‘The Flash’

It’s hardly an original DC superhero feature but with a few deft touches The Flash instills a sense of personal humanity among the threat-to-the-world action sequences.

Struck by lightening in a lab gives Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) his superpower but the young man feels powerless in helping save his dad. Evidence suggests dad Henry (Ron Livingston) is about to lose his appeal against the murder of his wife several years earlier. But when Barry uses his superspeed to travel backwards and change history to save his mom (Maribel Verdú), the course of events is altered. It’s up to the likes of a Michael Keaton Batman and Supergirl Kara Zor-El (Sasha Calle) as well as a no The Flash Barry to come together to help defeat global invasion by General Zod (Michael Shannon).

It’s quirky, it’s fun, it’s forgetable multiverse popcorn entertainment from director Andy Muschietti.

Rating: 58%

Director: Andy Muschietti (It, Mama)

Writer: Christina Hodson (Birds of Prey, Bumblebee) – based on DC Comics characters

Main cast: Ezra Miller (The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Justice League), Michael Keaton (Batman, Spotlight), Sasha Calle (TV’s The Young & the Restless)

’Pennyworth’ (Seasons 1-3)

An initially quirky, fun genesis tale (season one) of how Alfred Pennyworth became butler to the Wayne family and Batman sadly, over its three seasons, degenerates into a dull, silly and somewhat boring DC Comics adventure tale of civil war in 1960s Britain as fascists and radical subversives threaten the basis of democracy.

An East End lad and ex-military, a fairly aimless Alfred Pennyworth (Jack Bannon) lives at home with his mom and dad, works as a bouncer at a local club and generally hangs out with his best mates, Dave Boy MacDougal (Ryan Fletcher) and Bazza (Hainsley Lloyd Bennett). Meeting Thomas Wayne and Martha Kane, Batman’s later parents, changes all that as, having formed a security company, the three find themselves caught up in the world of spies and the politically sinister Raven Society headed by Lord James Harwood (Jason Flemyng).

A dark, grey parallel world to Batman’s Gotham City in the US, an increasingly bizarre series of events unfold – a comic book of dastardly characters, power-crazed individuals, corrupt corporates, mad scientists and criminal opportunists. Ever the old-fashioned moralist, Pennyworth is firm in where he stands, even if it means helping prisoners escape the Tower or say no to the Prime Minister (Ramon Tikaram). Only two people have sway on Alfred – mom Mary (an extremely likeable Dorothy Atkinson) and The Queen (Jessica Ellerby). Not even potential love interest, singer Sandra (Harriet Slater), can deflect him from his cause.

An engaging 10-episode season one (written by Bruce Heller) sadly loses its way over the next 20 episodes as a gamut of writers take over the narrative. The comic book slapstick is increased with half-formed superheroes populating an increasingly wartorn England and so-called comedic scenarios falling distinctly flat. The fact the series was cancelled after three seasons is indicative of the downward spiral – and thus ensuring that audiences do not find out how Pennyworth became butler to the wealthy Waynes. But to be honest, by the end of season three, who cared.

Rating: 45% (Season 1 – 60%: Season 2 – 50%: Season 3 – 30%)

‘The Batman’

A moody, glowering Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattison – Twilight, Tenet) results in a deeper, pyschological Batman than previous fare as a sadistic serial killer begins murdering key political figures in Gotham.

Corruption is rife and the anti-vigilante mood is threatening. But Lt James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright – No Time to Die, The French Dispatch) maintains faith in the Batman. It’s a dark, dark brood of a feature with flashes of violence from director Matt Reeves (Let Me In, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) as Wayne is confronted by his own family’s culpability in the Gotham of today.

Certainly too long and, with the arrival of Catwoman (Zoe Kravitz – Mad Max: Fury Road, Divergent), the Riddler (Paul Dano – There Will Be Blood, Love & Mercy) AND the Penguin (Colin Farrell – The Lobster, In Bruges), there’s a danger of too many antiheroes in one feature muddying the waters. But The Batman pulls it off as a gritty noir thriller rather than a comic book superhero.

Nominated for 3 Oscars in 2023 – visual effects, sound, make-up/hair.

Rating: 68%

‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’

Back in 2017, director Zack Snyder (Sucker Punch, 300) stepped down from the film Justice League post-production for personal reasons. On its release, the film, completed by Joss Whedon, with a shorter running time, brighter tone and more humour, was a box-office disappointment.

Unexpectedly, Snyder was given the opportunity (and $70 million) in 2021 to complete his vision – a much darker, character-driven four hour extremis. Like chalk and cheese, the new cut leaves the earlier version for dust – even if the basic story of the Justice League struggling to prevent the destruction of the Earth without Superman (Henry Cavill – Man of Steel, Enola Holmes) remains the same.

The centuries old Mother Boxes with their wondrous powers, long kept apart, are reunited and, held by Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds – Belfast, The Woman in Black), pose a very real threat. The newly formed Justice League and its DC superheroes need to prevent global destruction – but also need to find a way to bring Superman back from the dead.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League remains a ponderous super hero narrative – and at four hours, it’s something of a slog. But that extra run time creates opportunities that Snyder grabs with both hands, resulting in a significant improvement on the dullard (and a personal 37% rating) that was its predecessor.

Rating: 57%

‘Aquaman’

A visual feast of underwater delights as Jason Momoa makes the role of Aquaman his own.

On discovering from Princess Mera (Amber Heard) he is heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, life on land will never be the same as Aquaman must step in to stop his half-brother, King Orm (Patrick Wilson), going to war with the surface polluters.

DC Comics has generally struggled in the superhero stakes against Marvel, but with more than a hint of Avatar in its visuals and a director (James Wan) better known for horror films, Aquaman has pace and narrative that results in an enjoyable popcorn movie.

Rating: 66%

Director: James Wan (Saw, Fast & Furious 7)

Writer: David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick (Orphan, The Conjuring 2), Will Beall (Gangster Squad)

Main cast: Jason Momoa (Justice League, Conan the Barbarian), Amber Heard (Justice League, Magic Mike XXL), Patrick Wilson (The Conjuring, Hard Candy)