Rent The Flash (2023)

Not Too Bad at All - Quite Flashy Indeed - The Flash review by Pork Chop Express

I went to the pictures hoping for the best, but fearing the worst after all the critical maulings (including the Cinema Paradiso review on here for example). What I got was an engaging and entertaining origin and standalone DCEU film that drew in a fun final performance from Keaton and a gritty performance from the newly introduced Supergirl character - complete with grumpiness, volnerability, femininity and some badassed fight scenes.

I didn't know what crimes Ezra Miller had meant to have done at the time (after finding out afterwards I can see folks don't have a lot of respect or faith in him) but what gets put up on the screen is acted and directed very well. So it's a shame for all the negativity. I think that is one of the reasons folks didn't turn out for this - knowing that Gunn was going to shoot up the DC universe and that they would have to re-cast the Flash actor anyway didn't help so they're all waiting for pay per view / HBO.

The story and acting are pretty strong, the effects for the best part are excellent and eye popping although I would have to agree the odd frame let's it down on some of the cameo flashback heroes for e.g. (I won't spoil it for you though).

I thought it was rather well done and certainly didn't warrant the critical mauling it got. I'd give it a 7 or 8 out of 10 and because it has had a few hundred millions thrown at the screen (which is obvious when you watch it) it is worth catching on cinema or the biggest / best screen you can see it on. IMAX would have been best.

Ezra really did excel when I think back and his interactions with his younger past self really do make the film.

If only all the DC films had been at the calibre of Man Of Steel, Flash, WonderWoman, Aquaman ... well maybe we would have got to keep our Henry... I don't have anything against James Gunn but the problem with DC movies is Warner Bros pure and simple they need to butt the heck out of it and distribute not direct or produce.

Utter tripe, but just about watchable - The Flash review by JD

First up I will say this is oddly watchable. Putting aside the questionable inclusion of Ezra (he is just performing for the crowds entertainment here after all and what he does in his free time is for the police to deal with) its all fairly entertaining.

So why only 3 stars? Well, its a bit poo outside of being brainless entertainment.

It appears screenplay was done on the fly and nobody actually questioned making a coherent story and character arcs around the plot.

Things just happen and thats the film. Given the material this is a really bad effort. And i cant help but feel the only thing that held it up was the source material and turning its back on political messaging that has infested marvel.

I know this DC universe is now done, but this film really does show what a complete mess the franchise has been. How can a universe with a Michael Keaton Batman, a Henry Cavil Superman a Gal Gadot wonder woman fail so very very badly.

Another Same Ol' Superhero Film - The Flash review by GI

There's a few entertaining moments to enjoy in this overly long superhero/comicbook film from the DC universe. But it doesn't take the genre anywhere new or original and builds up to the inevitable giant punch up. Most of the in jokes come from the references to previous DC films and, if you're a certain age, you'll get all these 'jokes' easily enough but I'm not sure younger audiences will and that's who this film is mainly going to attract. Perhaps DC hopes it will encourage their older movies to get a new audience. What is shamelessly on offer here is an attempt to meet the MCU on level grounds but it doesn't work here. The DC heroes don't comfortably sit together like the MCU ones do and consequently Batman, Superman etc fare better in films on their own and not joined up in a big gang. Here the quite minor character The Flash (Ezra Miller), alias Barry Allen, in an attempt to prove his father innocent of murdering his mother uses his super speed powers to go back in time but manages to change the past and finds himself trapped in an alternate universe where he has no powers, there are no other superheroes yet and the Earth is threatened by an alien invasion. Miller gets to play two versions of himself, mostly in a comic 'Dumb & Dumber' type situation and essentially gurns his way through the film. DC fans will applaud that we get a variety of Batmans from the past, the main one being Michael Keaton, and as the plot unfolds there are glimpses of various Supermans too. The cameos are amusing and some of the movie jokes too (the one about Back To The Future especially so) but the film lacks any real dramatic depth and follows the usual tropes of this genre, devoid of new ideas it's another mildly watchable family film that is instantly forgettable. Come on DC you nailed it with The Dark Knight Trilogy, almost nailed it with Man of Steel but otherwise it's mostly been a damp squib.