The Flash.
I don't normally like modern CGI fest superhero movies. In fact, I have a distaste for CGI rather than old school stunts. I find the constantly churned out Marvel movies mostly boring and the DCEU ones are just bombastic trash.
But I do like a good Batman movie. I've always liked the character, the darkness, the vulnerability and the lack of magic and super powers. I thoroughly enjoyed Nolan's trilogy, although I felt Rises went off the rails. The Batman was excellent in my view. I was always a massive fan of Burton's Batman movies, Returns in particular where the set design and use of miniatures made it feel quite immersive and grounded for a movie with such silliness in it.
So there's not really much to say about the Flash then. A movie a wouldn't like normally, but only really watched because Keaton was back as Batman. But watching it, I did have a lot of fun. And I think I did simply because it didn't treat itself very seriously. Man of Steel, which kicked the whole thing off did, but it wasn't too bad. Batman V Superman and Justice League however were both awful. The less said about the likes of Suicide Squad and Aquaman et Al the better. The attempts at humour were little more than Dad joke level, tackiness throughout, Michael Bay-esque nonsense and attempts to cash in on the DC franchise, milking the cow like Disney have with Marvel.
Now don't get me wrong, Ezra Miller sounds like a horrid human being (but I was there for Keaton anyway), but at least the whole thing felt like it was laughing at itself. Some of it was actually quite comical. As expected from the cheesy DCEU movies to date, all the tacky and unfunny jokes and over the top CGI fueled bombast is present. But it's the fact the movie doesn't take itself seriously much at all that makes this tolerable. Gone is all the poorly written attempts at suspense and gritted teeth replaced mostly by elements that seem to make it almost a parady of the DCEU movies that came before it. It does this right from the offset, as soon as Jeremy Irons' Alfred declares "but the little babies!".
DCEU fans shouldn't worry too much, there's still plenty of over the top and ridiculous action. There's rolling around being attached to a moving truck on a freeway. There's space ships. There's a generic big lazer thing shooting down into the middle of a city. There's an absurd plot. There's also more DC nostalgia stuffed in there that you can shake a stick at (I don't think it's a spoiler by now to say that Christopher Reeves and Adam West even make CGI returns to the franchise). Think of how Batman Forever was to Burton's movies. Its offensive to fans, but not so much that it was not enjoyable like B&R was.
As for Keaton, well he's clearly here for a bit of a laugh. He also hasn't been written very seriously and is nothing like he is in his other 2 Batman outings. That said, seeing his (now wrinkly) chin poking out a bat suit that generally does look like it was an evolution of the one he wore from Returns and hearing his Keaton bat voice again, it does feel like he's back where he belongs. For about 5 minutes, it's like he never left as he's silently plotting escape routes whilst being unable to turn his head inside his black rubber suit. But he's mostly written and portrayed in a very light hearted manner.
There's some excellent Wayne Manor set recreation though. The Japanese Samurai suit corridor and kitchen from Batman 89 make an appearance, as does the big room surrounded by windows where a brooding Michael Keaton responds to his first bat signal call at the start of Returns. The 89 Bat Cave is back, complete with Batmobile.
Miller's performance is OK at best, but mostly annoying. I know he's supposed to be annoying anyway as this character but when he's trying to be serious is when he's most annoying here. He delivers one bit that's actually quite tender, but mostly he's just irritating. But again, not enough to ruin the movie. Ben Affleck, like Keaton, also seems like he's here for a bit of laugh. I suppose it was inevitable that they would both be written similarly as they're supposed to be the same character but in different universes. But both Batmen seem comfortable and confident in their final appearances wearing the cape and cowel.
After Man of Steel, the DCEU movies became absurd in my view. So The Flash is actually a welcome reprieve as it seems to acknowledge this, finally. Other than a couple of characters (like Zod and Supergirl), no one is treating this movie too seriously and this is made extremely clear in both the final scene (I won't spoil it, but you'll know exactly what I mean when you see it) and even the end credits. But by being silly, this movie has done the League more Justice than Affleck screaming "why did you say that name!!!" in to Henry Cavils face ever will or has. As a result, it's a fun little romp that you won't have to roll your eyes at. The kind of thing that's easy watching on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
Edit- How could I miss the best bit? You know Danny Elfman's excellent Batman score? It's back baby!
