Eternals Review: 5 Ups & 5 Downs
3. The Stunning Cinematography
Much was written pre-release about Eternals relying far more on natural locations and lighting than basically all other MCU films, which typically use bespoke sets and heaps of green screen compositing.
And while Eternals certainly does feature a lot of VFX, it is massively refreshing that so many scenes were clearly filmed in real locations with minimal digital embellishments.
As such, despite its flaws Zhao's film has a tactile, lived-in quality to it that most other MCU films simply don't.
It doesn't hurt that veteran MCU cinematographer Ben Davis - who previously lensed Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Doctor Strange, and Captain Marvel - shoots the absolute hell out of the various gorgeous sunsets and sweeping vistas, ensuring Eternals feels epic in a way quite unlike any other MCU film.