With everything happening in the country right now, not many people get the time or money to run to the cinema to watch the latest movie, even when it’s one from the MCU. However, this writer ended up at the cinema the day Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness came to theatres, to see a cinema packed on a weekday morning. Excitement thickened the air even before the screen lit up; but did the highly-anticipated instalment of the MCU deliver? 

If you’re yet to watch this movie, a word of caution before you proceed, that word being: SPOILERS!

In case you didn’t take that warning seriously enough, here’s some spoilers for you.

Sorry not sorry

Still here? Great. Let’s get to the real stuff. 

My own reactions to the movie may be a tad different to those of the rest of the audience, since I opted to go trailer-less and spoiler-less into this movie. This was achieved through great self control and one memorable occasion of plugging in earphones and humming very loudly in the cinema (yes, that actually happened, pre-movie trailers are a menace).

While Dr. Strange was instrumental in previous Marvel movies, his last (and first) solo film was in 2016, six years ago in a world that had no clue what COVID-19 is. In short, it was a really long time ago. However, something that stayed in our collective memories (or at least mine) were the visuals. The mirror dimension portrayal in the 2016 film was such an aesthetic marvel (no pun intended) that Dr. Strange scenes became a favourite simply for their visual splendour. 

Multiverse of Madness delivers spectacularly on that front, with the visual complexity one of the best that the MCU has seen. Whether it’s showcasing colourful universes, the mirror dimension, the place between worlds, or the horror-esque scenes nearing the film’s climax (more on that later), the visuals always came through. Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Strange(s) is always a treat to watch, which helped the film along. 

As chaotic and disarrayed as the different universes in the multiverse were, so was the plot of the movie. While some people were disappointed in the mess the plot had become (due to a change in directors, rescheduling, and switching places in the grand scheme of the MCU) the disarray played perfectly into the “multiverse of madness” theme. 

However, remember what I said about the last solo film being a long time ago? This fact comes into play in another (intended) key aspect of the plot: The romance.  Christine Palmer, a character we haven’t seen in six long years, makes a comeback. This writer had forgotten all about the romantic interest; when the good Dr. West says he didn’t get the girl, this writer said, “What girl?”

This girl, who is getting married to another man, not that this stops Strange

The romance for Strange did not mesh with the rest of the movie; how does pining for a woman even come close to being important when you’re a character grappling with the fact that you erased half of all living creatures in the entire universe to save it? Nevertheless, Palmer only served as a point for Strange to come to key realisations about himself, in every universe. The emotional weight, which should be enough to drive Strange across universes, was not felt. 

Instead, the emotional heavy-lifting came from the Scarlet Witch, who caught this writer by surprise in her arc which showed her turning against Strange instead of allying with him. The juxtaposition of the Witch’s power and corruption against her maternal longing makes for a haunting storyline which was delivered with frightening intensity in another show-stealing performance by Elizabeth Olsen. 

The Scarlet Witch arc does seem rushed and sketchy, but the performance and visuals become her saving grace. The unexpected turn around delivers on shock value, further  fuelled by just how good of a villain she makes. Scarlet Witch draws on her old nemesis Thanos, insisting she’s ‘reasonable’ even while scorching humans into flesh melting off bones. 

This particular marvel character has suffered so much, most keenly highlighted in her line: “I blew the head off the man I loved and it meant nothing, don’t talk to me about sacrifice.” It was almost a mercy killing by this point when she met her demise, as her visible pain and sadness carried most of the emotional heft of this film. However, we are left wondering if this is the last we’ll see of this character, so soon after she came into power.

Witchcraft is dark and sinister in the multiverse of madness

However, in this particular arc, where the romance would’ve been expected, we’re given no information about white vision. It’s as if the WandaVision droid never existed. The only reference to Vision is given early on in the film, when Wanda mentions that Vision thought the multiverse to be dangerous. 

