Eternals (2021) Review

 Eternals (2021) Review

Dir. Chloe Zhao

 

Flawed but fascinating film brings something fresh to the MCU. 

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Over 25 movies into the Marvel Cinematic Universe now and many would suppose that individuality is impossible for these films. It’s not the case. While Marvel has a formula it often too-easily returns to, every now and then there is a renaissance period. Whether it’s the misunderstood and well-aged Iron Man 3 which riskily focused on a Tony Stark out of options and forced to use his wits, or the complete reinvention of Thor by Taika Watiti as a neon, cosmic comedy of chao; voices can sometimes break through. One of the most interesting parts of Marvel’s massive Avengers: Endgame was the first hour, in which the superhero action is almost entirely abandoned in lieu of a dramatic, grief-stricken character study. 

 

When Marvel announced that Chloe Zhao; the Oscar winning director of Nomadland, was to make an MCU film based on the lesser known Eternals characters, many were rightfully intrigued. Zhao’s eye for the beauty of Earth, the naturally cinematic vistas of the planet, and the way in which characters can be defined by their surrounding visuals all make for a new take on the Marvel Universe.

 

Many critics are calling Eternals a boring, joyless film. I beg to differ. I found the narrative structure to be refreshingly different. The pacing doesn’t always work, and sometimes sequences can feel just a little too overdrawn and quiet, but the story and characters being forged are undeniably interesting. Its impossible to introduce ten fully rounded characters in one movie. Eternals almost accomplishes it, with each character feeling defined and having a set of unique characteristics However, as one would expect, the focus isn’t entirely equally distributed, and some characters shine more than others get the chance to. Every character has an arc, but very few have a completed one, though this converges as the story’s climax itself becomes the joint arc of the group. 

 

The trademark humour of the MCU is present contrary to some reviews, though it can often be hit and miss. When it hits best is when comedic talents such as Kumail Nanjiani are given the screen time to shine. A particular standout of the film, Kingo and his valet Karun often steal the show comedically, though surprisingly do so with emotional moments too. 

 

The cast of characters does land, and despite the mountainous task of establishing so many new elements to this well-established world, the result is compelling and entertaining. It was refreshing to see Hollywood heavyweights like Jolie and Hayek take the smaller roles with commitment, while the heaviest material finds its way to fresher faced actors like Barry Keoghan and Lia McHugh. 

 

The strongest part of Eternals is its visuals; with a real focus on beauty and power. Some of Marvel’s strongest films are those that match a compelling story with memorable cinematography- such as Black Panther or the recent Shang Chi. 

 

The film does fall flat in its villain department as many early MCU projects often did. The Deviants are, by design, chaotic and unaesthetic; but their empty characterisation and lack of satisfying motivation do little to make up for that. They are mostly cannon fodder for the film’s action sequences, which lack the uniqueness to stand out from the rest of the genre. Shang Chi takes the cake this year for doing fresh action set pieces, while Eternals’ strengths lie in its experimental narrative. 

 

On the whole, Eternals doesn’t deserve half of the harsh feedback it’s been on the receiving end of. Several sites have called it one of the MCU’s lowest efforts. It’s not anywhere near. Eternals isn’t even the worst MCU film of 2021. Its a flawed but refreshing take on the superhero comic book movie. The tough challenge it sets itself narratively is extremely gripping, and while it sticks the landing there is some slight turbulence along the way. The pacing threatens to sag at times, but the strong visual style and the interesting new concepts and characters often keep it alive. Eternals is a welcome addition to the Marvel Universe, and hopefully not a forgotten experiment. 

 

7/10

 

 

 

Review by Elliott Thomas Griffiths