Who isn't going to see 'Catwoman'?! [Archive]

finster

06-27-2003, 05:58 PM

It appears that this abomination is really going to happen.

For over sixty years the character of Catwoman has existed in the Batman Universe.

For over sixty years that character has been Selina Kyle.

Now Warner Brothers is going to make a movie called 'Catwoman' about a character named 'Patience Price', with no Batman and no Gotham City.

How can Warners have such complete disregard for the history of their own characters? Such an endless capacity to insult fans? Haven't they seen how trying to please comic fans, while making some concession to mainstream audiences in taking a property from page to screen (Spider-Man, X-Men) pays off? In the form of good will from fans, in building positive internet buzz, which then seeps into the mainstream consciousness? Are they truly that monumentally stupid?

I'm not a zealot. Really. I thought organic web-shooters were a good idea. I love the '60's Adam West 'Batman' series (the first season, anyway- a far more faithful adaptation of what the comics were at the time than any other live-action interpretation).

But Catwoman is Selina Kyle. She does what she does in Gotham City.
You wanna make a movie where she's a thief?
Fine.
You wanna make a movie where, instead, she protects the most vulnerable among us (current version)?
Fine.
Wanna make a movie where she hates Batman?
Fine.
Where she loves Batman?
Super.

But don't make a movie about someone named 'Patience Price' and call it 'Catwoman'.
Enough is enough.

Patrick Bateman

06-27-2003, 06:25 PM

I hear you. I hope this pile of trash never gets made.

All-Star 1.5

06-27-2003, 06:43 PM

This is the way I see it I haven't heard any news from the series since it was first announced so to my knowledge things may have changed and also I have no idea how the story or script go so I can't really say I am not going gto go see it based on bad script and story so I will just have to wait untill I hear or see more information before I can make my final descion.

LazyReaper

06-27-2003, 07:47 PM

It's times like these when I wonder if corporate espionage is even necessary anymore. :rolleyes:

Why is WB so stupid? Now, I'm not usually one of those people that just jump the gun and blame everything on a network, but this is ridiculous! Do they want to lose money?! Is this like the new "thing" for corporate stupidity? :confused: :rolleyes:

-Aximlli-

Jedigreedo

06-27-2003, 08:01 PM

Don't suppose theres any chance it won't be in any way related to the DC stuff and they're just cashing in on the Catwoman name?...

Daredevil_2003

06-27-2003, 08:05 PM

I've had low expectations for this project from the beggining. I don't think they can go any lower, really. Here's hoping it never enters production.

Hatter

06-27-2003, 08:12 PM

It's just a vanity picture for Halle Berry.
I won't see it.

The Guard

06-27-2003, 10:17 PM

Don't go see it, then. But if you're not going to see it because you think it'll send some kind of message to WB, or hurt them in some way, think again. Comic book fans make up a small percentage of the people who WB is targeting with CATWOMAN. I'm going to see it, and I might just enjoy it. Here's why:

It's a superhero movie. I'm not about to miss seeing a live-action superhero movie. Rather than scream "WB ARE BASTARDS", I choose to think, and find out what this project is and why it's being made. This is an attempt by WB to finally make that Catwoman spinoff from BATMAN RETURNS. You know why they want to make it? Because the Michelle Pfeiffer one never materialized, and the Daniel Waters screenplay went unmade, and WB has poured god knows how much money and time into the project from 1992 to present, and wants to get something out of it. I can't fault them for that. The third reason I'm going to go see it is Pitof, who is one of the most interesting visual directors out there. Odds are the movie won't be nearly as bad as most people think. I can live with a Catwoman who has superpowers, if the script is good drama, and focuses on her aspect as a protector, which I believe it will. The story itself sounds pretty decent. It will have her origins, and her younger years, and a story where Catwoman is being hunted by a detective in Lake City. With Halle Berry in the role, Catwoman could be one of the few female movie heroes, an aspect that Angelina Jolie's Tomb Raider has failed miserably to secure. Owen Wilson has been rumored as the detective. I love Wilson, and I'd also love to be able to bash Halle Berry if she doesn't bother to try because it's a comic book character. What I'd love more is to see her try, and do a fantastic job. And finally, I can't truly bash CATWOMAN unless I see it. The whole Patience Price thing, I believe is being done so that Selina Kyle can be used at some point in the new Batman franchise. And I can live with that.