Speaking of the multiverse, the titular concept of the film, and the excuse for much of it’s visual flair, is dismally underexplored in the movie. The only true glimpse we get into the magnitude of this discovery is the dialogue when we’re told that in the infinite multiverse, there exists a solution to every problem, every disease. Unfortunately, other than that single moment, the multiverse might as well have been a series of mirror dimensions, as it was all visual spectacle with no intellectual weight, and the only emotional weight being the various cameos littered throughout. 

One must admit the multiverse got a healthy sprinkling of cameos; if the purpose of the multiverse was to combine all the nostalgia fans could think of, then this film would get the gold star. Reed Richards, Captain Carter, Charles Xavier, Black Bolt, Maria Rambeau’s Captain Marvel, and even Karl Mordo show up in alternate universes. However, with the lack of a buildup, the moment fails to match up to Spiderman: No Way Home, which will retain the title of best MCU film to explore the multiverse. 

However, a key feature which differentiated the film from previous instalments, even of Dr. Strange himself, is the clear influence of the horror genre, thanks to director Sam Raimi of Evil Dead fame. The horror gets more intense towards the climax of the film, while the premise is typical Marvel, with bright colours and jokes thrown in here and there. While some of the more hilarious interactions lasted the length of the film, like the dynamic between Strange and Wong, the film did become noticeably darker towards its conclusion, with ghouls, zombies, and possession taking centrestage.

I don’t think I’ll forget the picture of a blood soaked Elizabeth Olsen limping after the protagonists in a dark tunnel anytime soon.

New hero or not? The new character lacks, well, character

Last but not least, the audience is introduced to a new character America Chavez, whose bright and bubbly (at least more bubbly than the rest of them) performance gives the film the Marvel vibe even when Raimi’s influence takes over. America is a great character and her unique power drives the plot forward; however, we’re not given much to relate to on her end and by the time the movie came to a close this writer did not feel a particular bond with the character. 

However, shoutout to her two moms, and the pride pin she wears on her jacket the entire movie. 

All in all, the multiverse of madness is a must watch, simply for the visual masterpiece it is, and for a healthy dose of nostalgia if you’re a long time fan. Fans of Strange get to see multiple versions of him in this film (not all of them nice), but for fans of Scarlet Witch, the film is a tad more macabre.  

The stage is set for Dr. Strange to return, with the addition of his third eye and the appearance of Clea, a long-time ally of Strange and his eventual successor in the comics, in the post-credits scene.

Article by Paramie Jayakody

The post WE’RE ALL MAD HERE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS appeared first on ChoKoLAAte Blog.

By Shamindri De Sayrah

Despite a pandemic that kept getting worse, lockdown, closed cinemas at the start of the year, continuously delayed movies and much more, 2021 was still a great year for film, in both forms, Theatre and Streaming. We saw a multitude of amazing films and epic moments, true works of art when it comes to cinema, spectacular musicals and epic superhero films. With 2022 comes a host of new movies and shows for us to sink our teeth into. These are 18 of the most anticipated films of 2022.

Death on the Nile | In Theaters on Friday, February 11th 2022

Death on the Nile is an upcoming mystery thriller film Directed by Kenneth Branagh. Starring Gal Gadot, Kenneth Branagh, Rose Leslie and Letitia Wright. The story follows Hercule Poirot in his search for a murderer amongst the passengers of the S.S. Karnak.

Uncharted | In Theaters on Friday, February 18^th, 2022

Uncharted is an upcoming American action-adventure film, starring Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg, Sophia Ali and Antonio Banderas. The story is a prequel to the games, starring Holland as a younger Nick Drake, a descendent of explorer Sir Francis Drake showing us details of how he came to meet and befriend Sully and learns the whereabouts of El Dorado, the fabled South American golden city.

I don’t think I need to convince you much to watch this film considering the fact that Tom Holland is Starring in it, but for all you game fans out there, before you judge, I suggest you give it a chance first before pointing out every single thing that’s different. Just enjoy the movie.

