The Flash (1990)

it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Even though this film had a B-quality feel to it throughout, I liked it. For a lighthearted story about a cartoon character, maybe this is the way it ought to be done, at least in spirit. All this dark stuff with blood, guts and tons of profanity isn't the way most of us look at cartoon heroes.I saw this on tape and I'm hoping the DVD, if I ever get it, has improved sound. The Flash, who is here-and-there "in a flash," needs good surround sound to go with the special- effects, and the tape didn't have it. I could more easily put up with the amateurish dialog.The movie has charm, however, because of the added comedy mixed in with the action, and the likable hero, portrayed by John Wesley Shipp. I liked the female lead, too, played by the pretty Amanda Pays.This is nothing spectacular, by any means, but a fun, harmless and entertaining hour-and-a- half.

I was really psyched about this show when it first aired on TV. I didn't much about the Flash, but I was always into comic book adaptations. This show never disappointed me. It had some really cool action, and the humor was just right for the atmosphere of the show. I honestly believe this show would have lasted longer it if hadn't been that the show seemed to be on a different night every week.Having picked up the DVD immediately after it was released, I was pleased to see the show has aged well. Despite the fact that this show is sixteen years old, the special effects are still fairly impressive, even compared to what they can do today. The only gripe I have is the consistency of certain scenes. One scene the Flash can cross the city in less than a second, the next scene he's barely running faster than a car, yet he still has the blur effect of running very fast. However, I can overlook this because technology was still very limited when this show aired. But overall, it was a fun show to watch as a kid, and it's still fun today.

This movie premiered in September of 1990 shortly after the 1989 Batman film. There are definite similarities between the two in mood, art direction, style and music. When I first heard about this show I was really excited because I had been a fan of The Flash and DC Comics for years prior to this show. I felt the creators of the show did a wonderful job in setting the mood for a comic book atmosphere. I thought the stories were entertaining and as I watch them years later they still appeal to me. The special effects for the time were pretty good. John Wesley Shipp made a great Barry Allen, and The Flash costume he wore was one of the better costume efforts I've seen for a superhero. I also felt the show created some real likeable characters. In addition, I felt the Barry Allen and Christina McGee characters had good on-screen chemistry.Unfortunately, the TV show only lasted one season because CBS never knew where they wanted to put this show from week to week. I watched every episode of the TV show until it was cancelled. I can only ponder what could have been, where the show could have gone if it had been given a real chance to grow and develope into a premiere super hero show. Whenever any of the actors show up in anything else, I always think of The Flash immediately, especially John Wesley Shipp. It was only one season, but his performance as The Flash and his alter ego, Barry Allen, left a lasting impression.

Although it's true that Flash was a more "obscure" hero, that didn't make this show any less amazing. Million-dollar effects and fun characters made it exciting and interesting, and because of this show, I've been reading comic books for ten years. I don't think it mattered that Barry was dead in the comics, or that Flash is less recognizeable than Batman or Superman; he's still an interesting character with really cool superpowers and a nifty costume, and that's why DC characters translate so well into live-action, unlike Marvel characters. Now if only there was a Green Lantern series...