This was a fun Summer superhero movie. Though its central storyline revolves around maternal loss and feeling like a societal outcast (that second theme a requirement for any superhero movie), the film as a whole was rather light on the emotional angle; The Flash (2023) is, in the end, a very enjoyable popcorn movie that doesn't get too intense in the deep drama department.
If you are a DC fan (which I am, preferring it over Marvel-- though I don't hate Marvel), I really don't see how you won't like this movie. Some minor spoilers follow, so if you don't want to know, then don't read further:
The ensemble of DC characters who make an appearance in The Flash comprise (this is a "multiverse" movie, so where applicable, I have included the numbers of each if there is more than one):
The Flash (2-- sort of)
Batman (3 -- I am counting one of those on a technicality)
Wonder Woman
Super Girl (2-- and I gotta say, the Sasha Calle version is, well, HOT)
Superman (2-- and I may have missed one or two others)
Aquaman (on a technicality, again, but I'm counting it)
General Zod
There was no Catwoman.
I really enjoyed this movie; as a Summer popcorn movie, it did everything a Superhero movie is supposed to; I also liked that they kept the plot and the action sequences relatively tight and on-point; for a contemporary Superhero movie, it came in at a relatively compact runtime of less than two and a half hours; no three-hour backside-buster here.
I loved that falling dog sequence at the end (they never addressed what happened to the poor thing at the beginning of the film; all we saw were that the nurse and the babies were saved).
To see all of the characters I mentioned above, STAY UNTIL THE VERY END OF THE FILM:)
A good movie.
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Reply by tmdb53400018
on June 17, 2023 at 10:15 AM
Hi north,
Two thoughts hopped into my mind as I read your post there....
1.) It's summer already?
2.) Did you ever read or watch anything having to do with Marvel's Fantastic Four? While Ben Grimm was very physically ugly, so much that he was dubbed "The Thing," the quartet weren't made to feel too much like societal outcasts IMO. They lived in a nice suite in The Baxter Buillding in Manhattan, they had ties with the government, more or less, depending on which version of the story you're into, I could go on and on. I always find it to be an interesting paradox for Marvel how the X-Men were known to be "feared and hated" while the FF enjoyed their high profile.
I like to think that right and wrong answers aren't so important as just dialoguing here... at any rate, thanks.
Cheers, and I hope this weekend finds you feeling your best.
Reply by northcoast
on June 17, 2023 at 10:38 AM
-- I totally agree with you; really I think this sentiment is true of all art forms. Within (very broad) boundaries, a person's viewpoint when absorbing all sorts of creative work will of necessity be subjective, and thus not necessarily right or wrong. As the audience we all bring our own experiences to the table. Any other way, and life would be frightfully dull.
Concerning Summer-- well, now, Celluloid Fan, you are technically correct. It is not "officially" Summer yet, until a few days from now. But that's just what "They" want you to believe:) I don't go by the standard calendar when delineating the Seasons. In my worldview, December through March are Winter. April and May are Spring. June through September are Summer. October and November are Autumn. Everything is in full months. No kid finishing school on June 10, for example, says that it's "Spring".:) At least in the Northern Hemisphere, anyway. Aussies and Kiwis may beg to differ with me. And those birds that wear tuxedos in Antarctica.
And no, CF, I'm really not familiar with the Fantastic Four. Good point, though, about some Superheros having Government connections. I believe Captain America also fits into that category (I guess it's sort of in the name, isn't it?).
I always enjoy talking with you, Celluloid Fan. You and genplant29 are two of my favorites around here.
Reply by tmdb53400018
on June 17, 2023 at 12:39 PM
I agree with your ideas here....
And let us not forget about the effects of climate change!
Yup.
And vice versa. Have a great weekend, if applicable.
Reply by wonder2wonder
on June 17, 2023 at 3:25 PM
Helen Slater is the only actress who has ever played Supergirl in a movie and she is my favourite Supergirl.
It's a pity that, although she is still alive and acting, it seems like in "The Flash (2023)" they used archive footage (CGI/AI) of her, instead of having her do a 'real' cameo as for example the actors of the 1980s-1990s Batman movies did.
I like Sasha Calle. She was going to appear as Supergirl in her own movie. Since James Gunn took over it has been scrapped. I posted about her on the TMDb movie board, but the movie page has been removed. You can still find it on IMDb for now.
Gunn has plans for a "Supergirl" movie in 2027, but that will be based on the Tom King and Bilquis Evely comics series "Supergirl – Woman of Tomorrow".
