Who Will Play the Feline Fatale???

Catwoman is one of the more famous villains from the Batman universe, ever since Julie Newmar donned the leather catsuit back in the 60s. With the Dark Knight already released on DVD, many are wondering who will don the catsuit in the next installment? That is a tough choice. The catwoman name was tarnished when Halle Berry did her own portrayal and won the Razzie Award for worst actress. 

Even so, it is one of the intriguing roles in Hollywood today. Seeing Julie Newmar in the Batman TV series, you wouldn't think there would be much acting involved in playing Selina Kyle aka Catwoman. However, that changed when Michelle Pfeiffer was given the role after the original choice, Annette Benning, dropped out due to pregnancy. Critics praised Pfeiffer's portrayal, actually she was the only thing most critics liked about the movie. 

Batman Returns showed that Selina Kyle was exactly like Bruce Wayne, only darker. Pfeiffer even admitted it was one of the most challenging characters she ever had to play, and also broke the stereotype of her only playing period piece heroines. This finally showed Selina Kyle as confused and deranged, an anti-heroine. Although many parents were not very happy. They complained when Pfeiffer appeared on screen looking ever bit the dominatrix, complete with a whip. They thought Tim Burton's vision of Batman was too mature for children, which does not make sense if you see the new Batman movies. Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are far more violent than Burton's movies. 

So with the renewed success and enthusiasm of the Batman franchise, planning another sequel has been in the works since The Dark Knight opened in theaters. For a while, it was thought that just the Riddler and the Penguin would be the main villains. Christopher Nolan, the director has given a definite answer on anything, he doesn't even know if he will return to direct. 

But the buzz is that Catwoman is the ultimate favorite for an appearance in the next film. Kate Beckinsale has expressed interest in playing her. We already know how she would look in a catsuit, remember Underworld? Also many speculate Angelina Jolie will don some cat ears, she has support from the first catwoman herself, Julie Newmar. Both of those are more obvious choices since both women are known for their action roles. Beckinsale for the vampire Selene (similar to Selina Kyle) and Jolie for Lara Croft and Fox from Wanted.

But word through the internet waves has been rumoring that Oscar winner Rachel Weisz is the new favorite to portray the "feline fatale." If she does accept the role, that means that the Brits have taken over the Batman hype. Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, and with Weisz, would make the general cast of the new movie overly British. Not that this is a bad thing, of course, but a little surprising. 

There has been a British surge within the last few years. Keira Knightley (the biggest and most famous right now), Orlando Bloom, Sienna Miller, Emily Blunt, Daniel Craig, Jonathan Rhys Meyers (okay, he's Irish), Kate Beckinsale, and last but not least, Kate Winslet. They're starting to play Americans better than Americans themselves. Scary thought... But they are beginning to lay a claim on Hollywood, whether we're ready or not. 

Anyway, I'm glad that Weisz may be targeted to play Catwoman/Selina Kyle. She can handle a character like this and it will be in a role we've never seen her in before. So, maybe it do what it did for Michelle Pfeiffer. We can only hope, and we can hope that it will be a good script and film to make up for 2004's Catwoman.

An Inevitable Cult Movie Icon: Uma Thurman

With the impending Dark Knight movie release looming close, I thought I would reacquaint myself with the Batman movies from my youth.

I was watching Batman Forever on TV, and realized that it came out when I was 5 years old. As I watched, I thought how much better Tim Burton's movies were compared to this. I mean the movie's fun, but the first two were much better.

Then I remembered Batman & Robin, the worst of the Batman franchise. I loved it when I was young. And I thought, who was the most memorable character from that movie? Poison Ivy, of course.

Really, when I think back she was the most fun to watch. She was campy which is something little kids will always love in a movie character. She also spoke in a funny way; a Valley Girl meets the Queen of England.

All of this led to more thinking. Uma Thurman has starred in several movies that have huge cult followings (i.e. Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Henry & June).

She first got attention in Dangerous Liaisons, playing the naive virgin Cecile. She was 17 during filming and did a topless scene with John Malkovich. That had tongues wagging... maybe for two reasons. Thurman disappeared for a while and returned two years later with Henry & June, playing June Miller, an object of Anais Nin's affection. Henry & June had the MPAA in a bind on how to rate it, and, ultimately, had the distinction of being the first film to be rated NC-17.

Then Pulp Fiction came along and Thurman was nominated for an Oscar. She was officially golden in Hollywood. Then she co-starred in Batman & Robin which, shockingly, did not ruin her career. And she followed up with The Avengers based on the 1960s TV show. That should have ruined her career, but it didn't. She keeps surviving.

Thurman's films after that showed off her acting skills, proving to everyone that she did, in fact, have them. But the Kill Bill movies put her back on the map.

She survives everything. Gotta give her credit for that. Most people I know don't know of Thurman by seeing some of her movies. Most have them only know her from one. But they know her name and associate with a character. The makings of a true Cult Icon. Also what helps in establishing yourself as a Cult Icon, is if your have an unique look. She has one and the exotic name doesn't hurt either.

Recently, Thurman had a movie released that several critics hated, but the film has developed a following on the internet. And they love it, including myself. The Life Before Her Eyes will most likely become a cult classic in the future.

I don't think you can typecast Uma Thurman. Looking at her filmography, you'll see the different roles she has played, and her continual trials to prove she isn't some specific stereotype. But she'll always be Poison Ivy.