Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was a treat in the VFX department but an absolute miss when the story is concerned!

Benedict Cumberbatch and Elizabeth Olsen starrer Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a rollercoaster of visually stunning dimensions in an intense tale of pain and despair!

We’ve always been taught since childhood that with great power comes great responsibility but as we grow up we learn that not everyone puts their powers to good use and everyone also can't be trusted. That’s exactly what Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness revolves around. Carrying forward the arcs that were initiated in Spider-Man: No Way Home and WandaVision, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness portrays an evil side of Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) which I was definitely not ready for. Being debatably one of the strongest avengers, Wanda aka The Scarlet Witch ensues chaos throughout the film as she's on the quest of reuniting with her sons through another universe. But she needs someone to get there and that someone is just a mere teenage girl, America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) who just unintentionally happens to have the power to hop from one dimension to the other without facing any obstacles. So it goes without saying that if she’s possessed by the wrong person she could be heavily misused. 

But as we all know Doctor Strange will always make sure to keep things in order, especially when he knows he’s the reason why the multiverse opened in the first place. Along with Wong (Benedict Wong) and Christine (Rachel McAdams), he goes through multiple face-offs with The Scarlet Witch but all of them fall short to defeat her.

After Avengers: Endgame which turned out to be one of the greatest movies of all time and set the benchmark for future Marvel movies and TV shows, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness feels a bit too long to keep track of. Even for a Marvel fan like me, the movie could’ve been a little confusing especially when it came to the cameos, it could've probably worked if I was well-versed with all the comics as well. But what did work for me though was the acting. Be it Benedict Cumberbatch playing four different versions of Doctor Strange who he faces through his journey in the Multiverse whilst also being separated from the love of his life in every universe there is, or Elizabeth Olsen who sends chills down your spine as the Scarlet Witch or makes you feel the pain of a mother longing for her children. 

Another aspect that completely stood out to me throughout the film was the visual effects. Marvel movies which obviously heavily rely on VFX, have given us some visual masterpieces in the past with movies like Guardians of the Galaxy, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, and now this one makes it to the list as well. In a scene where two Doctor Stranges have a battle by throwing musical notes at each other, or when the big silver star that comes every time America opens the Multiverse, looks visually extravagant and manages to give us the best version of the fantasy world these characters live in. 

Marvel films have an army of people working behind the scenes who are barely even acknowledged by the audiences. Sam Raimi who has previously directed the Tobey Mcguire version of the SpiderMan trilogy makes a comeback in the MCU with this film and kept me on the edge of my seat while creating tension through silences before the horror scenes in the film; something that we’ve not seen in a Marvel movie before. Graham Churchyard’s costume design made even the scariest of villains like The Scarlet Witch look stunning in her signature red crown and suit. Doctor Strange’s cloak could almost be considered as a supporting character in the film, especially the smartly placed alterations done to it so it’s easier to identify our Doctor Strange.

But in the end, even if the superhero saves day genre is loved by all, the climax felt a bit melodramatic. However, like every Marvel movie, this one too has a post-credit scene with a major cliffhanger that left me shook and eagerly waiting for the next film.  

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is screening in theatres near you!

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