ZorBrak

06-27-2003, 10:27 PM

I won't go see this because it would be telling WB it's okay to be this disrespectful to their comics. As everyone else has said...ARE THESE EXECS REALLY THIS STUPID?! I mean...I'm AMAZED, literally, FASCINATED, with how DUMB this company is. Do they not realize that they gajillion succesful Marvel films are doing well because they are FAITHFUL TO THE COMICS?! I shudder to think what would have happened if WB made X-Men. They'd fill it full of politically correct, inaccurate, and just plain BAD elements and destroy any decency.

I think this is the first time I've had a differing opinion on films than you Guard. I think we can indeed take a chunk out of the film's profit by protest. Convincing my friends to not see it that don't read comics will be easy, if enough fans do it there's a good couple of million to be lost. YES WB WE HATE YOU. I hope they are reading this, I find it sad they continue to fail in getting DC films off of the ground and consider this to be one. This is garbage, it's a recycling of the catwoman origin from their own sub par Batman film of ten years ago and has no credibility to comic resemblence. It's crap on paper, so it will be utter crap on screen, with Halle Ms. I'm such a great actor...I'm so special! Berry taking the role...it will make it twice as bad.

The Guard

06-27-2003, 10:41 PM

I think we can indeed take a chunk out of the film's profit by protest.

You keep right on thinking that.

Daredevil_2003

06-27-2003, 11:39 PM

Comic fan support or not, I don't see this movie making enough profit for it to make a difference. I don't really care about the whole changing of the character bit, either. I'm glad, actually, because the less association this stinker has with our beloved Batman/Gotham/Selina the better. I usually try to be open minded about these types of things, but I think this one is just going to suck it up big time.

Joker85

06-28-2003, 12:07 AM

All-Star 1.5

06-28-2003, 12:18 AM

I don't know why people make judgements about movies before they even begin production or know what it's about????

EinBebop

06-28-2003, 12:24 AM

If I find this movie ends up sucking, it won't be because I was sitting in judgement of WB's decision to throw off the whole burden of a Batman association; it's wasted screen time that has to be addressed, taking away from developing the Catwoman character. Maybe it's a good thing that all the purists are getting pissed off now; all their pissing will be old news by the time the movie comes out.

And if the movie does suck, well, at least I'll have gotten to see two hours of Halle Berry in tight leather. :P

Chris Wood

06-28-2003, 01:40 AM

I just don't think Catwoman is a big enough character to command her own movie. The only female character big enough to interest me in a film would be Wonder Woman.

Storm

06-28-2003, 02:01 AM

I'm refusing to see this movie for various reasons. 1. You do not make a Batman movie with Patrick Price behind the mask. Same goes with Patience Price and Selina Kyle. Selina Kyle IS Catwoman, no one else is. Why they feel the need to create this new character I do not know.

Actually it's not a new character, Patience Prince was Catwoman in Pre-crisis (or post-crisis, I'm suck at DC continuity :p) but the character sucked and so they put Selina back in the suit.

2. Halle Berry has the acting ability of a loaf of bread. She CANNOT act. I don't like her in much anything she is in. She's alright in X Men, but in no way does she carry those movies. She is a small part of an ensemble.

That's a matter of opinion. I personally think she sucks in action films but is very good (when giving the right role) in dramas. The true reason why they gave Berry the whole is the same reason why they gave her the role of Storm: A) She appeals to the white audience, B) She's beautiful and those Hollywood executives love that, C) Sex sells, and she sells sex. I prefer her roles in Queen and Dorothy Dandridge than her recent work (She almost ruined the character of Storm of me :(). She relies on her beauty and that's truly a shame. With some negative press attached to her that makes people dislike her. I could careless. She's a human being and she's bound to have an attitude at times and make mistakes (we all do too but the difference is that we don't get our business spread on the front of a magazine), yeah sure she maybe a little too glamorous.

