An unlikely friendship!

"The Unbeatable Squirell Girl" by North, Charm, and Renzi

Kushala: Apache Warrior, Sorceress Supreme, Demon Rider

She-Hulk (2022) - Rainbow Rowell

The Darkhold TP (2021)

Can this game PLEASE come out soon

Midnight Suns - Q3/Q4 2022

[SPOILERS] My Version of “Multiverse of Madness”

Sooo, I didn’t really like Doctor Strange: MoM. I think it had a lot of great elements but ultimately mismanaged its characters and story. So, for my own mental health, I want to try to put together the beats of what my version of Multiverse of Madness looks like! My priorities with this are to better allow the characters the opportunity to have their convictions challenged and to allow the multiversal sub-plot to have more immediate relevance to the MCU while preserving as much of the original movie as possible.

Opening Images: Marvel Studios logo sequence plays but with a slightly altered introduction song that feels familiar to the one we know but shifted into a different key

Opening Scene: Screen cuts to black. A mysterious girl’s voice echoes through the darkness. “Strange. Strange,” she calls “Strange, get up!” Cut to a close up of Doctor Strange’s face as his eyes shoot open while gasping for air. The mysterious girl, dressed in red, white, and blue, approaches Dr. Strange, lying dazed on the ground, and shakes him awake. “We have to keep going, she’s coming!” Doctor Strange stands and continues to flee with the girl. As they run, the walls and floor of the temple around them begin to warp and shatter (as if in the mirror dimension) as red and black smoke surrounds from behind. Strange, dressed differently than we’ve seen him before, urges the girl to use her powers. “ I can’t! I don’t know how!” she exclaims. Strange suddenly stops in his tracks. “What are you doing?!” the girl screams. Strange turns to look at her, “I’m sorry America. I hope the next is better.” Strange rears his arm back and thrusts his palm into America Chavez’s chest as if to summon her astral form. In doing so, America’s powers activate and a large star-shaped portal opens behind her. Strange pushes America’s body through the portal, but just as she falls through a dark silhouette emerges from the smoke, with a blinding red light behind it. Strange is suddenly surrounded by a twisting red aura. Cut to a close up of Strange’s face as he screams out in pain.

Just a Dream: Screen cuts to Doctor Strange as he jolts out of bed in a panic. Strange, still catching his breath, turns to his phone which has a new message from Christine Palmer that reads “Thank you for coming <3.” Strange sighs to himself before getting out of bed. While dressing into a suit, Strange peers out the window of the Sanctum Santorum to look onto the streets below while the sound of church bells can be heard in the distance. Cut to the interior of a church as Strange makes his way through the crowd to find his seat. Strange sits down to realize Nic West, his former colleague at Metro-General Hospital, is sat next to him. The two make awkward conversation where West reveals that during the blip he became the new head of neuro-surgery. Strange congratulates West on his accomplishment but West responds distantly in thought, “You know Stephen? After everything that’s happened, after Thanos, I found myself asking what’s the point? When some mad, purple, alien can just snap away half of all life what control do I really have over my own life? Even the great Stephen Strange must feel his own limits too?” Cut to Strange with a perplexed and thoughtfully concerned look on his face. Wedding music plays. Everyone looks down the isle to see Christine Palmer in full gown. Stephen smiles. Cut to a conversation between Christine and Strange after the ceremony, where Christine once again thanks Stephen for coming. She looks down and grabs Stephen’s hand, turning it to look at his cracked watch. “You still have this old thing?” she asks. Stephen smiles, “It’s a reminder of what I’m protecting.” Suddenly, screams and car crashes can be heard in the distance. Cut to Strange and the rest of the wedding party rushing towards a nearby balcony. As Strange looks down onto the streets he sees vehicles being thrown around by a mysterious invisible force. Casting a spell, Strange reveals the force to be a massive demonic creature, bound in runes, which seems to be attacking a panicked America Chavez. Stephen, now in his traditional sorcerer's outfit, uses his magic to combat the creature and save America Chavez. Wong soon appears from a portal to assist Strange’s defense. Eventually, the two defeat the demon and focus on America as she attempts to flee. Strange casts his Cloak of Levitation to intercept America while he and Wong open a portal to close into her. “Do I know you?” Strange asks. “You don’t, but we’re good friends. My name is America Chavez” America responds. “Why was that monster attacking you?” questions Strange accusatorily. “I can explain back at the Sanctum, we’re safer there.” America answers. Strange and Wong look at each other perplexed.

