- Aug 20, 2019
- 390
- 751
Just saw it last night. It's very much like a shock rock concert and is really elevated by Raimi's direction and Elfman's score. The two lead performances from Cumberbatch and Olsen were phenomenal, the entire movie centers around them and the choices they make. You definitely need to know what happens in WandaVision to get a firm grip on Wanda's motivations in the movie, as there's only some minimal exposition explaining why she's acting the way she is. I was scared this movie would rely too heavily on the multiverse as a gimmick but it was surprisingly grounded in the characters and their relationships. Also, kinda weird but this is like the perfect Mother's Day movie.
So Wanda was absolutely savage. Her relentless pursuit of America and Strange is the driving force behind the movie and boy is she scary. Emerging from the mirror dimension like a J-horror sprit, possessing her variant's body, disposing of the Illuminati, chasing Strange through the Illuminati base. Elizabeth Olsen deserves all her flowers for this movie, because while she's doing all that she's still very much a character I felt for. The first scene of her dream walking is so hypnotic and music video adjacent, especially with the score. I love that the climax of the movie isn't driven by a big fight, but by showing Wanda what a monster she's become to the one thing she's trying to get back to. She also gets some of the best lines in the movie:
"I blew a hole through the head of the man I love and it meant nothing."
"You created your children with magic, they're not real."
"That's how all mothers create their children."
"Run."
"Is their mother still alive? Then they'll have someone to raise them."
Cumberbatch really got the most mileage out of the multiverse concept, playing several versions of himself. His battle with Supreme Strange was so whackadoo and just so off the wall. Using music as magic felt like something straight out of the comics. Undead Strange using the souls of the damned as a cloak was also just so gnarly and feels like something you'd see on a heavy metal album art. I like that his journey is very introspective, all about learning to not put himself first like so many of his alternate universe counterparts were apt to do. His relationship with America was very sweet and I like that this movie doesn't rely on the "sassy/precocious young hero" thing superhero media is so apt to do. There was just an earnest affection between them that I'm really fond of.
The Illuminati were very fun, didn't overstay their welcome, and gave us the most exciting action scene in the movie. Didn't expect their deaths to be so gruesome, especially for Black Bolt and Reed. Oh yeah, Krasinski as Reed, I don't feel strongly either way but my theater had a HUGE reaction to him showing up. Patrick Stewart really nailed Professor X in the little screen time he was given. I love that he chooses to help Strange because of his unshakable faith in the goodness of humanity. I also loved his mind meld with Wanda, very stage theater-esque and bohemian. Professor X got to watch WandaVision before he died so I can take a little solace in that.
I also see a lot of complaints online about the Book of Vishanti being a "useless plot point." I disagree, it's another magical macguffin in a universe full of them. The point of the the book is that Strange doesn't need to keep using his unlimited powers, he has to cede to them. But even he can't help himself and ends up using the Darkhold to get to Wanda.
Finally, that post credit scene is so exciting. Theron looks incredible, very glam rock AND comics accurate and is a peer to Cumberbatch so I'm excited to see what they'll end up doing together.
"I blew a hole through the head of the man I love and it meant nothing."
"You created your children with magic, they're not real."
"That's how all mothers create their children."
"Run."
"Is their mother still alive? Then they'll have someone to raise them."
Cumberbatch really got the most mileage out of the multiverse concept, playing several versions of himself. His battle with Supreme Strange was so whackadoo and just so off the wall. Using music as magic felt like something straight out of the comics. Undead Strange using the souls of the damned as a cloak was also just so gnarly and feels like something you'd see on a heavy metal album art. I like that his journey is very introspective, all about learning to not put himself first like so many of his alternate universe counterparts were apt to do. His relationship with America was very sweet and I like that this movie doesn't rely on the "sassy/precocious young hero" thing superhero media is so apt to do. There was just an earnest affection between them that I'm really fond of.
The Illuminati were very fun, didn't overstay their welcome, and gave us the most exciting action scene in the movie. Didn't expect their deaths to be so gruesome, especially for Black Bolt and Reed. Oh yeah, Krasinski as Reed, I don't feel strongly either way but my theater had a HUGE reaction to him showing up. Patrick Stewart really nailed Professor X in the little screen time he was given. I love that he chooses to help Strange because of his unshakable faith in the goodness of humanity. I also loved his mind meld with Wanda, very stage theater-esque and bohemian. Professor X got to watch WandaVision before he died so I can take a little solace in that.
I also see a lot of complaints online about the Book of Vishanti being a "useless plot point." I disagree, it's another magical macguffin in a universe full of them. The point of the the book is that Strange doesn't need to keep using his unlimited powers, he has to cede to them. But even he can't help himself and ends up using the Darkhold to get to Wanda.
Finally, that post credit scene is so exciting. Theron looks incredible, very glam rock AND comics accurate and is a peer to Cumberbatch so I'm excited to see what they'll end up doing together.
