The Flash 2023
I have skipped a lot of the DC movie universe (Batman v Superman, Justice League) primarily because the movies get lackluster reviews, while some that I have seen have been terrible (Aquaman, Wonder Woman 1984). In 2023, The Flash came out, again to mediocre reviews, and I skipped it, but I started hearing from some people that they enjoyed it and I wound up getting the movie on disc when it went on a very good sale. Part of the controversy before the movie came out and on its release regarded allegations of abusive behavior by Ezra Miller, which I'm sure didn't help. However, I thought this was maybe the funniest movie I saw in 2023, or at least one of them, with multiple laugh out loud moments. It also has a lot of fun with the multiverse concept before getting bogged down in it, just as so many later phase Marvel movies have done. The alternate universe thing opens things up and allows funny and/or nostalgic references to different reboots of the movies, similar to what the animated Spider-Verse movies have done. Ezra Miller does a great job playing himself in two different universes, which is just amazing to watch. As I said, ultimately the movie gets bogged down a bit in a big fight and maybe brings in too many different universes for its own good, but the first half or two-thirds of the movie is rock solid and makes this one of the best superhero movies of the last few years (except maybe for the Spider-verse movies), DC or Marvel.
Written: 10 Feb 2024
Owned on: UHD, Blu-ray, Digital