This movie is the most unMarvel-like movie of all the MCU movies. That is not a bad thing at all. It was totally refreshing and gave me optimism that the MCU can pivot in the different directions they plan without sacrificing quality. If you took out a few MCU references (Thanos, Dr. Strange, and the Avengers are mentioned, but no one else actually shows up), this could have been a fantastic science fiction movie from Chloe Zhao. Again, do not take that the wrong way. I loved the movie and I mean that as a compliment.
From here there will be spoilers…you have been warned.
-Having ten characters and giving them all a bit of a story could have been incredibly jumbled, but Zhao made it work. Each character had a story (well okay, all of them except Makkari…I feel like her story was left on the cutting room floor) and it felt like each of them mattered.
-We knew from the one preview that the reason they did not fight against Thanos was due to their mission being non-interference. However, I enjoyed how that event is what triggers Ajak to turn against Arishem’s plan. Also, was Arishem’s plan to seed planets to create more Celestials basically the same as Ego’s goal of creating more of his own power. Celestials…what a bunch of weirdos.
-Disney threw us for a bit of a loop by announcing that Kit Harrington would play Black Knight, but then making it more of a minor role (although he had some of the funniest lines in the movie) and something setup in the end-credit scene (more on that in a second).
-If I had one complaint…the Eternals are supposedly as powerful as the Avengers, but their powers did not seem all that incredible. The Deviants were scary to ancient humans, but I think the Avengers could handle them with ease. So the argument that the Eternals could have done something against Thanos…I mean, they would have helped, but they could not have ended the Infinity War (and I doubt they would have come together as a UniMind to take down Thanos, since that would only work with their connection to the Celestial…yeah, kind of confusing).
-The mid-credit scene was funny. There were a bunch of redneck, country boys at the theater and when they saw Harry Styles, they started yelling some derogatory things. Stay classy Johnstown kids. Anyways, I think it will be funny to see Eros & Pip with Thena, Makkari, and Druig meeting up with the Guardians (no clue if that will actually happen). But Eros and Peter together??? That would be funny.
-The end-credit scene was Dane Whitman opening up a case and revealing the Ebony Blade and then a voice asks if he is ready for that. I would bet money that voice was Mahershala Ali, who is playing Blade. I am excited for the idea of Blade and vampires coming to the MCU.
-I wonder if the death of a Celestial and the disobedience of the Eternals (maybe they learn a bunch of other Eternals did the same thing on other planets) will mess up the Celestial cycle and cause an opening for Galactus to show up and devour some planets? Maybe this is the way he is introduced.
-Can we get more Kingo? Either a solo film or just let him pop up in every MCU film from here on out. He also needs a moment to redeem himself (I thought for sure he would show back up during the final battle to help defeat Tiamut). I loved that he was also the character who seemed to have the most insight into his own teammates. He knew that Sprite was in love with Ikaris.
