Eternals (2021)
Eternals
- 3.5/5 Cameras 🎥🎥🎥.5
- Directed by: Chloé Zhao
- Starring: Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Angelina Jolie, Lauren Ridloff, Kumail Nanjiani, et al
- Where to find it: In cinemas now
 |
| No Copyright Infringement Intended |
2021 has been a packed year in the world of film, with
studios releasing project after project to make up for the lack of content in
2020, and Marvel Studios is no exception to this onslaught of releases.
Eternals marks the MCU’s 3rd cinematic release of the year (7th
overall release including shows released on Disney +) and with so many titles
under their belt, it should come as no surprise that the studio responsible for
some of the highest-grossing movies ever made felt it was time to break away
from the mould they created and produce a film that is as divisive as it is
beautiful. Eternals is that film.
Directed by Academy Award-winning director Chloé Zhao and
based on characters created in 1976 by the legendary Jack Kirby, Eternals
follows an alien race of immortals who emerge from hiding and come together
after thousands of years to protect Earth from the Deviants, their evil
counterparts. The film also takes audiences on a journey through time,
sporadically using flashbacks to show how the Eternals helped humanity move
forward throughout their 7,000-year existence.
Chloé Zhao is known for making visually stunning films,
using natural locations to make the most beautiful set pieces. Along with
director of photography Ben Davis, Zhao’s direction makes Eternals a refreshing
change from other superhero films, with settings such as Babylon and even South
Dakota demanding to be seen on the biggest screen possible. Aside from its
staggering cinematography, Eternals is also refreshing in its’ tone. The film
feels darker than previous entries to the MCU and covers heavier subject areas,
with Thena’s (Angelina Jolie) story in particular feeling more hard-hitting
than what audiences are used to, leading to the film having a more mature feel.
In addition to the more violent action scenes and the inclusion of a sex scene,
Eternals also treats its’ characters differently, forcing them to question
their very reason for existence and the roles they’ve played in humanity.
Telling a story with as much lore as the Eternals’ brings a large challenge that ultimately leads to the film being packed with
exposition. Multiple scenes explain to audiences what is going on and why,
which can, at times, pull you out of the movie. As a comic book fan, I didn’t
find the plot of Eternals hard to follow, but I imagine this would not be the
case if you had no prior knowledge of the group. The amount of exposition
included in Eternals ultimately leads to a lack of action, which isn’t
necessarily a drawback if you go into this film seeing it more of a drama
instead of a superhero movie, but it’s easy to see how this move will divide viewers.
Sitting at 2 hours 37 minutes, Eternals is the second-longest movie in the MCU,
and at times feels like it, ultimately giving the sense that it could have been shortened to make for a more slick film.
Introducing so many new characters at the same time was
always going to be a hard job. Despite this, surprisingly, its’ characters are
where Eternals really excels. Each of the 10 introduced (plus Kit Harrington’s
Dane Whitman) is given their chance to shine, with each delivering captivating
and often moving performances. The cast is so strong that it’s hard to pick a
favourite, with a particular strength of the movie being that each audience
member will leave the cinema with a different character to obsess over, however,
standouts include Lauren Ridloff’s Makkari, Kumail Nanjiani’s Kingo, and Gemma
Chan’s Sersi. It’s safe to say that whatever your overarching thoughts on this
movie, you will want to see more of at least one character, which in my eyes
means the film has served its’ purpose. Despite this, however, the film’s
villains, the Deviants, are not as enticing, acting as merely a plot device to
force the Eternals back together in what feels like a missed opportunity.
It’s fair to say that representation has not always been one
of the MCU’s strong points, but Eternals marks the start of this changing. The
film includes the first gay kiss and first deaf superhero in the franchise and
additionally includes characters from all over the globe. This move is not only
refreshing, but also feels natural, and not shoehorned in like many other
films.
When first introduced by Jack Kirby in 1976, the Eternals’
debut comic run was criticised for not being more heavily linked with the wider
Marvel universe, however, in the 2021 film, it feels almost the opposite has
happened. Despite being a mostly standalone venture, the film does have
multiple references to characters and events that have taken place in the MCU.
Although it’s always nice to hear name drops and see Easter eggs, I can’t help
but wonder if Eternals would have benefitted more from being detached entirely
from the aforementioned universe, giving it more room to breathe.
Eternals is a behemoth of a movie, grand in size and scale,
and filled with genuinely shocking twists. Whilst its’ villains are lacklustre
and its’ absence of action may deter some viewers, its’ sheer beauty and powerhouse
cast makes Eternals a film that will be a delight for years to come.
Comments
Post a Comment