Disney Studios may have done themselves a disservice by cranking out so many movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that rely heavily on nonstop CGI-enhanced action sequences.

Fans have grown accustomed to the constant assault on their senses -- and I'm not complaining, the Marvel movies are exciting, visually spectacular and a whole lot of fun -- that some fans don't know what to do any more when a movie offers a slower pace, a thoughtful plot and a moral question mark at the end.

That's not to suggest Eternals isn't a visual masterpiece that's packed with action. There is a lot going on in this film, which spans some 7,000 years from the Eternals' arrival on Earth and the eventual denouement. Fight sequences, of which there are plenty, sometimes approach the artistic level of ballet in their presentation.

But there's a lot of history to unpack, and some complicated backstory to unravel, before getting to the dramatic conclusion of the film. And, judging by some of the reviews I've seen, Marvel fans simply don't have the patience anymore for that sort of development.

Eternals starts with the arrival of the namesake Eternals -- a superhero team, of sorts, created by the universe-building race of Celestials -- on Earth to fight the evil Deviants who are running amuck and killing humans. Ancient humans, whose technology 7,000 years ago wasn't up to the task of fighting Deviants, needed intercession by the Eternals simply to survive.

But when their task was seemingly done, the Eternals weren't allowed to leave -- and so they went their separate ways on Earth, blending with Earth society (or rising above it) as each saw fit.

And then Deviants reappeared on the scene. And a greater calamity appeared on the horizon, with irrevocable consequences for the entire human race.

Let's meet the team. The Eternals are led by Ajak (Salma Hayek), who provides healing and guidance. The strongest of them is Ikaris (Richard Madden), a fighter with Superman-like powers. Then there's Sersi (Gemma Chan), who can transmute matter; Thena (Angelina Jolie), who can manifest weapons and fights with Amazonian grace; Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani), who shoots powerful bolts from his fingertips (and can dance, too, apparently); Sprite (Lia McHugh), who creates fantastic illusions (and is trapped in adolescence); Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry), who devises incredible inventions from thin air; Makkari (Lauren Ridloff), a super speedster; Druig (Barry Keoghan), who can control minds; and Gilgamesh (Don Lee), who packs a powerful punch.

It's a lot of characters to follow, but there will be fewer left by the conclusion.

The interactions between characters are multilayered and complex, with romance, disdain, obedience and rebellion, loyalty and betrayal all coming into play.

The movie leaves viewers with questions, primarily one that cannot easily be answered: Is it right to sacrifice the population of one planet if it means that other planets will thrive in the future?

Ultimately, it's up to the audience to decide if the Eternals are the heroes or the villains of the film. And that doesn't sit well with a lot of viewers, who want their good and bad guys clearly defined.

I, for one, revel in the difference. This is not like other Marvel movies, and it stands apart from the rest for that reason. (It also stands alone because it isn't tied to the library of previous Marvel movies and doesn't rely on cameos from other Marvel stars.)

For those who are wondering, the movie also answers neatly and decisively why the Eternals didn't stop Thanos or fight any of the other villains who threatened the planet in the past. We'll have to see what they do in the future, since a sequel film has already gotten a green light from Disney.

Oh, and the movie also introduces Dane Whitman (Kit Harrington), whose place in the Marvel universe is well known to comic-book fans but remains unexplored by film's end.