So just saw Dr Strange 2. Ultimately it was a good movie, but its a very different movie than what I was expecting, and I've had to come to terms with that a bit.
I had assumed Dr Strange 2 was going to be the first "avengers esque" movie of phase 4, connecting all of the plotlines, ramping up a big new threat, etc. This was going to be the next big full fury movie. Instead....it is surprisingly restrained and "small".
Wanda
Probably the biggest surprise to me, was they pulled no punches with Wanda. Her path on Wandavision is pushed into tragedy. She showed us in Wandavision that when in pain, she has no issues manipulating and hurting people to get what she wants. A lot of people (myself included) thought she would have some remorse or penance for those acts in this movie, but she doubles down.... and goes full villain. While you can blame the darkhold from pushing her completely off the cliff (and why very reasonable things like....Wanda feel free to go start a family no one is stopping you, aren't even considered by her), this is not a GOT Season 8 denearyes heel turn, the signs were clearly there in Wandavision, and now they make good.
I get the feeling Wanda is not dead at the end of the movie, and I am worried that with her final "act of sacrifice" they are going to push her down the path of redemption. All I'll say is, if they are going that route, there had better be a LOT of penance. She has killed a lot of people at this point, cruelly and utterly without mercy. She is 100% villain, and any reversal of that has to be at the end of a long hard road before I'd accept it.
Strange
I like the ways that subtly dropped a few personal points for Steven. The note about his sister was really well done, the only person Steven could ever talk about that to was effectively himself, and as the other one immediately notes, "but that is not something we talk about is it". It gives you an idea that may have been what pushed him into becoming a dr in the first place. Its subtle, quick, and powerful all at the same time.
Ultimately this movie's premise....both for Wanda and Steven....was you can't control everything. In Wanda's case, somethings you just have to let go. And for Steven, sometimes you have to let other people take the reigns. Steven showed some solid moves away from his ego, he learned to work with America, learned to trust a version of Christine, and finally gave Wong the respect he is due. That said, there is still plenty of ego there, and Steven will still pay some consequences for his meddling most likely.
Wong
Who doesn't love Wong! My only issue with Wong in this movie was when he gave in to Wanda when she was torturing his people and gave her the secret to ultimate power. I'm sorry, but this is the same Wong that had just thrown an army of people to fight her, and was willing to die himself. This was the Wong that ultimately told Strange to "take the girl's power...which would kill her" to stop Wanda. I expect Wong to spit in her face and be ready to die, only for Wanda to rip it from his mind. Not for Wong to feebily just give in....it was the one scene that really did not work for me in character.
The Great Scene that Wasn't
I do complain a lot in Marvel movies in that its only a cinematic universe when they want it to be. But this time its REALLY noticeable. Wanda gives Dr Strange a day to give up America. Him and Wong both agree that with her abilities and America's combined, Wanda would be a MULTIVERSAL THREAT. They have some time to prepare. Where the HELL is everyone??!!! Where is Falcon, where is our new buddy Shang-Chi, or how about some of that crazy good dragon armor/weapons that can fight mystical creatures. Someone give Captain Marvel a ring for lord's sake.
It might have made sense if they just completely misread how strong Wanda is. But the second Wong learns she's the scarlet witch, the emergency bells go off for him. He knows the prophecies, he knows how dangerous she could be. Every single possible marker should have been called in for that fight, every last bleeding one.
The scene is actually a really cool one....and yet it should have been so much more. I thought this was going to be the big "avenger scene". We see all the people's, maybe they all get super injured and now its up to Strange alone to beat her (and the rest of the movie continues as it did)....but they would be there at the minimum.
The Smallness
As I said before, for a movie about the multiverse, I really expected more "stuff". I figured there would be cameos galore, it was like a free pass for Marvel, throw in any cameo you want, no plot consequence (its just an alternate version after all). But they had surprisingly little.
The events of Loki....not even referenced. Spiderman....barely a mention. I was surprised Professor X didn't check Strange out and go "I see you almost caused an incursion yourself"....because, he almost did. They didn't even cover that many multiverses really.
Lastly, at least at first glance....nothing was really pushed in the "greater metaplot". I was expecting a Captain America 2, where we get a major revelation that launches new plot for the next series of movies. But plotwise it ends in a feeling of one and done. Again...just much smaller in scope than I had expected.
Final Thoughts
If I can get over myself of my expectations for the movie, I actually think its pretty solid. Good character growth, Wanda was a great and scary villain, America Chavez was cool (though I kept getting her confused with Ms Marvel and that caused me a lot of consternation), the plot for the most part made sense, John Krasinski got to be Reed Richards!. The battle scenes were pretty neat, an actual decent wizard battle.
As a standalone Marvel movie, its very solid.
