Disclaimer: Warner Brothers Home Entertainment requests that we note it provided a free copy of The Flash and The Flash: The Ninth and Final Season for review purposes. The opinions I share are my own.
Worlds collide in The Flash when Barry uses his superpowers to travel back in time in order to change the events of the past. But when his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, Barry becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod has returned, threatening annihilation, and there are no Super Heroes to turn to. That is, unless Barry can coax a very different Batman out of retirement and rescue an imprisoned Kryptonian… albeit not the one he’s looking for. Ultimately, to save the world that he is in and return to the future that he knows, Barry’s only hope is to race for his life. But will making the ultimate sacrifice be enough to reset the universe? — from Warner Brothers
Let’s take it as read that there were many hurdles to the release of this film: the sputtering death of DC’s cinematic universes as we have known it, as well as the personal life and decisions of the star…and focus on the home video release instead. Much more pleasant subject. The good news is they no doubt had the home video package ready to go before the box office returns came in, so there’s a nice little buffet of choices here. There’s over a half-hour making-of featurette. The Keaton Batman and this new Supergirl get their own featurettes as well. Apparently there was a Flash podcast, Escape the Midnight Circus. The trailer for it as well as all six episodes are included—which is a pretty solid choice. If you enjoyed the film or just want to close out this particular section of your DC shelf (since it seems like Blue Beetle is going to carry over into the DC Gunnverse), then this would be worth picking up. You can snag it at Amazon.
“Bueller? Bueller?” Sorry, not here! Instead, high-schooler Ferris Bueller (Mathew Broderick), his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara), and his best bud Cameron (Alan Ruck) are off on the spontaneous romp through Chicago known as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. You’ll also enjoy righteous bonus materials that give you an insider’s peek at this hilarious comedy hit from John Hughes (Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Sixteen Candles). So, barf up a lung, forge a “sick note” from the parents, and tag along on the funniest adventure to ever sweep through the Windy City. What are you still doing here? Save Ferris! — from Paramount
The film hits 4K for the first time, and as always the questions with these releases are: do you have the rig at home that would support the 4K? And: do you like the film enough that it warrants you owning the 4K treatment? The bonus content is all legacy, although it appears the John Hughes commentary is being re-released for the first time since the initial 1999 DVD release…which is kinda cool. Beyond that, there are cast and making of featurettes, a discussion of the titular character, a Ben Stein featurette (which is thankfully of the vintage variety), and some outtakes. Grab it at Amazon.
After defeating the Reverse Flash once and for all, the ninth season of The Flash picks up one week after their epic battle, and Barry Allen aka The Flash and Iris West-Allen are reconnecting and growing closer than ever. When a deadly group of Rogues descend on Central City, led by a powerful and unknown new threat, The Flash and his team including Meta-Empath Cecile Horton, the light-powered meta, Allegra Garcia, brilliant tech-nerd Chester P. Runk and reformed cryogenics thief Mark Blaine, must once again defy the odds to save the day. But as The Rogues are defeated, a deadly new adversary rises to challenge Barry Allen’s heroic legacy. In their greatest battle yet, Barry and Team Flash will be pushed to their limits, to save Central City one last time.
Well, as one DC Universe comes to an end, so does another. With the “Arrowverse” mostly packing it in, eventually the flagship had to close up shop. And this version of Flash has a massive and dedicated fanbase (they’re currently lobbying James Gunn to bring Grant Gustin into the new DC cinematic universe). The bonus bits include a decently-sized featurette about the character and all of his iterations, plus deleted scenes on select episodes, and a gag reel. If you’re a fan of the show and you’ve come this far, it’s probably worth closing out with the final release. Procure that from Amazon.
