Marvel is launching into Phase 4 with many thrilling new movies, filling fans with anticipation and excitement. The franchise debuted “Eternals,” directed by Academy-Award winner Chloe Zhao, on Nov. 5.

“Eternals” shows the journey of 10 immortal beings tasked to protect planets in danger of Deviants, their evil counterparts.

The beginning of the film takes place 7,000 years ago where the first mission set on Earth. Eternals are ordered by their creator, Arishem, to not intervene with humanity unless Deviants are involved. Thus, they continue to live their lives in secrecy throughout human civilization. This explains why the Eternals were left unseen during Thanos’ attack on Earth.

The team includes Ajak (Salma Hayek) the “Prime Eternal” who can heal, Sersi (Gemma Chan) whose power is transmutability, Ikaris (Richard Madden) the most powerful Eternal who can blast laser beams from his eyes, Gilgamesh (Don Lee) the strongest Eternal, Thena (Angelina Jolie) who can create cosmic energy weapons, Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani) who can harness energy from the flick of his hands, Druig (Barry Keoghan) the human mind controller, Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry) the super inventor, Makkari (Lauren Ridloff) who has superspeed, and Sprite (Lia McHugh) who can project illusions.

“Eternals” isn’t your average Marvel movie. Its heroes aren’t granted with made-up names such as Iron Man and Captain America. The Eternals are a larger team than the Avengers, a team that has never been so diverse before. It features characters of different races, different sexualities, and different physical abilities. In fact, this is the first Marvel movie to depict a gay couple and a deaf character.

The exquisite cinematography, the vivid makeup, and intricate designs of each hero’s suit doesn’t disappoint. The movie is shot in numerous locations and vast landscapes, bringing a sense of realism and authenticity to the plotline. The CGI and special effects mesmerize the audience. Above all, “Eternals” is more than just an action movie. It’s a romance movie, a comedy movie, and a drama movie.

The future of MCU remains unclear after seeing these conflicting views. “Eternals” struggled to captivate my attention, but the visuals were enough to keep me engaged. Through Zhao’s ambitious directing, it is clear that this new team of superheroes will continue the daring legacy that the original Marvel Avengers had established.