MARVEL STUDIOS' ETERNALS (2021) 

Telling its story over the course of 7000 years, Eternals follows a group of immortal heroes who have been sent to Earth by the celestial being, Arishem, to defend the planet from an alien species known as Deviants. However, from 5000 BC right up until the present day, the Eternals mission has been strictly focused on the Deviants, with orders not to interfere with society’s evolution, creating a divide amongst the group as they witness humanity at its worst during conflicts and wars. Resisting the urge to unify their powers and help mankind be a peaceful society, the foundations of their mission being to crack as they question their true purpose on Earth.

 

In comparison to other films in the MCU, Eternals chooses to focus on characters over spectacle, and it really works in the grand scheme of the film. Choosing to write a story that focuses more on characters who have many internal conflicts within themselves and their group creates an emotionally engaging film. The script does a fantastic job of distinguishing each character's differences and morals, whilst also solidifying their family dynamic (even though they aren’t blood relatives). This is not to say any other MCU films haven’t succeeded in creating emotional stakes, but there is something raw about the tone of Eternals that feels like the movie’s strengths are within the personality, rather than the action.

 

And in saying that, the action doesn’t disappoint either. Seeing each character's unique powers on display was exciting and made from some truly captivating set pieces. There was a handheld-grittiness to some way certain heroes (specifically Ikaris’) action scenes were shot, compared to some of the other stock standard ways Marvel action has been shot before. Even with the differences that this film may have compared to other MCU films, it still uses the action styles we have come to know and love, while mixing in that heartfelt humour.

While the story and characters are truly intriguing on screen, there are some obvious pacing issues within Eternals. At some points, the film’s patience with it’s storytelling can be a hindrance on the runtime. Clocking in as the second-longest film in the MCU (at 2 hours 37 minutes), there are moments in the first hour or so that can feel repetitive or drawn out. This isn’t unexpected for a Chloe Zhao film (especially if you’ve seen Nomadland), but for a Marvel movie, it’s quite noticeable. This is Eternals' major flaw, and while it’s not anything new to these longer superhero movies, it’s an element that just brings this movie short of perfection.