We finally got a third Michael Keaton Batman movie. Well, not really, but close enough. The Flash is another entry into the struggling DC Extended Universe (DCEU), marking its first foray into the multiverse. Despite mixed reviews and a disappointing box office performance, there’s plenty to enjoy and love here.
This movie is based on the “Flashpoint” comic book storyline, where Barry discovers he can run so fast using the Speed Force to create a Chronobowl, allowing him to time travel. This sets up the film’s time travel and multiverse premise, featuring double the Barry Allen as he teams up with an alternate version of himself.
The film delves into themes of grief, regrets, and the quest to right past wrongs, all while delivering thrilling superhero action. Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) grapples with the tragic murder of his mother, Nora (Maribel Verdú), and his father, Henry (Ron Livingston), is falsely accused of the crime. Overcome by grief, Barry uses Speed Force to travel back in time, aiming to change the past, save his mother, and vindicate his father. However, as we learned from the “Back to the Future” movies, altering the past inadvertently changes the future, disrupting the timeline and causing chaos.
In a world of multiverses, anything is possible. We see versions of previous Supermans, including George Reeves and Christopher Reeve, and revisit “Man of Steel” with the return of General Zod (Michael Shannon) as the main villain. Fans are treated to a scene from the never-made Tim Burton “Superman” movie starring Nicolas Cage, including a quick scene where Nic Cage as Superman fights a giant spider. We also see previous Batmans, including Ben Affleck, George Clooney, and Adam West— Val Kilmer’s version was ignored. Plus, there’s a playful nod to an alternate reality where Eric Stoltz starred as Marty McFly in “Back to the Future” instead of Michael J. Fox.
Michael Keaton’s return as Batman steals this movie. Seeing him wearing the 1989 Batsuit again, along with the iconic Batmobile, Batwing, and Wayne Manor, is pure cinematic joy. Bruce Wayne’s use of spaghetti as an analogy to explain the multiverse is excellent. The team-up of The Flash, Batman, and Supergirl (Sasha Calle) is fan service galore. Supergirl stands out as an unexpected highlight. We must see more of Sasha Calle’s Supergirl in future movies or series.
Despite the awesomeness of Michael Keaton and Supergirl, the film stumbles with a significant plot hole: the unresolved storyline of Nora Allen’s killer. It’s puzzling why Barry doesn’t use the Speed Force to prevent his mother’s murder directly, a glaring oversight that the narrative fails to address adequately.
Nevertheless, The Flash shines in its attempt to blend emotional depth with superhero spectacle. The well-crafted dialogue, effective use of nostalgia, and Maribel Verdú’s touching performance anchor the film. The humor is solid, especially in the scenes involving Wonder Woman’s (Gal Gadot) Lasso of Truth and the post-credits sequence with Aquaman (Jason Momoa). While the CGI quality varies, some of it looked good, and some looked crappy, but who knows, maybe that was intentional. But the overall movie-watching experience remains engaging and fun.
The Flash is an entertaining and heartfelt addition to the DCEU. I’ve seen it multiple times — Its nostalgic callbacks and the return of Michael Keaton’s Batman make it a must-watch for fans, earning it a spot among the more enjoyable superhero films in recent memory.
THE FLASH (2023). Three out of Five Popcorn Bags 🍿🍿🍿
Rod Rioja 