Film Review: "The Flash" (2023).

"Worlds Collide" in The Flash. This superhero film directed by Andy Muschietti, written by Christina Hodson, and based on the DC Comics character created by Robert Kanigher and Carmine Infantino. It is the 13th installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Barry uses his superpowers to travel back in time in order to change the events of the past. But when his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, Barry becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod has returned, threatening annihilation, and there are no Super Heroes to turn to. That is, unless Barry can coax a very different Batman out of retirement and rescue an imprisoned Kryptonian… albeit not the one he’s looking for. Ultimately, to save the world that he is in and return to the future that he knows, Barry’s only hope is to race for his life. But will making the ultimate sacrifice be enough to reset the universe?

Development of a film featuring the Flash began in the late 1980s, with multiple writers and directors attached to the project through 2014. The film was then redeveloped as a part of the DCEU, with Miller cast as the title character. Multiple directors were attached to the film over the following years, with Seth Grahame-Smith, Rick Famuyiwa, and the duo of John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein all departing the project over creative differences. In July 2019, Muschietti and Hodson were hired as director and writer, and pre-production began in January 2020. At the 2017 San Diego Comic Con, it was confirmed that the film would be influenced by the comic book storyline Flashpoint, featuring multiple DC Comics characters, including both Ben Affleck and Keaton, reprising their respective versions of Batman. By late April 2021, Sasha Calle, Ron Livingston, and Maribel Verdú were cast with Michael Shannon, Kiersey Clemons, and Antje Traue reprising their roles. At the same time, with a budget of $200 million, principal photography commenced and wrapped in late October. Filming took place at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden; Hertfordshire; Lincolnshire; and London, as well as Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland. The film was originally scheduled for a March 23, 2018 release date, when Warner Bros. first announced their slate of DCEU films, before it was moved to March 16. In July 2019, it was then moved to July 1, 2022 after Muschietti was hired. It was then moved up to June 3, 2022, before being delayed to November 4, 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was once again moved to June 23, 2023 before it was finally moved forward to June 16, 2023.

The film stars Miller, Calle, Shannon, Livingston, Verdú, Clemons, Traue, Affleck, and Keaton. Muschietti's take on Miller's speedster and others is totally goofy, endlessly inventive and often makes no sense.

Once separated from its shortcomings, the film may not be the most clean-cut or composed comic book movie and crumble beneath its own creative consequences but vows that there is more to the multiverse yet to be discovered.

Simon says The Flash receives:

Also, see my reviews for It Chapter Two and Shazam! Fury of the Gods.