The Flash is fastest man live. The Flash movie picture however is not going fast enough, for me!
The latest news informed us comic book lovers that there is no script yet but there is a treatment for The Flash. For you who don’t know what a treatment means: A film treatment is a piece of prose, typically the step between scene cards and the first draft of a screenplay. It is longer and more detailed than an outline. – I wasn’t sure myself what it meant but there it is.
But what does this treatment mean for Green Lantern? Will there be Flash before the green sequel? Probably not: in August Warner Bros hired Michael Goldenberg to write the screenplay for Green Lantern 2 based on the sequel treatment.
I think there will be no Flash script before the results of Green Lantern have arrived at the home office in Burbank, California, but enough about that!
By now almost everyone on CBM knows I am a DC fanboy. I love DC Comics, I love every character from the powerful Captain Marvel to the ”lame” Aquaman(he is not lame but a lot of people can’t get over the ridiculous 70’s animation Superfriends, where he is actually is quite lame but the modern Aq’s has come a very long way from that incarnation!)
DC Comics has in my opinion the 5 single greatest superheroes ever created: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and The Flash.
It’s a shame that in Flash’s life span of 60 years he has never had a movie. Superman and Batman have both had their share of movies, and the Flash’s best friend, the emerald warrior, is up next.
I don’t know about you but I want Flash to come before Diana.
Everyone who has had a decent childhood by reading comic books knows who the Flash is, for you who don’t (which I don’t think is possible) here’s some information about the character:
The Flash is a sacred superhero that was introduced January 1940. There has since then been 4 different incarnations. All of them has superhuman reflexes as a result of their super speed and has on several occasions defied the laws of physics. The Flash is also the first ”single” powered superhero.
Now I must admit I have never been a real Flash follower (blasphemy!) but I acknowledge him as one of the most influential and iconic superheroes ever. During my first ventures into comic books reading Green Lantern I was introduced to The Flash incarnation known as Barry Allen. I just loved their relationship, and as it would turn out Green Lanterns and Flash’s are very often good friends, especially Barry Allen and Hal Jordan.
Now comes the part where I get serious: I am not sure how they will transport The Flash we read in the comics to the big screen. How will they do that?
I know a lot of people have tried to figure it out. Some has come to the conclusion that Flash would do great at the media we call motion pictures. Some think The Flash to be too plain and also claim Aquaman as an impossible film to make interesting. Some people even have a complex calling the Scarlet Speedster too lame.
I hope I can show some of those con movie Flash fans otherwise by this article and also encourage to discussion about how this film must be done. So here it goes.
Angelus presents: My humble opinions on The Flash film and how they will make it work.
According to Wikipedia it’s Barry Allen that will hold the mantle of Flash in this movie. I think that’s a very good idea. I like Wally West but I think we need to introduce the character that has made a much greater impact on the DC universe. Yes Wally has done his share of “impacting” but Barry Allen was the first updated Flash for a modern age. It’s like with Green Lantern’s Hal Jordan. Both superheroes are from the silver age and if WB wants a crossover then this is a phenomenal good idea. Though they could get Wally to crossover I think they’d have to portray him as young. That’s not to my liking. Wally knows Hal in the comics but the amazing friendship of Barry and Hal is way more interesting. Barry Allen is the ultimate Flash (Sorry all Wally fans).
That’s not my only reason for not wanting Wally as the first Flash incarnation on the big screen. Another is that I think Wally is just too immature of a character to feature in the first flick, too irresponsible.
I don’t know if more people know of Wally West than Barry Allen but it wouldn’t be improbable seeing as the Justice League series has established him as the foremost Flash. People also believe that there is only one Green Lantern and that he is black which of course is not true since the original updated Green Lantern is white. Still there are people not understanding this on IMDB, as an example.
Barry Allen is the right way to go because of, well, everything! He is the main Flash. I like Wally but Barry got him beat!
