Genre:

Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Release Date:

December 20,  2023

Director:

James Wan

Cast:

Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

Plot Summary:

Arthur must enlist the help of his half-brother Orm in order to protect Atlantis against Black Manta, who has unleashed a devastating weapon in his obsessive quest to avenge his father’s death.

I know that it’s been a little while since “The Flash” came out in theaters, but I got to say that after seeing the movie again on Max, I think that it’s clear to say that Michael Keatonis the best actor that has played the Caped Crusader.

Keaton played the hero in the Tim Burton-directed superhero flick way back in 1989. Many fans were skeptical of the controversial casting but were happy to have him in the film after it was released and welcomed him back for the sequel in 1992.

Here is why Keaton reigns supreme as the comic-book hero.

HE LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR “DARK” BATMAN

Batman 1989 [credit: Warner Bros.]

Before Michael Keaton, the only thing that fans had for Batman was Adam West on the 1960s tv series and while the series had its moments, they seemed more campy than actually dark. West had a more comical take on the character which might have been fine for the 1960s but it doesn’t really honor the source material.

Keaton brought the character into darker territory and allowed Batmen after him to run, but only after he had to walk in the batsuit and it was a breath of fresh air to see it.

HIS ORIGIN STORY IS MORE TRAGIC

Batman 1989 [credit: Warner Bros.]

In the original comics, Bruce Wayne’s parents are killed by the criminal Joe Chill. And the tragic event is what made him the caped crusader. That is a great origin story, however, the 1989 film changes a few things.

In the Tim Burton movie, Jack Napier a.k.a., the Joker kills Wayne’s parents. Albeit, this is before Napier becomes the Joker  but it makes for a great connection as to why Batman has such a true and deep disdain for the Joker, thus making their hero-villain dynamic more palpable to watch.

HE TOOK ON A KRYPTONIAN WITHOUT KRYPTONITE

The Flash 2023 [credit: Warner Bros.]

If you haven’t seen The Flash, spoiler alert because Keaton’s Batman takes down the kryptonian Nam-ek in the coolest and briefest showdown in the DCEU, where Batman grapples the Kryptonian by the neck attaching bombs to him and finally knocking the alien to the ground with a final explosion.

Keaton can rest easy knowing that he was the only Batman to knock down a Kryptonian without Kryptonite. Not even Affleck could attest to that.

Let’s be honest, some of the recent DCEU movies have not been what we would have expected them to be and we had a lot of expectations from ‘The Flash‘, especially after Ezra Miller‘s impeccable performance in ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League‘. However, everything went downhill when Miller landed himself in a controversy and was accused of disorderly conduct. The movie faced a lot of setbacks before its release, but it endured everything that came in its path and has finally been released in theatres. And we are happy to report that the film is one of the best DCEU movies to have come out in recent years.

The movie starts with Barry Allen (Miller) helping Bruce Wayne, aka Batman (Ben Affleck), and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) stop a robbery by a deadly terrorist organization. On the other hand, he is trying hard to prove that his father didn’t kill his mother on that fateful day. After getting to know there is nothing he can do to save his father, Barry revisits his childhood home and runs so fast that he accidentally travels back in time. He realizes that he could travel back in time and fix everything. Even after Bruce’s objections, Barry travels back in time but while returning to the present, he gets knocked out of the Speed Force by another speedster and ends up in an alternate 2013 where his mother is alive. Barry meets his 2013 counterpart and they embark on a journey to stop General Zod from terraforming the planet. But there’s one catch: the new timeline or world created by Barry has no “meta-humans”.

Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, in ‘The Flash’ (Warner Bros)

Now, we won’t ruin the storyline for all the viewers who haven’t watched the film yet, but it is safe to say it is a delightful superhero adventure that brings the beloved DC character to life excitingly and engagingly.

The standout feature of Miller’s Flash is his witty banter and comedic timing. The scenes where he interacts with other heroes and his counterpart show how much fun he had with the role and infuses the character with a sense of lightness and humor that’s a refreshing departure from the grim tone that often accompanies superhero films from DC.

Apart from all the humor, the strongest aspect of the movie is how emotional the story is. Barry’s relationship with his father and undying love for his mother takes the movie into a territory that most of them fail to. The superhero picnic expertly balances the comedic and dramatic aspects of the character, providing laughs one moment and breaking hearts the next.

Acting-wise, Miller is outstanding in his portrayal of the fastest man alive. If you let go of all the things that happened in the recent past and just focus on his acting skills, you’ll realize what an amazing talent he is. However, two of the strongest performances come from Michael Keaton and Sasha Calle.

Sasha Calle as Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, in ‘The Flash’ (Warner Bros)

Keaton reprises the role of Batman after almost three decades and knocks it out of the park with a performance that makes it feel nostalgic. Yes, he’s 71, but his charm would let you forget everything. It is a pure joy to see him play the caped crusader again. On the other hand, Calle as Supergirl is FANTASTIC and even though her role is small, she nailed every bit of it. Calle gets to be a part of back-to-back action sequences and she didn’t leave any stone unturned to make viewers realize that they are watching something special. We hope Calle remains an integral part of the DCU as well.

Despite having so many positives, the most unforgivable element of the movie is its shoddy VFX. It’s 2023 and we are still wondering how a massive film like ‘The Flash’ can be lacking in this department. That’s one of the reasons why there are so many mixed reactions to this movie.

Overall, Andy Muschietti’s ‘The Flash’ is a highly enjoyable superhero experience that stands out for its impeccable performance and solid writing that offers a satisfying balance of humor, action, and emotion. Fans of DC movies and the Flash character specifically, as well as those that love superhero and action movies in general, should check out this delightful film.