The Flash (2023) - My Thoughts Real Quick

(Minor Spoilers ahead)

I guess multiverse movies are the trend in movies now.  Everyone's crossing timelines and popping into different universes and all that. Then they just get themselves into a world (or worlds) of a mess. 

This is the premise for the recent superhero movie "The Flash" based on the superhero from DC Comics. 

Andy Muschietti, who did a decent job directing the 2017 horror film "It" and its 2019 sequel, "It Chapter Two," based on Stephen King's novel about a child-eating clown, sits in the director's chair for this latest flick for DC. 

Anyways, we've seen this alternate timeline premise a lot in the last several years such as in 2009's "Star Trek" movie where young Spock meets old Spock. Disney/Marvel used it in the "Doctor Strange" movies, and Marvel's 2021 movie "Spider-Man: No Way Home" used the alternate timeline premise to mix the different Spider-Mans into one flick. 

This kind of trope is a playground for movie producers to throw in all kinds of callbacks and old characters as callbacks and the return of old characters are also a current trend in films. 

In "The Flash," Ezra Miller plays Barry Allen who can move at superhuman speeds, calling himself "Flash." Flash, nicknamed "the Scarlet Speedster," is a member of the Justice League. 

His mother was murdered when Allen was a young boy. His father, played by Ron Livingston, was accused of his wife's murder even though he was at the grocery store at the time, buying a can of tomatoes which his wife forgot to pickup. 

In a moment where Allen is overcome with sadness thinking about that day, he starts running at a speed force so fast and accidentally forms a "Chronobowl." This gives him access to past timelines. 

So, he goes back to that fateful day, and changes his history. Back in the Chronobowl, a mysterious speedster knocks him into a parallel universe. By chance, he's kicked back to the day back in 2013 when he obtained his powers. But his past is now changed as his mom is alive.

It also happens to be the time when General Zod (from "Man of Steel") is attempting to invade Earth.

So, this alternate timeline is the means by which writers bring back Batman/ Bruce Wayne, played by Michael Keaton, from Tim Burton's 1989 movie "Batman." It's also the means by which writers include Kara Zor-El / Supergirl (Sasha Calle) as having come to Earth from the planet Krypton instead of Kal-El/Superman. 

I was primarily interested in seeing this movie just to watch Keaton play Batman once again. As I sat and watched, I imagined it to be the third Batman we never got after Burton's 1992 sequel "Batman Returns." "Batman Forever" didn't cut it back then. 

For me, it was the selling point of "The Flash." I have a huge nostalgic soft spot for Burton's "Batman." All in all, Keaton didn't disappoint. I enjoyed seeing him in the batsuit one more time. 

Plus, a bunch of multiverse DC superheroes show up including George Reeves as Superman, Adam West and Burt Ward as Batman and Robin, Jay Garrick as Flash, and Nicholas Cage as Superman. 

Cage as Superman?

Well, Cage's appearance as Superman comes from an abandoned Tim Burton movie that never came to fruition called "Superman Lives." Test shots and stills of Cage dressed as the Man of Steel have made the rounds online. Now, CGI Cage as Superman is reality in "The Flash." Even in CGI form, nobody can Nicolas Cage better than Nicolas Cage. He's so Nicolas Cage that he can be both verb, noun, and adjective all at once. Seriously, his CGI cameo looks like he's a wax museum figure. In fact, most of the CGI characters look completely fake, including an initial scene in which Flash rescues several newborn babies plummeting from a hospital window. 

In one scene, Christopher Reeve as Superman flies in along with Helen Slater as Supergirl standing next to him. Reeve was initially supposed to appear alongside Slater, at least for a cameo, in the 1984 movie "Supergirl." I guess this makes up for that a little. Unfortunately, they also look laughably fake. 

My wife accurately pointed out how lousy the CGI is commenting that it would be great for a video game, maybe.  

The pace and storyline feels clumsy and too convenient at the same time. As Barry messes with the timeline, each problem that arises seems to have a conveniently timed solution. This is especially true when older Barry attempts to get his powers back, with the help of Batman and Supergirl, by recreating the circumstances in which he initially got his powers in the first place. And this doesn't happen once, but twice. 

The constant scenes of younger and older Barry Allen together are impressive and well-acted. But young Barry is insufferable. 

Despite its problems and weaknesses, and there's a good number of them, somehow I still found "The Flash" an entertaining and a passable superhero film.

"My Thoughts Real Quick"

I tend to put in more effort on my site 1000daysofhorror.com while this blog gets much less traffic. In an attempt to remedy that, and write more posts especially on new releases, I plan to jot down my thoughts rather than write up lengthy reviews.

Oh, there will still be lengthy reviews on older films. But for newer releases, I'll try to make them quick. 

Nicholas Cage (CGI) as Superman in "The Flash."

Yellow Submarine (1968)

"Hello, there, blue people! Won't you join us? Hook up, and otherwise co-mingle? What do you say?"

Directors 
George Dunning

Animation Directors

Robert Balser
George Dunning
Jack Stokes

Live-action Directors

Dennis Abey
Al Brodax

Cast
John Clive - John Lennon
Geoffrey Hughes - Paul McCartney
Peter Batten - George Harrison 
Paul Angelis - The Narrator, Chief Blue Meanie, Ringo Starr

Dick Emery - Max, Lord Mayor, Jeremy Hillary Boob
Lance Percival - "Young/Old" Fred

Kiss lead singer, Gene Simmons, once said in an interview with Dan Rather that he didn't think there would be another Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, or Kiss. 

