Movie Review: The Flash (2023) *Spoiler Section at the end*

Movie Review: The Flash (2023) Spoiler Section at the end

I've been looking forward to The Flash since it was first announced that Michael Keaton would be reprising his version of Batman. Through all the challenges the film has faced getting to the big screen, I was most concerned when Batgirl, also featuring Michael Keaton's Batman, not only got shelved but also was put into film jail as a 'never to be released' tax write off (rumor has it the film was virtually finished when it got shelved).

Thank fully The Flash finally made it to theaters with quite a bit of tweaking back and forth of the ending so it would fit with whoever ended up taking over DC Entertainment after all the #releasethesnydercut hashtag craziness that seemed to undercut almost everything DC except for Matt Reeves', The Batman.

Whatever James Gunn does with DC Entertainment moving forward I'm glad he decided to release The Flash. It's a very good bookend to the Snyderverse era since it directly calls back to the events of where it all began in Man of Steel.

In The Flash, Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) learns more about his ability to reverse time and comes to the realization that he could change the fate of his parents, specifically preventing his mother's murder. Unfortunately it's not as straight forward as he first thought and he finds himself stuck in an alternate timeline with a very different Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton), and some very familiar world ending foes.

I've always liked Ezra Miller's Barry Allen/Flash. Weird running aside (kudos to the production and Miller for sticking to their guns and never trying to course correct his running technique despite almost everyone saying it looked awful) Ezra has always brought a nervous kind of awkwardness to the character that made him interesting to watch. Yes he can also be irritating and annoying too - which is really played up in this movie to great effect.

Unfortunately Miller's personal life probably means, even if this movie did well, recasting is just the safer option. Which is a shame because I really enjoyed Ezra's performance here. Especially because they're playing both younger, obnoxious Barry, and older, more life/superhero experienced Barry. It really worked for me how they play off each other.

Michael Keaton's return as Batman does not disappoint but you'll definitely appreciate it more if he was your first big screen, 'serious', Batman (serious by 1989 standards at least). I am infinitely thankful that Michael got this opportunity to reprise his Batman and how it still fits in with a less Gothic, more modern styled world of contemporary superhero movies.

Michael's Batman gets to be every bit as bad ass as Ben Affleck's Batman (who also has a great action sequence at the start of the film for comparison) and isn't held back or feels like he couldn't hold his own despite him being long retired in the timeline of the film.

The Flash only adds to the legend of Michael Keaton as one of the best versions of Batman, and it'll cement in your mind just how cool his Batwing is, over any Bat plane that came after it. It's likely you'll remember this movie as one of his best, if not the best, appearances.

Sasha Calle's SuperGirl is really the only new character in the mix. While she doesn't get a lot of time to develop her character she definitely gets enough for me to hope she gets another shot in the role. This movie is kind of her origin story and we get enough bones for a Supergirl sequel outline that could be an interesting character arc. Namely she didn't get quite the same welcome on Earth as her cousin got all those years ago.

Early reviews haven't been too kind to the VFX in The Flash. To be honest, nothing stood out to me as being bad. Yes, the VFX are sometimes very obvious but every time Flash runs you know it's VFXs. I disagree that any of the VFX are so bad as to take you out of or spoil the film. I feel it's particularly obvious in the depiction of the multiverse and some of the call backs to different timelines but given no one actually knows what a multiverse looks like, it was perfectly fine with me. The VFX did the job just fine.

Of all the Snyderverse Era films this is one I will watch over and over again (and I own all the Snyderverse era films on DVD, including the Wheden Justice League, Snyder's four hour Justice League, and Wonder Woman 1984).

It has all the elements I like in a movie; Superheroes, my two favorite Batmen, a Barry Allen I actually like, Sci-fi, space ships, time travel, and humor. Which reminds me, this film really does the humor well. Jokes happen very naturally as part of the story rather than jokes that are clearly there to try and add humor in.

