Film Preview: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Film Poster

Page Revisions:

(December 26, 2021) Original
(February 20, 2022) New Trailer (#2) — New Posters (#1-#2)
(April 10, 2022) New Trailer (#3) — New Posters (#3-#7) — Updated Summary
(May 1, 2022) New Posters (#8-#18)
(May 15, 2022) New Trailer (#4)

Release Date:

May 6, 2022

Synopsis:

From IMDb: “Dr. Stephen Strange casts a forbidden spell that opens the doorway to the multiverse, including a alternate versions of himself, whose threat to humanity is too great for the combined forces of Strange, Wong, and Wanda Maximoff.”

Poster Rating: B- / C+ / C / C+ / B- / C / C+ / C (6) / B+ / C+ / D / B+ / B

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Review: (#1) What’s interesting about the design is how it diverts greatly from other Marvel movie designs. It gives few details, but presents them nicely. (#2) This is more on par with what we’ve come to expect and that expectation is dullsville.

(#3) The shattered glass motif is overused as it is and it doesn’t make the most sense with this film. (#4) It’s an interesting way to take the concept of parallel universes and bizarre situations, though it’s not the most courageous of concepts. (#5) A little more clever than the prior shattered glass conceit, but it doesn’t do enough to make the viewer intrigued. (#6) This design doesn’t make enough sense and doesn’t create enough intrigue. (#7) What’s the purpose of this design? It’s hard to say and the subtle Scarlet Witch shadow doesn’t make it much more intriguing.

(#8-#13) This group of character posters isn’t particularly interesting with uniquely arranged red tendrils, but nothing else of value. (#14) Lots of interesting details here and it isn’t as overly reddish as the other designs, mixing in a bit of purple and magenta. It’s an overall solid design (#15) This is probably the best way to embellish a blank white background without it feeling dull. It still doesn’t work, but it’s at least a solid attempt. (#16) A shattering waste of a design as most of these IMAX-destined designs usually are. (#17) Lots of interesting little design elements arranged in a chintzy and bland way. (#18) These designs always feature plenty of elements worth seeing, but then feel as cheaply connected and arranged to be of little merit.

Trailer Rating: C+ / B- / C / C

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Review: (#1) In their attempt to avoid spoilers about Spider-Man: No Way Home, the film feels like its tickling the premise, but largely leaving it alone. Some nice visuals are herein and some coy nods to WandaVision and What If…? are there, but the end result still feels a bit like something we’ve already seen before.

(#2) There’s a point where you have to respect your audience enough to give them more details without giving away the film. This trailer does present more details, but insists on creating oblique mysteries around them that don’t quite entice.

(#3) This short trailer adds nothing of import to the prior efforts and makes the film feel even less exciting than it could have. You don’t want this as your final trailer.

(#4) They didn’t need to create a new trailer for this film, but they did and there’s nothing inspired about it. Matter of fact, some of the best parts of prior trailers are missing while the audience is expected to celebrate the release of something that looks a bit lite.