3. I really love the character of Selina Kyle/Catwoman. I even liked it when Michelle Pfeiffer player her, albeit they changed the character a lot. But still, she was Selina Kyle, in Gotham.
So no, I will not see this.

I do agree (shocking isn't) with Joker85, Selina is Catwoman. To make a movie without her is like having some other alter ego as Superman. :shrugs: Really I would rather not see Berry as Catwoman. I preferred the first choice... Ashley Judge. Anyway that's IMO.

- Storm

The Slayer

06-28-2003, 02:14 PM

ME!!. Halle Berry is just such a BAD actress.

Anarky

06-28-2003, 03:03 PM

Mike Spartz

06-28-2003, 03:09 PM

I'll see it just because it's DC and it's the DC superhero movie since Batman and Robin back in '97. However, I am very worried about this film. I'm uneasy about the direction WB is taking with this film. I understand that they want to try something new but I don't think that this is the best time to be original. Fans like me have been waiting since Batman Returns for a Catwoman comic adaptation based on Selina Kyle and her life. When I first heard this movie was going to be made I was excited but when I heard that the lead was going to be a made up character and that she was going to be played by Hallie Berry I was disappointed. I want a comic book movie about the comic book catwoman. I want Selina's origin story to be described in great detail, I want to be able to explore her as an anti hero. However I don't think I'm getting my wish, WB is screwing with one of most beloved Comic characters and I can't do anything but watch.

Personally, I say delay the movie till a better script that features Selina is made. Also boot Berry off the cast, shes a good actress but shes wrong for the part and I'm tired of spotlight. Get Charlize theron to play Selina, I think she'd be great.

Finally, I don't understand why WB is even making this movie. If they want to save their franchise, they're not doing a good job of it. They don't uderstand or care,it seems, what the fans want to see. Really, what a bunch of fools! :mad:

Jedigreedo

06-28-2003, 05:57 PM

word association
Halle Berry: 2002 Oscar Award Winner for Best Actress
Halle Berry: 2002 Screen Actors Guild Award Winner for Best Actress

recognize and respect

But what about the movies she doesn't strip for?

Granted this film could be very successful, however WHY is this being made really? A Catwoman film is actually very pointless since it's not even the already known one, are they just that involved with the Adam West series that they had to do their own black version?

The Slayer

06-29-2003, 10:53 AM

word association
Halle Berry: bad actress???

how about

Halle Berry: 2002 Oscar Award Winner for Best Actress
Halle Berry: 2002 Screen Actors Guild Award Winner for Best Actress

recognize and respect

She only "won" those awards because she's a good looking woman that made herself "ugly" for a role and that's the hip thing to do these days. Plus, she was "black" enough to be "The Vessel" as she called herself at the Oscars. Just like how she said she opened "The Door", but right about then they put her WHITE mother on screen. I guess she only opened "The Door" halfway. Interesting fact: The 2002 Academy Awards were originally titled "The 2002 Write Past Wrongs Awards" and before that "The 2002 Get It Over With Awards".

RECOGNIZE AND RESPECT?!?!

More like LAUGH AND RIDICULE.

NinjaJack

06-29-2003, 12:29 PM

Nightflower

06-29-2003, 12:50 PM

She only "won" those awards because she's a good looking woman that made herself "ugly" for a role and that's the hip thing to do these days. Plus, she was "black" enough to be "The Vessel" as she called herself at the Oscars. Just like how she said she opened "The Door", but right about then they put her WHITE mother on screen. I guess she only opened "The Door" halfway. Interesting fact: The 2002 Academy Awards were originally titled "The 2002 Write Past Wrongs Awards" and before that "The 2002 Get It Over With Awards".

RECOGNIZE AND RESPECT?!?!

