Eternals (2021)

Zhao remixes the MCU with an ethereal, philosophical take; the good outweighs rough edges and misjudged scenes, creating a lugubrious, melancholy epic without triumphalism.

Zhao brings epic poetry and soulful, intimate storytelling to the MCU, balancing spectacular set pieces with naturalistic approach, making it the series' most emotional outing.

Chloé Zhao delivers a Marvel film of epic scale and ambition that blends Kirby's cosmic imagination with a pensive soulfulness, tackling existential themes and environmental concerns in a way that gives the MCU a needed kick while evoking comparisons to Dune.

Zhao lands flashes of intrigue in backstories, some giggles and the sense of an eccentric folly snuck into the multiplex despite the high stakes of a Marvel blockbuster.

The critic finds it a soulful variation on the superhero template that feels more alive in quieter moments due to its focus on character and emotional texture, though action is routine.

Zhao crafts a fluid, visually elegant team superhero movie with humane interplay and beautiful effects, though it remains too conventional and lengthy. It ranks in the solid second tier of such films but lacks the director's distinctive poetic edge.

Chloé Zhao brings prestige and visual authorship to the MCU on a cosmic scale with ambitious storytelling and some refreshing elements, but the film remains constrained by superhero clichés, generic dialogue, and an inability to fully escape formula despite its epic scope.

The film packs in many MCU firsts around diversity and representation but feels overstuffed and struggles under its epic scope and repetitive action. It is mostly saved by Kumail Nanjiani's humorous performance amid stilted dialogue and formulaic elements.

Marvel introduces new superheroes in a tonally ambitious, more mature picture with strong performances and stirring moments, but it is loaded with oversized action spectacle and struggles to differentiate from previous MCU entries.

Zhao strives to infuse the sprawling Marvel spectacle with human scale and sincerity through its performances and heartfelt moments. The effort largely fails against the overwhelming industrial machinery of the franchise.

The film starts with fresh, philosophical elements and Zhao's signature touches on nature and domesticity but devolves into standard Marvel team-up tropes and corporate constraints. It is one of the more interesting MCU entries yet the least interesting Zhao film.

The critic finds Eternals the strangest Marvel film due to its tension between Zhao's style and corporate constraints, but criticizes unconvincing CGI and a disorganised, overstuffed script that lacks nuance.

The critic finds the film underpowered and uncertain despite welcome diversity and a few nice touches. Zhao's socio-realist style fails to inject enough brash humour or energy into the Marvel formula.

Zhao's attempt to blend her humanistic style with Marvel's constraints results in a talky, expository film that delivers neither substance nor style. The characters remain detached and the action generic despite on-location shooting.

The script is derivative, messy and undernourished, turning the Eternals into navel-gazing elitists spouting platitudes rather than delivering dramatic ingenuity.

Zhao's attempt to make the MCU more thoughtful results in an over-stuffed and underpowered film that is neither particularly profound nor entertaining, though it improves in the final half-hour.

The critic sees it as a vacuum-sealed film that fails to make its star-studded cast shine or evoke care for the characters, marked by emptiness and lack of interiority.

The film is described as an insipid gallumphing superhero snooze and instant white elephant despite attempts at boundary-pushing elements like diversity and a sex scene.

Zhao successfully balances the massive MCU spectacle with a strong emphasis on the human and emotional sides of the new team of immortals. The diverse cast and character-driven approach stand out as particularly effective.

The critic notes that Eternals pushes the MCU in new directions with risks and a focus on humanity and intimacy from Zhao and the cast, but finds parts slow and inert with perfunctory action sequences. Character development and relationships stand out as the strongest elements.

The critic highlights the soulful and melancholy tone replacing typical Marvel quips, along with ambitious world-building across history and strong inclusivity. Visuals are frequently stunning, though some cast members are underused and CGI is occasionally ropey.

Chloé Zhao delivers a qualified success by infusing the epic with her signature attentiveness to beauty, intimacy, and character bonds across centuries. The lingering shots and compassionate focus on the ensemble within the cosmic scale are singled out for praise.

The film is a mixed bag: ambitious and majestic with Zhao's grand vision, but tonally uneven and diluted by studio constraints. It praises the director's elegance and the cast's vulnerability and care for their characters.

The critic finds Eternals a frustrating film because its ambitious character stories and big ideas about immortality and humanity are squeezed into the constraints of a standard Marvel superhero narrative that prioritizes action and world-saving over depth. He singles out the abbreviated relationships and inner conflicts of the Eternals for praise as potentially fascinating but ultimately underdeveloped.