Overview: Worlds collide in The Flash when Barry Allen uses his superpowers to travel back in time 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?

4K UHD Blu-ray Verdict: Warner Bros. Entertainment is expanding their 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray catalog offerings this month with the release of the highly-anticipated The Flash in the expansive 4K Ultra HD video format this August 29th, 2023.

For my money, this The Flash [4K UHD+BR+Digital] combo pack sharpness takes a fairly large step forward from others in their 4K Ultra HD catalog and even comes with HDR (High Dynamic Range) for the complete 4K Ultra HD experience, of course.

So, what we have is The Flash presented to us as a two-disc combo pack with a sheet for a Digital HD Copy. Other stand out points you should know are: Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: Native 4K (2160p), HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10, Aspect ratio: 1.90:1 and Original aspect ratio: 1.90:1.

Featuring Dolby Vision and HDR10 for brighter, deeper, and way more lifelike colors, as with most all 4K UHDs, everything that we watch features these qualities - but somehow, this film gloriously shines within them all.

Noticeably crisp with the overall clarity receiving an obvious boost here on this release, what is more is that it is enjoyably noticeable. For as well as some new nuances to the somewhat drab palette courtesy of Dolby Vision, we also get to witness sudden bright pops of color, which makes the eyes draw in, for sure.

Some of those moments now being, well, let’s call them the Batman, Wonder Woman, babies, and a intro dog scenes! All the best superhero films have the wildest introductions. The Flash stands supreme among them with one of the best glances at “a day in the life” of Barry Allen. While waiting for an obnoxious worker to craft his favored sandwich at the local deli, he gets a call from Batman to save a Gotham City hospital. Where’s the Dark Knight in all of this you might ask? Well, he’s saving the entire city from a group of bad guys who could possibly kill much of the city’s population with some stolen, unsavory goods.

As the Gotham hospital collapses from its foundation, Barry must save several falling infants, a dog, and a nurse who are plummeting to their potential deaths amid the crumbling infrastructure of the building. While saving babies and a silly dog with his tongue flapping in the air in danger might seem stressful, the whole slow-mo affair is rather hysterical as intended.

During Barry’s speedy heroic moment, he has to cram food down his gullet from a tumbling vending machine to fuel his ultra-fast metabolism and his rescue attempt. After saving the babies, the dog, and the nurse, he races to aid Batman. But Wonder Woman gets there first. As she entangles the two in her Lasso of Truth to save the day, both Batman and Barry admit to some hilariously insightful details about their personal lives. There are plenty of chuckles to go around in this raucous intro.

Now highlighted even more in this most wondrous 4K UHD upgrade, is when a young Barry discovering his newfound powers. When Barry alters one minor detail in a bid to save his mother from certain death, he returns to the future and is elated to learn his mother is still alive. However, he is horrified to see his younger teenage self enter the picture living a seemingly slacker life as a college kid. As Barry attempts to figure out the rules of time travel on the fly, he realizes his younger teenage self had better obtain the Flash powers, or else he’ll lose his and won’t be able to return to his actual present day (which is still further in the future).

After he takes young Barry into the CPD and positions him in the same spot where the lightning struck him in his own timeline, everything goes awry. Barry loses his powers in the lightning strike while teenage Barry gains the powers. After bringing teenage Barry back to his apartment, the excitable kid tests out his powers before Barry can even get a word in. He races across town and then has a freak-out moment when his clothes catch fire due to air friction. He then causes a series of damages while emerging from the moment stark naked in the street.

As for the audio, well we get the choice of: English: Dolby Atmos, English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps), French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps) and Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps).

Overall, this is a very strong 4K HDR Blu-ray presentation, and, for the most part, the audio track remains fairly similar to its DTS-HD counterpart; with much of the action occupying the surrounds with outstanding directionality and placement where effects flawlessly pan between the sides and rears.

