Director : Sam Raimi
Writer : Michael Waldron, Stan Lee, Steve Ditko
Cast : Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Rachel McAdams
Cinematographer : John Mathieson
Editor : Bob Murawski, Tia Nolan
Production Designer : Charles Wood
Music : Danny Elfman
Sound Designer : Jussi Tegelman (sound designer). Kathie Talbot, Tim Nielsen (additional sound design)
Language : English
It’s madness in true sense. It’ll make you go from what the fuck? to Fuck! As bizarre as it may look, I seriously don’t understand where Doctor Strange is heading, both as a character as well as a film series. It raises a lot of questions. I think that’s the fun part to connect the dots and have your questions answered in the following parts of the film or in any of the other MCU films. The treatment changes from the first Doctor Strange film. It becomes dark. Sam Raimi brings his style and elements of horror, the thrills, something he is really good at into play. It has Sam Raimi written all over it. It is his take on Doctor Strange. The question is – Is this really the world of Doctor Strange? No doubt it is visually amazing. Was the dark treatment really required?
Post Avengers: End Game, I feel Marvel has lost the way. What are they trying to achieve is very unclear or maybe they are building up to something bigger, something better. Who knows. I heard they have announced their line-up of films for phase 5. I won’t say that I am excited because I have lost touch with the MCU. Have been following only the films not their web series. I had found Spider-Man: No Way Home to be disappointing. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is better than Spider-Man. The concept of a Multiverse has been dealt with in a better way. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is just above average. It’s a rollercoaster of sorts that keeps you engaged.
The director crafts a visually captivating experience. Brings in some elements that are very unexpected from a Doctor Strange film. It is refreshing to watch something that you didn’t see coming. I am thrilled because the trailer said something else. It feels good to be deceived by the trailer and getting to watch a film that you least expected. The execution is fabulous. It lacks in the content and the writing. It could’ve been written better. Doctor Strange as the character is good till End Game. Post that, as a character I feel he has not been explored properly. I am not too impressed with the journey of Doctor Strange or rather the graph of the character post End Game. Even in Spider-Man: No Way Home he didn’t make much of an impact. Maybe it could be a part of his transformation and what we see in the Multiverse of Madness his evolution. I feel the character has lost its charm as compared to the prequel. I would’ve preferred the character of Doctor Strange from the previous installment. I had liked the character. Maybe this change in character is a result of the aftermath of End Game. I didn’t quite get the point of turning an Avenger into the antagonist. I would’ve preferred to see Wanda/ Scarlet Witch in a better role. No doubt she is fantastic as the antagonist. Elizabeth Olsen has done full justice to the character. She has looked menacing. She is stronger than the protagonist. An interesting antagonist. If not for the stunning visuals there would be nothing left in the Multiverse of Madness.
Somehow, I feel Marvel is just trying to cash on the MCU and all the hype that they have created over the years leading to End Game. It’s like milking the cow till it gives you profits. Emotions wise it strikes a chord. Feels a bit illogical. The plot doesn’t completely make sense. It may make sense with respect to the MCU if Marvel plans to connect the loose ends in the future films. As a standalone film which is a sequel to Doctor Strange, I would say the first film is better. I would’ve preferred if this one was also in the same zone as the previous part. The previous part was also far more interesting and memorable. The elements of horror and the dark treatment don’t add on much apart from giving you some momentary thrills and chills down your spine. The world of Doctor Strange has become gloomy which doesn’t feel very appealing. I feel Marvel is in an experimental mode. It was evident with what they did to No Way Home.
The cinematography, editing, production design, background music, sound design, Vfx, all of it is brilliant. The action is very good. Benedict Cumberbatch steals the show with his performance. Xochitl Gomez is impressive. America Chavez is an interesting character with an interesting superpower. Her story is also very intriguing. It deserves its own origin story and a unique place in the MCU. Since it has been introduced in the film it should definitely have some relevance to the future Doctor Strange films as well as the MCU. Doctor Strange could be to America what Tony Stark was to Peter Parker. This is what I could make out when I saw America training at Kamar-Taj towards the end of the film. Benedict Wong is good as usual. Rachel McAdams does a fine job. Overall, the film is a good watch I’m not sure of the repeat value though because I am not really the audience for films with elements of horror or horror films in general but yeah you can watch it once it’ll not disappoint you for sure.
About The Author
Aaditya Bagwe
Aaditya Bagwe is a filmmaker, writer, director, producer and actor. The founder of Infinite Eight Filmverse. He has been writing about films since 2015. A film school graduate in BSC in Film and Television Production with specialization in Direction. A diploma holder in Acting. He has done a short course in Film Appreciation conducted by FTII. Formerly having worked with Pop Diaries as a film review writer. He brings to you his multiverse of writings about films, web series and the entire cinematic universe.
