The Eternals (MCU)

Homelander · 16-11-2021 11:21pm

I didn't think the movie is too long or too slow but it's not very good. Weak script, mediocre acting, and in particularly, some god-awful dialogue. I mean, poor Kit Harrington, it was cringe-inducing what he was given to work with.

The second half was slightly better with some strong visuals, but something would be very wrong indeed if Marvel couldn't at least nail that down. The whole cast was lacking in charisma, and I didn't find myself particularly caring about any of them.

The plot is nothing to write home about, perfectly servicable and could even have been decent if the production was handled better.

I thought Richard Madden was OK. Maybe less that he gives a good performance, but that his character at least had some depth and conflict to him that made him feel less paper-thin despite the fact they're all supposedly thousands of years old.

It's hard to blame the actors because typically when you have a cast of largely proven talent that produces a result like this, the fault lies elsewhere, be it the writers, the director, or a blend of both.

I thought Shang Chi was very average and predictable but it's more competent and consistent than Eternals is. I could probably say the same about other Marvel movies I'm less than fond of, like Captain Marvel or the first Thor - not great movies but generally consistent in their banality.

Eternals is probably the most shoddy of the Marvel movies to date. I'd compare it to something like WW84 from the DC stable, another spectacular blend of bad storytelling and poor production. Still watchable, but not good by any metric really.

That first post credits scene as well was horrible. Those 90 odd seconds really did not help with my poor opinion of the previous 2hr30m.

Mecrab · 16-11-2021 11:29pm

I loved it. I liked most of the Eternals except Sprite and Sersei. Wanted to see more of Thena, Druig and Makkari they were the most interesting Eternals to me but got such little screen time. The deviant plot could have been handled better it kind of went nowhere? the main deviant being intelligent i wish he had sided with the Eternals and fought with them against Ikaris

Mecrab · 16-11-2021 11:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118144574#Comment_118144574

I think you're mad if you think Eternals, Shang Chi and Black Widow haven't been well received outside the bubble of forums. Brang my nephew to Shang Chi and he was absolutely buzzing after it!

Foxtrol · 17-11-2021 2:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118178264#Comment_118178264

Yeah, I'd say it is nearly the opposite - I see far more grumbling in the bubble of forums than elsewhere (to be fair mostly from the same folk who have been grumbling for years)

Foxtrol · 17-11-2021 4:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118177521#Comment_118177521

At this stage you're really twisting yourself in knots trying to defend that this movie wasn't a risk, at this stage even the whataboutery doesn't stand up.

Prior to the Black Panther movie T'Challa was well known to comic book readers but more importantly was introduced to the general public in a movie that made $1.153 billion at the box office. How on earth can you claim he wasn't well known in advance? Ant-Man didn't have a movie lead in but he has been a near ever present in comics since the 60's (founding member of the Avengers) and repeatedly appeared in cartoons over the decades - he might not have been a household name but he was much better known than the Eternals. The Eternals were a clear bigger risk than both related to how well they were known.

You've listed a handful of movies with large casts, many being decades old and in doing so you've made my point for me. I never said it couldn't be done, I said it was a risk because it difficult to do which is why it is so rare it is attempted in movies and even rarer that it hits the landing. The Eternals was clearly a risk with the size of the team being introduced compared to how most movies are approached.

I am not talking about Margot Robbie being a draw, Harley Quinn as a character is extremely well known before she made it to a movie and she'd been the central character in 2 other movies before The Suicide Squad - movies that combined for $350m+ at the box office. Being able to introduce a load of other characters around a well known central character is a far less risky approach than what they had to do for Eternals.

Again, you're strawmanning here - I never claimed that Zhao is the first non-action director to direct an action movie. I don't think there are many aspect of life it isn't accepted that it is more of a risk to hire someone with no experience than alternative options with no experience. No matter how much they spoke in advance or the fact Feige could have pulled her, it was still a risk. Every time a director is pulled from a MCU movie it is big news and leads to ongoing complaints about Marvel control of directors and potential backlash from an outspoken director if that situation occurred - some haven't gotten over Edgar Wright being pulled from Ant-Man. Just because you have a parachute it doesn't take away risk.

