Sailor Moon Eternal Part 1 is a really well-done adaptation of the original manga. The movie does an amazing job at not only picking up right off the end of the already good Sailor Moon Crystal Season 3, it characterizes the Dead Moon Circus members in an iconic and unforgettable way, giving each of them a unique presence that helps them stand out. The first most notable element is the Amazoness Quartet's presences; they are frequently shown as somewhat of manipulators in their group, albeit playful and mischievous ones, which seems to not be far off from their original incarnations. Each of them has astrong performance, while the Amazon Trio are also memorable in their own way. This is especially the case for Hawk's Eye, who seems to come off as the most empathetic and concerned member of the Dead Moon Circus and the most genuine. The series also plays well with the contrast of the girls' hope versus falling into the despair of nightmares, and they play with the idea of reality vs dreams very well with the experiences each girl has with an Amazon Trio member. Or, Xenotime and Zeolite in Minako's case, who are arguably the weakest part of the movie. However, this can be forgiven, as they only serve a minor role in the first place.

The movie also does a great job directly and indirectly giving the girls' backstories more context and relevance: their deepest insecurities are revealed to us and preyed on for the plot, which helps give them all a new sense of empowering strength and helps strengthen their senses of purpose. Chibiusa also gets a great amount of depth in the movie, which helps put into context the elements of her personality seen in prior seasons, such as her insecurities with loneliness, responsibility and inferiority. Mamoru develops similarly with themes of being feeling like a burden and, to an extent, isolation. Pegasus/Helios is a solid character as well, but does not get much to do in the movie besides act as occasional exposition for the plot.
This is a shame as his role is somewhat prominent in the season, yet he does not get to do much, although what he is given is workable. Overall, this movie turned out extremely well, showcasing the best aspects of the series. I also think it works well in the two-part movie form presented rather than in a season, which helps compact the plot and make it more easily digestible, and also more easy to comprehend. Overall, I think this movie was a great way to experience the fourth season of Sailor Moon. 8/10.