The Flash movie (2023)

[Ornclown]

Official Trailer 2:



I don't care what anyone says... this looks good!

Michael Keaton might just prove my long-standing belief that he is the best Batman!




We saw this trailer before GotG Vol.3, and even my jaded non-DC fan of a brother got excited for the Flash.

[Neophron]

Cannot wait for this movie to hit cinemas worldwide!

[Dcr4]

Yes, very much looking forward to this. Saw Batman '89 8 times in theaters that summer. So his portrayal has always been a huge deal to me and very much looking forward to him revisiting the role.
Also, I heard the Flash is going to be in this too

[Rikki Roxx]

That's one of my biggest problems with the entire exercise - second to the fact that I am not a fan of the film's role in the larger entertainment sphere insofar as rebooting a DCEU I was (mostly) a fan of out of existence. But as a huge fan of The Flash and someone who has been waiting my whole life for a Flash movie, the fact that his very first movie is mostly just an excuse to drag Keaton out of "retirement" and nobody is even excited about Flash himself - and let's be honest, even BEFORE Ezra's "complicated" lifestyle and bad choices came to light, people STILL cared more about seeing Keaton in the movie than anything Flash-related whatsoever - yeah, it's annoying. I always wanted the first Flash movie to be... y'know... a FLASH movie, not a movie where he himself is essentially a plot device to facilitate some Member Berry Moments with Keaton.

I get that the movie is, in a sense, all about Flash... but IS it, though? Like is ONE person buying a ticket to see THE FLASH in The Flash? Apparently not, as Every Single Person on the internet has ONLY been talking about Keaton ever since he was announced, and Flash isn't even on their radar. ALL of that bugs me. I feel like the Very First Flash Movie should have JUST been about HIM, first and foremost, and all this timey-wimey stuff saved for a sequel. I get that WB's desperation is why we're here, and the movie admittedly does look good for what it is. It just should not have been the first-ever Flash movie, but that horse is out of the barn, I get it.

I went from not caring at all to actually wanting to go, so the trailers did their job. But I can't help but sigh a little, both because it's objectively not the movie it should have been and only exists in its current form because WB is fundamentally incompetent, but also because no matter how good it is it will still effectively be a funeral for a DCU I very much wanted more of, so it can be replaced by one I have no interest in at all. There is a very good chance this will be the last DC movie I see for a very long time, and that's frustrating. Don't get me wrong, I've been to some relatively "upbeat" funerals, but even at the best of times your buddy's dead and you'll never see him again. No getting around it.

That's how I feel about this movie. Looks good, I'll probably like it, but when it's all said and done who gives a ****.

[dedset13]

It does look pretty good. I may actually go see this and it is 100% because of Keaton!

[dan1980]

According to one of the production designers, people will ‘forget’ Ezra Miller’s crimes because the film is that good.

[Durendal]

That's one of my biggest problems with the entire exercise - second to the fact that I am not a fan of the film's role in the larger entertainment sphere insofar as rebooting a DCEU I was (mostly) a fan of out of existence. But as a huge fan of The Flash and someone who has been waiting my whole life for a Flash movie, the fact that his very first movie is mostly just an excuse to drag Keaton out of "retirement" and nobody is even excited about Flash himself - and let's be honest, even BEFORE Ezra's "complicated" lifestyle and bad choices came to light, people STILL cared more about seeing Keaton in the movie than anything Flash-related whatsoever - yeah, it's annoying. I always wanted the first Flash movie to be... y'know... a FLASH movie, not a movie where he himself is essentially a plot device to facilitate some Member Berry Moments with Keaton.

I get that the movie is, in a sense, all about Flash... but IS it, though? Like is ONE person buying a ticket to see THE FLASH in The Flash? Apparently not, as Every Single Person on the internet has ONLY been talking about Keaton ever since he was announced, and Flash isn't even on their radar. ALL of that bugs me. I feel like the Very First Flash Movie should have JUST been about HIM, first and foremost, and all this timey-wimey stuff saved for a sequel. I get that WB's desperation is why we're here, and the movie admittedly does look good for what it is. It just should not have been the first-ever Flash movie, but that horse is out of the barn, I get it.