As for the story to hand, things have been very murky around DC’s universe plan in the last few years. Almost like they go one step forward and two steps backwards. We are hoping to see some creative approach to storytelling with James Gunn leading the charge in days to come. The Flash, however, was the last of the previous management product and has been years in the making. This movie is definitely one of a kind and surprises you out of nowhere (in a good way).

The Flash has a lot going on, even taking the time to explore the flashpoint concept which gets briefly introduced at the end of justice league. There isn’t much of a surprise around it as they have revealed quite a bit about the timeline and characters which The Flash is traveling to. Indeed, this movie is a journey between timelines where The Flash battles internal and external conflicts.

What sets the movie apart is the creative visual representation of time travel, the humor and the final flurry of surprises with Easter eggs in the end. There are indeed some outrageous action sequences, especially the introduction scene of flash saving the babies from the hospital. However these add a different charm to the movie almost equivalent to the cheekiness of Deadpool.

The time travel concept isn’t new, nor the whole multiverse concept, yet we’re shown it as if it hadn’t been explored in recent movies. I mention this as the movie does remind you of Dr Strange’s Multiverse of Madness and even Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2. However, this doesn’t negatively impact the movie. The movie kind of tends to go haywire at time, but somehow manages to bring itself back on track. The climax definitely has one of the best emotional moments in a superhero film and is thus portrayed in the most beautiful way possible.

Keeping public and personal controversies aside, Ezra Miller has played one of the best dual roles which I have seen in a film. The two different versions of Barry Allen present such variety not only in terms of looks but also in terms of demeanor. One can almost feel as if there are two different actors playing in the movie. Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton play the apt supporting Batman characters. I cannot speak much about the performance and impact of other actors because that could lead to potential spoilers, but they are all written and excellently portrayed in a deceivingly brilliant way!

In conclusion, The Flash is fun, engaging, visually compelling, and at times outrageous and even deeply emotional. If only DC had standalone introduction movies for these superhero movies before Justice League and then continued the universe, maybe this movie would have had a much bigger impact. The movie does end with some exciting potential ahead but nobody knows whether DC is going to pursue the same ( we shall all wait and see together).

DIGITAL, 4K, BLU-RAY & DVD ELEMENTS:
“The Flash” Premium Digital Ownership contain the following special features:
• “The Flash: Escape the Midnight Circus” podcast – Six-part original scripted audio series featuring Max Greenfield as The Flash
• The Flash: Escape the Midnight Circus Behind the Scenes
• Deleted Scenes
• Saving Supergirl - featurette
• The Bat Chase - featurette
• Battling Zod - featurette
• Fighting Dark Flash - featurette
• The Flash: The Saga of the Scarlett Speedster – featurette (Amazon digital exclusive)
• Making the Flash: Worlds Collide - featurette
• Let’s Get Nuts: Batman Returns, Again - featurette
• Supergirl: Last Daughter of Krypton - featurette
• Flashpoint: Introducing the Multiverse - featurette

Prepare for the time-bending adventure of a lifetime when “The Flash” arrives for purchase Digitally at home on July 18. The film is directed by Andy Muschietti with Ezra Miller reprising their role as The Flash/Barry Allen in the DC Super Hero’s first-ever standalone feature film. The film will also be available to purchase on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD on August 29.

• On July 18, “The Flash” will be available for early Premium Digital Ownership at home for $24.99 and for 48-hour rental via PVOD for $19.99 SRP on participating digital platforms where you purchase movies, including Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu, and more.

• On August 29, “The Flash” will be available to own on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD. “The Flash” will also continue to be available to own in high definition and standard definition from participating digital retailers.

“The Flash” ensemble also includes rising star Sasha Calle, Michael Shannon, Ron Livingston, Maribel Verdú, Kiersey Clemons, Antje Traue and Michael Keaton. “The Flash” is produced by Barbara Muschietti and Michael Disco. The screenplay is by Christina Hodson, with a screen story by John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein and Joby Harold, based on characters from DC. The executive producers are Toby Emmerich, Walter Hamada, Galen Vaisman and Marianne Jenkins.

The Flash | Warner Bros. Entertainment [Extended Trailer]