Entertainment

Now Playing: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

It’s so mad, you will absolutely sh*t your pants

Published

May 5, 2022

Rodneil Quiteles and MJ Jucutan

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now in theaters. If you’re curious to know what to expect before you grab a popcorn and enjoy the film, here are some thoughts from two of our members who saw the movie early.

Rodneil: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is so appropriately titled because the movie is pretty strange for a Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) entry and it gets pretty downright mad in some parts.

Before diving in, there are a few other movies and shows that are must-watch prior to watching the film. Obviously, there’s the first Doctor Strange movie, then there’s Spider-Man: No Way Home just to keep you updated and give some context about the multiverse. Wanda Maximoff AKA the Scarlet Witch plays a big part in this movie so the Disney Plus series WandaVision is a must-watch. Then, there’s also the What If animated anthology series for examples of what events in other universes can look like.

It’s a lot. But if you’re a fan of the MCU at all, it’s safe to say you’ve been able to follow along with the movies nicely. The last two shows can be tricky though, since they are only available on the Disney Plus streaming platform. And that’s not available everywhere just yet. You can try using ExpressVPN to gain access to the shows. But we know our readers are quite resourceful and we’re sure they’ll find a way.

Now that all of that has been established, the next key information you need to know is that this movie is directed by Sam Raimi. He is most famous for helming the Tobey Maguire starred Spider-Man films of the 2000s. But his film roots saw him direct a bunch of horror movies in his earlier directing years.

His horror background comes out in full effect in one of the most tense sequences in the film. Naturally, we won’t spoil it, but it’s so perfectly executed that you might even wonder if you’re actually watching an MCU film. It’s easily one of the highlights of the film that even mentioning it here won’t lessen its value at all.

But I’m getting ahead of myself, what exactly is the movie about? It follows Doctor Strange (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home. We’re immediately introduced to another key character of the movie — America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez). She’s the key cog in this movie since her powers allow her to travel through multiverses. And the film’s main villain wants that power.

The rest of the movie is just Strange and Chavez trying to prevent her powers from being stolen. As seen on the trailers, the Illuminati does make an appearance here. In the comics, the Illuminati is a council of top-tier heroes who make “difficult decisions” in certain situations. They famously sent the Hulk to space which kicked off the Planet Hulk storyline. In the MCU, they make their first appearance as multiverse variants. And what can I say, you will absolutely sh*t your pants in the uncanny and fantastic members-reveal of this version of the Illuminati. I’ll leave it at that.

Other than the horror aspect, this might be the MCU’s bloodiest film to date. Some scenes are straight up stuff you don’t normally see in the MCU. Parents trooping to the cinemas with their children, be ready to cover your children’s eyes.

Overall, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, is an enjoyable flick. The MCU actually tries a few different things here, thanks in large part to director Sam Raimi. Here you’ll find a good mix of the usual MCU formula mixed with unexpected styles that work quite well with the story. I also think it steers clear from the usual MCU pitfalls of a forgettable villain and a third act that’s just a big CGI battle. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still plenty of CGI here but it enhances, rather than distracts from the heart of the story.

P.S. Elizabeth Olsen who plays the Scarlet Witch is superb in this movie.

MJ: I’m no fan of Marvel films, but I’ve been deeply immersed in the storyline — thanks to friends who try their best to invite me during screenings.

I got a ‘pretty’ privilege, being able to watch Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as early as May 3rd, which was the first-ever screening in the Philippines and across the globe.

It coincided with the reopening of the IMAX Theater, giving me the opportunity to watch the esteemed film in 3D. Moreover, it was the first time I went out of my home to watch a movie in theaters since the pandemic struck. Strangely, it was an eventful experience.

Hearing the chants, screams, and uproar out of excitement inside the cinemas brought back memories of Avengers: Endgame — what was considered the closest thing we’ve got to world peace.

The enthusiasm of every moviegoer with me during the special screening carried over the expected hype for Doctor Strange. What we’ve seen from the breathtaking trailer is entirely different from what you’ll see when you watch the film.

It was a mixture of action, adventure, thriller, and a bit of a drama. There was a rollercoaster of emotions — heart racing from excitement, shrill screams, and gut-wrenching punches caused by earnest lines from Doctor Strange, America Chavez, Wanda Maximoff, and even Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams).

It got me pondering about my decisions, mostly themes relating to the film’s plot about different universes. In short, multiverses. Did I make the right decision? Am I really happy right now? Did the other me on Earth-838 end up with the person I considered as the one that got away?

