Opinions, Reviews

Eternals Review: A Maturing Marvel Step into Phase 4

26 November 202124 November 2021By
Eternals Review: A Maturing Marvel Step into Phase 4

After weeks of speculation, reviews and anticipation, Chloe Zhao’s latest film and recent Marvel installment, Eternals was released in cinemas. Opinions editor, Inayah Shah shares her thoughts.

Rating: 3.5/5

*Spoilers Ahead*

The pandemic has been a peculiar time for the film industry, let alone the wider world and attempts to adapt to a new cinema landscape has coincided well with “Phase 4”of the Marvel universe. The 2021/22 slate of films has shown Marvel plunge into a new world of characters, plots and attempting to move away from their Iron Man/Captain America past.  

Superteam of Superheroes 

Chloe Zhao, most recently known for her Oscar win for ‘Nomadland’, took to the reins for this latest Marvel film and introduced us to a new batch of immortal superheroes, sent to Earth to protect people from ‘Deviants’. The cast consists of a star-studded, action packed chorus of actors featuring the likes of Angelina Jolie (Thena), Salma Hayek (Ajak), Barry Keoghan (Druig), Don Lee (Gilgamesh), Lauren Ridloff (Makkari), Kumail Nanjiani (Kingo), Brian Tyree Henry (Phastos), Lia McHugh (Sprite) and with Gemma Chan (Sersi) and Richard Madden (Ikaris) leading the pack. 

Building a super team of actors invites the pressure of living up to the high standards these actors are setting, especially the likes of Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek who have had illustrious and successful careers who would be careful in which projects they would choose to be involved in. However, did the starcast and team behind the camera match up to the end product?

First Impressions

The movie begins well, setting the scene and inviting you into the creative mind of Chloe Zhao. It becomes aware from the beginning shots of the film that her artistic flair and eye for breathtaking cinematography is at the forefront of the project. An introduction to each character is immediate and the overarching, mystical Arishem who dictates the Eternals missions on Earth solidifies his importance early on in the film. 

Burdened with secrets, powers and unknown missions on Earth, the 2hr and 37minute cinema experience is filled with action, special effects and a plot which wavers on being too complicated and not developed to its full capacity. 

For such a long film, I did leave feeling as though very little had been achieved by the end. There were moments of genius ideas and some of the most captivating fighting scenes so far in the MCU (thanks to the multi-dimensional Thena) yet I was longing for more in the plot despite the nearly three hour length of the film.

The film also remains loyal to the new found family trope Marvel have been exploring, most recently with Black Widow – Natasha Romanoff’s origin story, where we meet the family behind the superhero. The Eternals, while not related, embody the idea of a global, dysfunctional family of heroes who at first have the same purpose and mission until their loyalties are challenged. It is  successful and allows the audience to quickly see parts of themselves in the characters, becoming invested in their stories which is sometimes a struggle in a film fighting to include everybody’s storyline.

READ MORE: Loki: Welcome to the madness of the Marvel Multiverse

Hitting the mark and missing the spot

With the likes of Richard Madden and Gemma Chan, both successful and established actors in their own right, assumptions would be made that they would outshine the rest of the cast yet somehow, in an attempt to put them at the forefront – they slip quietly to the sidelines. 

The best, and perhaps most criminally underrated and underused performances stem from their co-stars, Barry Keoghan and Lauren Ridloff,  who not only dominate their scenes but are the love story we deserved over the Sersi (Gemma Chan) and Ikaris (Richard Madden) pairing which felt rather forced.

Lauren Ridloff

Lauren Ridloff is a shining light, who works effortlessly with Barry Keoghan, creating a duo that is difficult to compete with. Their flirtatious dynamic and intense connection fills the viewer with hope and excitement – perhaps the primary love story/friendship which should have been prioritised. She also makes history as being the first deaf superhero, a long overdue step into bringing a cast together that is truly representative of the society we live in. 

