The Flash
As soon as the trailer for 'The Flash' dropped, my immediate thought was, "oh, so they're doing 'Spiderman: No Way Home' then?" It seems DC tries to play catchup to Marvel sometimes (often, painfully so) whether by moving their projects along too fast, going too big too quickly, or mimicking characters. It's unfortunate, because they wouldn't have to. If they just calmed down for a hot minute and took stock of the wealth of story and character they do have, we'd all be better off.
The Flash (2023) finds the titular Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) prepping for his father's appeal. When he realizes he can use his super speed to go back in time, Allen's efforts to change the past set off a chain of events he'll have to outrun if he wants to save tomorrow.
I didn't enjoy Ezra Miller's performance as the Flash in Justice League (2017). It was too much like Holland's as Peter Parker/Spiderman, but with an added grating affect. Now, it's grown on me due to the multiversal-time-travelling nature of the story; Miller can confront the more irritating, immature Flash of yesterday, with the wiser and hurting Barry Allen of today.
Also, as you'll note from the trailer, Michael Keaton's back as Batman. I can't say it was anything more than fortunate multiverse fan service, but you won't catch me saying anything bad about Michael Keaton so keep on reading. Ben Affleck's in for just a bit more screen time than a cameo. However, he does seem to be having more fun as Batman this go around so I'll give him points for that.
In addition, there's Kara Zor-El played by Sasha Calle who's arguably not bad as Supergirl, she's just really sad the whole time. Frankly, fair enough; her backstory is pretty tragic. It was just unfortunately reminiscent of why I tried and failed to enjoy 'Man of Steel' (2013). Henry Cavill's performance, and film's look in general, was just bleak and depressing. Looking back, I don't think that was the main problem, though. Rather, 'Man of Steel' didn't balance its more serious tone with the hope that someone like Superman would instill.
As far as the story goes, I'm so sorry. Am I the only one who's done with the multiverse plot? Can we not? Maybe I'm the problem; that's fair. I'm not even sure why I soured on it so quickly. It's not that it's an uninteresting idea in principle, but, depending on its use, it has the tendency to strip stories of consequence and thus, any dramatic tension. Not only is it a cheap and easy way for studios to restart franchises every other Tuesday claiming, "it's the multiverse, man!" (a devolution of the "it was all a dream" trope), but any universes other than our own just feel...not real? To give credit to 'The Flash,' it does seem to try to emphasize the relation of timelines in a multiverse (confused yet? Same.). Timeline stories have the potential to work better than alternate realities because the consequences and their effects on characters are more apparent and immediate.
Not only is [the multiverse] a cheap and easy way for studios to restart franchises every other Tuesday claiming, "it's the multiverse, man!"..., but any universes other than our own just feel...not real?
The CGI effects feel hit or miss. The "chronoball" as a visual representation of time was pretty fantastic. The AI-generated Supers toward the end are waxy and verging on uncanny valley (and, I don't know, a little unethical? I won't go further at risk of spoilers, but this is something we need to talk about). The Flash suit blends CGI and the practical perfectly. But then, there's the final battle scene which takes place in an empty field which is just the least interesting and/or consequential way to do it.
To elaborate, it doesn't seem like we've really nailed the physics of superhumans fighting yet. They're smashing into each other, throwing each other into objects, punching one another and I still don't get the stakes. Everything looks slightly off. Man of Steel's Metropolis destruction tackled this by framing a superhuman fight in relation to consequences for actual humans, but then again, that almost felt like too much. On the opposite end of the spectrum, here? There's not enough for me to place it in reality, in terms I understand.
But, despite all this, I honestly enjoyed it. There's a misstep in the beginning where they all but name the plot of Spiderman: Homecoming (they drop that idea almost immediately, which I liked, but that's its own issue for another day), but it was a good, fun summer movie and I wouldn't mind seeing it again. Even with the problems, there are still pieces that work. Most notably, Barry Allen/the Flash's character arc which, for a main character, is the main thing.