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CATWOMAN (2004) Starring Halle Berry, Sharon Stone, Benjamin Bratt, Lambert Wilson, Alex Borstein.

Directed by Pitof.

Runtime: 104 minutes.

Rating: AA

At times some of the dialogue in this one seems like it was written by Naomi Wolf.

Oscar winner Halle Berry plays Patience Phillips, a shy unassertive, dorky ad design artist with bizarre fashion sense who gains supernatural powers and must decide to use them either for good or for evil. This feminist tale shows that women can kick butt too and is an exciting thrill ride with first rate action scenes.

Its hard to know whether Catwoman strikes back at the cosmetics firm that poisoned her with toxic chemicals and took one of her nine lives.

Berry exudes a sensuality and warmth that few other leading ladies can approach. The humanity and depth of her characterization as an ordinary women given an extraordinary gift has real emotional traction for audiences. She is the best Catwoman since Eartha Kitt but not quite as good as Julie Newmar who WAS Catwoman. But other than the name of the character there is nothing in this movie that links it with the Batman franchise.

Give the producers credit for trying to do something a little different having a superheroine based upon a character previously known as a supervillain.

Sharon Stone also shows her range of acting skills, playing everything from the cold villainess to the emotionally fragile and vulnerable young girl in need of comfort as Catwoman's antagonist.

There were critics that didn't like this movie and thats understandable. It comes from society's backlash against feminism. Certain critics just don't like to see strong female characters and they need to take a good look at themselves over that fact.

Lambert Wilson who plays cad cosmetics mogul George Hedare is a dead ringer for Gary Cooper. Benjamin Bratt again plays a cop (has ever played anything else?) and is Catwoman/Patience love interest.

Learn more about this author, Jason Daniel Baker.
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