Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

The Marvel Studios MultiPhasic Blockbuster Franchise Factory drops another massive earner onto an eager pandemic-weary public, and as you’d expect, it’s good. It’s really good.

Bizarre, but in a good way.

The successfully understated Benedict Cumberbatch reprises his role as Doctor Strange, Earth’s one-time Sorcerer Supreme (long story) who finds himself locking spells with a former hero turned multiversal megalomaniac. The story, a expertly-blended tale of power, loss, and regret, takes us across several continents, and several universes where we meet some familiar faces from a franchise far far away. Great stuff – just what the good doctor ordered.

What I really liked about this movie (aside from the humour, the action, the special effects) was the sense of growth. The script, combined with Cumberbatch’s performance showed a powerful man trying to prevent himself from being consumed by it – and his own, almost superhuman arrogance makes the ordeal so much harder. And the other characters grow along the way – even the villain.

The best Marvel outing this year?

Probably.

Spider-man: No Way Home

Right off the bat, I’m going to say this movie is a winner. Definitely the best Spider-man movie so far and … yup, I’m going to say it … possibly the best movie in the Marvel Studios franchise to date.

Jon Watts, the director, has packed everything into this SUV of motion picture: it’s got laughter, tears, more villains than you can shake a stick at, stomach-spinning action sequences – and Benedict Cumberbatch’s dry and hilarious turn as Doctor Strange.

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