Hip Hop News: The Flash Might Not Be One of the Best Superhero Movies But its Very Good (2024)

Toward the beginning of The Flash, Barry Allen gets to know a different side of himself — in more ways than one. Having traveled back in time to rescue his parents, the nervy goofball is cast into the role of exasperated teacher, having to instruct a younger, less weary alternate universe Barry in the ways of super speed. Over time, Present Day Barry’s twitchy facial expressions morph into agitated glares, and quippy barbs transform into teary-eyed wisdom as he faces down a counterpart that wasn’t forced to grow up early. It’s a dual role managed expertly by Ezra Miller, whose performance punctuates the new flick with dynamism, grace and electricity.

With inventive action, sharp humor and a lot of nostalgia, The Flash (which is out in theaters starting today) is a well-rounded superhero epic that never forgets the humanity of its story. Although parts of the plot feel rushed — no pun intended — and the CGI can be iffy, the penultimate flick in Zack Snyder’s fractured DCEU delivers on a film that was nearly derailed by global disaster and controversies surrounding Miller.

Catching up with The Flash

At a little over two hours, The Flash, which was directed by IT filmmaker Andy Muschietti, covers a lot of ground without feeling sluggish (again, no pun intended). The story itself finds Barry discovering his ability to travel back in time. Lamenting the loss of his mother, who was murdered when he was a boy, he decides to use his powers to go back to the past and prevent it from ever happening. The move could keep his mother alive and his father out of prison. But as his pal Bruce Wayne tells him, it could also dismantle the fabric of time and space itself. Thanks to a mysterious interference, that’s exactly what happens, and it’s up to Barry, his younger self, Superman’s cousin, and an older Batman to save the world from a certain Kryptonian general.

While it’s a weighty story, The Flash remains a lot of fun, with the fight choreography and illustrations of Barry’s power being as imaginative as they are exhilarating. Running low on energy, Barry turns a last-second snack into the power he needs to save babies from a crumbling hospital, using a microwave as an impromptu container for one of the infants (which, rendered through some shoddy CGI, look an awful lot like dolls in slow motion). His ability to phase through solid objects and generate electricity with his speed are also put to use in some surprisingly practical ways. The action is matched by the humor, with Miller’s pulsing eccentricity and quips about altered timelines lacing it with an MCU-esque levity, even if tragedy is close by.

The Flash – Official Trailer www.youtube.com

Some of the best moments of The Flash come via blasts from the past, with Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck returning as separate versions of Bruce Wayne. To a lot of fans, experiencing Keaton and Danny Elfman’s classic Batman theme in a new context would have been worth the price of admission, but Keaton brings it, stepping into his old role with finesse and an oddball twist. Before The Flash was released, Affleck said he learned how to effectively play the character while filming the movie. He’s got a point, as he showcases a casual sternness and an air of vague paternalism in his interactions with Miller. There’s an ease to it; it’s a more organic portrayal than the fake tough guy act from Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

The Flash’s battle with himself