What I Watched in June 2023

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. In fact, I loved it. Using the comic book story The Flashpoint Paradox as inspiration the creators have crafted an incredibly entertaining film that takes the now in vogue ‘multiple realities’ idea and (sorry) runs with it. Following on from the Justice League film Barry Allen realizes he can run so fast that he can travel back in time with his connection to the Speed Force as a tool. Seeing his mother’s death when he was a child as the point at which his life changed for the worse, he decides to travel to the past to save her, but doing so accidentally creates a different timeline with an alternative Barry Allen. This version of himself is an unfocused doofus and Barry quickly realizes that he has to find a way to get reality back on track. But when the events surrounding Kryptonian General Zod invading Earth begin to play out without a Kal-El in this reality it becomes clear that his change to the timeline might destroy the planet. Seeking help, he looks up Bruce Wayne and discovers a very different Batman who is older, retired and played by Michael Keaton. Convinced they need Kryptonian help the two Barrys and Batman travel to a Russian black site where they think Superman might be held in captivity. Much to their shock they instead find Supergirl (Sasha Calle, who should get her own chance at a DC film) and things escalate as stopping Zod becomes necessary no matter the cost. This is a fast paced and highly entertaining superhero adventure. It probably requires more awareness of past movie’s events than usual to enjoy all the geeky fun but the payoffs are great.

The List 

THE NIGHT WALKER (1964) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

A FEATHER IN HER HAT (1935) – 7 (well played drama)

THE SPIDER WOMAN (1944) – 7 (rewatch)

DARKER THAN NIGHT (1975) – 7 (excellent Mexican ghost story)

LOLA COLT (a.k.a. THE BLACK TIGRESS) ( 1967) – 4 (mediocre spaghetti western with Lola Falana)

ROBBERS ON THE RANGE (1941) – 5 (fast, fun Tim Holt B-western)

NEW ORLEANS UNCENSORED (1955) – 5 (slightly stilted crime tale directed by William Castle)

THE FLASH (2023) – 9

HORROR OF PARTY BEACH (1964) – 4 (silly low budget monster tale)

TARZAN’S GREATEST ADVENTURE (1959) – 8 (rewatch)

MADAME X (1966) - 7 (excellent melodrama)

FEAR NO EVIL (1969) – 6 (solid TV movie)

RITUAL OF EVIL (1970) – 6 (strong sequel to Fear No Evil)

EXTERMINATORS OF THE YEAR 3000 (1983) – 6 (well done Italian post-apocalypse tale)

MR. WONG, DETECTIVE (1938) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

THE MYSTERY OF MR. WONG (1939) – 7

CHILDREN OF THE DAMNED (1963) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

MR. WONG IN CHINATOWN (1939) – 5