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| Dvdivas
was founded by John Gabbard in 2000. It's purpose has been and
remains to be to provide you, the entertainment community with
the latest dvds and movie reviews. It will continue to be your
link to the most popular dvd movies. |
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“Catwoman”
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Reviewed
by: |
Wayne A. Klein |
| Genre: |
Action |
| Video: |
1.33:1 full
screen and 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen |
| Audio: |
Dolby Digital
5.1 and 2.0 |
| Languages |
English,
French, Spanish |
| Subtitles |
None |
| Length |
104 |
| Rating |
PG-13 |
| Release Date |
1/18/05
|
| Studio |
Warner Home
Video |
| Commentary:
|
None |
| Documentaries:
|
None |
| Featurettes:
|
The Many faces of Catwoman,
Behind-the-Scenes tour |
| Filmography/Biography:
|
None |
|
Interviews: |
None |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
Theatrical trailer |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
Five additional
scenes, alternate ending |
| Music
Video: |
None |
| Other:
|
None |
| Cast
and Crew: |
Halle Berry,
Benjamin Bratt, Sharon Stone, Michael Massee, Alex Borstein,
Frances Conroy, Lambert Wilson |
| Written
By: |
John D. Brancato,
Michael Ferris and John Rogers based on the character created
by Bob Kane |
| Produced
By: |
Denise Di
Novi and Edward McDonnell |
| Directed
By: |
Pitof |
| Music:
|
Klaus Badelt
|
| The
Review: |
Ever fed your cat food and have
he orshe try to bury it? That’s probably what should have
happened to this wannabe blockbuster. I’m sure in theory it
sounded good. The Catwoman character has fan appeal (as evidence
from Batman Returns and the comic books) but this film misses
litter box so badly time and again it’s clear that Catwoman
should have been put down before it ever reached theaters.
It reminds me of the disastrous The Exorcist II laughter in
all the wrong places and a sense that this project has been
left out too long and gone bad. ***
Halle Berry plays shy Patience
Phillips a designer for a cosmetics company. When she learns
a dark trade secret that she shouldn’t have, her boss Laurel
Hedare (Sharon Stone) has her killed. Revived by the spirit
of a supernatural cat, Patience Phillips comes back with the
agility of a cat and almost as many lives. Pursued by police
detective Tom Lone (Benjamin Bratt) when it appears Catwoman
is behind a series of crimes, Patience finds her new alter
ego complicating her personal life when she falls for the
detective. ---
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| Image
and Sound: |
I have to
give Warner credit they’ve spared no expense at making sure
this bomb looks good on DVD. With nice color reproduction, exceptionally
good clarity and image quality, Catwoman does justice to Pitof’s
production design skills. Unfortunately, it’s wasted on this
mess of a movie. The 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround mix makes very
good use of surround speakers matching the inventive action
on screen. |
| The
Extras: |
The film
has been extended with five additional scenes and features
two featurettes on the film. The Many Faces of Catwoman features
interviews with the women who have played the role over the
years from the Batman TV series (which still isn’t available
on DVD darn it) through to Batman Returns. Julie Newmar, Eartha
Kitt (who took over the role from Newmar on the series), Lee
Merriweather (former Miss USA and alum of the Barnaby Jones
TV series) and Michelle Pfieffer all reflect on one of the
most fascinating roles and occasionally uncomfortable costumes
they had to wear. Behind-the-Scenes Tour is exactly that;
it consists of a peek behind the curtain during production
of the film including some rehearsal footage and comments
from cast and crew.
|
| Commentary:
|
No commentary
from Pitof perhaps he felt he would have to bear his claws to
protect his reputation after this disaster of a film. --- |
| Final
Words: |
A definite
entry in the next Razzie’s book (and perhaps winner as one of
the worst films of all time an honor it would share with another
Warner film The Exorcist II: The Heretic John Boormann’s fascinating
car wreck of a movie), Catwoman should have been put out with
the old kitty litter. It’s a disaster from start to finish although
it does have moments of camp charm all its own it still qualifies
as one of the worst films to come out last year. Would make
a great double feature with the perfectly awful Elecktra spin
off from Daredevil. |
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