Richard Madden

Eternals, the latest movie from the Marvel Universe , has received mixed reviews, with critics calling it over-ambitious yet progressive.

The Film 's ensemble cast includes Gemma Chan , Richard Madden , Kit Harington , Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek .

It is The First major studio film by Chloé Zhao, who won The Best director Oscar earlier this year for Nomadland .

Gave Eternals Two Stars , calling it " Magic Hour meets PowerPoint".

The Paper 's critic Steve Rose Said Zhao " manages to get some nice-looking shots and personal drama in her superhero debut, But There 's just too much mythology to explain".

The problem, he added, is that " There 's just too much going on: it's all headed towards yet another 'race Against Time to stop the really bad thing happening' climax".

He continued: " It's not exactly Boring - There 's always Something New to Behold - But nor it is particularly exciting, and it lacks the breezy wit of Marvel's best movies. "

Eternals is about the titular group of 10 demigods who join forces to protect The Earth from the " Deviants".

In his review, also plumped for two-stars, declaring The Movie to be a tale of " navel-gazing superheroes in quest for a decent script".

He wrote: " There 's a strange self-sabotaging energy at The Heart of this landmark blockbuster. "

Maher did note, though, how The Movie had made efforts to show a more diverse mix of superheroes on screen.

Eternals offers two major firsts for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Brian Tyree Henry plays Phastos, its first openly gay superhero; while Lauren Ridloff plays Makkari, its first deaf superhero, who is also gender-swapped from The Comic books.

" Eternals is two steps forwards for representation But three steps backwards for dramatic ingenuity, " added Maher.

also Gave it Two Stars , stressing that Marvel had attempted to " push boundaries" But with " insipid" results.

" This gallumphing new offering is a White Elephant , " he wrote.

He felt that Zhao's " compassionate eye and poetic feel for landscape" which helped her also win best film for Nomadland at this year's Academy Awards , was " nigh-on undetectable".

" Perhaps The Hope was that Marvel's 26th film might rattle The Franchise out of its comfort zone, " he concluded. " But The Franchise is nothing But comfort zone, which renders its latest entry an instant White Elephant . "

was a little more generous, offering three stars. Writer Nicholas Barber still called it " watchable But ultimately unmemorable" and possibly " The Most disappointing MCU [Marvel Cinematic Universe] film yet".

" Hiring a writer-director who specialises in muted, documentary-like dramas for an action spectacular about interstellar demigods may not have been the wisest choice, " He Said .

also dished out three stars, with reviewer John Nugent noting how the inclusion of " a genuine sex scene, and an onscreen gay kiss" were indeed firsts for the MCU.

" But anyone anticipating The First 'arthouse Marvel' should temper their expectations, " he warned.

" Director Chloé Zhao's entry into the superhero world is assured, ambitious and told on a dizzyingly cosmic Scale - But even it can't escape the clichés of superhero storytelling. "

Despite its critics, Eternals is " still worth seeing for all fans of the MCU, from casual to diehard" according to. She described The Movie as " a thrilling, epic superhero adventure all its own, with a captivating emotional heart brought to life beautifully by Zhao's direction. "

She added: " It's a Marvel movie unlike anything the MCU has seen thus far. "

, with its four-star review, was also effusive in its Praise - with caveats. " The whole cast are fabulous, with one exception, " wrote Charlotte O'Sullivan. " Chan's a bit wooden. As far as The Script 's concerned, she's The Chosen one. But I wish Zhao hadn't chosen her. "

Clocking in at More Than two-and-a-half hours long, Eternals is a long film, O'Sullivan Said , But not without good cause.

" Does it take an eternity to end? Not at all. With characters and concepts this strong, Zhao's quite right to take her time. "

Eternals is in cinemas from 5 November .

Source of news: bbc.com