More like LAUGH AND RIDICULE.
Holy cow, it's fine to not like Halle Berry, but saying that doesn't do anything for you in your favor and kind of makes you sound awfully stupid, which I'm sure was not your intention.

BACK ON TOPIC...

First of all, as much as I am for "mature thinking", I don't think you can always say "Wait and see the movie before judging!" Sometimes some things have a slighter chance of proving people wrong than others. Besides, if you always say that, it makes you sound just as blind and just as repetitive as people who scream "WB IS TEH SUCK, STICK TO TEH COMICS!!"

I'm kind of iffy on this, because I'm a huge Catwoman fan, but something about the execution sounds like they're kind of making it harder on themselves than it is.

I think people underestimate Catwoman's popularity. I think one could even argue that more people are familiar with Catwoman, than say, Green Lantern or Wonder Woman. I think they'd probably think she's certainly a lot cooler. Having said that, I don't really see why they had to change the character to Patience Price, except give her almost the exact same back-story as the Selina Kyle in Batman Returns (Vengeance, executive boss tries to kill her, mousy secret identity). I mean, they could easily pick it up after Batman Returns- I think it ended in a cliffhanger with her looking at the bat-signal.

Plus, and this is just my personal opinion, I think Selina Kyle sounds so much better than Patience Price anyway. :p

I'm also kind of worried about the release date, seeing as the movie's been in pre-production limbo hell for however-many-years and they expect to put it out....when was it? Next year?

Failure

06-29-2003, 02:38 PM

I'm just stepping in to warn everyone: try to stay civil in discussing Halle Berry. For some reason she really seems to strike one chord or another with everyone here, but please try to stay respectful of each other.

Baltofan

06-29-2003, 02:40 PM

I won't see Catwoman, I don't think she are filling in a movie about herself, she should had returned in the next Batman movie instead.

Nightflower

06-29-2003, 02:44 PM

I won't see Batgirl, I don't think she are filling in a movie about herself, she should had returned in the next Batman movie instead.
Um....Batgirl?

Chris Wood

06-29-2003, 03:13 PM

I think people underestimate Catwoman's popularity. I think one could even argue that more people are familiar with Catwoman, than say, Green Lantern or Wonder Woman.

That seems pretty unlikely for the non-comic reading public. Catwoman has only appeared in film in Batman Returns, which has a rather mixed reputation, and on TV in guest spots on the Batman live action and animated series. Wonder Woman has had her own live action TV show, and both her and Green Lantern are regulars on Superfriends and Justice League.

At the end of the day none of these is a huge character like Spiderman or Batman. The only question is whether they are big enough to draw in large numbers of moviegoers. I have my doubts. Daredevil had trouble, although one might certainly argue that Catwoman is better known than him.

TimTwoFace

06-29-2003, 07:39 PM

But don't make a movie about someone named 'Patience Price' and call it 'Catwoman'.
Enough is enough.

That's been my exact beef this whole time. I swear, if any other studio did this, it would be copyright infringement, evne though the title character has nothing to do with the actual comic book character.

I'm a diehard Batman, and like to stay close to the source material, so I'm open to different interpretations of characters. That's why I can appreciate what Tim Burton tried to do in BATMAN RETURNS - I thought that was a marvellous move. But to take a well-established character and turn her into something she's not, that's just stupid. And hasn't the WB learned from B&R? RESPECT YOUR FANS!

The only reason people want to see this movie is because:

A) It's "Catwoman", and usually that name is synonymous with sexiness
B) Halle Berry is gonna be in a cat-suit for 2 hours.

That's not a movie, that's a damned peep show. And like such films, plot is non-existant.

It's a damn shame that the first Bat-movie to be filmed in my hometown isn't even really a Bat-movie at all.

