Catwoman: Review By derekmay

Though ‘Batman’ may have spawned her, this kitty’s all grown up and off on her own - and definitely doesn’t need a Dark Knight to rescue her. Though this reinvention of the ‘Catwoman’ mythos is hardly mind-blowing and is faithful to the standardized comic-book fare we’ve been getting in recent years there’s enough going for it to make it a truly enjoyable film.

First off – Halle. What can you say? Gorgeous is an understatement. And acting chops? Well, though her dual roles as mild-mannered pushover Patience Philips (changed from Price) to the seductive, free-spirited Catwoman is hardly a challenge for the girl who’s brought us so much meatier roles in the past, I can think of no better person for the job. With just the right balance of serious introspection and over-the-top camp, Halle Berry is a knockout in every sense of the word. And while most of us cringed when pics of her in that barely-there outfit surfaced on the web, she somehow manages to pull it off - or keep it on, as it were. Halle sinks her claws (pun intended) into the role with gusto. She turns a predictable iconic character on its head while offering up all the purrs, meows and cat-puns we’ve come to expect.

Despite the cookie-cutter story of Patience trying to get back at the people who did her wrong while uncovering an international cosmetics conspiracy, the script is surprisingly well organized and delivered in a fulfilling way. But we’re not really there for the story. From the campy antics of Julie Newmar, Eartha Kitt, and Lee Meriwether to the schizophrenic drama of Michelle Pfeiffer, we’ve seen just about everything there is to see before. What this movie offers is a metaphysical spin. With a look and attitude sexed up to the nines, we get a Catwoman who actually has the powers of her feline namesake. And as with ‘Spider-man’ before her, the CG is there to make sure that this new kitty is up to the challenge.

This is actually struck me more akin to ‘Daredevil’ than ‘Batman.’ While the claws and whip get their fair share of screen-time, Halle’s cat gets to rough it up. With fight scenes that are quick but not confusing, we get to see Catwoman using a believable array of martial arts, namely Capoeira (about as close to feline martial arts as I suppose you can get without going too hard). The action is kinetic and exciting, and director Pitof keeps the fresh perspective going as he uses interesting camera angles and movements to keep a fast pace, even on the slower scenes which he seems to direct equally well.

While the writing might only border on adequate, the acting fits the bill. Benjamin Bratt is as likable and formidable a presence as he’s ever been as Halle’s love interest. ‘Matrix’ alumnus Lambert Wilson plays about the same role, and is about as good. One of the brighter lights is Alex Borstein of ‘MadTV’ and ‘Family Guy’ fame who, surprise, is the comic relief (the Jon Favrau role in ‘Daredevil’). She’s probably the only person who steals the scene from Halle, and that’s quite a feat.

Sharon Stone, unfortunately, doesn’t steal the show. She plays her part as it’s written, but doesn’t go the extra mile. While she’s certainly a believable and fascinating villain, she’s not exactly blazing the comeback trail. She does, however, give Halle a run for the money in the ‘How sexy can you get’ contest.

Skin, leather and whips. That’s what we came to see, and that’s what we get in spades. As an extra bonus we also get a well constructed (if not original) story with some nice character development interspersed amongst the surprisingly satisfying action scenes. Though the constant bombardment of cat-puns and one-liners starts to wear thin quickly, it’s a small and expected price to pay. Halle knocks the ball out of the park with her sexiness and formidable thespian skills, and though she plays it close to the bone with her feline mannerisms, it somehow works for the material.

This is a lot of fun if you know how to have it. And if nothing else, two hours of Halle Berry strutting her stuff in an outfit that’d make Christina Aguilera blush is not time (or money) wasted.