The Flash (2022)

[Silver Nemesis]

I'm avoiding spoilers, but for those who have read the leaks are you still excited for the film?

I am. I've wanted a third Keaton Batman movie since I was a kid and I still can't quite believe we're getting it. I'm sure I'll have my share of criticisms, but for now I'm cautiously optimistic. We might never get the Burton Batman trilogy we wanted, but at least now we'll have a proper Keaton trilogy.

The studio is screening The Flash today and allowing people to post their reactions. The fact they're doing this now, months before the movie's release, indicates they're confident of its quality. Let's hope their confidence isn't misplaced.

A new trailer is also coming out today, so everyone get ready for some analysis.

[The Dark Knight]

Placing The Flash alongside B89 and Returns through pure satisfaction and quality, and not just an obligation as they all feature Keaton, would be the biggest respect I could give it. I'm hoping that's how I feel. I think the movie must be good to some degree, but also see the strategy in going this early with a screening and reactions. The studio have had a series of big flops and they're keen to generate hype and momentum. Let's see if it works.

[Gotham Knight]

The buzz is that there will be little if any PR restrictions after the screening. They know they have a winner and want people to talk about it.

[Gotham Knight]

New trailer at noon PT

[Silver Nemesis]

The burning Batwing in the background evokes a strong sense of finality. As if this is his final battle.

[Gotham Knight]

 

[Gotham Knight]

[The Dark Knight]

Not feeling those new posters. But at least we have the other two (Barry standing in the batcave and the one sheet of Batman). Those are solid and have a more professional sheen in comparison to the others.

As for the trailer, the Batwing descending and unfolding from above is spectacular. It gives a lot of mystery of power, like it's straight out of a video game but in a good way. Whenever Batman is on screen the film is bringing the goods.

[Gotham Knight]

Okay, spoilers inbound. I have the entire film synopsis. It should be first noted that the film is getting rave reviews. Best DC film in 20 years type of talk.

Here is the movie:

This lines up a lot with previous leaks.

The film begins with a bank robbery. The thieves use a bomb detonation at a hospital as a distraction. Batfleck engages the men while Flash saves the people at the hospital.

After which we learn that Barry Allen gained his powers in 2013 while investigating his mother's murder. He was also present in Metropolis saving civilians on the day that the world was introduced to the Superman.

Barry tries unsuccessfully to get his father out of prison. Bruce Wayne picks him up from the courthouse and they have a heart to heart about it. Barry touches the subject of time travel, having already achieved it to a small degree in ZSJL. Bruce warns against it, but Barry does it.

In 2001, Barry steals a can of tomatoes before Nora Allen can make purchase, so she has to go to another store and thus she avoids her own murder.

Barry attempts to return to his own time, but is thwarted by a Demon Speedster. He awakens in 2013 where he finds his mother alive and well as does he find his hopeless layabout 2013 self.

Barry ensures that his doppelganger is in the right place during the thunderstorm so that he can get the speed powers, however he ends up transferring his powers to 2013 Barry. (This is why we see the 'white ZSJL' powers being used by 2013 Flash in the trailers)

SURRENDER message hails the coming of Zod, however there are no meta humans around. The only hero who ever existed is Batman, whom they visit at Wayne Manor.

Barry comes to understand that separate/different timelines were tangled together. Keaton Bruce doesn't want to help, but gets a pep-talk and he's back. He uses the Batcomputer to find out about any metas that might be around. He finds out that Superman was captured years ago and has been held at a Siberian base.

Under the cover of night the trio launch a rescue operation. They parachute down and infiltrate. When things get harry, Batman must protect his charges and engage in serious combat.

They find Kara-Zor-El, who has lived her life as a captive. Still having to fight out of it, the group is abandoned by Kara once the sun rises and she energizes. All hope is lost until she returns and save the day.

She agrees to help while Barry tries to get his powers back. When Batman fails trying to electrocute Barry, Supergirl flies him to the heavens and he gets cool yellow speedster powers.

The group confronts Zod at his World engine. The timeline has to reset over and over because some variation of death always occurs. Batman and/or Supergirl always die.

From here its the Future Dark Flash ending who vanishes when 2013 Barry sacrifices himself. Barry sets it all right and we gets lots of cameos in the speedforce (Clooney, Carter, Reeve, West, Nicolas Cage, yes as Superman) until Barry goes home and meets Batman, whose face we do not see. Hence the vague ending we're hearing about.

There is a post credit scene that was NOT shown. No Keaton or Supergirl coda, they're just booted out of existence presumably to their own native timelines. Troubling since I hear that (unsurprisingly) they steal the show.

End of spoilers.

[The Dark Knight]

The group confronts Zod at his World engine. The timeline has to reset over and over because some variation of death always occurs. Batman and/or Supergirl always die.

From here its the Future Dark Flash ending who vanishes when 2013 Barry sacrifices himself. Barry sets it all right and we gets lots of cameos in the speedforce (Clooney, Carter, Reeve, West, Nicolas Cage, yes as Superman) until Barry goes home and meets Batman, whose face we do not see. Hence the vague ending we're hearing about.

There is a post credit scene that was NOT shown. No Keaton or Supergirl coda, they're just booted out of existence presumably to their own native timelines. Troubling since I hear that (unsurprisingly) they steal the show.

Hmm. I'm disappointed there isn't a coda for Batman or Supergirl to outright show they're alive back in their timelines. It seems the best we can do is assume that's where they are, as Barry restores things to how they should be. The desert battle wouldn't be allowed to reach any true conclusion as it's simply erased from happening in the first place. I think they could bring Keaton back in the future if they really wanted to.