Eternals

 This review may contain spoilers!

 

Eternals follows a race of cosmic-powered beings who work together to stop alien predators known as the Deviants from wiping out mankind. For millennia they have safeguarded humanity, but when the Eternals learn their true purpose on Earth they must decide to follow their purpose or do what is right. I found this film to be one of the more complex Marvel features in a while, the worldbuilding here is unlike anything I think they've done. I was really compelled by the idea that these Eternals serve powerful cosmic beings known as Celestials who basically function as sentient batteries for entire universes. The entire premise of this film asks if the Celestials way of sustaining life is okay and if the Eternals even have the right to oppose their masters. These are big themes around free will, the nature of man and the greater good which are told expertly and often left me pondering about the nature of our heroes plight throughout. There is a real emphasis on show not tell during the narrative, no small feat given the scope of the story. But I found this steady, progressive mode of storytelling far superior to the exposition fest blockbusters often wind up being. The Eternals aren't really your average superheroes either; they are complicated individuals with powers. The movie puts an emphasis on connection, how this powered family comes together or fractures apart; how the Eternals essentially evolve together over the years. The intensity of emotion and connection portrayed within this cast marks this an ensemble feature supremely worthy of praise. The cinematography is sublime, mastering capturing settings really well and also handling scenes with large groups of characters in a visually appealing way. The special effects are some of the best I've seen so far this year, everything looks so unique and fascinating; no small feat given there's practically a special effect in every scene. The score for the film is beautiful and speaks to the wonder depicted throughout; the soundtrack is more gentle and key to those more poignant scenes.

 

Gemma Chan, who played Sersi, is a really intriguing protagonist who does a great job of depicting someone motivated by compassion; Chan is integral to portraying the inner conflict between purpose and the right thing to do. Richard Madden, who played Ikaris, takes a while to really find the strength of his role but once he gets it you will be hooked; seeing Madden portray a figure so warped by their principles that they stand against those they love is a great performance. Angelina Jolie, who played Thena, is someone who radiates power onscreen but who gives a great juxtaposed performance to this; watching Jolie's role struggle with a mental ailment she has no power over is one of the most intriguing aspects of the film. Salma Hayek, who played Ajak, really encaptures these long years of deep-rooted wisdom; Hayek's role is a leader who loves tose she is in charge of and comes across as more of a head of a family. Kumail Nanjiani, who played Kingo, is one of the most charismatic roles in the film and extremely funny to boot; Nanjiani's role having chased fame and fortune makes him a comedic contrast to the rest of the Eternals. Brian Tyree Henry, who played Phastos, is one of the most versatile members of the cast; this is a character who can go from being very quick-witted to having one of the most emotional depictions of remorse in the film. Lauren Ridloff, who played Makkari, is suc an energetic and excitable role who is very fun to watch; I loved her sharp barbs and the connection she shared with Keoghan. Barry Keoghan, who played Druig, is one of the more complex performance in the film; the way Keoghan presents a role who isn't necessarily doing the right thing but is doing it for the right reasons while still remaining quite likeable is very well done. Ma Dong-seok, who played Gilgamesh, is very much the gentle giant of the film; Dong-seok feels like one of the strongest figures in a room but the way he talks about healing, recovery and love makes him an extremely remarkable role. David Kaye, who voiced Arishem, has brought a figure so imposing that he has changed the balance of power in the MCU; Kaye's voice work is perfect because he delivers dialogue with such eloquence and strength that you are fearful of him and in awe of him.

However, the best performance came from Harish Patel, who played Karun. I think this role is so easy to like because he is the lens for the audience, the character we all get to relate to strongly. Patel observes these mythic figures with a genuine sense of awe, he is entirely dumbfounded that he is travelling with beings who are literal demigods. Patel is also a brilliant source of comedy, landing the funniest lines without a doubt. Patel and Nanjiani really bounce off one another extremely well, they have this charisma that makes their dynamic so unique and fun to watch. Patel's final thank you speech to the Eternals is a moving moment, a small scene that really gets right to the heart of the film.

When I started watching Eternals I didn't think I was going to like it, in fact I was almost certain it would be one of my least favourite Marvel films. The first twenty minutes sees the characters acting in a very stoic or blank manner, to simulate each of them having no memories on first being deployed to Earth, this felt like a poor tactic to hook the audience in. The sudden cut to the modern day, seeing behaviours so very different by comparison is extremely jarring, there are conversations that don't have much context and it feels quite muddled. Add into all this the hints that there might be a love triangle between Sersi, Ikaris and Dane and I was about ready to really disconnect from the feature. Overall the film depicts romance quite well, but I found the dynamic between Ikaris and Sersi to be so devoid of emotion that it was hard to believe in. I also thought the way the film didn't really know what to do with the Deviants in the final act indicated that this antagonist could've been written a lot better than it was.

Kit Harington, who played Dane Whitman, feels like an awkward fit in this film; ou never reall feel the chemistry between him and Chan and it is extremely obvious he is just in the film to set up future appearances. Lia McHugh, who played Sprite, doesn't have the range to depict some of the more complex issues written for her role; McHugh's portrayal of unrequited love and frustration over how she looks younger than she is are tough themes that I don't think McHugh really managed to capture. Bill Skarsgård, who voiced Kro, is one of the more forgettable antagonists in the MCU; Skarsgård's depiction of a being who hates Eternals is quite a two-dimensional thing to watch.

Though Eternals takes a moment to get off the ground I found this to be an epic blockbuster with an impressive cast, truly Marvel's most impressive feat of late. I would give Eternals an 8.5/10.