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“Catwoman”
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. ---

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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