THE FLASH (12A) Reviewed at The Light Cinema, Wisbech
Starring: Ezra Miller, Michale Keaton, Sasha Calle, Jeremy Irons and Ben Affleck
Running time: Two hours, 24 minutes Director: Andy Muschietti
With so much negative publicity surrounding Ezra Miller over recent months and a general consensus that DC films just aren't up to scratch lately, many seem to have made their minds up about this film before even watching it.
Which is a pity, as this really is a decent watch and Miller puts in a really decent performance, even if the whole thing is probably about half an hour too long.
Continuing the multiverse theme so recently and brilliantly used by Marvel, Miller plays two versions of Barry Allen - a shy, awkward one whose mum was killed at a young age and a more confident, outgoing one, whose mother is still alive.
After helping Batman and Wonder Woman stop a bank robbery during a rather bloated and rather dull opening to the film, Barry revisits his childhood home and remembers the idyllic youth he had before his dad Henry was wrongfully imprisoned for the murder of his mum Nora.
Overcome by his emotions and despite warnings from Batman that interfering with the past can cause major problems, he speeds back to the day of Nora's death and prevents it from happening. H then ends up in an alternate universe, and on the day he originally obtained his powers.
For those who love a bit of nostalgia, there's four Bruce Wayne/Batman characters, with Michael Keaton superb throughout, and also guest appearances from Jason Mamoa's Aquaman and Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman.
There's some great interaction between the two Barrys/Flashes as they attempt to reassemble the Justice League and fight the invading General Zod, with Sasha Calle impressing as Super-girl.
However, after an exciting hour or so, the end of the film plods too, with one particular sequence when with alternate Barry trying to change the course of time going on far too long.
But there's some real heart-tugging interaction between Barry and his parents and the whole film is satisfying enough for this particular writer to want to see more of The Flash.
Rating 7/10
By Jeremy Ransome