ETERNALS Reviews Promise A Visually Stunning, Overstuffed (And Overlong) Movie Unlike Any Before It

ETERNALS Reviews Promise A Visually Stunning, Overstuffed (And Overlong) Movie Unlike Any Before It

The review embargo for Eternals has lifted, and these verdicts are definitely more of a mixed bag than expected! Despite some strong visuals, it appears this isn't going to earn Chloé Zhao another Oscar.

By JoshWilding - Oct 24, 2021 02:10 PM EST
Filed Under: Eternals

The reviews for Eternals are in and, well, they're not hailing this as the masterpiece some fans expected. Thus far, it doesn't seem to be receiving the same level of praise as Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Black Widow, but this is by no means shaping up to be Marvel Studios' first Rotten movie (we'll bring you guys the Rotten Tomatoes score soon).

We'll start with Variety. The trade drops a lot of spoilers, but points out, "It’s clear that Zhao, in signing up for this project, made a decision to put her highly expressive and idiosyncratic style on the shelf, and to embrace the straight-up expository conventionality of Marvel filmmaking." On the plus side, they add that the movie, while too long, is "a squarely fun and gratifying watch."

The Hollywood Reporter didn't love this one, either, but admit it's one of "the more interesting and original entries in the ever-expanding canon." The Wrap adds to this by saying Eternals is "both a Marvel superhero epic, as massively conceived as they come, and unquestionably Zhao’s version of one, as attentive to beauty and intimacy as it is to the expected fate-of-all-life concerns." 

Mama's Geeky loved it, and conclude by declaring, "When I say that Eternals is like nothing we have ever seen in a Marvel movie before, I mean it. Sure there is action, but it isn’t at the forefront of the film. This movie is kind of a love letter to humanity, and I am here for it, even if humanity kind of sucks right now." Despite saying that this latest Phase 4 release is "somewhat overstuffed," The Illuminerdi is quick to point out, "Marvel Studios continues its trend of excellent storytelling with yet another fun Phase 4 entry, one that takes chances and stands on its own as a solid movie."

USA Today gives Eternals 2.5/4, highlighting a number of issues and describing it as an "eternal chore" while revealing that "It only occasionally references the ultra-connected MCU, favoring mythology creation over forcing itself into the grander plan." 

Total Film goes with 4/5 and concludes with, "Chloé Zhao gives the MCU just the kick in the pants it needs at this phase in its evolution." Empire wasn't quite as impressive with a 3/5 score and, "Director Chloé Zhao’s entry into the superhero world is assured, ambitious and told on a dizzyingly cosmic scale — but even it can’t escape the clichés of superhero storytelling." IGN goes for a 7/10 and explains, "Eternals is beautifully shot and terrifically acted, but it bites off more than it can chew in its third act."

Polygon calls Eternals a "mess," but Screen Rant counters that by saying "Zhao's sprawling superhero epic is unlike anything the MCU has produced before." 

So, something of a mixed bag, and definitely not what we expected given the hype this one has been generating. These are only excerpts, though, and it's worth noting that the cast, visuals, and sheer level of diversity are all receive plenty of praise. Unfortunately, it sounds like Eternals is a movie with a fair few issues, failing to escape the mould many critics have grown fed up with in the MCU.

Eternals is set to be released on November 5. We'll have our verdict for you soon.

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DannRamm113
DannRamm113 - 10/24/2021, 2:48 PM
I remember Kevin Feige hyping this up more over Shang Chi when Shang Chi was due before this.


Curious whether that’ll be a mistake on his end
SensitivityII
SensitivityII - 10/24/2021, 2:51 PM
@DannRamm113 - That’s truly a shame, because Shang-Chi is damn near a masterpiece. As far as Marvel Studios has ever gotten to one.

I have no doubt Eternals will be good and worthy of some of his hype. He does promise it will change the game moving forward, but I think the consensus is in line with what I’ve been hearing from most people outside of social media: the movie looks boring. I don’t agree with it, but I can see where they’re coming from.

