Anthony's Film Review - Eternals (2021)

The 26th Marvel Studios feature film gives us another dose of freshness, focusing on characters and themes...

As always, Marvel Studios has developed a movie that is set in specific places and times in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Like with many MCU films, this latest one takes place in different spots on Earth in the present day. But it also takes the audience back in time, not just to one specific period in the past, but to several. What you have here is a story that spans all of human history, as well as all of universal history. Yes, folks, it evens goes all the way to the early moments of the universe's creation.

Eternals centers on a band of 10 immortal warriors and guardians: Sersi (Gemma Chan), Ikaris (Richard Madden), Thena (Angelina Jolie), Ajak (Salma Hayek), Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani), Sprite (Lia McHugh), Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry), Makkari (Lauren Ridloff), and Druig (Barry Keoghan). They were sent to Earth seven millennia ago for one purpose: to protect the human race from being destroyed by monstrous beasts called Deviants. But they're not all about just killing those monsters. They also influence major events throughout human history. And naturally, they live among us like ordinary people, though they would have to find ways to constantly exist without anyone wondering why they don't age one bit.

Let me first talk about one possible concern about Eternals: the number of main characters. In a typical movie, even some of the MCU movies, you have one or two principal characters and a handful of key supporting characters, and you can easily keep track of all of them. When you have 10 characters, is that too many? Amazingly, no. The great thing about this movie is how it ultimately gives each of those 10 characters adequate screen time, although at different points in the film. By the time it's over, you'll get to know each of the Eternals' names, physical appearances, special powers, and personal issues that are unique to them. That said, if there is one Eternal who is the most important one of all, I would say that Sersi is the key character. (This means that advocates of greater Asian representation in cinema should be pleased to see Gemma Chan as the main star here.)

Another positive on the main characters: they are definitely distinct from one another. None of the Eternals are clones of each other in terms of personality and traits. The result is that we get to see a variety of little situations among the individual Eternals and the relationships between them. Expect to see love and romance with certain pairs. In addition, some of them have interesting career and lifestyle choices as they live among the humans, embedding themselves in certain cultures. Then there are also some personal problems with specific characters. One chooses to defy an order given. Another faces the pain of not growing older. There's even a situation with one character that involves what appears to be a psychotic mental illness.

Basically, character development and exploration is the number one reason why Eternals works. The second reason that I give this movie high marks is a theme that isn't really explored in the MCU, at least not as deeply. I'm talking about the purpose of human existence. There is a key sequence in Eternals that reveals to us what the ultimate role of the Eternals is and what is in store for humankind. It's a scene that is intriguing because it mesmerizes us, while also presenting us with a tough dilemma and making us think about what we would do in the same situation. When you combine this moment with the individual paths that each of the Eternals have taken, you will have some interesting dynamics that occur from that point on.

So that is how Eternals is able to present a nice plot and some exciting action. I imagine that the writers didn't start with the plot and action and then figured out the characters and themes. Rather, they started with the characters and themes and then let the plot and action write themselves. I also want to comment on how well the story is told as a mix of present-day situations and flashbacks with revelations. The previous MCU film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, did this especially well. Eternals does it just as well, with the difference being that the flashbacks occur throughout human history, not within the lifespan of one character.

A while back, my good friend who is an MCU fanatic told me that Marvel movies are not superhero movies, but movies that happen to have superheroes. She's right. And it's pretty much true for Eternals as well, because it is basically a drama about the fate of humanity, that just happens to feature immortal warriors, monstrous beasts, super powers, and a godlike robotlike being named Arishem. I really had fun watching this character-based drama that is secondarily (yes, secondarily) an action movie. Anyone who wants more character than plot and action should enjoy this one.

Eternals is another great Marvel Studios film, one that gives us freshness with characters and themes while still providing the MCU trademarks of special effects-oriented action, humor, and mid-credit and post-credit scenes that act as teasers for what's to come in the MCU and give die-hard fans something to ponder for days. This is a good example of how Marvel Studios has a formula, but isn't so rigid with it. They have the usual ingredients to put into the mix, while also being open to new elements thrown in. And Marvel Studios lets new directors join the MCU with their own spin, so it's great that Chloé Zhao, who recently won an Academy Award for directing, was given a chance to direct Eternals. After seeing this movie, I have no doubt that that the MCU will keep on going. Maybe for all eternity.

Anthony's Rating:

For more information about Eternals, visit the Internet Movie Database.