Eternals

SnarkAI Score: 70/100

tldr:

Based on the review, I would assign this movie a score of 70. While the film has some visually great examples of how to do superpowers in new and interesting ways and is worth a watch if you want a superhero flick that is a bit different but still familiar, it falls flat as part of the MCU because of how little impact it has. The reviewer also points out that it suffers from some very cliche notes and raises genre problems with the alternate group heroes in a shared world. Additionally, the reviewer makes comparisons to DC and questions the decision to include certain characters with problematic histories.

Our Scores are generated by SnarkAI's analysis of our reviewer's writing. The tldr sumary is drafted by SnarkAI based on that review. All Images are AI generated based on the reviewers descriptions of scenes.

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This is Marvel's diss track to Justice League.

In the first five minutes, we get a better Superman, Flash and Wonder Woman than DC gave us in multiple films. It is also a clear slam in that DC failed in both cuts of Justice League to make a tolerable ensemble film with some of the most beloved and well-known characters. Marvel turns to the audience and says "Hold my beer. Here's some complete rando's you've never heard of and we'll make you care more than Snyder ever managed."

Ikarus is definitely not Superman. We promise.

Eternals is Marvel’s second attempt to avoid paying Fox for the rights to use the X-Men after the utter flop that was trying to make people care about the Inhumans. Like the Inhumans and X-Men they’re a super-powered group cut off from humanity for various reasons. In this case, because they were created by Celestials rather than the Kree (Inhumans) or rising radiation levels and the Kree (X-Men) / Or if you think the MCU is an Ultimates spiritual successor the US Government.

Its visually great, with some really strong examples of how to do Super Powers in new and interesting ways. It suffers like most alternate group heroes in a shared world with questions like “Where were you when Thanos attacked, or when Loki attacked or when Ultron attacked…” but that's a genre problem rather than a criticism of this film.

The film has some very cliche notes with the 'I've given up on humanity.' jump-cut to them living a perfect suburban life and loving a human. Some interesting easter eggs, though one is very surprising both in the actor and the decision to include them given the character's history and superpower being roofies. I’m just going to assume Harry Styles will refuse to play a rapist and Starfox will be essentially a different character.

The ‘surprise’ reveal is not a surprise. It's pretty well-telegraphed.

Ultimately the film falls flat as part of the MCU because of how little impact it has, and it would have been better left as a totally separate thing. I’d make the same argument that the X-Men just don’t work in the universe the MCU’s created, where despite some lip service in Civil War, superheroes really don’t get persecuted.

Worth a watch if you want a superhero flick that is a bit different but still familiar.