The Flash stands as a cinematic anomaly with a runtime stretching to over two hours, which it uses to juggle multitudes of elements to excellent effect. The multiple Flashes, Batmen, Supergirl, and a complex spacetime narrative all fuse a stirring mix that redefines the essence of the DC Universe.

Barry Allen, better known as The Flash, is portrayed by Ezra Miller in a remarkable performance. In a poignant moment, the speedster discovers his ability to, not only reverse time temporarily but travel through it, deciding to leverage it to prevent his mother's death. However, his actions trigger a cosmic upheaval, resulting in an alternative universe largely inspired by The Flashpoint comic book storyline where his super friends are absent, but Michael Keaton's Batman exists.

In this parallel universe, Barry is confronted with a younger, unpowered version of himself, a still-alive mother, and General Zod from the Man of Steel series, who appears with a menacing plan to terraform Earth. Here, the narrative reveals the film and its ingenious subtext - the seemingly invincible Flash wrestling with time and fate to save not just his world, but the very fabric of existence.

But the narrative doesn't shy away from the harsh truth of time travel: each iteration culminates in a heartbreaking reality - Supergirl dies, sparking a chain reaction that leads to the end of all earth-born lives. In an emotionally charged climax, the audience witnesses a showdown between different versions of Barry Allen, each striving to preserve their universe from the brink of oblivion.

The Flash not only excels in its riveting storyline but also leaves an indelible impact on the DC Universe's future trajectory. George Clooney's surprise cameo as Batman at the end of the film will likely leave older audiences shocked at how Barry's last "small" change before bringing things back to normal has led to yet another significant departure from what should've been normal for him.

Of course, fans shouldn't expect to see Clooney return as Batman in the upcoming film, The Brave and The Bold, which will be helmed by The Flash's director, Andrés Muschietti.

If nothing else, audiences should consider this as a tongue-in-cheek inclusion meant as a final nod to all the iconic Batman actors who've portrayed The Dark Knight on the big screen.

The only thing missing then is for Christian Bale and Val Kilmer to have appeared in The Flash as well, but we're pretty sure that would've somewhat stolen the spotlight from the titular character more than the three Batmen already have.

Speaking of cheeky creative decisions, the post-credits scene sees Barry buddying out with Aquaman, recapping the film's events. Specifically, Barry tells Aquaman that while every Batman is different, Aquaman, portrayed Jason Momoa, is always the same.

The movie doesn't expand on this statement, and we're not sure what to make of it. Does this mean that the events of The Flash have effectively created a new "separate" reality outside of the incoming DC Universe? If so, that would make sense after James Gunn said that the Blue Beetle will be the first superhero in the DCU. But, it's interesting that The Flash brought up how Aquaman always remained the same. Momoa is a clear-cut fan favorite and his films have always done well. There's a way of looking at this and saying that Momoa will return to the DCU as Aquaman, which would be okay with fans although most would prefer him to play the Main Man himself, Lobo.

In any case, this interaction between Barry and the still-the-same Aquaman suggests a persistent narrative thread among the incumbent DCEU films, which we'll find out more about when Blue Beetle and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom hits theaters on August 18 and December 20, respectively.

The way we see it, The Flash did an excellent job establishing a timeline that the DCU can always revisit or pluck characters out from in the future. But, for now, James Gunn and Peter Safran are headed for a full-blown reboot, starting with Superman: Legacy, which comes out in 2025.