-Tim

Lil' Joker

06-29-2003, 11:04 PM

Its official,the movie never will se the light of day,The big catwoman fan I am,I wasnt going to see it anyway,im glad that its cancled. Noone would see it anyway....maybe they can try again in a couple of years with SELINA KYLE,GOTHAM,AND BATMAN. Who ever heard of catwoman without selina,gotham,and batman? And Ashley Judd was going to play catwoman,god,that would have to be the worst movie EVER.

TimTwoFace

06-30-2003, 01:25 AM

My beef with this is that I don't even want a Catwoman movie that DOES place her in Gotham, pit her against Batman, and make use of her Selina Kyle identity. I'd much rather see the Bat-movie franchise gain some steam again and go for a few installments before any spin-off or crossover movies (ie BATMAN vs. SUPERMAN) are even attempted.

I've got no problem with Halle Berry as Catwoman, really. She can act the part, she can definitely look the part - the real problem I ever had was with the script ideas.

-Tim

ZorBrak

06-30-2003, 02:11 AM

I've got no problem with Halle Berry as Catwoman, really. She can act the part, she can definitely look the part - the real problem I ever had was with the script ideas.

-Tim

Exactly. Does WB even TRY to adapt plots from comics? Are they TRYING to look stupid or are they truly as moronic as the greenlighting of THIS (of all things) made them look?

WB Here's a novel idea-
Read some DC comics.
Hire a DC comic writer.
Adapt a DC comic plotline into a script.
Film it.

Awww it's just so hard for itty bitty executive brains to understand such a complex concept.

Mike Spartz

06-30-2003, 03:10 AM

The thing is you gotta stay to the source material cause thats what many fan especially batman related are used too and want to see. If your bring in an entirely new character like Price, the fans (like me) will be upset because it shows up that WB doesn't care enough about Batman to even stay to the core and orginal material. ]

READ BATMAN FOR GODS SAKE, TAKE ONLY FROM THE COMICS! :mad:

This movie, made in this fasion, is a total mixtake. WB should reconsider making it and cancel the project right now until a better script featuring Selina Kyle/Catwoman is produced. Until then scrap catwoman, no one will want to see it.

As for Hallie Berry, I think shes a talented actress by i think shes only doing catwoman to get more attention. Lay off hallie and let someone else have the spotlight for a change, geez! :(

too me, WB doesn't know what the heck their doing with this movie.

NinjaJack

06-30-2003, 03:34 AM

READ BATMAN FOR GODS SAKE, TAKE ONLY FROM THE COMICS! :mad:

.

Heh, excuse my ignorance to the comics. but isn't Patience Price already from the comics? So wouldn't this movie be nothing more then seeing the Scarlet Spider on the big screen?

Jedigreedo

06-30-2003, 05:32 AM

Plus, and this is just my personal opinion, I think Selina Kyle sounds so much better than Patience Price anyway. :p

Agreed, the name sounds like it's a special at a store.

"Come on down for our new Patience Price special - patience can get you a better price!"

Nightwing

06-30-2003, 01:20 PM

This Catwoman movie thing has got a lot of the Bat-fans up in arms, and I'm cool with that because I'm one of them, but please do your best to keep things polite, courteous, and on topic.

Personally I don't really understand how anyone can physically "hate" a celebrity. It just reflects more on the strange dilusion that fans and viewers actually know all these celebrities, personally. Of course, the movie and casting is a bad idea to begin with from nothing more than the perspective of a Batman fan, so all the Halle Berry stuff seems like a moot point to begin with.

Anyway, let's keep things cool, and on topic.

Patrick Bateman

06-30-2003, 04:35 PM

Here's one more for the "No Halle Berry" topic. But, I'm going to try to make my points sound intelligent and not just "She sucks! She has an ego! Bla bla bla".

My main concern is her acting. Yes, I realize she got an Oscar. But, that was for a serious drama. Now let's look at her acting in a couple of comic movies, the X-Men flicks. Terrible. Out and out terrible. Her Storm is the worst comic character on screen I've seen since Ashley Scott's Huntress on the failed Birds of Prey. Some people just aren't cut out to be in comic book movies. Halle Berry has made it very clear that she is one of them.