Warner Bros. Discovery has had a difficult journey trying to build a cinematic universe around its various DC Comics properties. James Gunn has stepped in to create a new DC Universe that will be a fresh start for the most of these characters. However, that doesn’t kick off until next year, which leaves The Flash, Blue Beetle, and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom to fend for themselves in the second half of 2023.
The Flash is the next film up for DC Studios, and it’s a significant improvement over the last few DC theatrical releases, such as Shazam: Fury of the Gods, and Black Adam. Putting the Ezra Miller controversies aside, and taking in the film with the other thousands of people who worked on it in mind, this is arguably one of the best DCEU films. It has a ton of nostalgia, but not too over the top for a majority of the film, great action sequences, and a bit of heart as well.
As a very loose adaptation of the Flashpoint comic run, The Flash sees Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) travel back in time in an attempt to prevent his mother’s death. Of course anytime you fiddle with the past, there are repercussions. Most of the movie centers around dealing with those repercussions.
There are a number of returning characters in The Flash, as well as some new faces. Ezra Miller still doesn’t feel like the Barry Allen from the comics, but they’re getting closer. In a vacuum, Miller puts on a great performance as a younger Barry Allen, and a time-displaced version. They’re very different characters, and Miller is able to really separate them, while maintaining the fact that they’re still the same person.
Sasha Calle delivers a menacing performance as Supergirl. She’s not featured in many scenes, but the few times she’s front and center, she commands the attention of the audience. Michael Shannon’s return as General Zod, and Ben Affleck’s short time as Batman in the film are equally compelling performances. Shannon particularly stands out with a performance that is arguably better than his take on the character in Man of Steel.
The real standout performance has to be Michael Keaton’s return to Batman. Keaton has now reached peak Batman, as he feels more comfortable with the character after all these years have passed, despite already offering one of the best Batman portrayals back in the late 80s. It’s a shame this will likely be his only time returning to the character, as an old man Batman story with Keaton would be very exciting.
Some of the special effects in The Flash are a little sloppy, but most general audiences won’t notice. In addition, the younger and more obnoxious Barry Allen can start to get annoying by the end of the movie. As it stands, this is likely the last we’ll see of many of the actors in these role, and if that’s the case, The Flash is a great final performance.
About The Flash
Synopsis: Barry Allen uses his super speed to change the past, but his attempt to save his family creates a world without superheroes, forcing him to race for his life in order to save the future.
Director: Andy Muschietti
Writers: Christina Hodson, Joby Harold
Stars: Sasha Calle, Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton, Ezra Miller, Michael Shannon
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 2 Hours, 24 Minutes
Bryan Dawson has been writing professionally since the age of 13. He started his career as a video game writer and has since worked for Random House, Prima Games, DirecTV, IGN, AOL, the British Government, and various other organizations. For GNN, Bryan taps into his passion for movies.
