From Academy Award winner Chloé Zhao, Eternals brings together a new group of immortal heroes who band together in order to fight the evil Deviants, which threaten life on Earth. Running at 2 hours and 37 minutes, this film not only entertains viewers but introduces them to a new group of heroes whose story has not yet been explored in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Although it struggles to live up to the expectations of previous fan-favorite movies such as Avengers: Endgame and Avengers: Infinity War, it proves effective in ushering audiences to a new era of Marvel films.

With a star studded ensemble cast that includes Angelina Jolie (Thena) and Richard Madden (Ikaris) as well as newcomers like Lia McHugh (Sprite), Eternals promises a level of familiarity and charm within its lineup. Each of the heroes has their own distinct personality and special power, ranging from super speed to extraordinary intelligence.

“I enjoyed the editing and overall portrayal of the Eternals’ powers, they were very pleasing to look at while not looking overly edited to the point it didn’t really feel authentic,” says Ellena Aghilian, a Marvel enthusiast. “The color choices and the uses of the detailing in their suits that distinguishes each of them really pulled it together and made them unite. It helped them be seen as a whole group instead of individual heroes.”

A breath of fresh air for most Marvel fans was the diminished use of green/blue screens. Zhao chose to prioritize the use of natural settings, filming on location when possible, allowing for stunning and memorable visuals. This separates the movie from other MCU films that rely heavily on CGI and man-made graphics.

The use of diverse casting allowed more representation for audiences, something that’s becoming more prominent not only for Marvel but for the film world in general. Characters such like Ajax and Sprite were gender-swapped and the movie itself includes Marvel’s first openly gay superhero.

However, creating a successful Marvel film after the popularity of Avengers: Endgame and to introduce entirely new characters into a new saga within the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a tall order.

This movie had a hard time having too much to set up in order to understand the story while also trying to progress a present-day narrative. With 10 new characters, each is competing for ample screentime in order to advance their own development and avoid the risk of boring viewers.

There’s trouble trying to feel for or empathize with all of the characters. Some of them blow off to the side without a second thought, while others steal the show regardless of screen time.

Even so, it provides interesting commentary on our world today and human existence as a whole. Can we survive and advance as a society without destruction? Or is this our destiny?