Finally though, it actually has a good story to tell that has heart and character arcs. While it is a version of Flashpoint from the comics (that I've never read mind you because I've never been a comic guy, but I did see the CW Flash version of it), it's not a carbon copy of that timeline. It's also not just your typical superhero story where the villain is defeated in the third act (though it has that too... otherwise it wouldn't be a superhero movie).

For me it was a good, fun movie and a great bookend to the Snyderverse. It gives all those movies and characters a bit more of an arc, and kind of makes you want to go back and rewatch them just so you get the full benefit of what The Flash movie brings to the table.

It's easily one of the high points in the Snyderverse cannon, and the most rewatchable. I'll be looking to add it to my DVD collection at the earliest possible time.

Spoiler Section

(Mild spoilers - and at least one Easter Egg you won't want to know going in just for the nice surprise)

How this movie ends, James Gunn could have easily kept all the key Justice League actors and just started telling any story he wanted with them.

Unfortunately we know Ben Affleck is out for now on playing Batman (maybe he'll get his Michael Keaton comeback some day), Ezra is working through their challenges. Ray Fisher is not a WB fan at all, and the last Wonder Woman movie didn't perform as well as hoped (but I'd love to see Gal continue in the role and I'm sure she would love to as well). Aqua man 2 has yet to come out. Hopefully it'll do well and maybe Jason can continue in the role.

Ultimately though, it's probably best to reboot with all new actors but, thanks to The Flash, the door is open for any of these actors, and this universe, to continue if some studio head in DC Entertainment decided that was a viable option to move forward on.

For now I'm happy to leave the Snyderverse on a high, and props to Flash Director, Andy Muschietti, for giving us probably one of the deepest dive movie Easter eggs of all time with a brief glimpse into what a Nicolas Cave Superman movie may have looked liked. That one was definitely for the fans.

Comments

How to Transfer Any Line Art to Your Griptape - Easy Skateboard Griptape Art Tutorial

Dog Star Griptape Art by TET Griptape art is once again gaining popularity amongst modern skateboarders. For those of us who have tried to create our own griptape art, using paint pens, you'll know reproducing your design onto the grip, without making any mistakes is incredibly challenging. Mostly because you just have to go for it and draw the design freehand, with paint pens, directly onto the griptape. You can make the odd mistake here or there but if you get the proportions of the design completely wrong, it can be very difficult to fix. Often you just have to live with the mistake. To address the problem I've come up with an easy way anyone can transfer a line art design to their griptape, removing almost all the anxiety of getting the proportions wrong. In fact, you could do this with any line art design, even if you have no drawing skill at all. Watch the video below to see my technique in action and/or skip past the video where I highlight the basic steps to get your de

Guest Post: New Novel - Alias Jeannie Delaney - Book 2 - The Outlaw's Return

A lmost a year ago I featured Go West Girl , Book 1 of author, Kit Mackenzie's Alias Jeannie Delaney series. Now, the next book in the series, Alias Jeannie Delaney - Book 2 - The Outlaw's Return , is soon to be released in August, and is available for pre-order on Amazon. If you love a powerful female lead in a traditional western packed with action and adventure, this is the novel for you. The story centers on Cowgirl Jeannie Morgan who grew up in Coyote Creek, Wyoming, where she became persecuted for her lethal gun and a sexuality that swings both ways. Tomboy beautiful and tough as the nails in a miner's boots, she is on the run with a bunch of boys who would die for her. Her snake strike gun, soul-slicing gaze and dangerous magnetism leaves a trail of intense emotions, killings and would-be death threats in her wake. Heading south, she finds herself becoming a legend. She's in deep trouble, but her home town demands her return and they pin a badge on her. It'

Skateboard Trick Tips: Two Ways to Ollie North (Ollie One foot)

You have to be quick to see my Ollie Norths! Ollie One Foots, otherwise known as the Ollie North, is one of those skateboard tricks you learn and then tend not to do very much as more interesting trick challenges grab your attention. However it does look really cool if you learn how to kick your front foot well past the nose of your skateboard. Still shot from Braille Skateboarding's Ollie North tutorial. I was inspired to make my video below, showing two different techniques to achieve a successful Ollie One Foot, when I not only saw that Braille Skateboarding's Tutorial used a different method to the one I had learned but also, when I looked at various other video tutorials, I discovered yet another technique, with no one using the method I had originally learned. Braille's method is to simply Ollie and drag your front foot past the front of your board. The second method I came across in several video tutorials is to Ollie, drag your front foot and tap your

I'm Joining the Illuminati Brotherhood By Personal Invitation of Hiltom Rothschild... Wait, What?