As a launchpoint for pushing the events of Phase 4 like I thought it was going to be....a dud on the rocketpad.
I had assumed Dr Strange 2 was going to be the first "avengers esque" movie of phase 4, connecting all of the plotlines, ramping up a big new threat, etc. This was going to be the next big full fury movie. Instead....it is surprisingly restrained and "small".
Wanda
Probably the biggest surprise to me, was they pulled no punches with Wanda. Her path on Wandavision is pushed into tragedy. She showed us in Wandavision that when in pain, she has no issues manipulating and hurting people to get what she wants. A lot of people (myself included) thought she would have some remorse or penance for those acts in this movie, but she doubles down.... and goes full villain. While you can blame the darkhold from pushing her completely off the cliff (and why very reasonable things like....Wanda feel free to go start a family no one is stopping you, aren't even considered by her), this is not a GOT Season 8 denearyes heel turn, the signs were clearly there in Wandavision, and now they make good.
I get the feeling Wanda is not dead at the end of the movie, and I am worried that with her final "act of sacrifice" they are going to push her down the path of redemption. All I'll say is, if they are going that route, there had better be a LOT of penance. She has killed a lot of people at this point, cruelly and utterly without mercy. She is 100% villain, and any reversal of that has to be at the end of a long hard road before I'd accept it.
Strange
I like the ways that subtly dropped a few personal points for Steven. The note about his sister was really well done, the only person Steven could ever talk about that to was effectively himself, and as the other one immediately notes, "but that is not something we talk about is it". It gives you an idea that may have been what pushed him into becoming a dr in the first place. Its subtle, quick, and powerful all at the same time.
Ultimately this movie's premise....both for Wanda and Steven....was you can't control everything. In Wanda's case, somethings you just have to let go. And for Steven, sometimes you have to let other people take the reigns. Steven showed some solid moves away from his ego, he learned to work with America, learned to trust a version of Christine, and finally gave Wong the respect he is due. That said, there is still plenty of ego there, and Steven will still pay some consequences for his meddling most likely.
Wong
Who doesn't love Wong! My only issue with Wong in this movie was when he gave in to Wanda when she was torturing his people and gave her the secret to ultimate power. I'm sorry, but this is the same Wong that had just thrown an army of people to fight her, and was willing to die himself. This was the Wong that ultimately told Strange to "take the girl's power...which would kill her" to stop Wanda. I expect Wong to spit in her face and be ready to die, only for Wanda to rip it from his mind. Not for Wong to feebily just give in....it was the one scene that really did not work for me in character.
The Great Scene that Wasn't
I do complain a lot in Marvel movies in that its only a cinematic universe when they want it to be. But this time its REALLY noticeable. Wanda gives Dr Strange a day to give up America. Him and Wong both agree that with her abilities and America's combined, Wanda would be a MULTIVERSAL THREAT. They have some time to prepare. Where the HELL is everyone??!!! Where is Falcon, where is our new buddy Shang-Chi, or how about some of that crazy good dragon armor/weapons that can fight mystical creatures. Someone give Captain Marvel a ring for lord's sake.
It might have made sense if they just completely misread how strong Wanda is. But the second Wong learns she's the scarlet witch, the emergency bells go off for him. He knows the prophecies, he knows how dangerous she could be. Every single possible marker should have been called in for that fight, every last bleeding one.
The scene is actually a really cool one....and yet it should have been so much more. I thought this was going to be the big "avenger scene". We see all the people's, maybe they all get super injured and now its up to Strange alone to beat her (and the rest of the movie continues as it did)....but they would be there at the minimum.
The Smallness
As I said before, for a movie about the multiverse, I really expected more "stuff". I figured there would be cameos galore, it was like a free pass for Marvel, throw in any cameo you want, no plot consequence (its just an alternate version after all). But they had surprisingly little.
The events of Loki....not even referenced. Spiderman....barely a mention. I was surprised Professor X didn't check Strange out and go "I see you almost caused an incursion yourself"....because, he almost did. They didn't even cover that many multiverses really.
Lastly, at least at first glance....nothing was really pushed in the "greater metaplot". I was expecting a Captain America 2, where we get a major revelation that launches new plot for the next series of movies. But plotwise it ends in a feeling of one and done. Again...just much smaller in scope than I had expected.
Final Thoughts
If I can get over myself of my expectations for the movie, I actually think its pretty solid. Good character growth, Wanda was a great and scary villain, America Chavez was cool (though I kept getting her confused with Ms Marvel and that caused me a lot of consternation), the plot for the most part made sense, John Krasinski got to be Reed Richards!. The battle scenes were pretty neat, an actual decent wizard battle.
As a standalone Marvel movie, its very solid.
As a launchpoint for pushing the events of Phase 4 like I thought it was going to be....a dud on the rocketpad.
