Catwoman—Warner Brothers By Gary Frisch   •   April, 2005 Video: 4
Audio: 4
Extras: 3
Halle Berry revived the comics' most seductive villain in 2004. Aside from a new midriff-revealing leather catsuit (meow!), there's little to recommend this movie, which produced a hairball at the box office.

Patience Phillips is a put-upon graphic designer who pays with her life after she overhears damning information about her company's latest cosmetic cream. Resuscitated by a mystical Egyptian Mao cat, she stalks the night with polished claws and lips, on the prowl for revenge against the cosmetic firm's owner and his icy wife (Sharon Stone). The filmmakers actually expect us to believe that the lithesome, lovely Patience is a bumbling, fashion-challenged nitwit who can't land a date. Yeah, right. Even Catwoman's whip-cracking can't save this mess.

Fortunately for us, the 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer highlights every one of Berry's curves. Much of the action occurs at night, yet every detail of Catwoman's costume—what little there is—is fully displayed. The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is equally impressive. Sound effects seem to come from every direction as Berry swishes around the screen.

The most worthwhile supplement is a 30-minute look at the history of the character. For those who grew up with Batman on TV, it's an enjoyable blast from the past, featuring interviews with every actress who has portrayed the felonious feline, from Julie Newmar to Michelle Pfeiffer. Adam West himself is even on board to assess the actresses who have foiled Batman over the years. Oh, how we longed to be in his boots.