I went from not caring at all to actually wanting to go, so the trailers did their job. But I can't help but sigh a little, both because it's objectively not the movie it should have been and only exists in its current form because WB is fundamentally incompetent, but also because no matter how good it is it will still effectively be a funeral for a DCU I very much wanted more of, so it can be replaced by one I have no interest in at all. There is a very good chance this will be the last DC movie I see for a very long time, and that's frustrating. Don't get me wrong, I've been to some relatively "upbeat" funerals, but even at the best of times your buddy's dead and you'll never see him again. No getting around it.

That's how I feel about this movie. Looks good, I'll probably like it, but when it's all said and done who gives a ****.

Put me in that group too. Firstly, Keaton was the best Batman, and there's been a lingering resentment for the last 30 years that he never got to complete "his" trilogy (or more) with full closure, so for all that time a sense of unfinished business has persisted regarding his tenure, no matter who was currently donning the cowl. So, if using a B level supporting character most people don't usually give a crap about like the Flash in his own movie (on the surface at least), played by a no-name actor was necessary to FINALLY get the beloved Keaton's Batman back on the big screen, then I'm all for it. That's literally the only reason I'm going to bother seeing this movie. If it were all about just the Flash, it would be as irrelevant as Shazam or Black Adam *YAWN*

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

I agree it seems cool. But am I the only one who thinks it's starting to feel like superhero films are overdone? I don't mean to be a Dougie Downer, but it feels like Hollywood's mined all it can about incredible characters trying to save the planet, galaxy or universe from evil-doers. Same plot line, same -- except for a few changes -- characters and same outcomes. Yawn...

[Dice]

According to one of the production designers, people will ‘forget’ Ezra Miller’s crimes because the film is that good.

Maybe because my two biggest "Flash" influences are from the Justice League cartoon and the CW show but I really didn't like Miller's take on the character in the Justice League movie. Then, after hearing and seeing some of his outrageous/criminal behavior, I just have no desire to see him in this role.

I may end up watching the movie when it comes to video only to see the Batman portions. But I'm just as likely to forget about it and never see it.

[Rhanen]

I agree it seems cool. But am I the only one who thinks it's starting to feel like superhero films are overdone? I don't mean to be a Dougie Downer, but it feels like Hollywood's mined all it can about incredible characters trying to save the planet, galaxy or universe from evil-doers. Same plot line, same -- except for a few changes -- characters and same outcomes. Yawn...

Please, correct me if I'm wrong, but not all stories are pretty much based on 7 story templates being mixed with some variations:

_Defeating the monster
_From poorness to richness
_The search
_The journey and return
_Confusion comedy
_Tragedy loss
_Rebirth

Basically all superhero movies are "Defeating the monster" with addons from "The Search" or "The Journey" and comedy, but that is my very humble opinion.

On the other hand, The Flash is the most anticipated movie of 2023 for me: The Flash is an awesome superhero, Keaton's Batman return and is being directed by fellow countryman Andy Muschetti who I loved his way of directing since "Nostalgia en la mesa 8" short film.

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

Please, correct me if I'm wrong, but not all stories are pretty much based on 7 story templates being mixed with some variations:

_Defeating the monster
_From poorness to richness
_The search
_The journey and return
_Confusion comedy
_Tragedy loss
_Rebirth

Basically all superhero movies are "Defeating the monster" with addons from "The Search" or "The Journey" and comedy, but that is my very humble opinion.

On the other hand, The Flash is the most anticipated movie of 2023 for me: The Flash is an awesome superhero, Keaton's Batman return and is being directed by fellow countryman Andy Muschetti who I loved his way of directing since "Nostalgia en la mesa 8" short film.

"Basically all superhero movies are "Defeating the monster" with addons from "The Search" or "The Journey" and comedy, but that is my very humble opinion." Then aren't you basically proving my point?

I don't know. Maybe I'm just a cranky older dude, but I'm getting tired of seeing guys running around in spandex. You have to remember I go back a lot further than you and most orgers, way back to Superman in the 50s. That's the problem with living a long time, I guess -- at some point almost everything gets old.

[Durendal]

I agree it seems cool. But am I the only one who thinks it's starting to feel like superhero films are overdone? I don't mean to be a Dougie Downer, but it feels like Hollywood's mined all it can about incredible characters trying to save the planet, galaxy or universe from evil-doers. Same plot line, same -- except for a few changes -- characters and same outcomes. Yawn...

