Review by John M. Delia, Jr.
For more than seven thousand years our planet has been nurtured, influenced and protected by the Eternals against the deviants that hunt and kill all humans. Created by the Celestials to safeguard all living creatures on Earth as well as other planets, these ten Eternals use their powers to help advance technology and watch over all inhabitants on this planet. When a greater power threatens everyone, will these heroes have the strength to save us all? Sounds like a good movie right? And it is and it’s out on 4K Ultra Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD.
A little about the storyline, The Eternals are led by Ajak (Salma Hayek), their wise spiritual leader with the power of healing, who is the bridge between the Eternals and the Celestials. She is in charge of informing the team of their assignments and reporting back to Celestials on their progress involving the removal of all the deviants. The rest of the team consists of Sersi (Gemma Chan – Crazy Rich Asians), Ikaris (Richard Madden – Game of Thrones), Thena (Angelina Jolie), Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani – Stuber), Sprite (Lia McHugh), Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry), Makkari (Lauren Ridloff – Sound of Metal), Druig (Barry Keoghan – Dunkirk), and Gilgamesh (Ma Dong-seok or Don Lee).
After many years of attempting to rid the planet of all deviants, the time arrives where their mission begins to reach its end. The Eternals have separated from each other and now have taken on identities that blend within modern society. Sersi, who has the power to manipulate inanimate matter, is now a museum curator who is dating Dane Whitman (Kit Harington), a human. She has kept in close contact with Ikaris, who can fly and project cosmic energy beams from his eyes, and Sprite, who has the power to create illusions. Together they try to make sense of their ever changing role on this planet. When the Deviants start attacking the Earth, the team springs into action.
Director and writer Chloe Zhao does an excellent job blending these characters into the current Marvel Comic Universe (MCU). After the elimination of the major Avengers saving the world from Thanos (Avengers: Endgame), these special heroes still existed. but did not get involved in the global battle that occurred. Chloe finds a way to explain these occurrences and why these characters were so important. Zhao also puts together a spectacular action packed storyline that keeps you entertained throughout. She uses incredible special effects that help build and guide the story to its meaningful ending.
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.
*bonus features vary by product and retailer
The Eternals characters are ready for the future of the Marvel comic universe that will lead up to more films created by this amazing franchise. If you are a Marvel fan or just like watching action adventure films this one’s for you.
Final Comment: I based my grade on the remarkable storyline, incredible special effects, and the marvelous acting performance. The quality is stunning on 4K Ultra Blu-ray so check that out for best home viewing. Stars 4.5 out of 5
Specifications and additional video information:
Cast: Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lia McHugh, Brian Tyree Henry Lauren Ridloffm, Barry Keoghan, Don Lee, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, Angelina Jolie
Directed by: Chloe Zhao
Genre: Sci-fi, Fantasy
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for fantasy violence and action, some language and brief sexuality.
Running Time: 2 hrs. 36 min.
Video Release Date: February 15, 2022
Language: English
Reviewed Format: Blu-ray
Audio: 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Atmos (Digital)
Video: Aspect Ratio 2.39:1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
Distributed by: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Released on: 4k Ultra HD Blu-ray and Digital, DVD
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
