Things to Do Instead of Watching the Flash Movie

You’ve in all probability heard by now that The Flash, DC’s newest big-budget superhero flick, will hit U.S. theaters on June 16. You must also know that the movie’s star, Ezra Miller, has been accused of a number of crimes, together with felony housebreaking, harassment and disorderly conduct, and, worst of all, abusing and grooming minors, to embrace isolating an Indigenous teen from their household.

And but, regardless of this laundry checklist of heinous accusations, at no level did DC even take into account pulling the plug on this film. Instead, they’ve coddled Miller by blaming psychological sickness for his or her numerous alleged crimes, and rewarded them with reward for his or her efficiency and a promise to embrace them in any future Flash movies.

Even if it’s true that Miller struggles with psychological well being points — and I’ve no purpose to consider it isn’t — that’s not an excuse for any of their alleged felony actions. Yes, they need to search remedy, however additionally they ought to have been faraway from the DCEU way back. DC and Warner Bros., unsurprisingly, determined that cash means extra to them than not supporting horrible folks, and so now we’re caught with Miller’s Flash movie.

I’m certain this film will rake in tons of cash, thereby “justifying” the studio’s resolution to go forward with it. But I, for one, don’t intend to give them one single cent in help of this shameful show of greed and callousness. And you don’t have to both, for I, with the splendidly witty help of my fellow Book Riot writers, have compiled this checklist of actions that will be a greater use of your time than watching The Flash. No matter how unhealthy or how good the movie is, I can assure these actions — some book-related, some not — are a a lot better use of your time.

• Watch the TV present: I can’t believe that I, Barry Allen-hater par excellence, am decreased to recommending the infuriating, ever-worsening, entirely-too-long CW collection The Flash. The solely factor I can say in its favor is that Grant Gustin just isn’t a violent abuser, which is admittedly an enormous plus. I can extra enthusiastically suggest Justice League: Unlimited, a cartoon collection that includes the voice of Michael Rosenbaum as the Flash/Wally West.
• Go see Across the Spider-Verse: As Sonali Dabade jogged my memory, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is out proper now in the U.S. If you need to see a superhero discover completely different universes, right here’s a movie you’ll be able to be ok with!
• Read some comics: No-brainer, huh? Indulge in some of the Flash comics Jessica Plummer recommends. Danika Ellis suggests studying comics by Indigenous creators. Find some recs right here, after which purchase them from ATCG Books and Comics, the solely Native-owned comedian e-book retailer in the world!
• Do the dishes: Seriously, they’re beginning to pile up.
• Watch Michael Keaton’s different films: So much of individuals are excited to see Keaton return as Batman, particularly after being disadvantaged of his efficiency in Batgirl. (Oh, certain, THAT’S the film they cancel.) But as Jamie Canavés factors out, we are able to all the time rewatch his older movies, together with his 1989 and 1992 outings as the Dark Knight, with out giving cash to the immoral money seize that The Flash has turn into. I’m certain there’s a Keaton movie you haven’t seen — why not stream it?
• Go for a run: Exercise is nice. And, in Jessica’s phrases, “You won’t be as fast [as the Flash] but you also won’t be shielding an alleged abuser for profit.”
• Read about working: Annika Barranti Klein had the ingenious concept of studying books and memoirs about real-life runners. She particularly recommends What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami and Spirit Run by Noé Álvarez. This checklist contains these books and plenty of extra.
• Create your personal Flash tales: When a film or a comic book disappoints, the fandom is all the time proper there to make artwork and tales with a extra satisfying premise or ending. Give it a shot your self: write your personal model of the film, or draw an image of an actor you’d like to see play the Flash. You might imagine you don’t have any inventive expertise, however who cares? The act of creation is enjoyable anyway, whether or not or not you’re feeling daring sufficient to share your creations with others.
• Celebrate Pride Month: ‘Tis the season! Consider attending a Pride parade, supporting a queer-owned enterprise (together with bookstores), or having a comfy celebration with family members.
• Play along with your pet: The Flash is 144 minutes lengthy. Why depart your little darling alone for over two hours when you possibly can make their day with a visit to the park, an prolonged play session, or perhaps a good cuddle on the sofa? (This suggestion is sponsored by my canine Poppy.)

• Donate to charity: Annika, Danika, Jessica, and I are of one thoughts about this: all of us suppose it will be a incredible concept to donate to RAINN, Outright Vermont, the Standing Rock Community Development Corporation, and different charities that work to assist the sorts of folks Miller has allegedly victimized. Or you possibly can give to the Hero Initiative, which helps comics creators (together with former Flash author William Messner-Loebs) with medical payments and different bills. Donating the value of a movie show ticket and a few popcorn can be nice!

Why trouble doing any of these items? Will it make a distinction?

Big-picture-wise, no. DC and Warner Bros. clearly don’t care about the hurt they’re doing by supporting and selling Miller. No studio exec goes to learn this text, shed a single tear of regret, and throw away hundreds of thousands of {dollars} by pulling The Flash from theaters.

You can’t management or cease company greed. But you’ll be able to management your self. Sometimes, you don’t do the proper factor with the expectation of altering the world. You do it for the private data that you just confronted a painful crossroads and made the proper resolution.

I believe by now now we have all had to select between supporting a franchise we love and standing with weak folks being harm by that franchise’s creators. It sucks. The undeniable fact that these studios repeatedly use their energy to allow abusers relatively than de-platform them additionally sucks. But once you’re implementing any of the solutions on this article — whether or not it’s discovering an ideal new comedian or attempting to educate your canine to play fetch — you’ll keep in mind that there are some good issues in the world, too.