On one hand, I can safely say that “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” lived up to the hype, but on the other, the concept was ripe with so much more possibility that could have been used.
It’s definitely a wild ride and a big improvement on the first Doctor Strange (2016) film and acts as a direct sequel – mostly.
The pacing is rushed and a lot of information is thrown at audience members.
Suffice to say, I enjoyed it overall for the visual effects, music, and exploration of horror elements in fantasy.
But, it could have been tweaked to flow better.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a superhero film based on Marvel Comics featuring the character Doctor Strange.
Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the sequel to Doctor Strange (2016) and the 28th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
The movie is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, frightening images, and some language and clocks in at 126 minutes long.
The film was directed by Sam Raimi, written by Michael Waldron, and stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange, alongside Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jett Klyne, Julian Hilliard, Patrick Stewart, Lashana Lynch, Hayley Atwell, Anson Mount, and Rachel McAdams.
America Chavez (Gomez) and a version of Dr. Stephen Strange (Cumberbatch) are chased by a demon in the space between universes while searching for the Book of Vishanti.
Strange is killed and Chavez accidentally creates a portal that transports herself and Strange's corpse to Earth-616, where that universe's version of Strange rescues Chavez from an octopus demon with help from the Sorcerer Supreme Wong (Wong).
Chavez explains that demons are hunting her because she has the power to travel through the multiverse.
Recognizing witchcraft runes on the demon, Strange decides to consult Wanda Maximoff (Olsen) for help, only to realize that she is responsible for the attacks.
Since acquiring the Darkhold and becoming the Scarlet Witch, Maximoff believes that controlling the multiverse with Chavez's power will allow her to reunite with Billy (Hilliard) and Tommy (Klyne), the children she believed she created during her time in Westview.
When Strange refuses to surrender Chavez, Maximoff attacks Kamar-Taj, killing many sorcerers.
Chavez accidentally transports herself and Strange across the multiverse from their own Earth-616 to Earth-838.
Maximoff uses the Darkhold to "dream-walk", taking control of her Earth-838 counterpart who lives a suburban life with her own Billy and Tommy.
A surviving Kamar-Taj sorceress sacrifices herself to destroy the Darkhold and break the dream-walk.
Enraged, Maximoff then forces Wong to reveal to her the secrets of the Darkhold.
Wong later leads Maximoff to Mount Wundagore, a forbidden place for the Masters of the Mystic Arts to set foot in and where they find the ruins of an ancient fortress.
Wong explains to Maximoff how eons ago, the first demon Chthon inscribed the spells of his unholy magic into the walls of the ancient castle which was later transcribed into the book later known as the Darkhold.
While searching for help,
Strange and Chavez are arrested by Earth-838's Sorcerer Supreme Karl Mordo (Ejiofor) and brought before the Illuminati, a secret society consisting of Mordo, Captain Peggy Carter (Atwell), King Blackagar Boltagon (Mount), Captain Marvel Maria Rambeau (Lynch), Doctor Reed Richards (Krasinski), and Professor Charles Xavier (Stewart).
