I remember waiting for the post credit scenes after watching Spider-Man: No Way Home, and the Doc Strange trailer popping up. And within an instant, the theatre screamed in joy simply because of how exciting it looked. Then came the era of the rumours and the spoilers, increasing the excitement for the D-Day. While the Sam Raimi directorial takes an audacious step towards the multiverse, there’s still a lot of room for the MCU to improve in the ‘Multiverse’ of things.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, takes Marvel fans on a captivating adventure into the unknown. With a gripping storyline, and a talented ensemble cast, the film delivers a rollercoaster ride. But the film acts more like a ‘kuch nahi mil raha toh ye kar lete hai.’ There’s so much to the plot that potentially iconic characters get minimal screen-time. With the introduction of the multiverse and various parallel realities, the plot can become convoluted and overwhelming. Simplifying certain aspects could have made the story more accessible to a broader audience.
The film’s visual effects are a mix of breathtaking and laughter inducing. The exploration of the multiverse allows for awe-inspiring sequences that defy logic and immerse viewers in a mesmerizing spectacle. But the pressure on the VFX artists shows as the shots are a hit and a miss. Sam Raimi tried his best to visualise an unseen world, but the VFX doesn’t really sit right with the audience at all times.
The story is about Stephen Strange aka our Doc Strange saving an unknon teenager America Chavez who can travel through different universes. They team up in the process, and travel through the multiverse to fight various threats trying to understand ki ho kya raha hai. But the plot gets too messy for a movie that’s just starting to explore the multiverse. For the most part, it seems like a private screening for the diehard Marvel geeks, who know the MCU inside out.
The Two Benedicts and a terrifying Olsen steal the show
Benedict Cumberbatch once again shines in the role of Doctor Strange, who is still catching up with the world as Wong, played Benedict Wong is the new Sorcerer Supreme. Elizabeth Olsen delivers a powerful performance as Scarlet Witch, infusing the narrative with emotional depth. The talented ensemble cas enhances the film’s dynamics and plays a notable but small part in the narration. I would be hiding things if I didn’t mention that the character writing had flaws. Characters like Mordo and Wong, are left with limited arcs. This underutilization diminishes the potential for compelling character dynamics and develops a sense of void in the movie.
Audacious Attempt at Exploring New Realities
The film does a good job trying to explore the vast and diverse multiverse, expanding the Marvel universe in exciting ways. It introduces audiences to parallel dimensions with a unique past and interesting inhabitants (*wink wink*), providing endless storytelling possibilities. But this also means that deaths become less effective. Aise toh har doosre movie mein same characters from a different universe will continue to appear. The people at MCU need to figure out a way to make sure that the addition of the multiverse doesn’t tone down the overall emotion the fans have associated with the franchise.
One thing that I really liked about the movie was the way it embraces a darker, psychological tone. It creatively infuses elements of horror and fantasy, offering a fresh take on the traditional superhero genre. But the transitions between tones can be jarring. The shifts from intense horror to lighthearted superhero banter occasionally undermine the impact of the darker themes. Striking a more seamless balance between the contrasting tones would have enhanced the overall viewing experience.
It shows that Kevin Fiege has acted as an Indian parent who overworks his kids, and then gets mad when they underperform. This movie is a mixed bag for me, and a lesson for the guys at MCU to focus over quality than quantity. Because, in every universe, fans will love Marvel, and the love needs to be respected.