From Westview to Witch: Cut to inside of the Sanctum Santorum where Strange and Wong order nearby masters to take America to a room until they can question her. America attempts to protest and insists that she’s here to warn him but she is cut off as she is ushered into another room. Strange and Wong both begin to question to each other. “Have you seen such a creature before?” Wong asks Strange. “No, but did you notice...” Strange begins as Wong interjects, “The runes.” “This is not sorcery then,” Wong suspects. “Witchcraft,” says Stephen. “Do you know of anybody who might be able to help?” Wong asks. “I do,” Strange responds. Cue WandaVision musical rift. Cut to Wanda Maximoff as she is tending to an orchard of blossoming apple trees. Wanda looks peaceful in her task until she stops and looks into the distance. “I know you’re here Mr. Strange,” Wanda speaks. “Doctor actually,” Stephen responds. “Then what do I owe for the visit of the great Doctor Strange?” Wanda jests inquisitively, “If you’re here about Westview I’m sorry. I was a bit lost, but I’ve set everything right now.” “Everything was put back in order, you’ve righted your wrongs. I’m not here about Westview,” Strange replies. Wanda, with an investigative look on her face, looks directly at Strange now. “I’ve run into a little bit of trouble and I could use an Avenger right about now,” says Stephen. “There are plenty of other Avengers that could help,” Wanda responds. “Not one as powerful a witch as you Wanda,” Stephen says. Wanda takes on a slightly defensive stance and once again focuses her attention on Strange. “We’ve had a bit of an incident which could use your expertise. Young girl was attacked by an invisible demon covered in dark runes, you know, the typical stuff.” Strange explains. “I’m sorry Stephen, but I’m done with the hero stuff. I think I deserve a little peace out here with my trees.” Wanda apologizes as she resumes to prune her trees. “For now we’re keeping the girl at Kamar-Taj but in the case of another attack we could really use your help.” Strange persists. “Like I said, I’m out. I’m sorry. I hope America stays safe though.” Wanda defends. Stephen turns to look at Wanda and stares. “You never mentioned her name, did you?” Wanda asks defeatedly. “No I didn’t,” Stephen firmly states. Wanda waves her hand and undoes the surrounding illusion, which reveals her Scarlet Witch outfit and an orchard of dying trees. “You sent the demon. What do you want from her?” Stephen questions. “That girl has more power than you could ever imagine Stephen. She has the ability to travel across the multiverse at will.” Wanda explains. “The multiverse? Wanda, the multiverse is a wildly dangerous force which we know frighteningly little about!” Stephen exclaims. “Somewhere out there, in a sea of infinite realities, is everything I’ve ever lost. My brother, my husband... my children.” Wanda trails off. “Wanda,” Strange interjects, “your brother and Vision are dead. And your children...” “Stop.” Wanda forcibly ejects. “Your children aren’t real,” Stephen persists. “They are! They were... Somewhere out there they still are. All of them.” Wanda explains, “Give me the girl. Let me use her power to find my family and you will never hear from me or see me again.” “Wanda, I can’t let you do that. Not only are talking about hurting an innocent person but you’re attempting to mess with powers that we know almost nothing about,” Stephen says. “And what about you?” Wanda questions, “What about when you let Thanos snap away half of all reality? When you let him kill Vision?” “That’s not fair. It was the only way.” Stephen attempts to defend. “Hmm.. it seems that when you break the rules, you become a hero. When I do it, I’m the enemy. That doesn’t seem fair.” Wanda responds. Stephen opens a portal to Kamar-Taj, “I’m going to stop you,” he warns. “You can certainly try, Doctor Strange.” Wanda responds. Stephen steps through the portal to Kamar-Taj leaving Wanda behind.

