With the arrival of Eternals on Blu-ray, DVD, and all kinds of VOD options—it’s also streaming on Disney+—it’s time for the comic book studio who redefined the genre to introduce the world to an all-new (to many of you) group of superheroes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
These folks were the first superheroes. The Eternals were sent here to protect the human race and yes, they are eternal. It seems that some nasty creatures, known as Deviants, a continual threat to those who live on this planet. About five centuries ago, the last of those Deviants appears to have been wiped off the earth. Eternals went their separate ways and our story jumps to the present, post-Avengers: Endgame and something resembling Deviants have reappeared unexpectedly.
The gang has to get back together, or those humans are doomed. First, we have to find everyone—which provides moments of levity as we are truly introduced to each of these superheroes as their present has them all over the map.
Fresh off her Oscar win for Nomadland, Chloeì Zhao filled the Eternals director’s chair. These two films could not be more disparate and honestly, are polar opposites. If you look closely, you will notice something. There is a common thread with both films—an emphasis on the people and the interrelationships that develop between them. The scope, budget, and cast may be bigger in Eternals than Nomadland, but one can absolutely tell that the same person directed it.
Zhao’s command of her craft is glorious to witness. She was able to take a concept that is probably one of the more complex of Marvel’s superhero cache and make it approachable in a manner that is quite surprising.
One can’t compare it to The Avengers, even though both “assemble!” It would be easy to, but this film is an apple to that blockbuster’s orange. With Eternals, unlike The Avengers, the first time we’re meeting this team of supernaturally gifted heroes is not when the stakes couldn’t be higher. That is a daunting task for any filmmaker.
Smartly, Zhao co-wrote the screenplay with Patrick Burleigh, Ryan Firpo and Kaz Firpo. She was in on the ground floor, and she was personally connected with the scope from the get-go. What she set out to achieve once the cast was assembled (sorry, had to), was her vision since words were put to page.
The ensemble is top notch featuring Gemma Chan as Sersi, Richard Madden as Ikaris, Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo, Lia McHugh as Sprite, Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos, Lauren Ridloff as Makkari, Angelina Jolie is Thena, Barry Keoghan as Druig, Don Lee as Gilgamesh, Kit Harington as Dane Whitman and overseeing them all, Salma Hayek is Ajak, their leader.
They are all terrific and each keenly knows they are part of an actual ensemble. No one tries chewing the scenery or stealing the spotlight. The thespians each knows their spoke in the wheel that drives this film.
If there is a knock against the film, one might have an issue with its length. Clocking in at 157 minutes, it is an investment in the time department, but one well spent.
One of Zhao’s greatest hires, just below the casting department led by Sarah Finn and Anna Tenney, is having Ramin Djawadi compose the score. His sweeping soundtrack adds layers of richness to Eternals. If it feels epic and simultaneously familiar, that is because Djawadi is the Iranian-German composer behind Game of Thrones. To quote Larry David, “Pretty good. Pretty good.”
When it comes to bonus features, The Movie Mensch would recommend diving first into Immortalized. Marvel head Kevin Feige has decided to start off his “Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe” with Eternals and with this behind-the-scenes featurette, one can see why. This almost eleven-minute look at the making-of takes us behind-the-scenes as the fourth phase of the MCU kicks into overdrive.
It doesn’t take long to notice that Eternals features folks from all Walks of Life. Sounds like a great title for a bonus featurette! Well, it is and it’s a fact that the film is Marvel’s largest and most diverse collective lineup of Superheroes highlighted in a single film. This featurette features the cast and why that aspect, especially, has endeared them and initially drew them to, the film. The ensemble also shares a sentiment that a bond was formed with each member, and it is one that has lasted long after the last time Zhao yelled “Cut!”
There is always a Gag Reel on a Disney/Marvel home video release, and they are each must-watch. Eternals is no different.
Another “don’t miss” is the Audio Commentary. This allows you to check out Eternals, while Zhao, Production Visual Effects Supervisor Stephane Ceretti, and Additional Visual Effects Supervisor Mårten Larsson walk the viewer through the making of the film. It’s a priceless experience that is a cherry on top of this delicious sundae.
Lastly, there are four deleted scenes included with the bonus features that take us inside the mind of Zhao in terms of what she decides to keep, and what she elects to leave on the editor’s floor. The scenes are titled, Gravity, Nostalgia, Movies, and Small Talk. The latter, wink wink, we can see why it was cut.
Film Grade: A-
Bonus Features: A-