The Flash Movie Review
After helping Batman (Ben Affleck) stop a bank robbery Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) revisits his childhood home where he gets flashbacks of his parents Nora and Henry before Nora was killed, the crime of which Henry was accused of and imprisoned for. Overwrought by his emotions, Barry travels back in time to the day of Nora’s death and prevents it from happening. That opens its own can of worms. Now, not only he lands up in another timeline, he also gets to meet a teenage version of himself. Plus, General Zod (Michael Shannon) lands up on Earth and starts terraforming the planet for his own needs. Sadly, there’s no Superman in this timeline to stop him. He searches for this timeline’s Batman (Michael Keaton) and asks him for help. Batman tells him that there are reports of a superhero being held captive in Siberia. They go on a rescue mission, only to find out that it’s not Superman but his cousin Kara Zor-El (Sasha Calle) who was imprisoned there. Kara thankfully has the same powers as Superman, though she isn’t keen on rescuing humanity. She agrees later to help them. It takes a while for Barry to learn that he shouldn’t have played around with the timeline and that he should attempt to undo the Flashpoint Paradox he has created and let things be as they were before. Whether he’s able to set things right or further muddles the waters forms the crux of the film.
The legacy of the film would forever be marred by the controversy surrounding its lead star Ezra Miller. He’s been reportedly been charged with harassment, and also grooming and manipulating a minor. Allegedly there have been burglary and trespassing charges too brought up against him. This led to a section of fans being displeased with the film and refusing to see the movie. More’s the pity, as Miller has nailed both the personas equally well. You feel like you’re watching two different people, rather than one actor essaying both roles. It’s a film about love, loss and growing up and both the younger and the older versions showcase different reactions to situations. While the younger Barry is more brash and has a motormouth, the older one is more sedate and not as carefree. Both share an almost equal screen time and are constantly in one frame, so it wouldn’t have been easy for him to shoot the scenes.
Apart from Miller, the other star who impresses is Sasha Calle, who makes for a wonderful Supergirl and makes you root for her character. She has a bright future in the DC universe, and one wouldn’t mind watching a film starring her character in a central role. Michael Keaton coming back as Batman is pure fan fantasy coming true. He lends a certain gravitas to the role and lets you know why he was well liked as the caped crusader in the Tim Burton directed Batman (1989), whose success spawned the modern DC cinematic universe. Fans are going to have a field day spotting cameos from past and present stars from the DC franchise. Adding anything more would be akin to a spoiler.
Needless to say, the film’s special effects are on point. Whether it’s the hospital rescue sequence with its flying babies, the introductory scene of Supergirl, the Flashpoint sequence or the climax involving multiple worlds, everything has been imaginatively crafted. The VFX seamlessly gels in with the story and nothing comes across as being ostentatious.
It’s one of the finest DC films, hitting just the right notes in every department, be it humour, drama or computer imagery. There are reports that Ezra Miller won’t be cast in the sequels if they ever get made. Though one can safely say that he has made the character his own and replacing him would be one tough act to follow.
Trailer : The Flash
Neil Soans, June 14, 2023, 12:54 PM IST
Story: When Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) discovers he can travel back in time, he tries to save his family from their eventual fate. But his actions have consequences he isn’t quite prepared for.
Review: Fans of The Flash have waited for his ‘Flashpoint Paradox’ storyline to play out on the big screen for many years. The critically acclaimed story kicked off many multiverse-based plots involving the DC roster of superheroes. While this film was initially intended to have the same impact, behind-the-scenes developments would change its trajectory more times than Barry Allen could have anticipated. Those situations affect the result, but director Andy Muschietti keeps the plot centred on an emotional arc that hits home.
Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) must work with his younger self as that version gets his powers. The actor convincingly portrays two different iterations of the character, both distinct in their mannerisms. Scenes with them are hilarious yet heartfelt, and overall, the film’s jokes land more often than not, even the absurd ones. This is grounded with well-balanced drama, especially with older Barry and his mother Nora (Maribel Verdú) anchoring the narrative as the chaos unfolds. Michael Keaton reprises his pivotal role as Bruce Wayne from the 1989 & 1992 films, which goes beyond fan service to contribute meaningfully. It’s also satisfying to see his Batman do things that weren’t possible for film technology back then. Sasha Calle pulls off the massive task of investing us in the new Kara Zor-El/ Supergirl.
Muschietti also lends a captivating view of the film’s action with camerawork that follows sequences to bring a vital sense of direction and scale. However, the weakest element in ‘The Flash’ is its seemingly slapdash CGI. Besides the scenes with the two Barrys, a crucial plot device requires extensive VFX, which looks amiss. It indicates the story undergoing multiple changes without much time to work on this critical element. Irrespective, the cloud-pleasing moments are aplenty for old and new fans.
The fate of these characters remains unknown as the studio embarks on a seemingly new path. If ‘The Flash’ is meant to bookend the DCEU of the past decade or so, it certainly delivers, thanks to Muschietti’s distinctive tone and execution.
