Catwoman Begins and Steals Batman's Heart

Rating: 7/10 (26 October 2013)

Perhaps the darkest of the 4 Batman movies (in this series). There is much to like and dislike here. Michelle Pfeiffer is "purr-fect" as Catwoman and owns this movie. Too bad it isn't more about her and less about The Penguin. Danny DeVito plays a nasty, mean-spirited bird, and while the character is well-executed, it drags down the film to an almost depressing level. Curiously, in this one, no one goes to a cell in Arkham Asylum. Not enough gadgets in this one, although the penguins, which are both very real and clever fabrications, are very well-done. If this didn't win something for special effects, it should have. Max Shreck (Walken) is a weak co-villain, but, as always, he plays his part very well as the evil-greedy Capitalist. More grim and graphic than the last two Batman movies (in this series). Children were seen crying, leaving the theater. I wish the film had been more about Batman and Catwoman, don't you? They need to use her in further adventures. (That Halle Berry Catwoman movie was a big disappointment.) I nominate Scarlet Johannson for the role. Catwoman, of course, does not die, even though she was shot several times. Why is that? Nine lives?