The Flash

The bells are tolling for this phase of the DC universe and The Flash almost feels like a swan song. But don't worry, we still have Aquaman 2 and Blue Beetle to look forward to! Comparing this to Marvel is a waste of time nowadays, but here Spider-Man: No Way Home is literally screaming. Although it's quite entertaining, the plot, which mixes several timelines, has to be kicked off with the main character acting like the world's most irresponsible moron, and everything that happens after that is just mindless action for effect. The excessive fan service will captivate many, on the other hand, the very bad digital effects may surprise some, but otherwise it's a pretty average comic book film, whose existence you will probably forget two days after the screening. (2023-06-14)

An express train you have to run towards. It's easy for me because I enjoy getting past Ezra Miller's personal life and I can just enjoy how authentic and at the same time neurotic it seems again. He saved Justice League from being unwatchable and he also succeeded here easily. However, since it didn't catch on with the viewers, this is not only the end of him as a hero with a lightning bolt on his chest, but probably also as an actor in major roles and films, and I find that really hard to reconcile myself to. Flash's cursed solo movie is problematic even without a controversial opinion about the main protagonist. It combines witty humor, pathos-filled family drama, and multiverse. A film that wanted to introduce parallel worlds a few years ago now comes as a miss; considering the repeatedly postponed production and changes in the creative chairs, it didn't manage to pave the way to playing with them. I am all the more pleased that even the little that they did manage to accomplish actually works. Looking back into the past rarely fails and the nostalgic sighs for those who are no longer with us fit incredibly well in relation to the main story arc. However, you have to admit that it's not worth pondering too much about the major guest appearances (unfortunately revealed long in advance), namely the participation of the old Batman and the new addition from Krypton. The presence of the grey-haired protector of Gotham will undoubtedly bring tears to somebody's eyes, but as soon as I try to connect the meaningfulness of the aforementioned duo's participation and its (non)impact on the final outcome of the story and the time paradox, I feel perplexed because their participation as a whole seems rushed. Similarly, the possibilities of expanding, rebuilding, or simply throwing the DC publisher's universe adaptations back to the beginning were unprecedented – and nothing happened at all. This temptation, therefore, falls on barren ground and turns Flash into an adventure, fun, enjoyment, and an emotional ending, but never into the giant event that it promised to be for all these years. 70% (2023-06-27)

A film that ultimately didn't take as big a bite as I feared, it isn't only waiting for the Batmen and all the possible cameos to show up. It’s a truly good and, more importantly, fun Flash story. Nothing profound, nothing I'd remember for a long time, but I guess that wasn't the point. It's "just a pity" that this film is actually of no use and that the studio itself had already killed it before releasing it by a series of decisions. (2023-06-23)

After Marvel's Spider-Man, I went "across parallel worlds" for the second time this week, and even though DC is a bit behind in this regard, I left the cinema quite satisfied. Though the plot of The Flash, like the new Spider-Man, revolves around the (un)avoidability of fate that goes hand in hand with the reckless actions of the main character, I didn't feel like I was watching a copycat in the theater. In spite of the at times rather trivial visual effects – especially in the opening with the raining babies (it worked better for Quicksilver in Days of Future Past and Apocalypse) and in that vicious knot – I enjoyed Barry's new adventure, thanks in no small part to the participation of Michael Keaton, who is still the most likeable Batman for me, and Maribel Verdú's small but essential role. I liked the return (albeit in CGI) of the old but also never-realized Batman, I enjoyed the allusions to other films and I appreciate that they prepared some nice script surprises alongside the mandatory action. If I were being strict, I'd give the film three stars, but since it just sat right with me in the theater by entertaining, surprising, and moving me, I give it a (weaker) four. (2023-06-16)

I find that I get bored with these comic book movies, unless it's an R-rated movie in the style of Suicide Squad or Deadpool . This one is just another in a line of mediocre originals where a couple of old characters (Keaton and Shannon) are enjoyable, but otherwise I wasn't too blown away. The humour didn't work for me, and I only liked two of the the action scenes (the opening slow motion scene with the babies is fun). The finale itself is decent too, but everything in between doesn't really stick and flows along without much interest, though it was a bit more fun than Doctor Strange. The multiverse is presented surprisingly more clearly here than in Marvel. As a one-shot, The Flash is okay, but nothing I keep coming back to. 6/10. (2023-07-08)