‘Eternals’ Reviews Are In: Superhero Fatigue Hinders Marvels Newest Epic
With Marvel’s next adventure just a few weeks away and fans’ anticipation of the film reaching a fever pitch, we now get our first official reactions to the movie as Eternals reviews are in!
The newest MCU journey starts in just about a week, and with early impressions being overwhelmingly positive, we’re getting our first exposure to in-depth reviews for the film across many outlets.
Source: Total Film
The ambitious, Chloe Zhao-helmed, project will see the introduction of ten new Marvel characters; with the century-old story of the Eternals unfolding in two interconnected storylines.
Now that many of the Eternals reviews are in, we can say that the film is currently one of the more divisive projects that Marvel Studios has produced since its inception over a decade ago.
(L-R): Ikaris (Richard Madden) and Sersi (Gemma Chan) in Marvel Studios’ ETERNALS. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
Zhao certainly is lauded for her visual elegance and style, but reviews have also seemed to highlight certain fatigue that has set in from the Marvel formula; something that many expected to be spared from considering the very unique nature of this project.
Jamie Jirak, of ComicBook.com, wrote of the divisiveness of this newest Marvel film by stating, “The strong characters and visuals will be enough for some fans to consider it one of the best of the franchise while others will find its messy plot and extended runtime a hard pill to swallow.”
Source: Marvel Studios’ ETERNALS. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
The critique points to the Zhao-Esque visual brilliance as the movies saving grace, with the longer run time a big question mark for many fans; yet, understandable considering the film is seeking to explore ten characters in a single film.
Steve Rose of The Guardian was also vocal about his issues with the film, and how the story is, “all headed towards yet another ‘race against time to stop the really bad thing happening’ climax.”
Rose noted, “It’s not exactly boring- there’s always something new to behold- but nor it is particularly exciting, and it lacks the breezy wit of Marvel’s best movies.”
Source: Marvel Studios’ ETERNALS. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
Oliver Jones of the Observer noted the strength of the film lies in its thematic premise; which works to ask audiences, “How do we navigate and understand the difference? Why do we value humanity so much when humans often do not seem to value each other?”
Robbie Collin of The Daily Telegraph, however, points to these grand-scale questions, and mature thematic elements as failing to work toward a better end result.
Source: Marvel Studios’ ETERNALS. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
Collin notes that Eternals is, “constantly engaged in a kind of grit-toothed authenticity theatre, going out of its way to show you it’s doing all the things proper cinema does, even though none of them bring any discernible benefit whatsoever to the film at hand.”
Brian Truitt of USA Today noted the success that the film is as far as its uniqueness, noting that, “Eternals looks unlike any other Marvel movie and is perhaps the most welcoming for MCU neophytes in forever.”
Source: Marvel Studios’ ETERNALS. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
Perhaps the most poignant statement made against the film, however, comes in the words of Los Angeles Times Justin Chang.
Chang writes, “You walk out [of the theater] in the depressing realization that you’ve just seen one of the more interesting movies Marvel will ever make, and hopefully the least interesting one Chloe Zhao will ever make.”
Source: Marvel Studios’ ETERNALS. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
All of these opinions add up to the verdict that Eternals– which will undoubtedly follow the Marvel trend of dominating the box office- may be one of Marvel’s most divisive and contentious projects.
As the Eternals reviews are in, what do you think? Are you still excited about the film? Will you be going on opening weekend? Let us know below!
Source: Marvel Studios
