Marvel's Eternals Review: Beginning of a new-age and Diverse MCU!

Post the super-hit Avengers: Endgame, where the logic defied but the end of Robert Downey Jr's journey overshadowed everything else. So obviously, the next "We have got to find the others" type movie has its level of expectations! With Chloé Zhao as Director, the fan base was already divided and unsure about her style settling in. But, the film was released on November 5 and the critics criticized the film for not being up to the Marvel level.

But this variance in style was already anticipated since Zhao has never done something of this sort and at this scale, but the casting of the film is just star-studded The movie features every member of the Eternals including Gemma Chan as Sersi, Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo, Lia McHugh as Sprite, Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos, Lauren Ridloff as Makkari, Barry Keoghan as Druig, Don Lee as Gilgamesh, and Angelina Jolie as Thena.

This 156-minute film is the second-longest in the history of Marvel movies and is based on the original comics. But the outcome from paper to screens is certainly questionable, but the storyline starts from 5,000 BC Mesopotamia to present-day London and 15th-century Spanish conquest to 400 AD Gupta Empire. Interestingly, Eternals begins with a three-paragraph opening crawl like Star Wars (but sadder) that tells us how the Eternals came to be, their chief enemy, and their purpose on Earth.

The journey of the Eternals, who are created by the super god Arishem and only deals in planet-esque deals with the priority obviously to the celestials over humans. They are advised only to keep their mission-focused, which is to kill off deviants and not interfere in the matters of public. The Eternals have a great bond between them but yes, like always cracks and twists develop and it's interesting as well as fun to watch their squabbles.

Coming to the superpowers part, Ikaris (Richard Madden) seems to have been inspired by Superman and there is an actual reference in the film and Ikaris responds to this allegation saying, "I don't like capes".Well, you can't fully blame the screenplay & storyline since it's the first part of many and this film unwillingly wants to focus on the character establishments of everyone and in doing so, they haven't focused on some important aspects. The mass moments and well-written jokes do come right in when you start feeling a little bored, which is at regular intervals! There's a Flash and a Hulk too! (Not kidding) and a healer with special mother-like superpowers who can talk to Arishem.

Visuals are pleasing to the eye but at times we just feel it's too unreal! The first-half hop skips and jumps across to show us the group's journey on the Earth and how their relationships crack up from within. But despite trying hard, the audience just cannot connect with Sersi (Gemma Chan), Ikris (Richard Madden), or any of the Eternals. Well, Sprite (Lia McHugh) stood out for sure not only for her name but for her interestingly frustrating form of lifestyle.

But one aspect that Eternals whole-heartedly wins is the fact of its diversity, be it in the form of casting or their characters and now MCU has seen its first-ever Gay character in the form of Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry) and there is also a mute eternal in Lauren Ridloff as Makkari. One of the unique powers must be Druig (Barry Keoghan) who can change perspectives of people and his ideology clash is what starts the stir.

Gemma Chan (Sersi) seems to be the protagonist for the major part of the film who falls in love with Kit Harrington whose character is still a big question mark! He is the pivot to the next part and the climax was a bit disappointing but definitely, the ending gives us some hope into the next part, which might be even more interesting! This was the first time in a Marvel movie that had a PG-13 Intimate scene and also the first time that the villain was not at all interesting.

This was also the first time India played a major part in a Marvel film as one of the characters, Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani) plays the role of a Bollywood actor and on this mission of Eternals, there's an Indian too on board! Sounds interesting right?

Verdict: The interesting equations & references is what makes the film a must-watch with not-so-engaging fight sequences.

Rating: 3/5