THE FLASH is the story of a superhero misusing his superpower. Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) is learning to adjust to his life as a superhero as Flash and a rookie forensic investigator. His father Henry (Ron Livingston) has been wrongfully jailed for the murder of his mother Nora (Maribel Verdú). One day he realizes that he has one more power, of going back in time. He realizes that he can use this power to prevent the death of his murder. That way, his father won't have to go to jail. He discusses this idea with Bruce Wayne aka Batman (Ben Affleck) who warns him that this can be catastrophic. But Barry still goes back in time and alters the events. He then goes forward in time and finds out that his mother is alive. His father, too, is living with them and all is well. Soon, he realizes that things are not as rosy as they seem to be. On top of that, the evil Zod (Michael Shannon) arrives to kill Superman. What happens next forms the rest of the film. John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein and Joby Harold's story is fascinating and very intriguing. Christina Hodson's screenplay is very effective and does justice to the unique plot in hand. The time travel and parallel timelines plot points do remind one of Marvel films (at one point, there's also an indirect reference). Yet, one doesn't get a déjà vu as the happenings are very different in this film. The dialogues are witty and funny. Andy Muschietti’s direction is splendid. The director has made good use of the script and peppered the film with entertaining scenes. The way he has shown Flash travelling at a supersonic speed is quite creative and visually appealing. The film also scores as it has strong emotional moments. At the same time, the film also gets quite heavy emotionally in the second half. The film has been marketed as a fun-filled entertainer. But the humour is very limited post-interval. Those expecting it to be a light film will be disappointed. The track of Zod is also not properly utilized. THE FLASH starts on a superb note. The hospital scene is epic and arguably one of the best scenes seen in a superhero film. The scene where Barry goes back in time and the developments that take place are truly amusing. The fun continues as Barry reaches Batman's mansion where he gets surprised, or rather shocked, yet again. Post interval, the action scene in Russia is interesting though one has seen better scenes of this kind in previous superhero films. The scene in the supermarket in the pre-climax is very moving. The film ends on a rocking note. Speaking of performances, Ezra Miller nails the part. He plays two personalities which are diverse yet a bit similar and the way he has handled it is praiseworthy. Ben Affleck is dependable in a brief role. Michael Keaton leaves a huge mark. Sasha Calle (Supergirl) is decent and doesn't get much scope. Maribel Verdú is lovely and contributes a lot to the film. Ron Livingston is okay. Kiersey Clemons (Iris West) is fair. Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman) steals the show, as expected, in a cameo. Nicholas Cage and others are quite nice in special appearances. Benjamin Wallfisch's music is cinematic and typically superhero-like. Henry Braham's cinematography adds to the big screen appeal. Action is without gore and works for a film like this. Paul D Austerberry's production design is rich. Alexandra Byrne and Bob Ringwood's costumes are realistic. VFX matches global standards. Jason Ballantine and Paul Machliss' editing is appropriate. On the whole, THE FLASH works due to its fascinating plot, exciting first half, surprise cameos and some strong emotional moments. At the box office, however, it’ll face a tough time as it clashes with ADIPURUSH. Read more

Fans of The Flash have waited for his ‘Flashpoint Paradox’ storyline to play out on the big screen for many years. The critically acclaimed story kicked off many multiverse-based plots involving the DC roster of superheroes. While this film was initially intended to have the same impact, behind-the-scenes developments would change its trajectory more times than Barry Allen could have anticipated. Those situations affect the result, but director Andy Muschietti keeps the plot centred on an emotional arc that hits home. Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) must work with his younger self as that version gets his powers. The actor convincingly portrays two different iterations of the character, both distinct in their mannerisms. Scenes with them are hilarious yet heartfelt, and overall, the film’s jokes land more often than not, even the absurd ones. This is grounded with well-balanced drama, especially with older Barry and his mother Nora (Maribel Verdú) anchoring the narrative as the chaos unfolds. Michael Keaton reprises his pivotal role as Bruce Wayne from the 1989 & 1992 films, which goes beyond fan service to contribute meaningfully. It’s also satisfying to see his Batman do things that weren’t possible for film technology back then. Sasha Calle pulls off the massive task of investing us in the new Kara Zor-El/ Supergirl. Muschietti also lends a captivating view of the film’s action with camerawork that follows sequences to bring a vital sense of direction and scale. However, the weakest element in ‘The Flash’ is its seemingly slapdash CGI. Besides the scenes with the two Barrys, a crucial plot device requires extensive VFX, which looks amiss. It indicates the story undergoing multiple changes without much time to work on this critical element. Irrespective, the cloud-pleasing moments are aplenty for old and new fans. The fate of these characters remains unknown as the studio embarks on a seemingly new path. If ‘The Flash’ is meant to bookend the DCEU of the past decade or so, it certainly delivers, thanks to Muschietti’s distinctive tone and execution.Read more