Emotions aside, the film was rich in funny banters that balanced the intense and raw scenes that exhibited Elizabeth Olsen’s prowess in acting. Whoever cast her did a great job because we have a Scarlet Witch to adore.

Despite not being able to thoroughly follow What If and WandaVision, my date during the advanced screening gave me a YouTube recap highlighting the most important moments that might be helpful in keeping up with the film. Indeed, I was able to catch on to the characters introduced since my memory was refreshed and I gained important information about the story preceding the plot.

What could possibly shock you is how closer Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is to a horror film than your familiar Marvel flick. Regardless, it’s a fun movie to watch with or without someone else. The visuals are breathtaking, and the story will surely keep you on your toes throughout the duration of the movie.

If I wasn’t invited for a special screening, I would still go out of my way to watch Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, even if I wasn’t a fan. But after watching, I think I’m starting to consider myself one.

Now Playing is the GadgetMatch team’s favorite games, movies, TV shows, and more each month. If you’re curious to know what we’re into at the moment, this is what you should check out. So grab your popcorn, get some drinks, and enjoy what’s now playing!

Entertainment

Now Playing: Spider-Man: Brand New Day

It’s a must watch for Spidey fans who want to see Peter Parker enter his sad boy era.

Published

July 29, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

The Holland-led Spider-Man trilogy is one of my favorite franchises in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Compared to other series with admittedly disjointed plots, all of Spidey’s storylines have a clear thread leading from one to the next. Since the fourth entries after trilogies are historically lackluster, I had a lot of trepidation heading into Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Thankfully, all those worries were unfounded. Brand New Day follows the same throughline as its predecessors, once again reinforcing Spider-Man as the strongest franchise that Marvel offers fans today.

A brand new day indeed

Coming from No Way Home, Brand New Day still has Peter Parker live a new life as a literal nobody where no one remembers who he is. So begins his existence as just Spider-Man with no friends or family.

When a new and unseen threat ravages through New York City, Spidey starts to wish that he still had friends to help him out, which leads him on an inevitable collision course with Ned and MJ. Ironically, it also leads him to other characters in the city, including the Hulk and the Punisher.

A cacophony of villains

When I first saw the trailer, I was worried about the astounding number of villains from the get-go. After all, one of the biggest problems in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3, the most maligned entry in Spider-Man movie history, was the villains. Though far from the movie’s biggest problem, having too many bad guys without a solid plot led to its terrible reception. You can see why Brand New Day’s trailer raises some flags.

If you were thinking the same thing, Brand New Day does indeed have a cohesive plot. Everything flows neatly into one another. Each emotional beat of Peter feeling for his solitude mixes well with the action. In here, fight scenes feel like they have a purpose.

And there is a big bad here. It’s not just a collection of guys that Spidey has to go through. That big bad, who shall not be named at this time, doesn’t feel like just a placeholder for Peter’s internal struggles. They have a character of their own and their own struggles to solve. I wouldn’t say they’re at the level of Loki just yet, but they definitely have a better go at it than most of the MCU’s other villains.

Marvel’s New York City finally debuts

Despite being a prime location since 2012’s Avengers, New York City never really felt like the quintessential city for superheroes in the comics. In the movies, the city was just another city to be ravaged when a new villain comes along.

For the first time, Brand New Day makes the city feel like a lived-in world with a bunch of superheroes living in the neighborhood. And they do pop up.

Does Peter have a scientific problem that only a very specific hero can solve? It’s a good thing Bruce Banner is just around the corner. Does he need some muscle? Well, the Punisher is skulking around somewhere. Plus, there’s even a succinct reason why other superheroes can’t help out.

In this way, Brand New Day presents itself more like a comic book series than a one-off movie. It’s like following the story alone from issue to issue. It’s not the most perfect adaptation of the landmark city, but it goes a long way from just another ravaging of New York.

Peter’s sadness

Everything here hinges on Peter’s loneliness. Despite meeting a trove of characters across the cinematic universe, Peter yearns for time with his loved ones. But they’re gone.

Unlike the past three films where he always had someone to go home to, he has no one here. Tony Stark is dead. Aunt May is gone. Happy has gone to parts unknown. Ned and MJ have no memory of him. Brand New Day has a way of making you feel for his aches, whether the way he still keeps track of MJ or some physiological changes as a result of his predicament.

It also helps that the movie’s big bad has similar motivations. Both serve as perfect mirrors against each other, elevating both their stories effectively. And that’s all I’ll say about that.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a few steps behind from being a perfect Marvel movie, but it’s still an extremely strong part of the Spider-Man mythos. The trilogy, now quadrilogy, remains Marvel’s most consistent franchises to date. It’s an absolute must-watch.