The Last Stand at Kamar-Taj: Upon returning to Kamar-Taj, Stephen tells Wong to grab the girl and to summon all of the Masters. Gathered within the center of Kamar-Taj, all of the Master Sorcerers, Strange, Wong, and America all gather to discuss the incoming threat. “We’ve got a big threat coming our way,” Strange begins. “The Scarlet Witch...” America interjects. “Who seems to know quite a bit about you.” Strange responds. “The Scarlet Witch?!” Wong interrupts, “Strange, the Scarlet Witch is an ancient prophesized force said to have been created by the first demon Chthon, meant to channel the powers of his magic. If Wanda Maximoff truly is the Scarlet Witch then we are all in far more danger that we expected.” Strange turns to America, “Tell us what you know,” he says. “I tried to tell you earlier but you wouldn’t listen. No matter which you you are, you’re always so stubborn!” America pushes back. “What do you mean, we’ve never met.” Strange responds. “Yes we have,” America pushes back “at least a dozen times. Wanda has been hunting me down across the multiverse. And you, or at least the other yous, have always tried to help me stop her...” America trails off, “But she always finds us. And you always die.” “My dreams...” Stephen utters to himself. “Yeah, dreams give you a glance into the lives of you from other realities. Those were all Stephen Stranges, all of whom died trying to protect me...” America explains. “What do you mean Wanda has been hunting you? Can she travel through the multiverse too?” Wong asks. “No,” America responds, “the Scarlet Witch is known as a nexus being. A being that is the same no matter what reality she is in. In every reality Wanda lost her family and in every reality she’s tried to hunt me to use my powers to find them. She’s been using a book called the Darkhold...” “The Darkhold! But that book was said to be a fable,” Wong interrupts. “It isn’t,” America explains, “and the Scarlet Witch is somehow using it to commune with herself from other realities. An infinite number of her all joined under a single mind.” “As Sorcerer Supreme,” Wong proclaims, “It is my sacred duty to protect all who seek refuge within the walls of Kamar-Taj. Masters, rally your students. Kamar-Taj is must now become of fortress.” Students and Masters alike all take arms and behind conjuring a series of enchantments to defend Kamar-Taj from Wanda Maximoff’s eventual assault. Soon, a massive looming dark cloud, made of red and black some, appears over Kamar-Taj casting it into a dark shadow. From the smoke, a silhouette revealed to be Wanda Maximoff appears. Doctor Strange flies up to meet her above the temple. Wanda offers Strange one final chance to turn over America Chavez. Strange refuses, “Wanda, the Darkhold has taken over you. It’s using you!” Wanda dismisses Strange and tells him it is his fault for what is to come. As a small army of sorcerers begin to cast their protection spells, the Scarlet Witch flies around Kamar-Taj attempting to look for an opening. She eventually locks her attention onto a young student who is trembling in fear. Cut to the visage of Wanda Maximoff appearing behind the student and whispering the word “run” into his ear. The student soon breaks his protection spell and flees in fear from Wanda, while knocking into other sorcerers along the way. Having found her opening, Wanda begins her assault on Kamar-Taj killing anybody she believes is in her way. After an unsuccessful defense from Wong, Strange, and their fellow sorcerers, Strange urges America to open a portal to another dimension. “I can’t, I don’t know how!” she responds. Strange then rears back his arm and thrusts his palm into America’s chest, as if to summon her astral form. In doing so, a large star shaped portal opens behind America. Just as Wanda is about to capture Strange, in yet another reality, Wong jumps in and saves Strange and America both. With what little time they have, Strange grabs America and jumps into the portal. Soon, the two are thrust through a variety of realities of varying styles until finally landing into a new reality all together.

