The Flash (2023)

★★★☆☆

A Flash in the Pan

Warner Bros. Pictures latest installment in the infamous DC Expanded Universe (DCEU), The Flash (2023), fails to construct an immersive experience where the audience is invited to engage emotionally with the characters and their journeys.

The inclusion of Ezra Miller raises concerns, given the film's underlying themes of grief and loss. Miller's off-screen controversies tend to overshadow his on-screen performance, creating a dissonance that distracts from the narrative focus. As audiences grapple with the moral quandary of separating art from the artist, Miller's presence becomes a roadblock, detracting from the film's central thematic exploration of grief.

When an actor's off-screen persona significantly disrupts this immersion, it undermines the film's rhetorical power. In this case, the unresolved controversy surrounding Miller creates a conflicting rhetorical situation that serves to detract from the exploration of grief in The Flash, hence posing a significant challenge to the film's overall impact.

Alternatively, Michael Keaton's reprisal of his role as Batman in The Flash was a delightful and deftly written inclusion that struck a chord with both ardent fans of the franchise and newcomers alike. His performance demonstrated a depth of character that was both familiar and yet refreshingly updated to fit within the narrative context of the new film. This nostalgic nod towards the franchise's history was not only satisfying from a fan-service perspective but was also integrated well into the plot, serving to enhance the story rather than distract from it.

Additionally, a definite bright spot was the introduction of Sasha Calle as Kara Zor-El. Calle's powerful and captivating performance offered a much-needed contrast to the overwhelmingly comical characters that populated the film. She brought an impressive range to her character, delivering an inspiring performance that embodied the essence of Kara Zor-El. Calle's performance provided depth and seriousness, serving as a refreshing counterbalance within the film's sometimes excessively light-hearted character palette. Her inclusion signals a promising future for the character within the DCEU, and audiences can look forward to seeing more of her compelling portrayal of Kara Zor-El in future installments.

However, it must be noted that the power of nostalgia and solid character writing can only serve to mask other shortcomings to a certain extent. One of the glaring issues in The Flash is the underdeveloped and often absurdly unfinished CGI elements. These visual effects are integral to creating the immersive, other-worldly experience that superhero movies are known for. Yet, the subpar execution in this film significantly detracts from the viewing experience.

One particularly glaring example of this is the scene where CGI babies are seen falling from the sky as the Flash races against time to save them from a collapsing hospital. While the scene may have been intended as a dramatic visual spectacle to showcase the Flash's speed and heroic abilities, it instead comes across as ridiculous and disengaging due to the poor quality of the CGI. The babies, rather than evoking a sense of urgency and peril, appear comically unreal, breaking the immersion and undermining the overall impact of the scene. It's a stark reminder that while nostalgic elements and strong performances can enhance a film, they must be backed by equally strong technical elements to create a fully rounded cinematic experience.

The Flash serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance required in creating a compelling cinematic experience. While the return of Keaton's Batman provided a much-needed infusion of nostalgia and complexity, Miller's casting and the film's poor CGI undermined the film's potential, preventing audiences from fully engaging with the narrative and characters. The issues that plagued the movie, from off-screen controversies to subpar visual effects, point to a deeper issue within the DCEU—the need for a balanced approach to casting decisions, visual execution, and overall narrative delivery. Only then can they truly tap into the rich tapestry of the DC universe and deliver movies that are not only technically impressive but also emotionally resonant. It's clear that for the DCEU to move forward successfully, it needs to learn from its past mistakes. And as The Flash shows, while speed may be of the essence, so too is thoughtful and considerate filmmaking.