DR. STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS

Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange

DR. STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS (2022). Director: Sam Raimi. 

Marvel sorcerer Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch (of Spider-Man: No Way Home) dreams about and then encounters a young lady, America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), who comes from another dimension and has the ability to travel from one universe to another. She is being pursued by former Avenger Wanda Maximoff, aka, the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), who wants the girl's power and will kill anyone who gets in her way to obtain it. Her own little boys turned out to be magical in nature -- they didn't really exist -- and she wants to take over the life and body of an alternate Wanda (from another dimension) who has two honest-to-goodness children. Dr. Strange and America travel to a variety of alternate Earths to try and stay one jump ahead of Wanda, encountering Other-Versions of Strange himself and other Marvel heroes (such as Professor Xavier, played by Patrick Stewart of Lifeforce). To win this battle Dr. Strange may need the secrets of the Darkhold and the Book of Vishanti, but will he be corrupted like other versions of himself have been?

Mad Mother Love: Elizabeth Olsen as the Scarlet Witch

Let's state at the outset that this is a movie for Marvel comics fans and hardly anyone else. As usual multiple characters are thrown at you and the uninitiated will not only not know who most of them are but be quite confused by the storyline (especially as it bounces around from dimension to dimension)! That being said, Dr. Strange 2, as it is also known, is an improvement over the first Strange film, and is quite entertaining, although its moments of alleged humor may make one groan. The storyline is based on events that occurred, I believe, at the very end of the long run of The Avengers comic book volume one, when Wanda went  berserk after her unreal children vanished (but don't quote me, as it's been quite a while since I read these stories). 

the giant one-eyed "octopus" monster

Whatever its flaws, Dr. Strange 2 benefits from the people both in front of and behind the camera. Super-hero movies are often helmed by fledgling directors who can't handle all the disparate elements but Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead; Spider-Man 2) is an experienced director and despite the movie's fast pace you can follow the action -- these sequences are all well done. The FX work is also outstanding, such as when Wanda sends a gigantic, one-eyed tentacled monstrosity after America in Manhattan; or a stunning journey through dimensions in which the characters temporarily turn into water or even paint; and a sequence when two versions of Dr. Strange hurl mystical musical notes -- and the actual music -- at one another (not an original concept but it works beautifully anyway). At one point our Dr. Strange takes over the body of a deceased, rotting version of himself! 

Dead Dr. Strange from an alternate universe

Cumberbatch makes an effective Dr. Strange, but Elizabeth Olsen steals the movie with a terrific and impassioned performance as Wanda. Danny Elfman has contributed another exciting and dramatic score while cinematographer John Mathieson -- with the help of a variety of production designers and art directors, not to mention FX people -- insures that the film is always visually striking. In fact, Dr Strange 2 is stunningly opulent from start to finish. 

Verdict: Strictly for Marvel maniacs, but they should enjoy this. ***. 

LIFEFORCE

Steve Railsback

LIFEFORCE (1985). Director: Tobe Hooper. 

Colonel Tom Carlson (Steve Railsback) leads a crew of astronauts who are investigating Halley's comet when they come across a huge derelict spaceship. Inside it they find many deceased bat-like creatures, and are unaware that three of the survivors of the alien race have transformed themselves into attractive humans. One of the trio is a naked female (Mathilda May) who begins to entrance the Colonel. This "woman" is an energy vampire, and back on earth she and her companions create havoc, leading to a plague in London and a near-apocalypse that only Carlson can stop. 

Pitiful victim of the space vampires

Lifeforce was not well-received when it was released -- I always thought the film was actually not bad -- maybe because the plot was a little confusing and audiences at the time may have been sick of zombies. But Lifeforce moves at a swift pace, is well-acted, has some marvelous special effects and stand-out sequences, and the riot scenes in London are very well-staged. In fact, Tobe Hooper's direction [Texas Chainsaw Massacre] is on-target every step of the way. There's a terrific sequence involving an autopsy, as well as a scene inside a copter when the vampire uses blood to form a surrogate body. Although one wouldn't expect this is the kind of material to be scored by Henry Mancini, the composer does an excellent job. 

Steve Railsback and Patrick Stewart 

Steve Railsback gives a very effective performance as Colonel Carlson. As for the supporting cast, Peter Firth seems to be channeling Brian Donlevy as Professor Quatermass in his generally cold portrayal of Colonel Caine. Patrick Stewart scores as Dr. Armstrong, who runs a psychiatric institution and who has been possessed, in a way, by one of the vampires. There's a wild scene when Tom Carlson smooches Dr. Armstrong on the mouth, thinking he's kissing the lady from space! Frank Finlay and Michael Gothard are also good as scientists fighting against the vampires. 

Mathilda May

Lifeforce was undoubtedly influential on Species -- which also featured a sexy female creature --  which came out ten years later. It's also possible that Lifeforce was influenced by Alien, as well the 1979 "Proteus" storyline in the X-Men comic book, in which the villain absorbs energy from victims, leaves them desiccated husks, and takes on their form. One might argue that the entertaining and fast-paced Lifeforce is a bit too busy at times, and is borderline campy, but in general the film is quite well-made and entertaining, if rather cold-blooded.

Verdict: One of Hooper's best pictures. ***.