I don't see the point in us continuing to go around in circles, at this stage I've pointed out in detail how the movie was a risk compared to other MCU movies. I haven't claimed that it is a hyperbolic 'never seen before in film' type risk which you seem to be arguing against. If despite the evidence you see this movie as not being a risk then we can agree to disagree.

flazio · 17-11-2021 8:40pm

Going forward Marvel Studios needs to avoid headlining projects with Game of Thrones actors. They're bad luck. Started with Finn Jones in Iron Fist, then Iwan Rheon being the main baddie in InHumans and now Richard Madden and Kit Harrington in Eternals. Yes I know Peter Dinklage and Natalie Dormer were in acclaimed films but they weren't headliners, just small cameos.

Agent Coulson · 17-11-2021 8:56pm

GOT alumni Aidan Gillen will need an MCU role at some stage he has been in pretty much everything else at this stage.

brianregan09 · 18-11-2021 12:48am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118182675#Comment_118182675

Marvel Studios had nothing to do with Inhumans or Iron Fist though

Need a Username · 18-11-2021 8:43am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118181555#Comment_118181555

Twisting myself in knots? Sure, whatever you say - but I’m not the one spending the time typing out that long post to someone that ends with questioning that there was no point to the post. So why did you bother?

I didn’t bother to read what was in between.

Need a Username · 18-11-2021 8:45am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118182580#Comment_118182580

Why are you disheartened?

Need a Username · 18-11-2021 8:45am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118182675#Comment_118182675

What has Game of Thrones got to do with anything?

flazio · 18-11-2021 11:21am

It's a tongue in cheek observation, reel it in lads. Don't worry, Be Stark industries head of security.

Need a Username · 18-11-2021 7:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118184940#Comment_118184940

I sometimes can’t tell when emojis are not used …

glad to see it was not serious because it a really really weird comment. :p

flazio · 02-12-2021 9:25pm

I was going to hold out until it turned up on D+ but with the weather miserable and 3 hours needed to kill I thought eff it and took a look. Even got the screen to myself. 🙂

It's OK, it's no Endgame but it's not The Incredible Hulk either. I enjoyed most of the ensemble. Just Jolie I think let it down by barely doing anything.

And I've always preferred 7up anyway.

Foxtrol · 06-12-2021 4:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118184279#Comment_118184279

Unsurprisingly you're just showing your skill at strawmanning again - I never said there was no point to the post, I noted that due to your posting style that there was no point in continuing after I'd clarified myself in the post in question. Your childish response here that you 'didn't bother to read' simply proves that I was right in that assessment.

Need a Username · 06-12-2021 8:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118278453#Comment_118278453

I don’t remember what this was about - the post you are responding to was from over two weeks ago.

It took you that long to think of a response?

Whatever this was about it can’t be worth that effort.

Need a Username · 06-12-2021 8:24pm

Just heard an interview with Zhao.

she is a big of the MCU series. After hearing her talk I wish they had given her a different movie to do. Or maybe given her more freedom on Eternals.

Apparently when she came onboard there was actually twelve Eternals. And I here I thought the ten we got was too many. I think it was her idea to cut the number - nothing was said about who the other two are.

flazio · 10-12-2021 5:58pm

Not coming to Disney+ until January 12th. Kinda surprised by that. I was thinking they might put it up either for Christmas or New Year.

pixelburp · 11-12-2021 10:14am

$386 million worldwide box office. Doesn't feel like a great haul. But yeah releasing after Xmas feels weird.

Homelander · 11-12-2021 12:22pm

Marvel fatigue is just setting in now that the initial run is over. People are not warming to the next phase as much. It can't be laid at the door of Covid when other films are grossing double what the last slew of Marvel films did.