Another Reality: As Strange and America recover from their teleportation, they both look around to see a version of New York City that, while familiar, is clearly altered. Strange urges that the two must find their way to the Sanctum Santorum so that they can make a plan. Upon arriving to the Sanctum, the two are faced with a memorial statue to Doctor Strange who, according to the statue’s plaque, died in the fight against Thanos. The doors to the Sanctum then open, where Karl Mordo emerges. Mordo, seriously then warmly, embraces Stephen and tells him “It’s about time.” Mordo explains that before his Stephen’s passing, he expected that another version of himself and a young girl would appear in search of help. Mordo insists, however, that they may not find help in the Sanctum but somewhere else. Mordo then opens a portal and ushers Strange and America through. Cut to a large sprawling temple, fitted with futuristing looking technologies and filled with a variety of humans, non-human creatures, and Ultron drones. Mordo summons a nearby doctor and two Ultron drones to escort America to the medical station where she may checked out by doctors. After a brief protest by America, Stephen reassures her that it’s okay. As America is ushered away, Mordo leads him into a large chamber where he introduces Stephen to the Illuminati which is comprised of: Black Bolt, Namor, Riri Williams, Reed Richards, and Charles Xavier. The members of the Illuminati begin to explain to Stephen the truth of what happened to their reality’s Doctor Strange. They explain that their Wanda Maximoff began hunting Stephen in search of a girl, but when their Strange revealed he had no knowledge of the supposed girl Wanda began to attack. The Illuminati further explains that their Stephen stole the Darkhold from Wanda and used its powers to defeat and kill her. But Stephen had taken it too far and the Darkhold’s influence had eventually gotten to him. Deciding that their Stephen was capable of causing too much damage, the Illuminati killed Strange and fabricated a lie so that the people could still have their hero. Our Doctor Strange begins to persist that the Illuminati must do something about “his” Wanda who is on her way. The Illuminati downplays Strange’s concerns stating that their Wanda was already dead but that the greatest danger to their reality, or any reality, was actually Strange himself. Suddenly an explosive sound is heard from outside of the chamber; the members of the Illuminati, excluding Charles Xavier, rush to stop the threat. Before them stands the zombified corpse of Wanda Maximoff demanding that they turn over America Chavez. Swiftly and horrifically, Wanda dispatches and kills each of the members of the Illuminati as she makes her way to the chamber. Charles Xavier urges Strange to go save America Chavez and to find a way to stop her in all realities. As Strange makes his exit, Wanda enters. Xavier attempts to psychically control Wanda for as long as he can until she eventually overpowers Xavier and kills him. Cut to Strange who swiftly dispatches the surrounding Ultron drone guards and rescues America from captivity. Strange turns to America and pleads, “Maximoff is on her way. Surely there is some way we can stop her, but not just in this reality or mine but in all of them.” “One of the othe yous mentioned a book of light that could counter the Darkhold,” America answers. “The Book of Vishantii...” Stephen exclaims, “but that is supposed to be a myth.” “That’s what you said about the Darkhold.” says America. Cut to the original reality where Wanda has Wong captured. After struggling to maintain her control within the other dimension, stating that existing as a corpse has its limitations, she tortures Wong. The Scarlet Witch laments that there must be somewhere where she can extend her control. “And surely the Sorcerer Supreme must know where...” she jests at Wong while still torturing him. Wong eventually gives into the pain, “Wundagor Mountain... The tomb of Chthon... Where the Darkhold was transcribed.” Wong reveals that Wundagor Mountain is the source of the Darkhold’s origin and that that is where the demon’s power was greatest. Wanda opens a portal and transports herself and Wong to Wundagor Mountain. Looking around Chthon’s tomb, Wanda notices a series of dark runes and spells carved within the walls. But her attention is suddenly turned towards a figure with a striking resemblance to herself. Wanda realizes what the true purpose of the tomb is, “This isn’t a tomb... it’s a temple.”

