This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.
Worlds collide in “The Flash” when Barry uses his superpowers to travel back in time in order to change the events of the past. But when his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, Barry becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod has returned, threatening annihilation, and there are no Super Heroes to turn to. That is, unless Barry can coax a very different Batman out of retirement and rescue an imprisoned Kryptonian… albeit not the one he’s looking for. Ultimately, to save the world that he is in and return to the future that he knows, Barry’s only hope is to race for his life. But will making the ultimate sacrifice be enough to reset the universe?
For in-depth thoughts on The Flash, please see my colleague Dom Fisher’s review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of The Flash offers a magnificent viewing experience, but unfortunately there is not an accompanying Blu-Ray included so the jump in quality is hard to judge. When dealing with a character called the Scarlet Speedster, it is probably important to have dynamic colors, and thankfully that is the case here. The Dolby Vision/HDR lifts the colors to truly wondrous heights when it comes to vibrancy. This film features several distinct environments and characters that really exhibit the capabilities of the format with color contrast and striking lighting schemes providing jaw-dropping spectacle. Skin tones appear to be natural with healthy doses of crisp detail apparent on faces such as pores, lines and stubble.
Elements in the film taking place in shadows are consistently vivid and finely delineated. Black levels remain deep and inky with great detail throughout the presentation. Highlights in the film are more firmly defined with whites pure and balanced and no instances of blooming to be found. There is some really amazing production design featured in the film which you can really appreciate with this transfer. There are a myriad of landscapes presented here with each location providing sumptuous detail. Any instances of compression artifacts and banding you might find on the Blu-Ray are absent with this 4K UHD disc. This 4K UHD presentation really delivers on all fronts including robust stability, clarity and color. Warner Bros. has delivered with this 4K UHD presentation.
Audio Quality
This 4K UHD Blu-Ray comes with a knockout Dolby Atmos audio mix that is completely immersive as it brings this world to life. This is a mighty track that provides all manner of destructive sound effects and a momentous score. There is an onslaught of activity in the low end that permeates the room in the most effective of ways. Dialogue is perfectly clear and is never overshadowed by any competing sounds. The height channels are used to a particularly unique effect in the way the action is presented with characters flying and jumping overhead. There is nearly always something going on in the surrounds, but there is never an issue with hearing what everyone is saying. All of the sounds are coming from the appropriate direction, and there are absolutely no technical issues with the track. Audio fanatics will have fun here.
Special Features
- Making The Flash – Worlds Collide: A 37-minute making-of featurette in which the creative team takes you through pre-production and production of the film with insights into the set construction, the lighting choices, the new and familiar faces on screen, the attempts to make more moments practical and more.
- Flashpoint – Introducing The DC Multiverse: A nearly seven-minute piece in which various DC writers and other creative figures discuss the pivotal role The Flash had in popularizing the multiverse.
- Let’s Get Nuts – Batman Returns, Again!: A nine-minute featurette which takes a look at the journey of getting this version of Batman to the big screen and the return of Michael Keaton.
- The Bat Chase: A seven-minute look at the brutal chase at the beginning of the film and how the creatives came together to make it a reality.
- Saving Supergirl: A seven-minute look at the rescue sequence in Siberia including the construction of the military base, the aesthetic, the fight sequences and more.
- Battling Zod A nearly six-minute featurette which takes a closer look at the major desert scene and how COVID forced the crew to not shoot on location.
- Fighting Dark Flash: A seven-minute deep dive into the final confrontation with Dark Flash including the development of the character’s look, the visual effects work and more.
- The Flash – The Saga of the Scarlet Speedster: A nearly 39-minute look at the mythology behind The Flash, his place in comics and the film, the different iterations of the character and more. There are some great interview subjects including the cast and creative team of this film along with Geoff Johns, Grant Gustin, classic DC Comics writers and more.
- Supergirl – The Last Daughter of Krypton: A 16-minute spotlight on the iconic character of Supergirl, her history in the comics, her portrayal on screen and more. Once again, there are some great interview subjects such as Jim Lee, Melissa Benoist, Laura Vandervoort and more.
- Deleted Scenes: A 14-minute selection of unused scenes are provided here including some with unfinished special effects. It is interesting to see the performer who was acting opposite of Miller.
- The Flash: Escape The Midnight Circus Trailer: A minute-long trailer for the podcast is provided.
- The Flash: Escape The Midnight Circus: The 94-minute six-part podcast is provided here.
- The Flash In Session – Escape The Midnight Circus: A two-minute look at the recording of the podcast.
Final Thoughts
The Flash had a ton of potential based on the talent attached and the rich background of the titular character, but it never elevates itself to anything special within the superhero genre. Even if audiences are not fatigued by superheroes, they likely are getting a bit tired of the multiverse angle, especially when it mostly devolves into fan service. There is inherent fun in seeing things we once loved again, but the thrill quickly diminishes when the script is not doing anything to innovate things. The movie can be very fun at times, but at the end of the day it feels too emotionally hollow to deliver what it needs to. Not to mention the generally poor special effects that have been noted by even the most forgiving casual filmgoers. The character deserved so much better than a passably entertaining effort. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a top-tier A/V presentation and a fantastic selection of special features.
The Flash will be available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray and DVD on August 29, 2023. The film is currently available on Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.