The box office draws for the last few films are very similar, indicating an audience, but a significantly smaller one. Even Venom, medicore and all as it is, made way more bank than either Black Widow, Eternals, or Shang Chi.

I thought Black Widow was solid enough thanks to the actors more so than the narrative but Shang Chi and Eternals are half-baked formulaic productions lacking the charisma that made the first phase so successful.

pixelburp · 12-12-2021 10:43am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118304705#Comment_118304705

I don't think Fatigue is the right metric now; not with Disney+ floating about as an increasingly more obvious home for a series that was often unashamedly serialised and televisual in its approach. I don't doubt the middling to poor reviews and word of mouth damaged Eternals' take, and I'd be lying if I said the Phase IV personalities excited me, but I do find myself wondering if increasing numbers are just going to wait for these films to appear on Disney+ - cos there is rarely anything "cinematic" beyond that's where the MCU lived.

johnny_ultimate · 12-12-2021 10:48am

While I certainly think Marvel fever has deflated somewhat post-Endgame, Spider-Man will almost certainly be a monster hit - at least by pandemic standards, but maybe even by normal standards. It’ll be curious to see how the other ‘established’ character sequels fare next year, though.

The White Wolf · 12-12-2021 5:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118304705#Comment_118304705

I don't believe in the fatigue as yet as Spiderman NWH is already a smash based on ticket sales, but they certainly need to be careful. Hawkeye is basically a Marvel Hallmark series.

NIMAN · 12-12-2021 5:25pm

Went to it yesterday with the kids, and I would have to say at the outset that I wouldn't be a marvel or Superhero film fan. I've maybe seen 6 or 7 Marvel films in the catalogue.

It was an enjoyable enough film, not cgi laden like many others. Decent story and acting not too bad.

But why oh why do these films have to be so long. Jez, it felt like forever in the cinema. Kids were getting restless about 45min from the end. It could have done with a good editor.

Sonic the Shaghog · 12-12-2021 5:32pm

Won't be long until Marvel offers RDJ and Chris Evans the big bucks to come back I reckon.

Stark as a alternative reality version perhaps? Cap time travel I dunno

Fysh · 12-12-2021 10:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118308350#Comment_118308350

I was thinking the post-Christmas release date was someone at Disney being tight-fisted and trying to make sure that folk who pay for 1 month of Disney+ to get Christmas stuff don't get Shang-Chi and Eternals for "free" with a single month's sub. Though there is probably some element of spacing the films out so that the arrival of a new MCU title still feels eventful...

Foxtrol · 13-12-2021 3:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118312080#Comment_118312080

The Eternals is still playing in many US theatres. Even without that, it isn't worth Disney's while having people feel like they only have to wait a few weeks to see their movies on Disney+ as we head out of peak restrictions.

Spacing is definitely another driver also - Hawkeye basically runs up until Christmas and the next show isn't expected for a while so they need to keep MCU content coming online to avoid people cutting out.

Foxtrol · 13-12-2021 5:54pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118304705#Comment_118304705

In non-pandemic times the initial MCU introduction movies barely made more than these 3 new MCU offerings, despite being much better known characters (admittedly not as well known as Spider-Man or X-Men).

MCU likely will never reach the peak of Endgame again but they have clearly purposefully taken their foot off the gas with this initial batch of movies. Even before the pandemic there was no point in trying to fake the hype or the threat that was built over 10 years. They are resetting things and building from a low base again. Sure there is some fatigue but I'd put it much more down to the natural cycle of building again - Spider-man smashing it in pre-sales shows there is plenty of appetite.

hawaii501 · 13-12-2021 9:35pm

Finally saw this today in the cinema(surprised it still showing).

Only a couple people there so it was great :)

I thought it was very good considering they had so many eternals so you couldn't get a proper background story on so many of them. Mid and post credits look like they'll be interesting going forward.

I preferred shang chi For whats it worth(and my bad taste compared to everyone else)

Varik · 12-01-2022 5:29pm

Out on Disney plus today.