A Sorcerer and a Witch: Cut back to Strange and America in the other reality. America attempts to explain that the “other Strange” believed that the Book of Vishantii was an antithesis to counteract Chthon’s dark magic and the prophecy of the Scarlet Witch. Strange theorizes that the Book of Vishantii does not exist in every reality but instead is hidden inside one reality destined to be used by a sorcerer to counteract the Scarlet Witch’s reach within the multiverse. Strange urges America to open a portal, but America protests claiming, once again, that she cannot control her abilities. America explains that her powers first activated when she was a child; she had slipped off a cliff while playing and opened a portal out of fear never to see her family again. Eventually, she explains, she ended up on the doorstep of a version of Doctor Strange who gave her a home until the first Scarlet Witch attempted to steal her power. Suddenly the possessed corpse of Wanda Maximoff bursts into the room demanding that Strange hand over America. Strange urges America once more, “Kid, you can do this! I’ve seen you punch your way through the multiverse like it was nothing! You’ve escaped the power of the Darkhold over and over again! Feel its magic, the dark and horrible nightmares it creates and find the one place in all of reality that feels like hope!” America closes her eyes and yells as she punches into the air, summoning a massive star-shaped portal. Strange and America jump through, leaving the zombified witch behind. The two find themselves at a temple that is vaguely reminiscent of Wundagor Mountain but instead of dark runes there are wards of protection and instead of a statue of the Scarlet Witch there is a statue of a large bearded sorcerer in its place. Stephen takes his place on the alter in the middle of the temple and begins to incant the spells etched into the walls. Before him, the Book of Vishantii appears glowing a soft white light. As Stephen opens the book, his eyes glow and turn white. Camera cut to a split shot of Wanda and Strange within their mirroring realities, each equipped with their ancient tomes of magic, facing each other. Wanda calls out to Strange with a twisted, deepened, and demonic voice, “You must be Vishantii’s avatar... Stephen Strange. We have killed many of you already.” “What are you and what have you done to Wanda?!” Strange pleads. “The Scarlet Witch has long been my avatar. Over the last billion years I have whispered into the ears of young witches who would all become my champion. But this vessel, motivated by grief, by pain, by loss has been more open to receive my powers than any before her. And her reach does not end in this reality alone for she is a nexus of all being. Through her, my influence may reach into all of reality.” the possessed Wanda explains. “Not as long as there is a Doctor Stephen Strange to stand in your way! I have faced dark lords and mad titans! I have seen through my own demise to devise a plan to bring half of all existence back into the world! I was once the Sorcerer Supreme, the greatest of all sorcerers! I will stop you!” Strange refutes, “America, now!” America Chavez then opens a portal between the possessed Wanda and Doctor Strange who commence an epic battle. The two unleash a litany of powerful magics in each other's direction. As Chthon/Wanda begins to overwhelm Strange, America Chavez yells towards them, “Hey! All this was for your family right?! If that’s what you want, then here they are! Take what you want!” America then opens another portal into the living room of a simple suburban home where a young Billy and Tommy scream in horror of the demonic witch in front of them. Wanda, briefly, takes control of her body once more and confronts her children who plead for their lives. “I’m not a monster! I would never hurt...” she trails off, “I’m so sorry...” As the portal begins to close, Wanda turns towards Strange and America and begs for forgiveness. “I can make this right! I can do better...” “Wanda, let me help you! With the Book of Vishantii I can...” Strange attempts to plea. “No! There are an infinite of me but only one of you Doctor Stephen Strange. Every version of myself made the same mistakes, so it is our burden bare.” Wanda defends. Wanda, struggling for control of her body, reaches towards the Darkhold. Grabbing the ancient tome, Wanda screams as she sets the book ablaze. Cut to Wanda, split amongst infinite realties, all screaming in pain as Wanda struggles to whisper one final sentence, “No more magic...” before both her and the Darkhold disappear in a red mist. Cut to Stephen in shock as he looks at his hands which begin to tremble.

