In “The Flash,” Barry Allen, played by Ezra Miller, is a member of the Justice League. He’s the fastest guy around and can travel at warp speed through time. He’s saddened by the murder of his mother and his father’s imprisonment, for which he is accused of the crime. He travels back in time to a period where she is still alive. The year is 2013, and he also meets Batman, played by Michael Keaton, who makes a dramatic entrance.
His main goal is to get his dad out of prison, although while working on this dilemma, General Zod (Michael Shannon) suddenly appears on Earth. He proclaims to take over Earth and transform it into a New Krypton. You’ll see many DC superheroes, including Gal Godot as Wonder Woman. The crazy part of the film is when Barry goes back to his younger days and meets his younger college freshman self. As he’s trapped in time, he also needs to work around his younger, naïve self, which at times is absolutely hysterical. He enlists the help of a retired Batman (Michael Keaton) and Kara/Supergirl (Sasha Calle) to save the world from Zod and get the original Barry back home safely.
Director Andy Muschietti wastes no time in filming his star Flash to the fullest. The scenes with both Barrys’ played by Miller, are entertaining and worth the wild ride. Both performances are fantastic, despite his recent troubles in real life with the law. Miller’s talent is apparent, and I, for one, am rooting for him to straighten his life out.
The visual effects are dazzling, and I enjoyed seeing the flashbacks of former DC movies. “The Flash” is rated PG-13, and I’d advise parents not to bring young children as it is very violent at times, especially to the repeated scenes of his mother’s death by stabbing her in the chest. Also, Zod stabs Supergirl with a two-foot-long knife several times in the stomach; it’s overkill for sure.
Ezra Miller’s performance is fantastic, and I also enjoyed seeing Michael Keaton’s performance as Batman; there are surprise cameos by other Marvel superheroes as well.
Sarah Knight Adamson© June 25, 2023