ETERNALS: Flawed Yet So Emotionally Rich

As an avid supporter of every single installment Marvel Studios has given us so far, even I have to admit the existence of superhero fatigue. With this year seeing Black Widow and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, the studio has been trying to go in new directions while feeling obligated to reference the Infinity War saga that concluded two years ago with Avengers: Endgame. Though both of those films have merit to them—not to mention some truly recommendable qualities—neither entry made me feel something new.

And now comes Eternals, which is by far the most divisive film the studio has received since its inception. Though many of the criticisms are fair and enough to dissuade some viewers from seeing it, I implore everyone to not only give the film a chance but to give themselves to the film.

Eternals is the first time since Black Panther that I truly felt like I was watching an emotionally rich story, full of characters with fascinating inner conflicts, directed and told with so much heart and authenticity. Just like you can argue that Black Panther very much belongs to Ryan Coogler, I would argue that Eternals very much belongs to Chloé Zhao. And yet, even with this parallel, I’m making, I would go a step further and say that Eternals is unlike anything the studio has ever done, period.

A Dense Script with a Ton of Understandable Flaws

Before I go on, I cannot in good conscience just praise the film without addressing its narrative problems, because not only is there a lot of them, but they are easily identifiable.

To start, the script here is juggling a lot. For a story that involves immortal characters whose time on Earth spans centuries, the film tries to cover as much narrative ground as possible by jumping back and forth between the present day and several other time periods and their respective continents. Though the script does its very best in finding a thread to connect these characters together, it’s not entirely enough to cover up the clunky pacing and scene transitions. We have a past timeline emphasizing character development and backstory, and a present timeline that’s concerned with plot, and half the time, they don’t tonally match.

With the film beginning with text that explains the Eternals’ purpose, to serve the Celestials and fight a nearly endless war against the Deviants, so much has to be explained to us before we can really start to dive into its themes and ideas. The present-day plot kicks in when London is attacked by a Deviant with unseen new powers, and too often, the script will take the easy route in just having a character say that to us, resulting in several lines of dialogue that come off as pure exposition.

Though it may seem like I am simply listing a few issues with the film, they really do stack and create a bigger problem where the narrative can feel stiff and awkward at times. Scenes may read better on paper, but they certainly don’t feel smooth on screen. It’s the most common drawback in story structure when a film tries to be this ambitious in content. But with ambition comes passion, and Eternals is filled with it.

New Conflicts and Emotional Struggles

So much of Eternals’ power comes from two things. The first is the premise itself: immortal beings who have been on Earth for centuries. Yes, the telling can be muddled because there is so much to cover, but the script is deeply interested in exploring what witnessing the growth, rise, and fall of human civilization would do to an Eternal. Seeing humanity make the same mistakes over and over, throughout history, no matter the civilization brings a deep clash of morals and philosophy between Eternals on how they should properly protect them. It gives each character and story beat a rare sense of reflection on an epic scale.

It’s a similar strength in why Superman and Wonder Woman remains some of the greatest superhero characters in all of the comic books. Their conflicts are less about their powers and capabilities to defeat the threat, but more about how their ideologies are challenged.

With these conflicts, internal or external, in the foreground, Zhao guides almost all of Eternals towards a rare emotional territory that remains potent throughout. With the team breaking apart in the past and having to come together again in the present, the story keeps the humanity of the Eternals front and center; each one being tested about whether or not humanity is “worth saving” after seeing the kinds of atrocities they are capable of.

Another layer that further complicates this drama is the very conceptualization of the Eternals: they were built with the single purpose to serve the Celestials and destroy Deviants. Themes like purpose, free will, destiny, and finding your place in the world make several moments of dialogue in Eternals surprisingly profound. It is also moments like these where you will realize Zhao is the most qualified filmmaker to bring them to life on the big screen. Everything in the technical department, from the beautiful cinematography to Ramin Djawadi’s gorgeous score (some of the best in the MCU), is made to support Zhao’s priority with a big-budget blockbuster like this: finding human connections among gods.

My Favorite Eternal is…

Perhaps one of the most exciting things about Eternals is everyone is going to have a different favorite superhero out of the team. There are ten Eternals total in this cast, yet each member is written with personality, designed with different powers, and is gifted with committed performances from their respective actors.

I could talk about Barry Keoghan as Druig, a mind-controlling Eternal, and his relationship with Makkari (Lauren Ridloff), a deaf Eternal with super-speed. I could talk about the precious relationship between Gilgamesh (Don Lee), the strongest Eternal, who chooses to protect and look after Thena (Angelina Jolie), a warrior Eternal who struggles with a cosmic form of dementia. I could talk about Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry), the technology inventor of the Eternals, who must come to terms with humanity’s destructive powers with their inventions and free himself from feeling responsible for leading them down a dark path. I could talk about Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani), who successfully makes a career out of himself to blend in on Earth, all while providing terrific comic relief. Last but certainly not least, there is a riveting web of drama and conflict that forms between Sersi (Gemma Chan), Ikaris (Richard Madden), Sprite (Lia McHugh), and Ajak (Salma Hayek) that revolves around primitive emotions like empathy and compassion for humans.

In just one movie, Eternals will have you feel for and understand each character for their beliefs. When an Eternal talks about humans on Earth, the word “them” and “they” is used all the time; a sense of an immortal alien race “othering” humanity. With that type of writing comes a grand, ten-thousand feet view of the story, and as a result, a beating heart. It reminds me of how characters in Black Panther speak about Wakanda, as if it’s more than just a place but also an ideal and morality to live by and live for. The best part is every actor in the cast is here at their A-game, selling every emotional beat.

Eternals: A Departure for Marvel That Should Be Embraced

Even when an exciting Marvel movie is released, they are often restricted from truly being their own thing. Time and time again, the studio is more concerned with maintaining continuity and forcing each movie to be a puzzle piece to the bigger picture. It’s no surprise that the best films from the studio are the ones that are self-contained. One criticism I am beginning to hear from Marvel fans about Eternals is that they are finding it difficult to connect the film with the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, that it’s unclear where it fits narratively and chronologically.

Isn’t that amazing?!

Eternals may be the odd one out of the studio’s insane lineup of 26 films, but every weird, emotional, grand scale choice it does differently should be embraced more. You can claim all you want about how much creative freedom Zhao might have had during the process and how much she might’ve been tied to the “machine” that is corporate filmmaking, but it’s undeniable that she has brought something profoundly new to the table. To me, it’s a win-win for all parties involved.

With beautiful visuals, some of the most innovative action scenes from the studio, and a deep sense of love to the characters and their clash of ideologies, Eternals is so flawed yet so emotionally rich. Frankly, there should be more Marvel movies like it, and more blockbuster films that dare to be this genuine with their material.

How does Eternals stack up to the other films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Eternals will be released in theaters on November 5, 2021.

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