Finale: Cut to Kamar-Taj where Doctor Strange is seen meeting with Wong and the other Masters. There is a solemn atmosphere in the air. Wong breaks the straining silence in the air, “Whatever she did, we will figure out a wa...” “No,” Strange interrupts, “there is no coming back from this. We lost. There is nothing left.” Strange clasps his shaking hands. From the corner of the room, America Chavez approaches and places her hands on Stephen’s, “Maybe not in this dimension. Luckily, we’ve got a few others to choose from.” America raises up one of her hands and closes it into a fist. Cut to mid-credits.

Post Credit 1: Cut to a simple shot in central park as people run/bike/play. Camera pans to a specific point within the park and zooms in as the background fades out of focus. A purple crack begins to form in the space seen. Cut to final credits.

Post Credit 2: Cut to Edwards Air Base S.W.O.R.D. facility. Cut to the shoulder of a person wearing a lab-coat walking through the facility as they mention a launch schedule. A woman, most likely an assistant, approaches the man, “Dr. Richards, your wife is on the phone for you.”

Doctor Strange: Damnation by Donny Cates and Nick Spencer

[SPOILERS] Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness Review

Hear me out. I LOVE Marvel. And more so, I love the dark, horrific, magical side of Marvel more than anything. Characters like Ghost Rider, Scarlet Witch, and Doctor Strange have always been more interesting to me than your Captain Americas or Iron Men not only because I thought their powers were cool but because their trials and traumas felt, oddly, more real. I may not have magical powers or demonic tomes but I know what it’s like to take too much pride in yourself after being forced into responsibility like Dr. Strange and I know what how it feels to lose the most important parts of yourself with no one but temptation to turn to like Wanda. And within the MCU, we have seen both of these characters face the greatest challenges, take on the greatest responsibilities, and bare the greatest hardships of any other character (maybe Thor excluding). All of this leads up to one of the greatest story-driven showdowns in the MCU so far. Doctor Strange, the heroic sorcerer who has saved his universe from threats of cosmic proportions on multiple occasions but whose ego is so unrelenting that he justifies his schemes and violent disregard for natural-order as the one-and-only path towards peace. And Wanda Maximoff, a survivor, turned Avenger, turned mother, turned witch who has known so much loss and loneliness that, to her, the world is nothing but a means to her own peace.

Multiverse of Madness, in its premise, poised itself to give us a battle of epic philosophical proportions between two mirroring characters with drastically different fates. As Wanda said best,” You break the rules and become a hero. I do it and I become the enemy. That doesn’t seem fair. “ In addition, with Sam Raimi leading the helm, I felt promised to horrifically terrifying (for the MCU) and mind-bending narrative experience. But, in my opinion, we got neither of those things...

STORY (5/10): The core of MoM’s story is nothing more than what I could have wanted. What happens when you throw the universe’s greatest Sorcerer against its greatest Witch, both of whom have the ability to warp and alter reality itself? And, to a degree, we got the answer to that question... bad stuff happens. But what is the point? In your traditional three-arch structure of a story we have the Introduction, the Confrontation, and the Resolution. Within the MCU, “Loki” introduced us to the multiverse and many of its potential dangers. “No Way Home” forced us and the Marvel heroes to confront some of the dangers and consequences of tampering with the multiverse. So, one would assume, that “Multiverse of Madness” would be our climactic resolution to this plotline. By the combined powers of Dr. Strange and the Scarlet Witch, the walls of the multiverse are now so cracked that new and amazing characters from other realities slip through into the MCU all before Dr. Strange and the Scarlet Witch are both confronted with their violent misuse of power and the error of their ways. That’s what I personally wanted/expected. Instead, by the finale of the movie, Dr. Strange’s ego is still unchecked, Wanda is still evading the consequences of her grief, and the multiverse is still being treated like a threat for another day. There was no resolution. It felt like MoM was just another stepping stone in the multiverse plot when it could have very well been the conclusion.

