RECENTLY VIEWED: THE FLASH

 

On Father's Day, I took my daughter to see the long awaited move The Flash. It was a good movie overall, but with the star Ezra Miller's problems with the law, it was hard to get past that, but overall the movie was a fun flick to watch. The film is directed by Andy Muschietti from a screenplay by Christina Hodson and stars Ezra Miller as Barry Allen / The Flash alongside Sasha Calle, Michael Shannon, Ron Livingston, Maribel Verdú, Kiersey Clemons, Antje Traue, and Michael Keaton. In the film, Barry travels back in time to prevent his mother's death, which brings unintended consequences.

Development of a film featuring the Flash began in the late 1980s, with multiple writers and directors attached to the project through 2014. The film was then redeveloped as a part of the DCEU, with Miller cast as the title character. Multiple directors were attached to the film over the following years, with Seth Grahame-Smith, Rick Famuyiwa, and the duo of John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein all departing the project over creative differences. Muschietti and Hodson joined the film in July 2019, and pre-production began in January 2020. The film is influenced by the comic book storyline Flashpoint, featuring multiple DC Comics characters, including Ben Affleck and Keaton reprising their respective versions of Batman. Principal photography took place from April to October 2021 at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden and on location around the United Kingdom.

The Flash premiered at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on June 12, 2023, and was released in the United States on June 16, following multiple delays caused by director changes, the COVID-19 pandemic, and post-production setbacks. The film received praise for its plot, action sequences, humor, and performances (particularly of Miller and Keaton), but criticism for the quality of its visual effects and third act.

For those of you that do not know, there is a new regime at DC Studios, and they are going to reboot the super hero movies. So what began as a film that would be a new beginning for Warner Brothers ended up as a finale of sorts. Michael Keaton was going to return as an older Batman but I think his appearance in this movie is marking the end of his years as Batman. The whole reason I went to see this movie was because of him. Sasha Calle as well made a wonderful Supergirl, but her time in that role is probably limited as well. What was going to be a fun movie for me, has become a sad ending on the DC movies. James Gunn is running DC now, and I do not care for his movies. I don't feel compelled to go see the movies when they begin in 2025. So I enjoyed The Flash for the time I saw it in the theater for what it was. I just wish I would have been something more...

MY RATING: 6 out of 10