By Anton Massopust III
“Let us see what kind of Doctor Strange you are.” – Professor Charles Xavier.
Benedict Cumberbatch reprises his role as Doctor Stephen Strange, just like he did with Spider-Man, he deals with the problems of the Multiverse. The Marvel Universe is part of many alternative universes where things happen the same but sometimes differently. It is possible to travel between universes and meet your doppelgangers, but it isn’t recommended. The good Doctor is asked by a young girl named America (Xochit Gomez) who has special abilities to open portals and is able to travel between universes. She can’t control her powers unless she is frightened. Doctor Strange saves her from a giant demon octopus creature and suspects that there is more to this. America tells Dr. Strange that they’ve met before. Dreaming is visiting the Multiverse. America’s problem is that she can’t find another doppelganger of herself and she herself does not dream. There’s only one of her, and Doctor Strange knows about the Multiverse, but him and the new Sorcerer Supreme Wong (Benedict Wong). They vow to protect America.
Doctor Strange goes to recruit the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) who is having her own problems. She wants to find her children in the Multiverse and live there with them. The Scarlet Witch opens forbidden texts called the “Dark Hold,” the evil ancient book with dark spells. However if continue to read it, you slowly go insane and it starts happening to the Scarlet Witch. She can control her doppelganger in the Multiverse and use them as a puppet to achieve her goals. Doctor Strange and America escape to another universe, and they run into Baron Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor). They also run into Blackbolt, Captain Carter, Captain Marvel, Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), and Mr. Fantastic from the Fantastic Four. The heroes ban together and try to stop the Scarlet Witch. Dr. Strange and America flee to another universe, but it is falling apart. He runs into an evil version of himself. Dr. Strange battles Dr. Strange and defeats him and Dr. Strange himself uses extreme measures using the Dark Hold in that universe to control a dead doppelganger of himself in order to stop the Scarlet Witch once and for all. The Illuminati is the name of the group of heroes in that universe. In the end, he helps young girl control her powers and returns to his own universe.
Just remember, this is Sam Raimi movie and so there’s a lot of callbacks to his previous movies like The Evil Dead and Drag Me to Hell. There are lots of monsters, evil specters, undead, jump-scares, and even a little cameo by Bruce Campbell which is always fun. Special effects rule the day in this movie, and they are incredible. We travel through the Multiverse. If you don’t know the Marvel Universe, you might be a little lost or if you don’t know what the dark hold and another sacred text is that is a good book that helps a wizard defeat any adversary, you’ll be a little lost here. It might be a little too scary for younger kids, but if they like that kind of horror, they might enjoy it. I would say if you know a Marvel fan, it might be a good idea to take them along. If you followed all the movies and most of the TV, you’ll understand what’s going on. It’s a lot of fun and it’s a different kind of Marvel movie. Benedict Cumberbatch is great as always and gets most of the funny lines. Go and see it.
