As the credit rolled, I conceded to the idea that I liked this movie. Even after I picked up the baggage of knowing the problems with the movie’s lead, the character’s history, and DC’s movie franchise in general, I still liked the movie.

When the movie started, I was ready to roll my eyes at DC for going to the same old Flashpoint well whenever they tell a Flash story and for going to the same ‘multiverse idea well’ as Marvel does. But this was different enough that it felt fresh.

Most fantastical action movies have the same formula; there’s a world-ending MacGuffin that the hero tries to find, and they find it, but the villains get it. Everything goes according to the villain’s plans until the last moment when the hero wins, somehow. The beats are so predictable it gets boring.

Flashpoint, and in turn the story in The Flash, is based on the proverb ‘the road to hell is paved with good intentions’. The hero’s motivation is strong and relatable, the sacrifice he must make to fix the situation made me feel for the characters, and throughout the journey, Barry Allen (The Flash) learns his lessons and matures to become a better person. In the end, both he and the world changed.

While the Flashpoint story is usually told using the full breadth of DC’s comic universe, The Flash limited itself to live-action adaptations. This small change makes it much more accessible, especially to those who never saw any DC media before.

Another thing I didn’t expect to like in the movie is the costume design. I like Ben Affleck as Batman (And Bruce Wayne), and now his costume resembles Batman in Dark Knight Returns, a comic book miniseries by Frank Miller. The Flash (Ezra Miller) looks a lot like the character did during Francis Manapul‘s run of the comic. Both are personal favourites.

I think The Flash works because it didn’t try to be Marvel. There is a concept of a multiverse here, but it works differently. There are jokes and light-hearted moments, but it doesn’t undercut serious situations. Still, the best thing is that everything didn’t return to the status quo just for a sequel.

It’s often said that people are tired of superhero movies, and by the end of The Flash, I don’t think that is true. People are tired of what Marvel did to superhero movies, especially when each movie’s primary purpose is to string the audience along to the final chapter instead of telling a whole story.

The Flash is an easy recommendation, so give it a chance. There is an end-credit scene, but it is not worth staying for. It doesn’t have substance and is inconsequential.