The Batman | In Theaters on Friday, March 4th, 2022

This is it DC fans, the moment you’ve been waiting for ever since you saw that headline that read “Robert Pattinson to Star as Batman”. Directed by Matt Reeves. With Barry Keoghan, Zoë Kravitz, Peter Sarsgaard and Robert Pattinson, this adaptation follows Batman in his second year of fighting crime, as uncovers corruption in Gotham City that connects to his own family while facing a serial killer known as the Riddler. The hype has been building, time for the moment of truth. Think you’re ready?

Downton Abbey: A New Era | In Theaters on Friday, March 18^th, 2022

Lord and Lady Grantham request the pleasure of all moviegoers’ company at their Yorkshire country estate this March. A follow-up to the 2019 feature film Downtown Abbey. Starring Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Imelda Staunton and Tuppence Middleton.

The Lost City | In Theaters on Friday, March 25th, 2022

In this romantic, adventure, comedy film reclusive author Loretta Sage writes about exotic places in her popular adventure novels that feature a handsome cover model named Alan. While on tour promoting her new book with Alan, Loretta gets kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire who hopes she can lead him to an ancient city’s lost treasure from her latest story. Determined to prove he can be a hero in real life and not just on the pages of her books, Alan sets off to rescue her. Featuring an all star cast, Daniel Radcliffe, Sandra Bullock, Brad Pitt, Channing Tatum. If this wild story isn’t enough to make you want to watch it, the idea of Bullock, Tatum, Radcliffe and Pitt in one movie should be.

Morbius | In Theaters on Friday, April 1st 2022

After being delayed yet again, and many, many theories swirling around this movie, we are so close to the premiere of the long awaited origin story of the living vampire, Morbius. A film that even before its premiere has us all asking many, many questions. The story of biochemist Michael Morbius, who tries to cure himself of a rare blood disease, but when his experiment goes wrong, he inadvertently infects himself with a form of vampirism instead. Starring Jared Leto, Michael Keaton, Adria Arjona and Jared Harris. Marvel fans, I know you guys cannot wait to see what all those Spiderman eggs mean, and if we’ll be getting any surprise cameos. Well me too.

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore | Expected in Theaters Friday, April 15^th, 2022

It’s a good year to be a Potterhead. First the Harry Potter Reunion and now after facing many delays, Fantastic Beasts 3 is finally releasing. In the third installment, Professor Albus Dumbledore knows the powerful, dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts magizoologist Newt Scamander to lead an intrepid team of wizards and witches. They soon encounter an array of old and new beasts as they clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers. Starring Jude Law, Mads Mikkelsen, Ezra Miller and Eddie Redmayne.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness | In Theaters on Friday, May 6^th 2022

This is it Marvel fans, the biggest MCU film of 2022, especially considering all the rumored cameos, the scale of this film, and what it means for the future of the MCU, this could be Marvel’s biggest blockbuster of the year. In Doctor Strange 2, Dr. Stephen Strange casts a forbidden spell that opens the door to the multiverse, including an alternate version of himself, whose threat to humanity is too great for the combined forces of Strange, Wong, and Wanda Maximoff. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Rachel McAdams, Michael Stuhlbarg and Benedict Wong.

DC League of Super-Pets | In Theaters on Friday, May 20th 2022

DC is bringing the light with this. Featuring an all star voice cast that includes Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Kate McKinnon, John Krasinski, Vanessa Bayer, Natasha Lyonne, Diego Luna, Thomas Middleditch, Ben Schwartz, and Keanu Reeves, DC League of Super-Pets follows the story of Krypto the Super-Dog. Krypto and Superman are inseparable best friends, sharing the same superpowers and fighting crime side by side in Metropolis. However, when the Man of Steel and the rest of the Justice League are kidnapped, Krypto must convince a ragtag group of animals to master their own newfound powers for a rescue mission.

