DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS (2022) Review
Directed by Sam Raimi
What I first noticed while watching Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is that the film doesn’t have the Marvel texture. It looks and feels more of a Sam Raimi movie and that’s fantastic! Fantastic because I, myself, admit that most Marvel films recently look alike a lot. And the Doctor Strange sequel felt more of a Raimi campy horror movie than another Marvel blockbuster movie.
Being more of a Raimi movie than a Marvel movie made Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness more exciting, it kind of feels like there’s more to the visuals.
Visually, it feels like New York in Raimi’s Spider-Man. The production design isn’t as clean as the usual Marvel look, the texture is somewhat darker and busier, and the direction snappier.
There are a lot of improvements here. Marvel going a little unconventional and going horror, in a way. But I can also admit that it is a lot to take in. There are a lot of story arcs in here. Doctor Strange exploring the multiverse, the new character America Chavez, Marvel crazily gets Wanda Maximoff as the film’s villain, Wanda exploring the multiverse, America Chavez wanting to control her powers, Doctor Strange and his failed relationship with Cristine Palmer… You may think I’m giving away or spoiling too much but the truth is, I’m not.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a crazy ride. A lot of surprises and more surprises from those surprises. It’s crazy. But the bottom line is that the film definitely adds another layer to the story of not just Doctor Strange but also to Wanda, Wong, Cristine, America, and maybe to the other supporting characters in the movie.
I can say the story is essential to the Marvel Cinemativ Universe and it did deliver the good stuff not just visually but also emotionally.
4 OUT OF 5 STARS
Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now showing in Philippine cinemas and IMAX Theatres. Rated PG by the MTRCB.