Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Chloe’ Zhao, Marvel Studios, PG 156 Minutes.
Following the dramatic events in ‘Avengers – Endgame’ Marvel studios has brought to the screen a different group of superheroes known as Eternals – a race of immortals who lived on Earth for thousands of years and fashioned its history and civilizations.
Chloe’ Zhao, Oscar winning director of ‘Nomadland,’ opens her epic movie (of 156 minutes long) with a brief background to the main protagonists – the Celestials and Eternals – moving back and forth in time between past and present.
It also reveals how the eternals have shaped the Earth’s history by helping civilizations develop their own technology as well as protect the world against the alien-type creatures – the Deviants.
In addition to its leader Ajak (Salma Hayek – ‘Savages’) the other eternals include Sersi (Gemma Chan – ‘Captain Marvel’), Ikaris (Richard Madden – “Game of Thrones’), Thena (Angelina Jolie – ‘Maleficent’), Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani – ‘Stuber’), Sprite (Lia McHugh – ‘The Lodge’) as well as Phastos (Brian Lee Henry – ‘Widows’), lastly there is Makkari (Lauren Ridloff – ‘Wonderstruck’), Gilgamesh (Ma Dong – seok/Don Lee – ‘Ashfall’) and Druig (Barry Keoghan – ‘American Animals’).
Believing that the Earth is not facing any present danger they each go their separate ways until Sersi and her friend Dane (Kit Harrington – ‘Pompeii’) are attacked in London by the creatures only to be rescued by Ikaris.
With the return of the Deviants, Ajak reassembles the eternals from all over the world – including from Australia, the Amazon etc. before Sersi and Ikaris find that she has died.
Furthermore, Sersi learns of the celestials’ ulterior motives in relation to the Deviants especially in not being honest in their dealings with the Eternals.
It is at this point Ikaris, Kingo and Sprite from the eternals, leaving Sersi to confront with Celestial leader Arishem (David Kaye’s voice) while Thena, Phastos, Makkari and Druig engage with the creatures in a fierce battle – to save Earth.
Despite the movie’s duration Zhao has succeeded in bringing to life the longstanding comic book superheroes, ensuring the Eternals become part of the Marvel cinematic universe through the creation of a diverse group of entertaining superheroes possessing different powers.
Apart from the enjoyable performances from Chan, Jolie, Lee, Keoghan, and Madden there are the spectacular action scenes and settings intertwined with some stunning special effects, each aspect a major highlight of Zhao’s blockbuster production.
Considering the Marvel’s ‘Eternals’ is the first in a brand-new franchise and similar to the pattern adopted in the ‘Avengers’ there are clear indications in the closing credits that there will be a series of sequels.
Vic’s Verdict: 3 ½ Stars
