Available today on 4K Ultra HD, Bluray and DVD are Marvel’s The Eternals. The home release has some great additions in the form of Deleted Scenes, audio commentary, and bonus footage. I am a sucker for the audio commentary and it is always great to hear the thought process that went behind certain scenes The home release has some great deleted scenes and maybe one day we can see a director’s cut with the deleted scenes added.
Here is our review of the theatrical release if you still have not seen this Marvel masterpiece.
I remember when Eternals was announced, Fandad Gil and I had a small conversation about it. The conversation went something like this: “Can you name any members of the Eternals?” No, I don’t think I ever read the series. “How many people are going to want to see this? Who knows, it may be like Guardians of the Galaxy and change our minds after it comes out” Yeah, even though we both grew up reading comics and are still collecting them, there are always those series that we do not get into or we miss. So how does the movie fare with what little we knew about them? Keep reading to find out.
I will say this, I went to my local library and borrowed Neil Gaiman’s run of The Eternals to get an idea about the characters. I read it within two days and liked it. I thought it was a bit hard to follow at times but I enjoyed the overall story. I have been told by others that this would be the version to read to follow along with the story being told in the movie and I would agree with that. If you come in not knowing anything about the characters, it might take you a few minutes to get into the story. Eternals is in the same line as Guardians of the Galaxy in that it is an obscure title to make into a movie but it works.
I will not give too much away about Eternals but the film does play out like a drama/mystery. This sets this movie apart from other Marvel movies because it is not as action-based as the other movies. If we wanted to compare this to other movies in the MCU it would be in the same vein as Captain America: The Winer Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy. Whereas Winter Soldier was more a spy thriller with some great actions scenes, Guardians was more about family and finding your place in the universe.
Eternals is unlike anything we have seen before. The cast is the most diverse cast we have ever seen on the screen. Each character has their moment and gets to shine. You get attached to these characters and want to see them succeed. The movie is not as quick-paced as most Marvel movies and that is what helps you get to know and feel for these characters. There is a bit of family drama involved in the story and this dynamic helps in understanding the relationship between these characters.
While introducing 10 new characters seems like a big feat, Chloé Zhao does a fantastic job with each character. She gives enough time for each character and their introductions do not feel crowded. We get to see the strengths and weaknesses of each of the Eternals and that humanity that is brought out really makes this film and characters relatable.
Without giving too much away about the movie it does have a Watchmen feel to it when the big bad is revealed. The story has a great way to make us believe it is going in one direction and then switching it on us towards the end. The switcharoo is a common trope used in many of these movies but when done correctly it can still come as a surprise.
Final Thoughts: Eternals is a fantastic film that prepares Marvel for the next phase in their franchise. It might not resonate with many people but the storytelling is what takes this movie to another level.
Kid-Friendly: This is tricky. The movie is slower-paced than other Marvel movies and your children might not be as focused. There is more swearing in this than in other movies and there is also a sex scene that is tasteful but might be too much for younger children.
Violence: There is sci-fi-related violence in the movie. In fact, Eternals is timider than other movies in the MCU.
Bonus Features*
Audio Commentary
– View the film with audio commentary by Chloé Zhao, Stephane, Ceretti, Mårten Larsson
Immortalized
– Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe launches into the cosmos with the Eternals. In this behind-the-scenes documentary, dive deep into the reasons why Marvel wanted to immortalize these superheroes for the MCU.
Walks of Life
– Eternals unveils Marvel’s biggest and most diverse lineup of Super-Heroes in one film. Hear reactions from the cast on being involved in the film and the instant sense of camaraderie that was felt on the day they all joined each other in their costumes.
Gag Reel
– Watch some of the hilarious mishaps of the charming cast and crew.
Deleted Scenes
Gravity – Phastos and Jack have a conversation that leads to a breakthrough.
Nostalgia – Sprite and Makkari reminisce about humankind while overlooking the ruins of Babylon.
Movies – Gligamesh and Kingo connect over movies while crossing the Amazon River with the rest of the team.
Small Talk – Sprite confronts Dane in the museum about his interactions with Sersi
Looking to make the Blueberry Pie that Gligamesh bakes. Check out the recipe below and the Feast of Fiction video that shows how you can make it yourself.
Marvel Studios’ “Eternals” welcomes an exciting new team of Super-Heroes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The epic story, spanning thousands of years, features a group of immortal heroes forced out of the shadows to reunite against mankind’s oldest enemy, The Deviants.
The outstanding ensemble cast includes Richard Madden as the all-powerful Ikaris, Gemma Chan as humankind-loving Sersi, Kumail Nanjiani as cosmic-powered Kingo, Lauren Ridloff as the super-fast Makkari, Brian Tyree Henry as the intelligent inventor Phastos, Salma Hayek as the wise and spiritual leader Ajak, Lia McHugh as the eternally young, old-soul Sprite, Don Lee as the powerful Gilgamesh, Barry Keoghan as aloof loner Druig, and Angelina Jolie as the fierce warrior Thena. Kit Harington plays Dane Whitman.