With much anticipation, excitement, and attention (for different reasons) The Flash is finally ready to get his moment to shine in the spotlight. Warner Bros has been working for over ten years to get some version of a Flash movie on the big screen, but after the ups and downs that the DCEU has had from a writing and quality standpoint (amongst other things), it wasn’t an easy task. But after the Pandemic, the hiring of Director Andy Muschietti, and the confirmed production of the movie, plans were finally in motion. Since the release of the trailer earlier in the year and the excellent word of mouth from people such as Tom Cruise, Stephen King, and James Gunn, more pressure was placed on this movie to succeed.
Ultimately even with all the controversy with Ezra Miller who is the lead of the film and the constant production issues behind the scenes, could Andy Muschietti hold everything together and deliver an incredible movie-going experience based around the fastest man alive? The short answer is yes. Going into this movie I was excited to see just how crazy the story could really get, but what I really wanted was the focus on Barry Allen and the type of character that he is. From the opening scene, you understand the struggles that Barry goes through even though he is the fastest man alive, especially if you are coming into this movie with a fresh set of eyes. They also did an excellent job showcasing his powers and how incredible Barry really is.
As someone who has read Flash comics, watched animated movies based on the character, and very much enjoyed the television series that had recently just ended, much of what went on in the movie was familiar to me. The Flash suit itself and much of the costumes in the movie looked amazing and the colors really popped so it was visually very appealing, but what really worked for me was the relationship between Barry and his Mother Nora. This isn’t a spoiler per se but Nora Allen was mysteriously murdered and taken away from Barry at a young age, and even though much of Barry’s pain comes from her loss, it’s a scar that makes Barry the person he is. Maria Verdu, who plays Nora Allen, does a great job and has very good chemistry with Ezra Miller, which ended up being the strongest part of the movie for me.
When it comes to the surprises in the film it wouldn’t be right for me to spoil those here, all I can say is that there are cameos in this movie that I never even thought that we could see, ever. The three other big marquee appearances in the movie come from Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton, and Sasha Calle (making her theatrical debut as an actor) as the current DCEU Batman, Batman 1989, and Supergirl from an alternate timeline. What worked well in the movie was the balance of tone and the importance of the story, there is a lot going on but the rules of time and the way it works in the film are explained well. Overall, there was more that I wanted from The Flash, but I still enjoyed what I saw, the dynamic between Barry and his younger self was well done from a technical standpoint. Is it one of the greatest superhero films of all time? Only time could tell, but audiences will love the balance of humor and the incredible feats of action that have never been shown before, a true theater-going experience.
