The Flash First Reactions Are Super Excited: 'Meets And Surpasses The Hype'
Members of the press have seen The Flash, and almost all of them seemed to love it.
It's been a long road to the big screen for the Flash's standalone movie. But while you still have to wait another month to check it out, CinemaCon attendees were treated to one of the very first screenings of the movie on Tuesday night. And, well, there were some extremely positive responses.
One of those positive responses came from none other than GameSpot Senior Editor Chris Hayner, who declared that "Keaton delivers everything you want" and that the movie actually "meets and suprasses the hype."
I don’t know what to say other than #TheFlash delivered more than I could have hoped. The acting is beyond great. Keaton delivers everything you want. Supergirl is my new favorite superhero? I’m genuinely shocked this movie meets and surpasses the hype. I never expected that. pic.twitter.com/PcmpJ2juZ6
— Chris E. Hayner (@ChrisHayner) April 26, 2023
Fandom Managing Editor Eric Goldman was similarly happy coming out of the screening, specifically lauding its originality. Goldman said The Flash actually had great moments that he "hadn’t seen in a million other superhero movies" before.
Yeah, #TheFlash is legit great! It delivers some notably thrilling, fun and creative moments I felt I hadn’t seen in a million other superhero movies. It had me smiling from the Warner Bros. logo at the top and I even dug stuff inspired by movies I wasn’t into. pic.twitter.com/B5vFyFBBcl
— Eric Goldman (@TheEricGoldman) April 26, 2023
Meanwhile, we had Erik Davis from Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes called The Flash "an all-timer" that put him "in tears at the end." And Heroic Hollywood's Umberto Gonzalez declared that it's the "GREATEST DC movie of the last 30 years" that wasn't made by Christopher Nolan and said that it "breaks incredible new ground."
DC’s #TheFlash is TREMENDOUS! Forget DC, it is without a doubt among the best superhero films ever made. An all-timer. Inventive storytelling, FANTASTIC action sequences, great cast. SO MANY nerdy details. I’m in tears at the end. Everything you want from a superhero film & more pic.twitter.com/xYSn0zuXMm
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) April 26, 2023
BELIEVE THE HYPE! Christopher Nolan movies aside, #TheFlashMovie is the GREATEST DC movie of the last 30 years that belongs in the same conversation as SUPERMAN 78 and BATMAN 89. The movie breaks incredible new ground in superhero cinema & honors DC lore of years past. #TheFlash pic.twitter.com/zGkhpfjlsl
— Umberto Gonzalez (@elmayimbe) April 26, 2023
And there were plenty more reactions in that vein from other members of the film press.
#TheFlash is pretty great, and it makes sense to me now why DC didn't shelve this one. Michael Keaton is ... chef's kiss. I didn't realize how much I needed Keaton's Batman in my life again. Some really emotional moments here. Sasha Calle is awesome - I want to see more of her! pic.twitter.com/2DYhSKMfyI
— Jenna Busch (@JennaBusch) April 26, 2023
#TheFlash is fantastic. I know Ezra Miller has made a lot of mistakes but they are soooooo good in this movie. Loved Keaton, the action, humor and emotion. Andy Muschietti has crafted something special. Thumbs way up.
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) April 26, 2023
WB didn’t show the after the credits scenes. pic.twitter.com/J8KsdrKVwz
#TheFlash is very good, especially given how oversaturated we are with multiverse stories.
— Dan Casey (@DanCasey) April 26, 2023
It’s a really savvy, charming take on Flashpoint that effectively wields nostalgia rather than weaponizing it. Some genuinely delightful set pieces too! pic.twitter.com/0GXZhW6vQi
But not ever response was fully enthusiastic. Longtime film reporter Jeff Sneider enjoyed the early parts but thought it ended up falling apart as it went on.
THE FLASH: First hr is pretty fantastic. Strikes the perfect tone. Ezra is great. Heroic. Funny. Emotional. The last hr is MOSTLY terrible. Just an utter mess that’ll leave you asking, “what the HELL is going on?” Fan service & DC villain problem strike again. Mixed bag overall.
— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) April 26, 2023
The Flash sees Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) attempt to travel back in time to prevent his mother's death when he was a kid. Apparently he succeeds, but there were pretty dire consequences: the Justice League he knew no longer exists, but the threats they fought still do.
The Flash arrives at a pivotal moment for the DC Comics movie franchise in our world, where it has meandered aimlessly since the release of Joss Whedon's Justice League back in 2017. Late last year, James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios right around when Black Adam was bombing in theaters, and then last month the sequel to Shazam! bombed even harder.
The Flash always represented an opportunity to reset the DC movieverse with its multiverse plot--it creates a way to introduce a new Batman or Superman for the DC movie franchise, for example. Though we'll have to wait until the film hits theaters on June 2 to find out exactly what shape Barry Allen will leave the DC movieverse in.
CinemaCon brought us plenty of other updates on the upcoming DC slate of films, with new looks at Blue Beetle and at the sequel to Aquaman--and a new, final trailer for The Flash, to boot.
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