Weekend Boost: Dr. Strange Brings Horror to the Marvel Universe; the TV Show That Could Save Your Relationship; a Brilliant Crime Novel; and Much More
The Best Movies, TV, Music, Books, and Comics May 13-15
Usually, when I finish writing the Weekend Boost I look over my selections and smile because I think they are each delightful, entertaining, or uplifting in their own way. I’m actually excited to be sharing them. It’s like a parent giving a birthday gift and eagerly waiting while the child unwraps it, knowing it’s just what they asked for and they’ll soon be squealing with happiness.
I don’t expect any squealing. But I’m nevertheless always excited to share what I think will bring you pleasure—and sometimes enlightenment.
WATCH (movies)
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Directed by Sam Raimi
Written by Michael Waldron
As usual, I will attempt to keep this spoiler-free, which is difficult with Marvel movies because there are so many spoilers gnawing through the internet-verse.
Although this is technically a sequel to Doctor Strange, it really is very different in tone. This one is by design more of a horror movie than the typical Marvel action-adventure. The essence of horror is to present an irrational and pitiless enemy—as in Jaws or Halloween—because everyone’s greatest fear is facing that which can’t be reasoned with.
Director Sam Raimi, who helmed the three Toby Maguire Spider-Man films as well as one of my favorite films, Army of Darkness, knows his way around the Marvel tropes. But he also isn’t afraid to bend and reshuffle them when it produces greater spectacle and more compelling scenes.
The story picks up where the last Spider-Man movie left off, with a fractured multiverse. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I love multiverse and time-travel stories because they offer so many opportunities for exciting surprises. Although Everything Everywhere All at Once was a bit more creative in using the multiverse, I was still consistently entertained by the film’s creative choices. Not only do they give us some fun variations of what Earth would be like in other dimensions, they introduce a lot of familiar characters in new roles. There’s a lot going on and most of it is visually stunning.
Go see it. You’ll be thoroughly entertained.