In the silver age origins, Barry Allen is a forensic scientist working for the police in Central City. One night a mysterious lightning bolt hits a case of chemicals, spilling them on him and he turns into a super speedster. It’s a classic origin, no doubt about it. But I don’t see how this would be a good basis for a film since “its soooo early 40’s (!)” – I am somewhat serious about that comment. That would work only back then but not at this day and age. There needs to be more to his story and character. It can’t only be an accident then he is a superhero. This is one of the exact reasons why some people are con Flash movie. But they seem unaware of the awesomeness that is Geoff Johns!
I am so thankful that Geoff Johns updated the Green Lantern origin and helped out with the film. To the surprise of con Flash fanatics, he has updated Barry Allen’s origins too, and will surely be a great asset to the Flash movie!
In the updated origins Barry’s mother was murdered when he was young and his father was arrested for the crime without the police checking out other suspects. This is a terrible thing for a young boy to witness and is without doubt a very powerful image. It is this event that would turn him so many years later into a forensic cop. It’s so crucial to Barry because it gives him an incorruptible sense of justice and fuels his ever continued quest for truth and fight against crime. It’s so essential to the character. It gives him a substantially powerful foundation of righteousness. I can see this translate very well, exceptionally well.
That being said I think there are some things I’ve would wait to introduce in the film like the concept of the “Speed Force.” It could be cool to witness him travel in time but I don’t think they should introduce the metaphysical aspect of the Flash. I never liked this. It made the Flash too supernatural but it isn’t as bad as making Hal Jordan mad and going on a killing spree!
If anyone can introduce the “Speed Force” in a modern way it’s Geoff Johns but I am still skeptical. It will be too much to handle for the audience. They want a superhero. They want a man who has super powers, not some halfway godlike being, with the exception of Superman. Superman is the savior of the world; Barry Allen is a man who makes a difference. To introduce that agnostic idea of a force would be strange in my opinion but it’s a superhero film, a lot of unlikely things happen so what the hell right? NO! I think it would undermine the character. He doesn’t need that force. Make it more science based than new age.
Here’s another thing con Flash movie fans quote a lot as a reason for him being a “boring” superhero to watch: “He runs and runs and runs. That’s it.” – That’s his basic superpower so yes, but wrong!
As established before he is such a rich character. His love life is a good thing to portray. Iris West, the love of his life. Barry’s life is dedicated to fighting crime and Iris knows that best of all. Think of the poetic consequences of Barry’s speed. If his speed was close to the speed of light then he would stay relative young for a lot longer than his beloved Iris. The world would move forwards with him staying young. Everything turns slow-motion for him when he runs. Every time he slows down the world has moved into the future and is a different place. Don’t forget to think of the burden of him not being fast enough sometimes. Even the fastest man alive can’t be everywhere.
His personal life would be full of failures, blaming himself for the life’s he didn’t reach in time. There would be a lot of drama, to say the least! Poor Barry.
And don’t forget about all the possible special effects! Just like the awesome Superman Returns slow-motion segment where Kal El is shot in eye. Think of all the things they can do with the Flash! I would be so awesome to see him running up walls, over water, when it’s raining, saving different people at different distances. It would be so amazing!
One of my biggest issues with the Flash is that I’ve always thought he didn’t have a real arch villain. He has no Lex Luthor to his Superman. There is no Joker to his Batman. Not even a Sinestro to his Green Lantern.
I know what some of you are probably thinking: “But hey! He got a lot of rogues, just like Batman! I mean the likes of Captain Cold, Captain Boomerang, Mirror Master, The Trickster, Shade and Gorilla Grodd!” – Yes I know. Not to forget Professor Zoom. The closest thing to an archenemy he has is Captain Cold but how would he translate to the movie? Who could possibly be the best villain for the Crimson Comet to fight in the movie?