Why overdone? There are tons of other, non-superhero movies and shows available as an alternative. Are they intruding on your entertainment? Everything can co-exist. I personally have zero interest in horror movies, but I have plenty of other options. Their continuing creation and existence don't bother me at all. I simply ignore them.

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

Why overdone? There are tons of other, non-superhero movies and shows available as an alternative. Are they intruding on your entertainment? Everything can co-exist. I personally have zero interest in horror movies, but I have plenty of other options. Their continuing creation and existence don't bother me at all. I simply ignore them.

Point well made. I guess I need to do that, at least for a time, with super-hero films. Part of the problem may have been I gouged myself on them the last ten years or so. Maybe I just need a break and I'll come back hungry for more...right around the time the new MOTU movie is released.

Thanks for the post, Durendal.

[Rikki Roxx]

I agree it seems cool. But am I the only one who thinks it's starting to feel like superhero films are overdone? I don't mean to be a Dougie Downer, but it feels like Hollywood's mined all it can about incredible characters trying to save the planet, galaxy or universe from evil-doers. Same plot line, same -- except for a few changes -- characters and same outcomes. Yawn...

Well Jack, as we've seen, whenever anyone tries to elevate the super-hero genre or inject some actual pathos and drama into it, people call you a "grimdark edgelord" and insists that these movies must never aim any higher than Third Grade level. If these movies were allowed to have layers and depth, they might not be so disposable. I'm a huge comic book fan of nearly 40 years, but I'm beyond tired of super-hero movies simply because most of them aren't ABOUT anything, there's just nothing below the surface and it's all spectacle. They are SO paint-by-numbers and micro-managed to be as vapid and inoffensive as possible, and I get that that's how you get billion dollar box office, but none of that money goes to me so I don't care about that. The only ones with any repeat value for me anymore are ones that aim higher, and those are the ones everyone supposedly hates because they're "no fun".

Nevermind that those "no fun" movies made a ton more money than anything DC has put out since, and they've had a dozen total box office failures in a row since it was arbitrarily decided that "All we gotta do is bench Snyder and cram a lot of bad jokes in our movies... THEN we'll get billions!" That was 2017 already and some people are STILL insisting that was a winning strategy, despite all evidence. It's rather annoying. They haven't drawn a single dime since Aquaman, so clearly there's more at play than people want to admit.

I do think a certain kind of fatigue is, and has always been, a factor, even early on. Before any of this even started, a lot of "experts" and analysts were saying a full decade ago that DC was doomed before the game even started because they were second to market. Whoever stakes a claim first wins in the court of public opinion, and Marvel got their "shared universe" movies to market first. Some people dismiss that and say it's irrelevant, but people who get paid a lot of money to analyze and predict market trends for big businesses have never once wavered on that being a HUGE factor in this entire scenario. Those people said at the beginning, before Man of Steel even came out, "The market can't support TWO big super-hero movie universes, it's simply too much content for most people to keep up with, so DC is dead in the water already." That turned out to be true, no matter who people try and blame it on. It never had anything to do with the content; everything to do with the general public's idea that "Second Place is the first loser."

DC was wise to try and establish their own identity early on, but too many people whined about that identity and insisted they just copy Marvel movies instead. So they did, and they lost a ton of money and continue to lose money, because they are now literally a cheap imitation of their competition, which is something that no one can ultimately respect. But WB created this problem for themselves by being so overreactive to every single criticism along the way, constantly shifting the company's entire creative direction on a whim. Even though the earlier DCEU films were divisive, no one could ever accuse them of being cookie-cutter, and that's why they tend to appeal more to people who think the super-hero genre is oversaturated with pablum. People who LIKE everything that way, well, they obviously didn't much care for DC trying to go against the grain. But the inverse is also true, in that lots of people who either hate or got tired of the entire genre for being too same-y find a lot to appreciate in the early DCEU movies for at least being different.

