Gladiator II Review

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Ready to re-enter the Colosseum in ancient Rome? In 2000 Gladiator was released, the historical epic won five Academy awards including Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe. Twenty-four years later director Ridley Scott has given us a sequel - Gladiator II. Scott had a mammoth task at hand, how do you create a sequel to one of the greatest films of all time? Gladiator II is a four-star exhilarating historical epic. It fails to live up to its predecessor, but that doesn't not mean it is a bad film or even an unworthy sequel. I greatly enjoyed the cinematic experience that is Gladiator II, in all its historically epic style! Read on for my full review, there will be minor spoilers.  Set two decades after the events of Gladiator, you may expect to find a free Rome ruled by a senate that answers to the people, as was the dream of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. a Rome that Maximus fought and died to reform. However, Rome is now ruled by young and cruel twin Emperors Caracalla (Fred He...
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Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Review

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The latest installation to the MCU is finally here! I have been so excited for this film since it was first announced by Kevin Feige, but all the Covid-19 delays made it feel like we were never going to actually see the darkest MCU film to date. So, despite the fact I've been taking a little blogging break I just had to review Scarlet Witch in the Multiverse of Madness...oops I mean Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. What can you expect from the self-dubbed scariest MCU installation so far? Expect a semi-scary film, full of great moments and weirdness, just don’t expect it to reach the level of the Avengers films. 
There will be spoilers below - but only very minor. 

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness opens midway through an action sequence that features an alternate version of Strange (All versions played by Benedict Cumberbatch) as he attempts to protect newcomer America Chaves (Xochitl Gomez). Just as America faces certain death, she activates her powers and jumps through different universes landing on Earth 616: the location of the MCU and our team of Avengers. Here she meets our version of Strange, who quickly defeats the monster which followed her through the portal with the help of Wong (Benedict Wong). Strange seeking help with America turns to Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen), yet his plans come to a messy holt when Wanda reveals herself as the villain. Her wish: to steal America’s powers so she can reach her children Tommy (Jett Kline) and Billy (Julian Hilliard). As Wanda puts it, if Strange doesn’t hand over America, the Scarlet Witch will come for her and that is exactly what happens. What ensues is a story across universes, although perhaps not enough universes. Narrative wise, the film is a little messy, with random scene cuts, no breathing time and no real builds or falls - however ‘Madness’ is in the title which is why it kind of works.
We waited six years for a second Doctor Strange solo film, only for him to get overshadowed by Wanda. Olsen’s captivating Wanda is the clear MVP of the film, she gets the best scenes, the best lines and she even has the most compelling story. It’s impossible to route against her, so you spend the film routing for both Strange and Wanda who are on opposing sides. Every time Strange gets a cool moment Wanda follows up with something chilling, thrilling or captivating. Wanda is simply too big of a character to act as an antagonist in another film, she should have been the antagonist of her own film and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness should have focused on Strange. Despite that the relationship of trust formed between Strange and America is heart-warming, after almost being killed by an alternate Strange America doubts she will be safe with any version of the sorcerer yet the pair form a beautiful unbreakable bond. America Chaves is a brilliant new addition to the MCU her character fitting right in, her powers ready for the next phase of the MCU, I cannot wait to see more of her. Also making her return is Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams), it's great to have her back, although I do wonder if we will see her again. 
A lot of discussion surrounding this film focuses upon the darker tone, whilst the tone is darker and there are some clear horror inspired moments, for me the film didn’t go far enough. Now, I’m a big baby when it comes to scary moments and other than being grossed out a points, I didn’t feel scared at any all. But despite this the new darker tone is a welcome one, there are less laughs and more menacing moments that fit with the powers possessed by Strange and Wanda. I certainly hope we will see more of this tone filter through into future MCU films (Although I won’t hold out hope). Danny Elfman delivers an immaculate score, which fits the tone and narrative perfectly. 
Overall, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness provides a welcome tone change whilst opening up the multiverse. Implications from this film will be huge with merges happening throughout the universes, I do wonder if Jane's version of Thor in Thor Love and Thunder will be a result of these merges. Sadly, however I wanted more from this film as a whole, and I want more from the MCU in terms of lead female characters, it's well past time for Wanda to have her own solo films - that should have been the follow on from WandaVision, but just like Black Widow and Wasp and countless others Wanda seems fated for now at least to be squashed into male led movies, even when she dominates the narrative.

Also, just a quick note on those cameos: there was audible gasps in my cinema (and from myself) and I really hope we see at least one of those actors again. 

Let me know you thought of the film and my review in the comments. 

Thank you for reading xx

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