✦Elzary
Cinema·6 min read·👀 Watched 2022.06.22

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Magic, choices, forgiveness, losing your way and waking up — and a beauty tinged with regret. 'I love you. I love you in every universe.'

2022 · Action / Adventure · Sam Raimi · Disney+

The multiverse is really multiple neurons? The choices of multiple lives? "Seize the moment."

A few thoughts from a total outsider (not a Marvel fan)

I didn't even watch the first Doctor Strange in a theater — but after finishing the second today and learning he'll be back, I've made up my mind to see the next one in IMAX at the cinema!!

I really love the elements this film holds: magic, choice, forgiveness, losing your way and awakening, and a beauty tinged with a little regret.

Magic. No need to say more — Strange can wield magic and travel through time and space from start to finish, to keep the world from destruction.

Choice #1. Strange agreeing to wipe out half the people on Earth causes his companions' unwavering disapproval (except X). It made me think: some decisions made by those in power, even if the public roasts them, might be the "best decision given the current situation," weighed against all circumstances. Really worth pondering 🤔

Choice #2. "If there were a universe where you're happy, would you go?" My heart says go, my head says no. By this film's logic, going to another universe would inevitably affect that world — but my heart also says life happens only once, so if you could choose, why not choose a happier life? Life is hard; I'll figure it out when I get there, haha.

Losing the way, forgiveness. In another universe, Strange falls to the Darkhold, forcing his companions to kill him. But in the end X, one of those companions, chooses to trust the other-universe him, saying: "Just because someone loses their way for a while doesn't mean they'll be lost forever." Within this multiverse concept, I think that line can extend to: "The you in another universe might no longer be lost, so I choose to believe in you." (Touching again 🥲)

Awakening. Wanda once lost her husband and children, driving her to do everything she could to keep her bond with her children in another universe (dreaming? or gaining the power to cross universes). But blinded by the pain of loss, she doesn't realize this would hurt another universe's Wanda, and even the children. In the end, what the other Wanda says to her may have moved her — sad to say, but it seemed the only thing left to do.

Beauty in regret

I was completely won over by that heartfelt confession at the end (a little lump in my throat):

"I love you. I love you in every universe."

"Even though I love you in every universe, we can never be together for one reason or another" — that kind of line tied to the plot really makes you unconsciously project yourself into that emotion 😭😭

Strange thought saving the world would make him happy, but it didn't. I think deep down he still believes being with Christine is the greatest happiness~? But could it also be a beautiful fantasy born from never getting to be together? Anyway, if you have someone you'd want to love in every universe, then even if you can't be together, keep that love safe in your heart.

Links to other Marvel films 🔗

For example Earth-616 (the main continuity) and Earth-838 — the latter was mentioned in Spider-Man: Far From Home too.

Little details

The end credits actually mimic the Turing-test look from The Imitation Game! That surprised me, since both films star Benedict.

I loved some of the surreal touches — a sea inside a cup, a long ladder to the sky — and my favorite was Strange and America Chavez plunging through universes at high speed 😍😍, seemingly a nod to the Quantum Realm too.

I especially like how the director uses quiet moments to build a nerve-tightening atmosphere. And the horror-film jump scares scattered throughout were pretty refreshing too 🤣

#movie#marvel#action
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