Anyways, I generally do agree that most of these movies are the same (or at least same-ish) and that's a big reason I gave up on them. The comics always have better stories and they have more variety and depth, since they aren't slaves to Rotten Tomatoes and the Chinese box office. I don't really complain about it too often, though, because as a kid we hardly got any super-hero movies and most of them were Actually Bad - to clarify, I don't think most of the ones out nowadays are "bad", just... they proudly embrace the lowest common denominator and I don't agree with that approach being the standard. In any case, as a kid I wished and wished there would be a ton of comic book movies, and now there are, and most people like them so it would feel lousy of me to really bang on about it simply because 99% of it isn't what entertains me. I'm glad they exist, I just wish there was more variety and it all wasn't so tribal and whatnot. But I can't say "I wish they'd stop" or whatever, because that would in essence be a betrayal of 9-year old Me who wished so hard for more comic book movies.

There are too many of them, though. At this point, especially with only a select few doing truly big numbers, I don't think anyone can dispute that it's an oversaturated market. That always happens, though. The super-hero movie boom still has nothing on, say, the Western boom for example. Hollywood is cyclical, whenever a thing is hugely successful everyone spends the next decade bleeding it dry, they strip mine everything until it's no longer profitable, then it's on to the next thing. Right now it's still super-heroes, and this specific genre boom has lasted longer than anyone expected, certainly. But the bubble will definitely burst one day, and then some other genre will be the big thing getting 50 movies a year. I don't have the foresight to predict what that genre will be, but it's inevitable.

But if you say there are too many super-hero movies out there nowadays, you are objectively correct. And if you say most of them are pretty much the same, you are once again correct. It is what it is. This Too Shall Pass.

- - - Updated - - -

I'll come back hungry for more...right around the time the new MOTU movie is released.

So... two weeks from "Absolutely Never", then?

[VZX]

I will not see this movie no matter how good it is due to Miller's crimes. They groomed a minor doing who-knows-what to them! That is heinous enough, I cannot support this person or any project they are in.

[Durendal]

I will not see this movie no matter how good it is due to Miller's crimes. They groomed a minor doing who-knows-what to them! That is heinous enough, I cannot support this person or any project they are in.

I sympathize with this view to a degree, but some separation of the artist and their art is necessary. Wagner was a virulent anti-semite, but that doesn't makes his music any less brilliant.

[Dice]

I sympathize with this view to a degree, but some separation of the artist and their art is necessary. Wagner was a virulent anti-semite, but that doesn't makes his music any less brilliant.

Easier said than done when it comes to actors I think. I used to love many roles Kevin Spacey played in and now I can't even stand to watch those same movies.

Once you have a bad taste in your mouth for someone it's hard to like anything they do.

[Cameron Samurai]

Aquaman made money, but it had virtually none of Snyder's faux-biblical signalling and was a fun ride

I don't mind Snyder's movies much but their reputation as counter-cape culture is blown way out of proportion by an unpleasant and unhinged cult movement who are badly in need of, recreationally, a dartboard without James Gunn's face plastered on it.

[Rikki Roxx]

I will not see this movie no matter how good it is due to Miller's crimes. They groomed a minor doing who-knows-what to them! That is heinous enough, I cannot support this person or any project they are in.

I sympathize with this view to a degree, but some separation of the artist and their art is necessary. Wagner was a virulent anti-semite, but that doesn't makes his music any less brilliant.

What gets me is the generally selective application of such moral outrage. Case on point, Steven Tyler is right now involved in a trial for doing essentially the same thing Miller apparently did, and what's more, he admitted to it in his autobiography, to the point he was unrepentantly bragging about it. All of this is absolutely going to be used against him in court, too.

However, aside from the fact he's almost definitely going to end up paying millions of dollars to the now-adult woman he did this with all those years ago when she was 15/16, nobody is very upset about it. Aerosmith has a tour coming up and people are very excited about it. Most people commenting on the situation with Tyler and what was at the time an underage girl, they dismiss it as "groupie culture" and "she knew what she was getting into" and "she liked it, so there was nothing wrong with it."

The only variable between the two scenarios that I can see, is that Miller is not straight and also isn't as well-liked by the general public. In both cases, a grown man gave drugs and alcohol to a minor and did illegal things of a physical nature with them, including bringing them across state lines which is trafficking. Tyler was arguably worse because he was the girl's legal guardian; but again, Nobody Cares what he did. Yet people want to see Miller crucified.