Top Gun: Maverick | In Theaters on Friday, May 27^th 2022

I Feel The Need… The Need For Speed! Tom Cruise is back in Top Gun: Maverick. After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete Mitchell is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. He must soon confront the past while training a new squad of graduates for a dangerous mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice. This one’s been a long time coming. Here’s hoping it was worth the wait.

Jurassic World: Dominion | Expected in Theaters on Friday, June 10^th 2022

The third installment of the Jurassic World franchise. Although not much is known about the plot, one thing we do know is we will be seeing the original cast members from Jurassic Park appearing in this film. Starring Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jeff Goldblum, Laura Dern and Sam Neil.

Lightyear | In Theaters on Friday, June 17^th 2022

One of the year’s most anticipated animated films is the origin story of none other than action figure Buzz Lightyear and his adventures to infinity and, well you know the rest. Featuring the voice of Chris Evans as Buzz.

Thor: Love and Thunder | Expected In Theaters on Friday, July 8^th 2022

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Natalie Portman and Christian Bale and directed by Taika Waititi, Thor: Love and Thunder is the direct sequel to Thor: Ragnarok and the 29th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Black Adam | Expected in Theaters on Friday, July 29^th 2022

Dwayne Johnson makes his debut in the DC Universe as Black Adam! With a plot that is being kept tightly under wraps, however it is meant to be a spin-off from ‘Shazam!’ centering on the film’s anti-hero, Black Adam.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One) | Expected in Theaters on Friday, October 7^th 2022

Miles Morales is back at it! In the long awaited sequel to the 2018 film Into the Spider-Verse, Miles Morales returns for the next chapter of the Spider-Verse saga, in an epic adventure that will transport Brooklyn’s full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man across the Multiverse to join forces with Gwen Stacy and a new team of Spider-People to face off with a villain more powerful than anything they have ever encountered. Featuring the voices of Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld and Oscar Isaac.

The Flash | In Theaters on Friday, November 4^th, 2022

It’s finally time for the Scarlet Speedster’s solo film! Starring Ezra Miller as Barry Allen, Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck. Although the plot is being kept under wraps, the glimpse we got at the trailer definitely suggests some Multiversal exploits, a doppleganger or two, cameos and more. So strap in DC fans, we are in for an epic DC solo film.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | Expected in Theaters on Friday, November 11^th, 2022

We return to the beloved land of Wakanda for the long awaited and now, incredibly emotional sequel that will continue to explore the world of Wakanda and all the characters introduced in the 2018 film Black Panther. Directed by Ryan Coogler. Starring Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta, Winston Duke and Danai Gurira.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom | In Theaters on Thursday, December 16^th 2022

In the sequel to the 2018 film, Aquaman forges an uneasy alliance with an unlikely ally to save Atlantis and the rest of the planet. Starring Jason Momoa, Nicole Kidman Willem Dafoe and Amber Heard.

Avatar 2 | Expected in Theaters on Friday, December 16th 2022

In the long, long awaited sequel to James Cameron’s 2009 masterpiece, we see Jake Sully and Ney’tiri years after the events of the first movie, the two have formed a family and are doing everything to stay together. However, they must leave their home and explore the regions of Pandora. When an ancient threat resurfaces, Jake must fight a difficult war against the humans. Starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver and Kate Winslet.

Knives Out 2 | Expected to Premiere on Netflix Late 2022

The highly anticipated murder-mystery sequel to Knives Out written, directed, and produced by Rian Johnson focuses on Benoit Blanc, a master detective taking on a new murder case. Rian Johnson has confirmed that, outside of the return of Daniel Craig, this film will have no connection to Knives Out 2019. It will follow Blanc’s next mystery. With a stellar cast, led by Daniel Craig and starring Jessica Henwick, Kathryn Hahn, Ethan Hawke, Dave Bautista, Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Madelyn Cline, Janelle Monáe and Leslie Odom Jr.

The post 20 of The Most Anticipated Films of 2022 appeared first on ChoKoLAAte Blog.