Amph Marvel's Eternals

Eternals trailer!

 

This is looking very good - it is already one of the best looking Marvel movies, for sure. Funny, what actually bringing a camera outside can do! Marvel cosmic stuff is my jam (the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, especially Vol. 2, are far and away my favorite Marvel releases). Where the Guardians movies (and Thor: Ragnarok) are more pulp cosmic space adventure, this one definitely seems to be taking on a different flavor while inhabiting that sub-theme within the MCU. And I absolutely adore the design of the Eternals' flat triangle space ship.

Here's the poster:

 

I really like that poster

 

Who is that dude at the end that looks like Sebastian Stan? The "I could lead the Avengers" guy?

 

It looks pretty good but honestly it looks more like a sci fi movie then it belongs in the MCU. Guess will see in November how well they are able to blended it into the universe.

 

That's actually Richard Madden from Game of Thrones.

 

die

 

That's also Richard Madden from Game of Thrones.

 

I know what you mean and agree but I also like the idea of the MCU stretching out and including a movie that looks like this within the same universe as the other films. It's a nice way to change things up.

 

Ya know nothin', T2Q.

 

Okay - this is NOT an attempt to rain on the parade of anyone who really enjoyed the trailer or is excited for this. Truly. But that trailer was kind of "MEH" for me.

I readily admit that while I am a major fan of superhero comics, my ETERNALS knowledge is very very light. That could definitely be influencing my reaction. On the other hand, I wonder if that makes my reaction more similar to the reaction the trailer is going to get from the "not that familiar with Marvel outside of the big guns" movie audience.

While I am NOT suggesting that every Marvel property has to be centered around punching and fighting and supervillains, this trailer didn't (for me!!!) generate a sense of what the central conflict is, what the issue is. Okay, a race of godlike beings interacted with humanity, influenced its development, and either left or stepped back for some reason, but have now decided to once again interact with humanity (I think). In reality, that would (of course) be monumental -- but in the MCU, hasn't humanity had dealings with Asgardians (aliens in the MCU), Skrulls, Kree, and the legions of Thanos? And at least at the Avengers level, with the various races in the Guardians of the Galaxy?

The movie itself may be great - a good or bad trailer doesn't guarantee a good or bad movie! Just saying that my initial reaction was kind of lukewarm.

PS - The shot of the Eternals "ship" (?) looked weirdly fake to me. I think that is because they chose to show it coming straight on, no perspective, so it looks like a rectangle gradually getting larger, versus a large object getting closer and closer. Just a weird visual choice.

 

And lets be fair: There were a lot of doubts about Guardians of the Galaxy before it bowed, due to how different it was compared to a lot of the MCU at that point in time.

 

The Eternals were tasked with protecting mankind from The Deviants. The Deviants showing back up and making trouble is a likely reason for The Eternals getting more active.

 

So, if nothing else -- this looks ******* gorgeous...

Also, it's a teaser -- and it's got a huge cast -- but it really does seem to be focusing on the Ikaris / Sersi relationship... which is interesting, given Ikaris' statement about leading the Avengers, because Kit Harrington's character in the comics gets involved with Sersi and does lead the Avengers!

 

Yeah, so, those are both based on South American wall carvings that are frequently cited in ancient aliens conspiracy theories, something both The Eternals and Prometheus deal with explicitly. There's not much good reason to suspect Ridley Scott is familiar with Jack Kirby esoterica, if only because Prometheus does not involve gigantic robot aliens deciding if they should thumbs up or thumbs down all existence, despite the fact that it would almost certainly have benefited from them.

Well, that and THE COSMIC POWERED HULK. More things need a COSMIC POWERED HULK. Yes it must be written in all caps at all times. ...


... COSMIC POWERED HULK

 

Skeeter Davis? OK, I'll give it a chance. I had my doubts about GotG until the first trailer started playing Blue Swede, and it turned out to be maybe my favorite Avenger movie. Hoping this one follows that path...

 

Ikari feels a bit slim in the sholders. Looks nice, if a bit darker in the cololuring than what I had hoped for. Wonder how they are going to explain the Ethernals and the Asgadians (and maybe other gods)

 

Well, Prometheus does feature giant biomechanically-clad humanoids (the creators' of humanity, at that) en route to Earth to wipe out their creation.

Not saying that Ridley Scott was inspired by Kirby in any direct fashion (Ridley has less than zero interest in superhero stuff - any comic inspiration of his tends to come from Heavy Metal and the works of Moebius), nor are these the only two examples of such stories by any stretch of the imagination, but it is intetesting to look at the overlap in the way that both stories play with the source material from which they are derived (and the cyclical way in which certain shots from Prometheus now may have in turn influenced Eternals here) and visually depict some of these elements.

 

Looks good to me.