I still have lots of work to finish before my Monday meeting with my boss but here I am, trying to take Eternals out of my mind so I can focus on other things.
If you want to see an entertaining MCU movie like the other 25 blockbusters, Eternals isn't one of them. People say this was the worst Marvel movie ever but I think it may be one of the best. Not being biased since the director is Chloe Zhao but I truly adore her vision for this masterpiece and it doesn't suit many people. That's why I like it.
What should we talk about first? Pros or cons?
Let's go with cons first since I only have a few to talk about.
2 hours and 30 minutes aren't enough to tell the long story of Eternals. With the past intermingle with the present to help the audience have a clear idea of who each of the Eternals is, we were given a bit of an overwhelming amount of information to process. The story should be told over 8 hours of a mini-series so every character will have the same deserving amount of screentime and the audience won't need to rewind to see what the heck just happened. Also, they are introducing at least 11 new faces of Phase 4 and their long complicated history that spreads for centuries, so yeah, it's not enough for us to know them. LIKE, AT ALL.
The end of the Deviants is rushed. The Deviants are interesting creatures, I must admit. After showing off their powerful and intimidating strength, Marvel decides to end it with simple "bread slices". I must say I was a bit disappointed.
Complicated storytelling and plot. The movie is divided into the past timeline and the present timeline then in the present timeline, we have two storylines which are obviously confused a lot of people. But like I said, if it had been a series, it would have been easier to deliver. Moreover, many philosophical and macroscopic questions have been raised throughout the film which does not sit well with the audience looking for entertainment instead of a History and Philosophy lecture. In addition, Eternals do not normally show characters' emotions through their dialogue but their facial expression so not many people would like to do it or have the ability to pick it up.
Okay, I think I'm done with the Cons, let's move on to the Pros, shall we?
Love can take many forms. Who here loves Druig & Makkari, Gilgamesh & Thena, and Phastos & his husband, Ben more than the main couple please raise your damn hands? *Both hands and legs are up*. These three couples have the best chemistry unlike the toxic married couple Sersi and Ikaris. Their love does not have to be presented through Marvel's first sex scene, the constant need to say "I love you", or a ceremonious wedding but through a forehead touch, a handholding, a simple look, or just the way you take care of someone until you take your last breath. Love is beautifully portraited in Eternals and I love it.
Cast diversity presents the world. Yes, each of the Eternals represents an ancient God of the world and each character is different from one another, as the birth of each race exists around the world nowadays. This is the most diversified cast I have ever seen in a superhero movie and the message they bear is also massive. The Eternals represent the world, what it's about, the unity of races. But it also condemns the internal conflicts between races and the thing the Eternals call "family" in the film. The world is the same, trying to unite but the conflicts still remain. Moreover, I would like to thank Marvel to bring a disabled character (Makkari - deaf), a member of the LGBTQ+ community (Phastos - gay), and a mentally disordered person (Thena - dementia) to the big screen. It's just so damn beautiful. Even God is imperfect so why do we keep chasing the illusion?
Character building is superb. Each character leaves me an unforgettable impression and makes me love them more after finishing the film. No one is unnecessary, even Kingo's valet, Karun, or Phatos's little family, they all add to the richness and the beauty of the humanity that Chloe wants to deliver. I mean I love Druig the most, not because of Barry but the way his character was built is speechless. How beautiful is this depiction of this morally gray mind-controlling god, whose sole desire is to make humanity stop fighting and live in harmony? A person who is extremely tired and full of flaws, can't let go of his sympathy no matter how hard he tries. He is willing to take the blame for preventing a Celestial from being born, just so it eases Sersi's burden, and I believe that is perhaps the core meaning of his personality. It's only fair if I give each character a short analysis paragraph but maybe later, when I'm in a mood and free from work, kay?
Family dynamics. Even though they have their internal conflicts like every family does, I can't deny the beautiful family dynamics that appear throughout the film. The way Sersi and Ikaris are comfortable in Phastos' home, the way Ajak cares and loves for each of her children, and how she tried her best to do the right thing by them despite knowing they were merely a tool, the way Druig, Makkari, and Phastos share a couch and eat while watching the news, the way they laugh genuinely and joyously around Gilgamesh's dining table. They are not just colleagues or long-time friends but family, truly it is as the way Kingo says it. And eventually, I have to mention the loyalty Ikaris shows to Sersi and everyone else, he chooses them over Arishem, over the honorable mission and purpose of his life because his family is his life.
I think that's it, maybe there will be more when I watch it the fourth time. Yes, I watched it three times in 2 days, do not judge me, it's too beautiful and meaningful to be ignored or watched just once. People who said this movie was shit, please, feel free to ask Druig for some mind control since you need to be enlightened, my friends.
Thank you and see you!
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