How special am I to have finally come of age (53 years young) and am now eligible to participate in building the world alongside other members of the Illuminati Brotherhood... Yes I've received the call by way of an email, which I'm sure is real because I had to translate it from the Dutch language and it was personally written by Hiltom Rothschild, one of the non-existent members of the Rothschild family (or perhaps deep undercover because Google has never heard of them?). A Transcript of the email below: To: etourist From: Illuminati Brotherhood Subject: Illuminati Broederschap (Illuminati Brotherhood) I am Hiltom Rothschild, a member of the Rothschild family, one of the 13 families of the Illuminati brotherhood. I'm here to let you know that you've come of age and are eligible to participate in building the 🌎 world. It is a calling and a privilege to honor him with pride and gratitude as not everyone will ever be chosen by the LIGHT, many are called but few are ch

Robot Uprising Update: Robot Waiter, Fasta Pasta, South Terrace, Adelaide CBD, South Australia

On the second evening of my partner, Enigma, and I's weekend stay in Adelaide we decided to have dinner at Fasta Pasta . Strangely enough our hotel staff, at the Alba, had not mentioned Fasta Pasta as an option for an evening meal while their restaurant is closed for refurbishment, even though it is literally next door on the corner of South Terrace and Pultney Street. You may be aware that Fasta Pasta is an upmarket Italian restaurant franchise with its beginnings in Adelaide. Currently they have 19 restaurants Australia wide (with the majority in South Australia - we even have one in Gawler, our home town). I've never had bad food at a Fasta Pasta, and their food never looks like a franchise meal. You always feel you're at a restaurant that's a little bit more quality than your typical hotel/motel meal. Maybe it's because you don't see as much pasta based meals on an Aussie pub menu. Despite the name, it's not all pasta. I went with a basic plate of fish a

Four Years into a Post Pandemic World and Secondary COVID-19 Might be a Thing?

Social distancing 2020 style. A fter not being too far from COVID-19, potentially patient zero in Australia back in 2020. Four years later my partner finally tested positive for the virus. Then I inevitably caught it as well. You might think, so what, but I'm honestly surprised we've lasted this long. My partner works at an aged care facility that has fought off numerous outbreaks over the years, and continues to do so. Workers at her facility take RAT tests daily so you know pretty quick if you test positive. Workers then have to isolate at home for at least seven days until they're clear. COVID-19 symptoms can vary in intensity and you may not get the full range (at least to my knowledge and experience). My partner seemed to get it fairly bad with tiredness, aching joints, loss of taste and smell, along with cold and flu like symptoms (sore throat, congestion etc). While we did try to social distance, keeping our distance, hand washing, and not sleeping in the same room

The First US Presidential Debate 2024 - America You're Standing In It

M ost of the time I get my fill of American political news from clips of The Daily Show , which I know many people accuse of being more political left leaning than balanced with its humour. As such it was my first port of call when looking for commentary on the recent, first US Presidential debate for 2024. I say first because I don't know if they'll do another one. I'd strongly advise they don't. Getting your news from a comedy show isn't ideal, even one as arguably intelligent as The Daily Show, because they're focussed on what can be laughed at, more than serious analysis. As such their coverage very well could be making both candidates look more foolish than they may actually be. As such I decided to watch the full replay of the debate so I could get more of a sense of who both candidates are and how they come across in, what should be, their ideal platform - debating the opposition. Before Donald Trump became President I was a fan. I watched every season o

TET.Life (The Extraordinary Tourist Life)

Search This Blog