From the starting point to the finish line, The Flash (2023) in the vein of Black Adam (2022), is an action extravaganza.
I was very impressed by the super slow-mo scenes first introduced in X-Men: Days of Future Past. I have seen many movies and shows incorporating this technique but the Flash saving civilians in the opening sequence remains one of the best montages of this type. The cameos and cast were stellar.
From Ben Affleck to Michael Keaton, there is no shortage of star power. Ezra Miller himself did a fantastic job in a dual role. He also portrayed Barry Allen very well in equal measure to Grant Gustin’s TV portrayal of the red-suited hero. However, what most mainstream critics agree on, and which I as an amateur critic also want to point out, is the lackluster third act. It felt rushed and convoluted as if the writers had “run out” of ideas – pun intended.
Still, what mattered is that The Flash had heart. It was gut-wrenching to see Barry reunite with his mother while trying to exonerate his father at the same time.
Overall, The Flash speaks to the soul. Many superhero movies come and go without touching our hearts, and even if this film’s last half was full of too many elements, it did a great job in bringing closure to our hero and to audience members as well. Now, I’m even more excited for James Gunn’s vision for DC. He recently directed the awesome Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 which I finished watching right before turning on The Flash. So, I have high expectations for Superman: Legacy (2025).