Reply by northcoast
on June 17, 2023 at 3:44 PM
Thanks for confirming about Helen Slater, wonder2wonder! When I saw the original Supergirl in this movie, I was wondering if that was the original actress from the 1984 movie; and now, thanks to you, wonder2wonder, I know that it was!
(It has been so long since I have seen the 1984 Supergirl; probably not since 1985 or '86, on HBO).
And you are right, it's a shame that it was apparently a CGI version of her. It's also a shame that Calle will not get her own movie.
Thanks again for confirming, wonder2wonder; I learn so much on this website.
Reply by wonder2wonder
on June 17, 2023 at 4:37 PM
You're welcome.![relaxed](/assets/emojis/v5/263a.svg)
I would have also loved to see a cameo of Lynda Carter, who played Wonder Woman in the1970s television series.
She still looks fantastic at 71-years old. Here she is in a cameo role in Gal Godot's "Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)"
Reply by Innovator
on June 18, 2023 at 4:28 PM
One thing that disappointed me was there wasn't many Flash cameos. Where was Grant Justin (I know they had to have filmed scenes with him when they filmed scenes of Ezra Miller when he appeared on The Flash TV series), John Wesley Shipp, Robb Haase or Kenny Johnson? I mean it's Flash's own movie, yet get mainly different Batmen and Supermen.
Reply by HarrySkywalker
on June 18, 2023 at 10:09 PM
The movie was a disappointment.
So much wasted potential and a massive amount of mediocre to average CGI.
Reply by tmdb53400018
on June 18, 2023 at 11:28 PM
Yeah, I am not a fan of excessive CGI in any film--the mediocre stuff only reminds me of how cool and effective practical special effects were and are.
I also read that the film did poorly at the box office.
Reply by HarrySkywalker
on June 18, 2023 at 11:44 PM
Well the movie still has a lot time to get way better at the box office.
Reply by GForce59
on June 20, 2023 at 8:36 PM
I'm very disappointed Grant Gustin did not have a cameo. He wasn't even seen during the multiverse scene. I was really looking forward to that and certain it was going to happen. Instead of going to see this movie again I think I'll chill out at home and watch Crisis.
Reply by GForce59
on June 20, 2023 at 8:38 PM
Me too. They completely ignored the Arrowverse after that fantastic cameo Ezra had during Crisis. That seriously bummed me out.
Reply by D-magic
on July 23, 2023 at 6:48 AM
I think many people are either missing the point or complaining about irrelevant stuff. Yes, some CGI was quite bad, but why is it so important? Yes, Miller is very annoying, but why does it need to be the one thing that affects the impression from the movie.
The Flash is not perfect and has some problems, but it's also quite entertaining and most important is not predictable and there is a genuine interest of what will happen next. I think Muschietti is really good director, the way he creates seamless flow of the story is very impressive. There is some cringe moments, sure, but people decide just to ignore everything that is happening in the movie just because some CGI effect of a character shown for exactly 5 seconds is bad so it ruins the entire movie for them.
I prefer movies like these, with dynamic, light and entertaining story in which I never felt bored, over dull movies like Wonder Woman with artificial pathos and heavy special effects that mostly made me feel sleepy and I didn't care about any of the characters that were in the movie. The Flash feels less dull, less melodramatic, the characters are likeable, the story is well written and well directed, the dialogs are not bad and the small jokes work, there are some surprises and good plot solutions, and the ending is satisfying. The Flash actually feels more like a parody, what it does to the Aquaman at the end is hilarious.
I prefer to judge the movie overall with all things are being considered as a whole and total experience. And although there are some weaknesses in the movie related to that melodrama with his mother, I still fins this movie to be better than anything that Marvel did in the last few years. DC actually manages to release a decent superhero movies once in a while.
And if you consider that The Flash is the last DC movie under the last management and before the reboot of the universe, it actually makes sense how it ends - he changes the timeline and that Snyder DC universe is just lost in time somewhere, and frankly where it belongs.
Reply by Midi-chlorian_Count
on July 23, 2023 at 7:07 AM
I really enjoyed this film for the most part.
Didn't care for the final scene though. It was just too meta. I guess most people knew beforehand that this film wasn't going to lead into anything, what with the DC reboot ahead, but it just felt too much like a taking you out of the film joke just for the sake of putting it in there.
Plus Ezra Millar actually did a pretty decent job on emotional side with this character and The Flash just got his bitter sweet happy ending and then this goofy, joke actor appears. Just terrible...
Reply by Adam
on July 23, 2023 at 7:47 AM
Marvel in the last few years didn't have superheroes still insist on altering time after watching Kryptonians destroy their planet caused by their last time change. That's not what a decent superhero does.