All things considered, I expect to love Eternals.
SensitivityII
SensitivityII - 10/24/2021, 2:51 PM
As close as* Marvel Studios has gotten to one. My bad.
dracula
dracula - 10/24/2021, 2:52 PM
@DannRamm113 - well in the long term for the mcu, makes sense The Eternals would be more important than Shang Chi because of the story potential and mythology
DannRamm113
DannRamm113 - 10/24/2021, 2:53 PM
In his defense; the movie is directed by an academy award winner. And, the movies not getting bad reviews, just more mixed; but Shang Chi competes with Iron Man as my favorite MCU origin
inkniron
inkniron - 10/24/2021, 4:20 PM
@DannRamm113 - Personally, I'd hype up the lesser of the 2 as well. Word of mouth can do a lot for the initially less hyped, lesser perceived product but if you know one might fall a little short of expectations, hype the shit out of it to get those butts in the seats.
LSHF
LSHF - 10/24/2021, 9:34 PM
@SensitivityII - I always try to proofread, but sometimes I still miss something. And then, it's too late! ;-)
JFerguson
JFerguson - 10/24/2021, 2:48 PM
“ It only occasionally references the ultra-connected MCU”

Good
Menks123
Menks123 - 10/24/2021, 2:50 PM
Give me all the info dump and dialogue.

I am so pumped for this.
HeraldNumber7
HeraldNumber7 - 10/24/2021, 3:41 PM
@Menks123 -

right. all i kinda want out of this is just grandiose dialogue about the history of celestials and the Marvel cosmos lol
SerKurtWagner
SerKurtWagner - 10/24/2021, 8:10 PM
@Menks123 - It’s so absurd how dialogue and world-building are getting treated like “problems” now. It’s like some critics and posters think that movies are just plot-perpetuation devices.
Menks123
Menks123 - 10/24/2021, 8:14 PM
@SerKurtWagner - Yuuuuuup

I want to see the dialogue, the info dump and history involving EVERYTHING. That is what i've been so excited for about this movie.
Battabing
Battabing - 10/24/2021, 8:26 PM
@SerKurtWagner -
But, that's the MCU in a nutshell.
SerKurtWagner
SerKurtWagner - 10/24/2021, 11:08 PM
@Battabing - And that's one of its biggest flaws. But when it actually tries to break that mold, like in Loki and now here, it gets attacked for it because certain people now view anything outside that mold as "wrong."
The1st
The1st - 10/25/2021, 10:20 AM
@SerKurtWagner - They have to justify their existence. I'm convinced that some critics only know how to critique certain genres, and are just critical of everything else.

BlackConvoy
BlackConvoy - 10/25/2021, 12:33 PM
@SerKurtWagner - Some people just aren't happy regardless. One of the biggest complaints of MCU detractors, was that they're not for the director. That's why DC will be so much better. But now that Marvel has made a movie where it looks like the director had more input, people want to gripe about it.
SnideCut
SnideCut - 10/24/2021, 2:50 PM
Damn, I don't know what to think.
Amaru
Amaru - 10/24/2021, 3:13 PM
@SnideCut - I mean, should probably just think for yourself.
TheClungerine
TheClungerine - 10/24/2021, 3:57 PM
@Amaru - this made me LOL
Dabs
Dabs - 10/24/2021, 4:03 PM
@SnideCut - go see it and form your own opinion -_-
LSHF
LSHF - 10/24/2021, 9:38 PM
@SnideCut - Well, don't think about what they are saying, because all they are saying is what "they" think, so they are just talking about themselves (not the film). If I say I don't like the way a dish is prepared, that doesn't mean it was prepared poorly; it just means that "I" didn't like it; so the subject of that statement was "me" (not the dish).

How much you enjoy the film really mostly depends upon you and your attitude about what all is in the film. So, read about the length, and all of the other aspects (that some may consider negative), and prepare yourself to enjoy them for what they are.
LSHF
LSHF - 10/24/2021, 9:41 PM
@SnideCut - P.S. This is something we do in other aspects of life, it's just that many of us have NOT learned to do this with films, shows, books, etc. WE are taught (indirectly) to think that whatever temporary thoughts, feelings, etc. go through are heads are gospel (or something like that) to be taken seriously, despite how many others don't agree.

I have not idea if I explained that very well. Sorry if I didn't.

Please just try to enjoy the dish they prepared for you.
SnideCut
SnideCut - 11/2/2021, 7:53 AM
@Amaru - Oh man, why didn't I think of that?
dracula
dracula - 10/24/2021, 2:51 PM
……well when you try new things you are bound to have some problems.

Doubt its anything terrible. Hopefully they build on what works in a sequel.

For phase 4, only project id say didnt feel like a step down from phase 3 was Shang Chi. None of them are bad but still
Spawnnn
Spawnnn - 10/24/2021, 2:51 PM
Uh oh. Arent the first reviews usually overhyped and later its going way down? First rotten MCU movie incoming?

tmp3
tmp3 - 10/24/2021, 2:52 PM
@Spawnnn - Same RT score as Zack Snyder's Justice League 🙌
Amuro
Amuro - 10/24/2021, 2:53 PM
@Spawnnn -

Third lowest RT score of the MCU after The Incredible Hulk and Thor : The Dark World.
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