BruteStock · 12-01-2022 10:56pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118182580#Comment_118182580

Its only shocking that it didn't happen sooner. Real film critics from yesteryears ago would never praise the generic soul-less cookie clutter that Marvel churn off a belt line every year. Film critics these days are too afraid of being blacklisted if they don't promote big studios . Film critics have no integrity anymore , absolutely none.

To prove that you just need to look at the two Blade movies. Both were certified splat by critics yet they were far better than the majority of crap released by Marvel over the last decade. We all loved those Wesley Snipes films at the time yet nobody was under any illusion they were critically acclaimed films.

Watch the upcoming Blade movie be praised to high heaves by critics while being nowhere near as good as the original two.

fritzelly · 13-01-2022 5:13am

Thought it was a decent enough superhero flick

But the casting was terrible - every one of them having a different accent was off putting, Jolie was her usual wooden acting, Kumail being the comedian he is, Keoghan doing the same character and Dub accent he does in every film. Gemma Chan was the only decent actor in the whole thing (being gorgeous helps as well)

Wanted to like it more as some great visuals and scenes

Brief_Lives · 13-01-2022 12:35pm

It left me feeling a bit meh... i found myself googling certain characters (kit harrington, as none are there by accident) during the movie.

Gemma Chan was excellent, and utterly beautiful.

Stopping a Celestial from the emergence is a bit of a stretch....

That voice in the end credit scene was Blade?

TheIrishGrover · 13-01-2022 5:49pm

I'm about 1/2 way through at the moment and...... I just find it so dull. The actors CAN act. Have seen it elsewhere but here they are SO wooden: "Cercie. Are you OK" " Yes Rob Stark. I am OK. Thank you" " OK". It was good to hear some non-American accents for once but. Just. So. Dull. Even the action sequences. I mean that first modern day one with Jon Snow and Cercie. Maybe it is Superhero fatigue but I don't know. I mean, Spiderman No Way Home final battle was pretty cool and fun. Avengers Endgame final battle is still fun (Apart from that cringe-worthy "let's-get-all-the-girls-together" section. Look at the last episode of The Mandalorian to see how that should be done right). I suppose the fun I get from a battle scene is if there is a bit of fun involved. And, I suppose, these films (Spiderman and Endgame) did have multiple films to build up to. These were all brand new cardboard cutouts that we know/care little about.

TLDR: So far is Meh

pixelburp · 13-01-2022 6:30pm

I've run hot and cold on the MCU for ages now, and argued the toss with some of ye here. By and large though I'll see them out if only to keep current, and the films are rarely utterly charmless. But this is the first film in the series that I just can't raise enough interest to see it; not even to make my own mind up .

Brief_Lives · 13-01-2022 11:11pm

As I said, I found the film so meh, but it's not superhero fatigue, it's just a meh movie...

Dont be at yourself · 14-01-2022 12:15am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118470933#Comment_118470933

Yes, I felt similar. It was a clear departure from the usual Marvel formula, but not in a particularly interesting or gripping way.

Shot on location but somehow looking quite dull and empty. An amazing ensemble cast but no chemistry between them. A centuries-spanning story that felt both rushed and perfunctory.

Interesting to see how they develop the characters, either in a sequel or in other Marvel movies.

The White Wolf · 14-01-2022 12:26am

Thought this worked better on home theatre for some reason. Maybe it's because I could watch at my own pace.

Very interested to see where the Black Knight and Blade end up.

Slydice · 14-01-2022 1:26am

Gave this a watch! Thought it was grand. Felt like a start-of-a-marvel-phase intro film.. and.. well.. that's probably what it is 🙂

Kind of a Guardians of the Galaxy feel to the Mid-Credits scene and cool in the end credits scene to hear

Blade I assume. Not sure what that sword is or who Dan is supposed to be but I assume it does some vampire creating or powers stuff.

For the film itself, it really felt like an chunky intro to a whole other side of the MCU. They did give nods to the rest of the MCU so that seemed fine.