Entertainment

UNDERTALE: The Determination Symphony hits Makati in October

Determination arrives in October.

Published

July 28, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

For so small of a game, UNDERTALE quickly made it into the gaming world’s hall of fame. Despite being only a decade old, the small title has had a major influence for modern-day gamers because of its unique gameplay, its lo-fi art, and, of course, its catchy soundtrack. If you’re a fan of UNDERTALE’s soundtrack, a unique concert experience is headed your way.

On October 17, Film Concerts PH, in partnership with SOHO Live, is hosting UNDERTALE: The Determination Symphony at the Proscenium Theater in Rockwell, Makati.

The concert will be performed by the Filharmonika Orchestra and conducted by Thanapol Setabrahmana. Personally curated by creator Toby Fox and developed by Lambert Jackson with Materia Music, the concert experience showcases the game’s most recognizable tunes laid over gameplay footage playing simultaneously. Plus, for the world tour, the experience will have expanded scoring.

In the game, you play as a small child stuck in the mysterious Underground filled with interesting characters and monsters. Unlike traditional RPGs, UNDERTALE asks players to choose between building relationships and chasing after wins. It’s a unique experience that’s defined by whether you chose to make friends or fought your way to the top. It teaches players to value different ways to solve problems, all while showering them with its one-of-a-kind humor.

Pre-sales for the concert, exclusively for members of the Film Concerts PH community, start on August 4. Public sales, however, will start on August 11 via Ticketmelon.

Entertainment

Marvel Studios announces Ghost Rider, Black Panther 3 at SDCC

What lies ahead of Multiverse Saga now taking shape

Published

July 26, 2026

GadgetMatch

All images courtesy: The Walt Disney Company

What lies ahead of the Multiverse Saga in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is now taking shape, as Marvel Studios have made major announcements at San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) 2026.

The first major reveal was the Ghost Rider feature film, set to release in 2028 with Ryan Gosling playing the protagonist.

Shawn Levy, who directed Deadpool and Wolverine and the Night at the Museum trilogy as both director and producer, will direct the film. Jonathan Tropper is writing the script. All three worked with Star Wars: Starfighter in the same capacities.

Gosling said Johnny Blaze “is a character” he “wanted to play for a very long time.”

The Marvel character has been shown in two live-action movies between 2007 to 2012 starring Nicolas Cage.

More recently, Gabriel Luna played the younger host to Ghost Rider, Robbie Reyes, in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in which the story revolved around him and Chloe Bennet’s Daisy Johnson/Quake for most of the first season.

Avengers: Doomsday panel, Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Marvel Studios then filled SDCC’s Hall H with the massive cast of Avengers: Doomsday, moderated by directors Anthony and Joe Russo.

This segment featured some of the biggest stars of the MCU. There’s Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal, Paul Rudd, Anthony Mackie, Simu Liu, James Marsden, David Harbour, Letitia Wright, Lewis Pullman, Kelsey Grammer, Danny Ramirez, Winston Duke, Hannah John-Kamen, Rebecca Romijn, and Tenoch Huerta Mejia.

Hayley Atwell also joined the panel, confirming she will return in the new film as Peggy Carter.

WATCH: Avengers: Doomsday trailer assembles Marvel’s biggest heroes against Doctor Doom

After all, the mid-credits scene in Avengers: Endgame showed that when it was time to return the infinity stones back where they belonged, Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers/Captain America went back in time and instead lived the life he wanted to have with Peggy.

Meanwhile, Jon Bernthal later on made a surprise appearance. This was to talk about his role as Frank Castle/The Punisher in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Black Panther 3 revealed

To cap off the panel, Black Panther 3 has been confirmed for December 15, 2028. Writer and director Ryan Coogler came out to the stage to introduce David Jonsson as the new Black Panther.

The Alien: Romulus actor will play Toussaint/T’Challa II, the son of the late Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa. In the third Black Panther film, his character will be all grown-up. Naturally, the events in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars will make the transition and his on-screen “aging” a lot smoother.

What this means is Letitia Wright’s Shuri is preparing to step down as the Black Panther. Doomsday will be among her final battles wearing the suit.

Winston Duke’s M’Baku, who is the King of Wakanda in the current events of the MCU, will also play an integral part in setting up T’Challa II for the throne — be it through a traditional Wakandan ritual for the leadership or through other means.