of Madness is, also, an MCU movie, with all the negatives that brings: weightless CGI battles; cameo appearances that will make a handful of dorks in your theater literally stand up and cheer; a narrative through-line connecting it to everything that’s come before and everything that’ll come after. There’s a filigree of Sam Raimi-dom to the picture, a nice patina of the old charms. Fans of Sam Raimi instinctually understand what that means.

The action begins in Dr. Stephen Strange's (Cumberbatch) universe with the introduction of America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), a teenager with the ability to ...

But many new moms are discovering a much different impulse once their newborn arrives: the desire to be left alone. Heidi Belair, 59, was born in Toronto and adopted when she was just a few months old. Wade decision and allow individual states to ban the procedure. Neeson is Alex Lewis, an assassin for hire who prides himself in the precision of his work. “Memory” continues the actor’s unbroken string of shoot ‘em ups, but with a twist. The release of “Memory,” a new Liam Neeson action movie, now playing in theatres, marks the star’s 14th anniversary as an action star. Based on historical records, the movie details a plan so outlandish it sounds as though it sprung from the fanciful mind of a screenwriter. On that level, it works because of the likable performances that draw the audience into the situation. There is displacement of refugees, racism and aspirations, but despite some tension in the storytelling, it has a tendency to lean into the feel-good aspects of the story. It should not come as a surprise that a movie called “Peace by Chocolate” is cloyingly sweet. Whether it is Wanda’s search for family, ably brought to life by Olsen’s poignant performance, or Strange’s attraction to Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams), this story has a strong, beating heart. In the search for her parents, she has explored 73 universes, each with their own unique sets of rules, all the while pursued by a demon who wants to steal her powers.

The latest MCU film is at its best when director Sam Raimi leans into its horror elements, and at its weakest when it coasts on cameos and callbacks from a ...

If these sound like quibbles, consider how important it is for this particular film to sweep you up into its world — into its worlds — and dazzle you with the spectacle of limitless possibility. So, yes, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a mess. In that film, Raimi listened to his bosses as he does here, and dutifully loaded up the overcomplicated plot with a surfeit of studio-required villains — but he did so while indulging his goofier side by turning Peter Parker into a pompous tool, grooving down a Manhattan sidewalk. All of this is depicted with pleasantly disorienting spectacle and grandeur. Marvel fans loved the villains and hated Dancin' Peter, while we Raimi fans ate up Dancin' Peter with a big ol' spoon and rolled our eyes at the need to shoehorn in so many bad guys. The various universes we visit in our whistle-stop interdimensional tour pulsate with vivid color and swirling, psychedelic patterns. The callbacks that work best aren't Marvel callbacks, they're Raimi callbacks: zombies, ghouls, a brief tracking shot from the baddie's perspective. What they see and experience along the way draws on characters and situations established in past Marvel films and broadcast television shows, in recent and current Disney+ streaming series, and in the fervent speculation of Marvel fans. Makes sense: The plot sends the good Doctor (Benedict Cumberbatch), the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and newcomer America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) tumbling through a kaleidoscopic series of alternate universes. But back then, Marvel was still just a studio, and not yet a genre. So when that moment finally arrived, it proceeded to target and overwhelm their brains' pleasure centers with the ruthlessness of sheer, satisfying inevitability. For the record: "WOOOO!" is an emotional, purely reflexive reaction.

If you've seen the trailer you already know it. It's the moment where Karl Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) approaches Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and says, ...

This is the point, of course, and it definitely makes Madness fun in a way that, say, Eternals wasn’t. But it can have a bit of a kitchen-sink feeling. As WIRED pointed out last year, WandaVision kicked open the door to multiple realities in a way that meant not only could one Doctor Strange movie have multiple Doctor Stranges but also the Wanda from WandaVision (Elizabeth Olsen) could try to skip to a timeline where she joins children she never birthed in the main MCU timeline and also pass through one with a very prominent X-Man, who comes from a universe where Magneto is maybe her father. But that’s not the only way Multiverse of Madness feels like fanfic. (Whew!) A lot of this, like Strange’s appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home, is the result of Disney now owning more of Marvel’s toys than it did two decades ago, having acquired Fox (previous parent of the Fantastic Four and the X-Men) in 2019 and cutting a deal to have Sony’s Spidey movies align with the larger Marvel movie world. One scene in Marvel’s latest offering, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, will surely dominate the conversation about the movie for weeks. It’s the kind of moment either meant to set up 100 more films and shows or to remind you just how much intellectual property Disney owns.

There are already so many Doctor Strange 2 Easter eggs waiting to be discovered. Multiverse of Madness is crammed full of comic book deep cuts, ...

Predictably, its roots are found in Marvel’s comic books, first appearing as The Book of the Vishanti in 1963. He’s Rintrah, a being from the planet R’Vaal who was first introduced in 1986’s Doctor Strange #80. He has a long history with the Sorceror, later becoming his apprentice. For more on the character’s MCU appearance, here’s our guide on who is John Krasinski in Doctor Strange 2. That’s Sue Storm, another member of the Fantastic Four. What’s more interesting, however, is that Reed Richards also has children – something that’s more of a recent phenomenon in Marvel’s comic book history. There’s a reason why that line sounds familiar – Xavier says it to his younger self (played by James McAvoy) in X-Men: Days of Future Past. That’s Black Bolt, the leader of the Inhumans. You can find out more about him in our Illuminati in Doctor Strange 2 explainer. In Doctor Strange 2, Christine Palmer reveals the information, saying that the MCU’s Stephen Strange comes from 616. The Book of Vishanti is mentioned as the Darkhold’s antithesis – a powerful tome that could grant its user anything they desperately needed. AKA, that woman in purple played by Charlize Theron. She showed up during the Doctor Strange 2 post-credits scenes, asking Stephen to deal with the incursion that he caused. He’s also in his yellow Hoverchair from the series. The most prominent of these is a world which contains a dinosaur. There’s also a comic book universe, which feels like an overall tribute to the more ‘poppy’ art style of the 1960s and 1970s.