Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!
Plot Summary: After defeating some villains, the Flash awakens in an alternate reality where he doesn't exist and the world is on the brink of destruction
Review: With "The Flash" TV show becoming quite popular I figured it was time to revisit this film. Besides the refreshing notion that the story focuses on the Flash, rather than Batman and/or Superman, this is arguably the best of the DC animated films--and that's saying something significant. You'd be surprised by how moving and deep this tale can be. Though the material is based around the "Flashpoint" comic series, the film version makes minor deviations and simplifies the storyline. This means the material is more accessible to casual fans, but you are expected to have a base knowledge in regards to things such as the speed force for example. There are also the usual contrivances you kind of have to ignore like Aquaman not dying in two seconds while fighting Batman, Cyborg, and the Flash; yeah okay, he'd stand no chance in hell against that trio. Speakings of Bats...I'm sure many are tired of him constantly getting the spotlight in every adventure, but this is one of the best and most original deviations of the character we've seen. Other than those excusable flaws, this movie has it all and then some. This is the perfect exemplar of DC's storytelling abilities in the right hands.
The story begins with the Flash (the Barry Allen version) fighting his usual rogue's gallery except Eobard Thawne is leading them. If you've been watching the show many of these characters should be familiar to you. Anyway, Thawne plans to blow up the city after trapping the Flash, but the Justice League comes to back up Flash--making short work of Thawne's scheme. After Thawne makes a jab at Flash's inability to save his mother, who was murdered when Barry was a child, we skip to Barry waking up in an alternate reality where there never was a Flash, the Justice League doesn't exist, and Barry's mom is alive now. Although it's never stressed, it's important to understand this isn't apart of DC's multiverse--time has altered the main universe; this means you have to actually fix this world or else you're fucked!
At first Barry is fine with no longer being the Flash if it means his mother was never killed, but this world has undergone drastic changes. Now, Wonder Woman and the Amazons have taken over most of Europe that wasn't flooded by Aquaman and the Atlanteans. The two factions are at war with one another, and this threatens to destroy the planet. This all began by Aquaman trying to make a peace offering with the Amazons, but he cheated on his wife with Wonder Woman. When the wife found out, she challenged Wonder Woman to a fight and lost her head. It's also kind of messed up that Wonder Woman then wore the queen's crown as a kind of trophy. Beyond this ordeal, the remaining heroes of the world are only recently united by Cyborg in an attempt to save everyone. Superman never came into being and has been locked up in a government facility with red sunlight blocking his powers or whatever. As for dear Batman...in this universe Bruce was killed by that gunman in the alley, and Thomas Wayne became Batman instead to avenge his son. They also include the idea that Martha Wayne became the Joker as a result which was cool. The thing I like about this Batman is that he's the darker side of Batman made dominant; this means Batman is more than willing to kill villains and use guns.
As Barry realizes he must help stop the chaos, he seeks out Batman in order to regain his powers; the two plan to recreate the circumstances that originally gave Barry his super speed. The two come to the conclusion that Thawne must have altered time in order to create this reality, and only a fully powered Flash can time travel to fix this mess. While this is going on, and it takes two tries to recreate Flash's powers, we get a glimpse at many alternate versions of numerous DC characters; it's definitely fun to see the ways heroes could have turned evil or villains turned hero. With Barry restored back to the Flash, and after failing to gain a freed Superman's assistance, the Flash, Batman, Cyborg, and a few others plot to assault Aquaman and Wonder Woman while they fight one another. They are also convinced Thawne is waiting for them in the area as he wants Flash to realize it was him who caused this disaster and is preventing the Flash from time traveling (it has to do with the way the speed force works). In the ensuing battle we see many heroes and villains bite the dust as it is revealed that Aquaman has a final doomsday device up his sleeve--a weaponized version of Captain Atom.
When the Flash finally comes across Thawne, the two fight but Thawne gains the upper hand. It is revealed that it was the Flash who actually created this alternate reality when he traveled in time to save his mother from being murdered. This alteration of time created a ripple effect that influenced many other moments of time such as preventing Hal Jordan from becoming the Green Lantern for example. Thawne now wishes to watch the world be destroyed knowing that the Flash is helpless to save it. Making matters worse is that the Flash must allow the murder of his mother as a necessary evil to stop a world like this from ever coming into being. While this is happening, Cyborg is killed by Aquaman who loses an arm to a reemerging Superman. Wonder Woman heartlessly kills the Batson kids followed by the weakened Aquaman; Aquaman triggers the weaponized Captain Atom right before his death however. With so much built up energy, the world is slowly disintegrated as Thawne taunts the Flash right before the end. Big shock, Batman saves the day and shoots Thawne in the head; this frees up the speed force for the Flash allowing time travel. Batman gives Flash a note to give to the Flash's reality of Batman right before he tries to run through the time barrier. This part was well done with foreboding music and the Flash limping away from the huge blast coming at him. Then we see this Flash racing against the original Flash trying to stop his mom from being murdered. This was a powerful scene as it goes against everything Barry has ever felt...he's actually racing against himself in order to allow his own mother to be killed! After stopping his past self from changing time, Barry returns to the normal timeline and visits his mother's grave. Shortly after this, Flash gives the Bruce Wayne Batman the letter from Thomas Wayne's Batman. This actually brings tears to ol' bats eyes as the film ends with the Flash running around the city looking for crime to fight.
Overall, everything just works with a lot of the second tier characters getting more time to shine. Alternate reality stories are also always fun to see as they offer up the unexpected and new ideas for old characters. Many of the twists and turns presented here are awesome and keep you engaged. Furthermore, the dark nature to the story is commendable; the dilemmas Flash must face are really depressing yet moving. The voice acting is worth mentioning as well since you get many of the beloved voice actors from the various animated series of shows. The Flash getting more attention is certainly long overdue, but I suspect the live action Justice League movie will drop the ball. Regardless, if you're a DC fan, this a must watch. If you're a fan of the Flash, how have you not seen this yet?!
Notable Moment: It's a tough call, but the best moment was probably when Batman gets the letter from the alternate reality Thomas Wayne. How often do we see Batman brought to tears?
Final Rating: 8.5/10
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