Also I was pretty happy at the end when the

News TV people were all like... THERE'S A BIG GIANT HEAD IN THE OCEAN! 😁 Otherwise.. I'd a been a bit.. confused 🙂

Of the supporting cast, I liked how Karun was done. He should definitely appear in the future.

For the baddie...

eh kinda baddie.. the Deviant.. I was like Ha Sucker! when Angelina took him out.. and then I realised the pun I made! 😁

Oh! AND!.. I did like how at the end

when Arishem did the disappearing thing.. that it looked like there was an interstellar style blackhole there for a second!

Sleepy · 14-01-2022 5:22pm

A giant bag of meh. Even the kids got bored half way through. "Worst Marvel Movie Ever" according to our 16 year old who's been pretty much raised on MCU movies.

GSPfan · 15-01-2022 3:14pm

I enjoyed it but probably won’t watch it again. It was a bit long winded but necessary to try tell the story they wanted to tell.

My biggest problem about this film and probably the MCU as a whole is that the lives of normal people have been changed dramatically since Avengers Assemble and then progressively with every major world ending event afterwards. I find it hard to see the world operating anyway close to normal when all humans now know that they have averted annihilation on multiple occasions by the skin of their teeth.

And i guess there’s a massive stone head and part of a hand sticking out from the Earth now.

dubstepper · 15-01-2022 3:48pm

Watched it last night. Below average superhero movie. I enjoy a superhero movie but don't think I would watch this or Shang Chi again. As others have said the acting wasn't great but to be fair to them there wasn't a lot to work with. There was no proper bad guy as such. It was a bit ponderous at points.

With Captain Armerica and Iron Man done (and maybe Hulk), I'm not sure where the big movies are going to come from with Marvel. Eternals & Shang Chi didn't really leave me wanting more unlike say Thor Ragnarok. or the Winter Soldier.

The White Wolf · 15-01-2022 3:54pm

Arishem appearing in the sky at the end felt a bit comical but intrigues me for for when/if they'll do Galactus.

If nothing else the film achieved making an entity like Galactus possible in the MCU.

GSPfan · 15-01-2022 7:48pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118479897#Comment_118479897

Fantastic Four, Blade, X-Men, and more of Doctor Strange are all to come. Not to mention potentially using Spiderman after just releasing one of the top grossing films of all time.

I don’t think Marvel are running out of box office draws anytime soon. Whether they can make good use of those characters is anyones guess.

Lets just remember that 2 of the 3 Iron Man movies are average films with forgettable villains. The MCU Hulk movie is not good. Thor has 2 stinkers to his name. Age of Ultron was a let down. The “golden age” of MCU films has as many misses as it does hits.

RandomViewer · 15-01-2022 7:54pm

Very lacking in action, Angelina Jolie sleepwalking, found it boring but not really a fan of fantasy

The White Wolf · 15-01-2022 8:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118481021#Comment_118481021

Maybe I'm on my own but I loved The Incredible Hulk. Would love to see Norton pop up as one of the Multiverse of Madness cameos.

But I agree with your sentiment, there's too many big hitters to come for the MCU to lose steam yet.

I think the problem is that there's still very much a transitional period going on. Eternals was in production before Disney bought Fox.

flazio · 15-01-2022 8:44pm

Even if Feige's side of things slows down, Sony still have a few Spider-verses to keep the Marvel name to the front of peoples minds. Across the Spider-verse and Morbius on the big screen plus Insomniacs well anticipated Spider-man 2 videogame (and a Wolverine game as well)

The White Wolf · 15-01-2022 9:24pm

Morbius is going to be a disaster and I say that as a Morbius fan.

gmisk · 15-01-2022 9:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118481728#Comment_118481728

The trailers look absolutely brutal.

Not a well known character either which won't help.

Jared Leto is also an abysmal actor.

BruteStock · 15-01-2022 10:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118481754#Comment_118481754

abysmal? The man won an Oscar.

The Eternals (MCU)

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