I don't play favorites between the two; in both cases, what they did was illegal and wrong and there's no getting around that. BUT, I do not like how in situations where essentially the same crimes are committed, society is very selective in who they dismiss and who they condemn. Steven Tyler does it, it's "Boys Will Be Boys, and also, Ho's are gonna Ho, amIright?" Ezra Miller does it, "What a sick degenerate freak, I can't believe he's still allowed to work and be famous." There is NO fundamental difference in what these people did, the difference is all in society's reaction to what they did.

Not gonna lie, I have a problem with that, fundamentally. There is a huge problem across the board with that right now, where if someone we like does something it's fine, but if it's someone we don't like doing the Exact Same Thing then they're the devil. I can't extrapolate on it in detail without getting political, but all anyone needs to do is watch TV or scroll Facebook to know what I mean. Double Standards are the rule of the day right now and I simply don't think it's right. When double-standards are the rule it means that society has no standards at all.

Anyways, I've met enough celebrities and learned enough about their personal private lives to know that You Don't Wanna Know. Your favorite actor/singer/sports star has absolutely done terrible, immoral, illegal things no matter who they are, and you can either shrug it off or you can make peace with never watching TV or listening to music, ever. Basically, if you CAN'T separate Art from Artist, you're a hypocrite by default because Your Favorite Guy is definitely doing awful **** too, and if you don't believe it then you're naive.

I just watch these people perform and enjoy their art. I am not under any illusions that ANY of them are "good people". Even the ones who do good things, like charity work or visiting cancer kids... truth is, it's just their way of trying to balance out their karma. They feel guilty about all the drugs they do and all the infidelity and all the underage girls, so they dress up like a comic book character and visit a hospital and it makes them feel slightly less scummy. None of them are "innocent". Some are just slightly less of a degenerate than the next one.

I guess my point is simply that unless we are prepared to judge All in equal measure than we should judge None, because it's hypocritical. If we get to a point where we actually are prepared to judge all, then good, I'm all about it. I simply do not see that being the case, is the thing.

[Ornclown]

It does look pretty good. I may actually go see this and it is 100% because of Keaton!

It would be cool to see Brandon Routh return as Superman too...

While the movie that he was in is quite forgettable, I thought that his Christopher Reeve impersonation was great.

[Dave-Man]

I agree it seems cool. But am I the only one who thinks it's starting to feel like superhero films are overdone? I don't mean to be a Dougie Downer, but it feels like Hollywood's mined all it can about incredible characters trying to save the planet, galaxy or universe from evil-doers. Same plot line, same -- except for a few changes -- characters and same outcomes. Yawn...

I think people have begun to get a bit of superhero burnout, yes. But for some folks, these movies are "comfort food" - like the NCIS franchise on TV. It's hardly even recognizable as what it once was, but they continue to crank out the formula because people will watch, and people will watch because they know the formula and it comforts them even if its terribly unoriginal by now.

[Dice]

Anyways, I've met enough celebrities and learned enough about their personal private lives to know that You Don't Wanna Know. Your favorite actor/singer/sports star has absolutely done terrible, immoral, illegal things no matter who they are, and you can either shrug it off or you can make peace with never watching TV or listening to music, ever. Basically, if you CAN'T separate Art from Artist, you're a hypocrite by default because Your Favorite Guy is definitely doing awful **** too, and if you don't believe it then you're naive.

It was the video of Miller attacking a woman in some store that got me. That was prior to the other allegations. And Spacey did some creepy YouTube videos that made him look more guilty.

Maybe it's because I "saw" them being bad people with my own two eyes rather than just hearing about it?


I'm right there with you when it comes to EVERYBODY has done some crap. No one is perfect. But I also know there are some really crummy and awful people out there. And I don't feel bad not liking them.

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

I think people have begun to get a bit of superhero burnout, yes. But for some folks, these movies are "comfort food" - like the NCIS franchise on TV. It's hardly even recognizable as what it once was, but they continue to crank out the formula because people will watch, and people will watch because they know the formula and it comforts them even if its terribly unoriginal by now.

I get that and I respect it. I'm just talking about my personal feelings and I'm aware I'm not the target demographic.

[Cameron Samurai]

I get that and I respect it. I'm just talking about my personal feelings and I'm aware I'm not the target demographic.

Somehow I don't even think their target demographic is their target demographic anymore.

[ehenyo]

I'm watching this movie for Keaton. Also, I didn't know Steven Tyler was in it too.