So.... What was it that critics didn't like about Marvel and superhero movies?
No consequences: Characters don't die or stay dead.
Serious dramatic scenes don't linger, always broken up with something comedic
Choices too black and white
Formulaic origin stories that starts with a jerk/naif who finds it within themselves to rise to the challenge and grow
Director's have no real voice; they have to mold themselves to the Marvel formula
The heroes bring the problems on themselves that they have to then fix
Everything is reset, everyone goes back to they way there were before, no real growth
Villains are just motivated by 'being evil'
There's no grand theme, or, just one theme not explored much.
So... I liked it. A lot.
No consequences: Characters don't die or stay dead.
Well, we know that is *not* the case in Eternals.
Serious dramatic scenes don't linger, always broken up with something comedic
While some dark moments had the cracking wise, the moments of traumatic loss linger without some quip
Choices too black and white
Kill a planet now, filled with sentient beings in order to create a galaxy of planets with a million billion new sentient beings, or, let the cosmic lights go out? A good case was made for both sides. And the Eternals split over it, with even one just bowing out and not taking a side.
Formulaic origin stories that starts with a jerk/naif who finds it within themselves to rise to the challenge and grow
Yes, it's an origin story. But with people already imbued with the heroic self-identity and generally good. Until they find out they've been used by a higher power who actually abuses them with memory wipes and keeping their real mission from them. It is that which they have to overcome, not their selfishness or learning how to use their brand-new gee-whiz powers.
Director's have no real voice; they have to mold themselves to the Marvel formula
Both the critics who didn't like it and the fans all say it breaks the mold. And, dear critics... isn't that what you wanted? Chloé has gone on the record that Disney/Marvel gave her nearly free reign. No pre-vis that she had to follow. And it showed in the movie that there was a different directorial eye toward the cinematic experience.
The heroes bring the problems on themselves that they have to then fix
The Eternals were used. They didn't create a monster that got out control. They put a cork on someone else's genie in a bottle.
Everything is reset, everyone goes back to they way there were before, no real growth
Yeah, some are dead and not reset. Sprite's now a real girl. Some are looking to 'free' other Eternals from their conditioning. Others are enduring the consequence of their rebellion.
Villains are just motivated by 'being evil'
- The Deviant were poised to be the the villains. They were presented by the Celestial (from a certain point of views) as a mistake, when, they were in fact, just as much as used as the Eternals. The broke from their conditioning and rebelled (which most of the Eternals did, too). The real villain is the Celestial sacrificing billions of sentient beings (what we like to call 'genocide') in order to make more Celestials that can complete the Circle of Life by creating more sentient beings.
There's no grand theme, or, just one theme not explored much.
Well, in the movie we have these themes:
- "Following orders" v. making one's own decisions.
- Role of religion
- Choosing to love; and choosing to have and take care of a family as one's first obligation
- Human depravity v. human enlightenment
- Interfering/intervention v. allowing free will choices v. harm done to others
- Use and abuse of technology
- Taking responsibility for one's actions
- Using others/beings for a supposed greater good
- Questioning what makes one human/alive
So... I liked it. A lot.