Barry Keoghan

Barry Keoghan adopts the role of being the sarcastic, moody yet endearing Druig who appears to have the largest conscience of all in comparison to his teammates. His aura is mysterious and somehow carries him to becoming the alpha male in the storyline – a role you would have initially associated with Richard Madden’s character, Ikaris.

 His ability to stand on his own two feet, protect his own and low tolerance for arrogance (and of course his soft spot for his ‘darling’ Makkari) propels him into the heartthrob role of the film. It also paves the way for a far larger role in the inevitable second installment.You can’t help but fistpump the reaction stan Twitter has had to both Makarri and Druig and the hope it gives for a more fleshed out exploration of their characters, together and individually. 

 

Kumail Nanjiani 

Kumail Nanjiani provides the South-Asian representation the Marvel universe has been in dire need of yet the Bollywood dance sequence and emphasis on him being a Bollywood star seemed unneeded. It posed the question whether Ssouth–Aasian people can be included in these multi-millionaire franchises without being depicted through stereotypes which hinder the community rather than propel them to better and bigger roles.

However, considering Chloe Zhao’s meticulous and artistic filmmaking, you can’t help but give her directorial choices the benefit of doubt and see it as a celebration of culture rather than an appropriation or mockery. 

Brian Tyree Henry

Brian Tyree Henry is the brains of the group, sometimes to his detriment and by the end has so much to fight for and just as much to lose. He also makes history playing the first openly gay superhero – something that should be a normalised part of society. He adds a comedic charm and sophistication to the group and represents so much more than he probably realises. He is to helping breakdown barriers and inspire a new generation of Marvel fans. 

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Salma Hayek, Angelina Jolie and Don Lee

Salma Hayek, Angelina Jolie and Don Lee are all mature presences They provide an air of experience, an exciting turn for the Marvel universe and the clientele they can attract. However, I again take issue with their characters being underused and slightly wasted – another downfall of having such a large cast of superstars: is it possible for them to equally share the spotlight? Angelina Jolie depicts a new angle and perspective of mental health issues that perhaps Marvel has fallen short at before (please see Thor in Avengers: Endgame).

Kit Harington

Kit Harington perhaps surprised me the most with his small yet important role. He plays the mortal, geeky human boyfriend of Sersi – Dane Whitman. Despite only appearing at the beginning and the end of the film, the move away from his Game of Thrones past is refreshing and feeds into this new Marvel era perfectly. His dynamic is arguably better than Sersi and Ikaris’ and you can’t help but secretly root for him to win the Stark brothers boyfriend battle Chloe Zhao (un) knowingly creates. His role, while minimal, proves pivotal in the end credit scene where the audience are introduced to the upcoming projects Marvel are yet to release…the Black Knight is incoming!

READ MORE: Spider-Man No Way Home: What Does the Trailer Tell Us?

The Highs & Lows

With this in mind, you can’t help but ask how these papered over plot holes and missed character arcs weren’t picked up in post-production and perhaps how much stronger the movie could’ve been if they were.

A highlight for the characters is that despite being immortal, everlasting and all powerful superheroes, there seems to be so much more to lose for them. They all fight for something and someone bigger than themselves and somehow, they’re the most human superheroes we’ve had so far in the MCU.

Final Thoughts 

The movie concludes with a sense of incompleteness but anticipation of what is  to come in the Marvel films to follow. It can be viewed as having its shortcomings but that is expected for projects that are daring and boundary pushing – something that the Eternals definitely is. 

It may not be in your top ten Marvel films right now, but Chloe Zhao’s takeover and impact in the MCU will have a domino effect for many films and movies to come. Kevin Feige’s decision to give Zhao a creative license and freedom is refreshing and invites similar comparisons to those such as Taika Waititi – directors who are brave enough to move away from the usual Marvel formula. 

There is an awareness to this film that society has changed, so the universe must change with it. And despite its flaws that most people seem to be focusing on, I would refocus your attention to its highs and the unknown territory we have entered with Chloe Zhao. 

Sidenote: if the movie doesn’t take your fancy…it’s worth going just for those post-credit scenes! 

Eternals is now available to watch exclusively in cinemas.