I think the Trickster would be too much like Joker and Riddler. Gorilla Grodd would be a bit silly. People would think Captain Cold is cheesy and a wannabe of Mr. Freeze. And Captain Boomerang would be too weird and Australian (no offence to any Australians!). The most realistic villain would be Zoom, but it would be too usual. I think it would be too easy to have a direct opposite of Flash. It would be like the latest Hulk movie. It could of course work to have Zoom be the main villain of the first film but I personally wouldn’t want that. But what about the Mirror Master?
I know Captain Cold is supposed to be the archenemy of Flash but to me the Mirror Master is the true archenemy! And I think the Mirror Master would be a good choice if they did him properly.
With his powers to produce incredible effects such as hypnotism, invisibility, holograms and physical transformations he is a good candidate for the film. But they must update him and make him less “carnivaly”. He could make Central City doubt the Flash by fooling people to believe the Flash is robbing banks et al. I would actually like it if Zoom and Mirror Master took on the Monarch of Motion together in the first!
An important thing about Barry Allen is that he always has hope. That’s one thing I’ve always admired him for. Hal never gave up because he couldn’t, he willed him to not give up. Like Hal, Barry never gives up, but its hope that does it for him. He inspires others with hope of a better tomorrow and the possibilities we have to change the world for the better. Barry has always shared that view with hope incarnate himself: Superman. They both have hope in humanity, no matter what happens. This needs to be shown in the film.
Though he can never save everybody, he will always try, always hope. And that hope keeps him going. He is such a virtuous human being, a kind character that will always do what’s right and sacrifice himself if needed to the betterment of the world.
I think by now I’ve gotten some of my opinions through. But there is one last thing: Bastardization.
This word means to lower the quality or character. I need to mention this because I saw a horrible documentary on animal planet about pedigree dogs, and I’m trying out a horrible analogy:
Bastard is a offspring of two different breeds of dogs. People are under the impression that this dog is unclean and inferior. But the truth is that bastard dogs are in fact better than pedigree dogs because of genetics. It’s a simple fact of evolution: Hybridization is usually an advantage (not always but extremely often.)
This is a dumb attempt to look smart but what I am trying to tell you is that WB needs to meld the two different medias of comics and film. I think the standard Green Lantern costume wouldn’t translate well on the big screen. They needed to make a hybrid, to take the best of both. And so will they have to do with Flash’s costume.
The Green Lantern costume is modern, organic and alien, just like it would be in real life. It’s a modern costume that works. I believe they need to do the same with the iconic Flash costume. How else would it look modern? If they didn’t bastardize it, it would just look weird in my opinion, and even more so than Green Lantern’s!
They need to find a compromise of sorts. I am sure some agree with me on this, and some don’t. I personally believe they did the right thing with Green Lantern and that they need to do the same with Flash. There are a lot of questions like will the costume feature wings? Will that be cool? Should Barry wear Wally’s belt?
Another thing is that the whole origins will probably be a little bit tweaked, just a bit like the Green Lantern origins in the upcoming block buster next year. But how the hell will they figure out the whole costume compressed in his ring issue? I’ve always found that part kind of strange but then I realize Superman wears his costume all the time under his suit.
Before I finish this article there is one last thing to address: Who will play the part of Barry Allen?
It’s a thinker alright. I think the best choices I’ve heard this far is Patrick Wilson, or Ryan Kwanten. I am sure a lot of you by know think I am crazy but I really mean it. Like with all those who said Ryan Reynolds should play Wally West, I once more go against that current and think Ryan Kwanten could be Barry Allen. Both can act. Patrick Wilson is just Barry’s height and supposedly has blue eyes. Of the two Patrick Wilson is the best choice I think but I’d love Ryan Kwanten as Barry Allen too!
With all of DC’s rich and fantastic characters, no one is like Flash. I can’t wait to see what they do with this character when the he hits the cinemas in a few years! While Flash is picking up speed I look forward to watch his best friend in next year’s greatest event: Green Lantern.
In the meantime I want to know your thoughts about the Fastest Man Alive!
Beware my power!