Review of Catwoman (2004) by Harry C — 30 May 2011

"Cats come when they feel like it. Not when they're told.".

Synopsis: Liquidated after discovering a corporate conspiracy, mild-mannered graphic artist Patience Phillips washes up on an island, where she's resurrected and endowed with the prowess of a cat -- and she's eager to use her new skills ... as a vigilante.

Although it doesn't feel like it, this film IS about the Catwoman from the batman universe, the opening credits literally credit Bob Kane and Bill Finger, and the catwoman here isn't a hero, she's a vigilante just like in the batman universe.

However, the script is determined to make this Catwoman her own woman.....eeerr cat. As a result, the plot is completely bland with obviously no genuine care or finesse put into it's construction; danger pops out of nowhere (a ferris wheel decides to violently malfunction for no reason) and the dialogue that comes out of the characters' mouths are not much more than cheesy one-liners.

The acting is ferociously uninteresting. Halle Berry plays her character as extremely servile, shy, and soft-spoken pre-cat; and free-spirited, sexy, and confident post-cat.. typical right? The direction is relatively uninspired, Pitof spends plenty of time shooting dynamic sweeping dolly shots that ultimately add little to the quality of the film. And the editing will get extremely choppy and intrusive during "action scenes" and extremely cliched with pop music playing during all the other scenes.

The film isn't all bad though, as the art design and shooting locations are well scouted and are pleasurable to the eyes, as is Berry once she puts on her dominatrix outfit eeerrr I mean becomes Catwoman.

Though it is definitely a well funded production, the uninspired and contrived script, choppy editing, lame directing, and bland dialogue robs Catwoman of most of her nine lives.