CHARACTERS (6/10): I want to come right out of the gate and say that Wanda Maximoff was the best part of this movie. I loved finally getting to see her flex her powers while walking through how unstable her mind has gotten since the finale of WandaVision. Wanda is one of Marvel’s greatest anti-heroes and it’s about time we finally get to see her snap back at the world for all the horrible thing it has done to her. My one and only problem with her plot in this move is how quickly it was resolved. I personally wish I had seen a couple more minutes of her grappling with how far she had fallen. Dr. Strange, on the other hand, had almost no character progression in this movie. In every reality Dr. Strange saw, he was faced with the fact that he was seen as the villain in the end due to the inevitable consequences of his super-powered ego. And yet, our Dr. Strange learned no lesson from that. Next up, we have America Chavez (one of my favorite new-age Marvel characters). I saw a perfect opportunity in this movie for America to be the greatest foil to both Dr. Strange and Wanda. America Chavez has an ability (with no explained origins) that is so powerful that not even Dr. Strange or Wanda could fully wield it and yet her heart remains pure. As opposed to Strange and Wanda, both of whom’s abilities have been used as justifications for their wrongdoings, America Chavez remains humble and loving despite her strengths and losses. However, America was only ever played off as a macguffin of sorts. Her sole purpose in this movie was to push the plot along but she herself never had a true opportunity to develop as a character in a meaningful way. 

STYLE (7/10): As expected, this movie was 100% a Sam Raimi film; in the best ways and the worst ways. The elements of horror that Wanda portrayed in this movie was genuinely shocking. Her assault on Kamar-Taj and her killing of the Illuminati were probably the most entertaining scenes of the movie. In addition, Raimi’s direction of the movie’s visuals were very stylistic in a way that we aren’t used to seeing in the MCU which was definitely refreshing. But sometimes, those moments ended up feeling lacking. When Wanda arrives at Kamar-Taj, she does so with a massive storm cloud surrounding her which casted a sinister shadow on the sorcerors below but then it soon faded away while the fight took place in the sunshine. Certain locations like the Illuminati’s HQ, while interesting, felt mostly empty and lifeless. And, in Sam Raimi fashion, this movie had its fill of zoom-in face shots and wacky transitions. To me, it felt like Raimi was still stuck in the early 2000s but with the technology of the 2020s which often caused momentary distractions for me because of how oddly out of place the movie felt at times.

EXTRA OPINIONS: Alright, rapid opinions! The Darkhold was wasted. The Darkhold is supposed to be the ultimate evil magic book, so how did Wanda have the power to destroy an infinite amount of Darkholds amongst the multiverse? The book of Vishanti was brought up too many times in the movie as a macguffin only to never be used or truly relevant to the plot. Wanda should have been a nexus being as she is in the comics; she would have been so much more terrifying of a character if she saw that she suffers the same trauma in every universe. I don’t feel like Christine was specifically necessary to any part of the movie; anybody could have filled her spot and the overall movie would not have changed. Christine is a good character and a good source of growth for Steven but she was not written as such in this movie. Shuma-Gorath should not have been wasted as some simple monster for Strange to kill. He had the potential to be a much greater villain for Strange in the future as he is in the comics. Wong was super wrong for demonizing Wanda for trying to kill America Chavez and then telling Strange that he should kill America instead. Was America’s origin story really because she was scared of a bee on her hand?

FINAL OPINIONS: Overall, I felt like Multiverse of Madness had so much potential. We had a cast of deeply compelling characters, stakes greater than any Marvel movie to date, and the opportunity to introduce tons of future stories into the MCU through the multiverse. But in the end, we were left with little resolution to the film’s plot, unresolved character arcs, and more questions about the multiverse than answers. Yes, it is clear that there is more to come; the Secret Wars, Clea Strange, Limbo and the Dark Dimension. But on its own, Multiverse of Madness is barely a self-supporting story but instead a stepping stone to something else. The MCU is built on these stepping stones and I love it for it, but if the individual stories can’t stand on their own as good stories then what’s the point. 

(6/10)