The Eternals parent review written by the Unicorn on 11/8/2021. This post contains affiliate links, you can find out more on our policies page or in the disclaimer at the bottom of the blog.
Movie: Eternals
Rating: PG-13
Age Suggestion: 13+
Running Time: 2 hours and 37 minutes
Release Date: November 4, 2021
Themes: Family, Independence, Love, Loss, Teamwork
Warnings: Sexual scene, death, violence, explicit language *This is the first Marvel movie to include such a visual sex scene- see more in our ‘Is The Eternals appropriate section of the review*
Quick Eternals Summary:
The Eternals, a group of immortal beings with superhero powers, that have lived on Earth since the beginning, come together to battle evil creatures called Deviants that have tormented the earth for centuries. This continues a new phase in the Marvel universe, and considering we likely will never see the Avengers together again in one movie- this is the new super hero group to watch.
Keep reading for our Eternal discussion questions
Eternals Discussion Questions
1) Sersi is suddenly put in charge of the rest of the Eternals, and she feels incapable of leading them. Has there ever been a time where you felt like you didn’t know what you were doing? How did you handle the emotions you felt about the situation you were in?
2) The Eternals spent centuries together living as a family. Do you have friends that you’ve chosen as family?
3) Did you buy the explination of why the Eternals had never intervened before and why they were intervening now?
4) Which Eternal did you relate to the most? Which power would you want most?
5) Which Eternal character do you want there to be a movie about first?
Keep reading for our Eternals parent review
Eternals Parent Review
–Is Eternals Appropriate for kids?:
The movie is mild for a Marvel movie apart from one sex scene that occurs in the first half of the movie. It lasts for around 30-45 seconds. It would likely be better to wait till the movie comes out on streaming to watch with younger viewers, but any teenager over 13 will likely not be surprised by anything they see. There are also several deaths, and heavy conversations about the realities of broken humanity. Because this particular movie is heavier on story, there is a little less action and violence than in a typical Marvel Avengers movie- but there is still a lot of violence.
-Characters & Acting in the Eternals:
This movie is jampacked with new characters, but they each get a distinct personality that really makes you fall in love with them. It is a diverse cast, with Asian, Latin, and Black cast members, and it has some LGBT+ representation, plus disabled representation, which is so cool! Representation in media is very important because it gives underrepresented groups a chance to see themselves on screen, and reinforces that their stories matter. All the actors did a fantastic job. Each Eternal had their own unique characteristics that set them apart, but my favorites were Makkari and Gilgamesh, played by Lauren Ridloff and Don Lee respectively. It’s a character driven movie, so if you are more into the action, this may not be the Marvel movie for you.
-Script & Story of the Eternals:
The story was the weakest part. To be fair, there is a LOT to get through when you are trying to introduce so many characters at one time. It felt muddled at times, due to the story hopping around in the timeline, and there was a lot more telling than showing. This is likely due to the amount of information the audience doesn’t know about the Eternals going in. Despite this being a weaker story, the characters really do make up for the so-so storytelling.
-Film Quality:
The shots that make up the film are stunning, you can tell it’s a high budget Marvel movie. There are a lot of golden hour shots that are just so pretty to look at. The CGI is quite good as well. Each of the Eternals have powers that involve the use of CGI but they all look natural and fit the individual Eternals. There’s not a whole lot that suspends the feeling of reality.
-Eternals Conclusion:
Overall, this movie is worth your time, and if you’re invested in the MCU, it’s a must watch so you have context for future movies. Even when it’s lacking, there’s still something to be said about a movie that displays strong representation. And the Eternals are not going anywhere and will be a huge part of the ongoing Marvel universe. It’s not one I’m going to want to immediately re-watch a bunch of times like we are hoping Spiderman will be but I’m excited to see where they take it.
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