Marvel has gone to the stars plenty of times before. But this year, they went Cosmic with a capital C when Jack Kirby’s most ethereal of Marvel heroes - the Eternals - were launched onto the big screen.
Helmed by the Oscars’ currently reigning Best Director, Chloe Zhao; boasting a massive, all-star cast; and with trailers flashing some of the best visuals ever to come out of an MCU project, anticipation was high across the board. And then the reviews began to roll in. By the time the dust settled, ‘Eternals’ was Marvel’s first ‘Rotten’-rated movie on Rotten Tomatoes, no-small feat given the mediocrity dealt out by features like ‘Thor: The Dark World.’
So what happened? There was no way I was missing this, even if Roger Ebert himself returned from beyond the grave to give it a thumbs down, so I went to see for myself.
A Disclaimer: I'm going to limit myself to TWO "epic"s in this review, because that word is overused but is so fitting for 'Eternals' that I keep trying to use it anyway. And now I'm down to one.
A story spanning centuries, grappling with questions of faith and the nature of humanity, is unfurled onto a gorgeous canvas crafted by Zhao and cinematographer Ben Davis. Reportedly, Marvel mastermind Kevin Feige was left shocked by the vividness of the film, which was primarily shot on location.
The power of real-life settings cannot be understated. Even the most cutting edge green-screen technology still leaves a feeling of disconnect between the physical actors and the ostensibly natural world around them. It’s no surprise that execs used to the washed out MCU grey/green standard would be blown away seeing this on screen. I certainly hope it leaves an impression, and our heroes will get to go out and touch some grass again.
The cast matches the scope of the setting, no easy task. An all-star lineup spanning multiple generations of talent introduces a plethora of exciting new characters, and each one leaves a memorable mark. It’s hard to choose individual standouts. But Sersi (Gemma Chan) is the closest the movie has to a true lead. She displays a soft form of strength that is very rarely seen in movies, especially not from superheroes, and it’s refreshing here to get a quiet, sensitive, caring protagonist devoid of the bluster and bravado so rampant in the genre.
Opposite her is Ikaris (Richard Madden), admirably playing a thankless but necessary role as the stoic ‘Superman’ of the group. Madden broods very well, and adds another fine piece to his future James Bond audition reel. I could go on and on about the rest of the cast - Angelina Jolie is unsurprisingly iconic as Thena, Barry Keoghan is surprisingly cast against his typically malevolent type as Druig, and Makkarri (Lauren Ridloff) is infinitely likable, great representation and the best depiction of super-speed I’ve ever seen on the big screen.
I could go on and on about the characters and their actors, but there is only so much room here for me and my words. So to put it simply - this cast rocks.
The one weak link lies in the central relationship between Sersi and Ikaris. Portraying emotionally stunted characters can be a tricky thing, especially when the plot requires them to drive intimate storylines. And while Madden plays Ikaris excellently, their love never seems authentic. The actors and director never find a way to overcome the emotional divide of the characters, and it undermines the romance which becomes so central to the underlying plot.
The villain, Kro (Bill Skarsgaard), is also a problem. The Deviant leader is certainly Marvel’s most forgettable antagonist in a long time. Contrary to what some corners of internet discourse will maintain, a villain does not have to be deep or complexly developed for a movie to be good. And this movie is ultimately not about the fight with Kro, it’s about our heroes grappling with their own identity and the nature of humanity. So it’s okay by me for Kro to get the backburner (though a shameful waste of Skarsgaard’s talent). But the movie does hold on to him for too long. He should have been cut off sooner rather than muddle up the final act.
In the end, ‘Eternals’ takes on a lot. And while not everything succeeds as well as I wish it would, if only for daring to rise above expectations, it deserves praise. But so much of it does work incredibly, that it is certainly in the upper tier of the Marvel mythos in my book.
Honestly, I don’t know what the critics were on about to leave this with such low ratings. But if they have you in doubt, trust me - Much like last month’s ‘Dune,’ this is an epic movie in every sense of the word, a sprawling spectacle welcoming us back to the theater in the biggest way possible. It deserves to be seen - to be felt - on the big screen. So give it a chance. You won’t regret it.
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