I agree, especially when it comes to the Beatles. They hit the rock scene when rock and roll was considered a mere dying fad. If the Beatles never formed, rock music would have most likely done just that - Die! 

They demonstrated singing and song-writing talent at the right time. Love them or hate them, there's no denying the Beatles had talent. No person or group can rise to such heights of popularity without talent. One might question the use of their talents, but that's another discussion for another time. 

I became a Beatles fan back around 6th or 7th grade when my music teacher, Mr. Yamasaki, played "I'll Cry Instead" from the album "A Hard Day's Night" during music class. That was enough to hook me. In fact, "A Hard Day's Night" was the first Beatles album I bought. I purchased it at a Borders Books and Music in Emeryville, Calif. about 30 years ago. Sadly, Borders isn't around anymore. 

As a fan of the Beatles, I admit I haven't seen the 1968 film "Yellow Submarine" in its entirety until now. The movie is based on the Beatles' song of the same name released on their seventh studio album "Revolver" in 1966.

I've seen their other movies - "A Hard Day's Night," "Help!" "Magical Mystery Tour," and their documentary "Let It Be." 

I wanted to review at least one Beatles movie on here, and "A Hard Day's Night" was the film I intended to write about. I also considered the largely criticized 1978 jukebox musical comedy "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" based on the Beatles' 1967 album. 

But I came across a copy of "Yellow Submarine" and that seemed to be an enticing option. It's animated, and I've never seen the whole film. So, why not? 

The story takes place in Pepperland where the residents all love music. Pepperland is home to none other than Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. What a perk that is! And I think Pepperland exists under the sea. 

On top of an Aztec-looking pyramid sits the Yellow Submarine. And on the outskirts exist a range of blue mountains. Beyond the mounts live the Blue Meanies - a group of unfriendly music-hating folks. They're led by the Chief Blue Meanie (voiced by Paul Angelis) who doesn't take 'yes' for an answer.  

One day, the Blue Meanies launch an attack on Pepperland by hurling bombs and apples (a reference to the Beatles then new company, Apple Corps) that turn the Pepperland residents into motionless blue statues. They also release their most dreaded weapon, the dreadful flying glove that smashes and crushes everything in its path. 

At the last minute, the Lord High Mayor of Pepperland (voiced by Dick Emery) sends Old Fred (voiced by Lance Percival) to find help. 

He jumps in the Yellow Submarine and travels to Liverpool where he finds Ringo Starr (also voiced by Paul Angelis), who's a bit sad as he wanders back to a building called "the Pier" which sits on top of a hill. 

Old Fred persuades him to return to Pepperland with him. Ringo agrees, but not before collecting his mates, John (John Clive), Paul (Geoffrey Hughes) and George (Peter Batten).

All the lads hop in the Yellow Submarine and travel back to Pepperland to defeat the Blue Meanies, going through all sorts of unique realms while singing the Beatles tune "All Together Now" along the way. 
I guess it's no revelation to say "Yellow Submarine" is a product of its time. No doubt the psychedelic fantastical imagery is allegorical to some extent of the social, political, cultural and religious climate of the day. One side (i.e. the Blue Meanies) surround themselves with negatives like the word "no" as well as a hatred of music. Meanwhile, the Beatles and all the inhabitants of Pepperland endorse positives like "love" and the word "yes." They're all superficial sentimentalities that the counterculture of the day thought would really show to powers-that-be a thing or two. Nothing much has changed in that regard. 

Nevertheless, the surreal whimsical fantasy story wasn't as difficult to get into as I originally thought it would. I wanted to see where the story goes. 

According to the book "The Beatles A Hard Day's Write" by Steve Turner, the song "Yellow Submarine" was written by Paul McCartney to be a children's song. 

"The idea of writing a children's song about different coloured [sic] submarines came into Paul's head as he was drifting into sleep," Turner writes. "This was to develop into 'Yellow Submarine,' the tale of a boy who listens to the tall stories of an old sailor about his exploits in the 'land of submarines' and decides to go sailing and see for himself." 

Turner points out that McCartney uses short words in the song lyrics so it can be learned quickly and sung easily by children.

"Yellow Submarine" was released on the B-side of their song "Eleanor Rigby" in 1966, the same year "Revolver" was released. 

Obviously. like other Beatles songs, rumors spread that "Yellow Submarine" is a reference to drug use.

According to Turner's book, McCartney denied these rumors stating, "the only submarine he knew that you could eat was a sugary sweet he'd come across in Greece while on holiday." He quotes McCartney as saying, "I knew 'Yellow Submarine' would get connotations, but it really was a children's song."

As for the movie, unfortunately, I couldn't understand much of the dialogue. A lot of it is spoken quickly and softly. 

It has a jukebox soundtrack which features various songs by the Beatles. "Hey Bulldog," "Nowhere Man," and "It's All Too Much" are three of my personal favorites from the film. 

Aside from the songs, the animation is what carries the movie. The style looks like a mix of Edward Gorey, Terry Gilliam and Dr. Seuss. It's simple yet ornate. It's especially impressive considering the smooth movements and almost 3-dimensional style it takes at times.  
The voice actors are well cast, especially Geoffrey Hughes as Paul McCartney and Paul Angelis as Ringo Starr. They sound like the respective Beatles their playing. But all the voice actors capture the inflections and mannerisms of each member of the Beatles. 

Though the message is a bit flowery for me, "Yellow Submarine" has a childlike innocence and is a fun movie to watch.