Hey everybody, I just woke up to see that the first official promotional photo of Anne Hathaway as Catwoman from Christopher Nolan‘s The Dark Knight Rises had just been released. Thirty minutes staring at the photo, 3 minutes finding a picture of Julie Newmar, and two scans later, I’m ready to give you guys my perspective in the first edition of what I like to call Geeks of Doom’s Bat-Analysis.
So, let’s start with the actual promo photo shown above, shall we?
What we have here is Anne Hathaway in a tactile suit that looks like leftover costuming from the G.I. Joe movie. That’s not a bad thing at all, mind you, it just has the appearance of being more along the lines of something a spy or high-tech thief would wear, as opposed to the all-leather costumes we’ve seen before. You know, those horrible made from scratch [get it!?] costumes that were featured in Tim Burton’s Batman Returns starring Michelle Pfeiffer and [this is totally not] Catwoman starring Halle Berry. So Hathaway’s costume itself is faithful enough to a real world adaptation of something the character that Selina Kyle from the comics would actually wear.
Good work to Christopher Nolan and crew for getting that right.
Now, let’s talk about the hair. I fancy myself a bit of a fashionista, so one of the first things I pay attention to when I see promo photos is what the actor/actress’ hair looks like [see my complaints about the Henry Cavill Man of Steel photo]. Traditionally, Catwoman has had long hair since her inception in the early days of Batman comics through the days of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s Long Halloween and Catwoman: When in Rome. So, it stays in line with that. However, for myself and from what I understand, most comic readers actually prefer the Darwyn Cooke redesign of Selina Kyle with a shorter pixie-style haircut. In fact, last night when I saw the trailer for One Day starring Anne Hathaway, I screamed out, “She’s got Catwoman hair!”
So, imagine my disappointment when I woke up to this new promo picture today. Tsk, tsk. I mean, how are you going to stealthily fight/steal things with all that hair in your face? It just doesn’t make sense, you guys. And, I mean, she already had the pixie cut! That’s a lost opportunity, if you ask me, which, I actually was asked to do for this analysis, so leave me alone!
Now let’s take a look at the mask/goggles/whatever the Hell that is on her face that in no way resembles a cowl or cat ears or anything.
I’m pretty forgiving when it comes to costume redesigns that don’t stay dead-on faithful to the source material, but taking away Catwoman’s ears just crosses the line. It’s like giving Batman a domino mask. I mean, I love domino masks, don’t get me wrong, but he stops being Batman once he doesn’t have bat features. Now, if the approach is to actually not have Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, but only as Selina Kyle, then I am going to leave the theater a very angry Batman fan. Either way, Catwoman or Selina Kyle, the goggle/mask combo pays tribute to the first on-screen Catwomen: Julie Newmar, Ertha Kitt, and Lee Meriwether from the 1960s Batman TV series.
Which, I honestly don’t have a problem with. It’s a harlequin mask style, which is at home in the reality-based Nolan Bat-verse. My only problem is that you can pretty much take the Cooke redesign of cowl with goggles of Catwoman from the page to the screen, and it would look perfect.
See what I mean? This already has the Nolan style feel, and I think Hathaway could bring that style to life on screen. I just hope this is the tease and not the final product. But again, it’s not terrible. It’s actually a really cool, stealth approach to the character, which is nice to see for once. All recent film versions of Catwoman have focused strictly on the sex appeal, and not on what makes Catwoman awesome. Yes, she is a sexy character, but the way she looks isn’t her sole purpose. Do I think that the costume could have been better? Yes, I think the current look of Catwoman in the comics is pretty much perfect in every way, and that it doesn’t need changing. But I’m also taking everything into consideration here.
But if you’re having some reservations about this take on Selina Kyle, think of two things:
1) She’s probably not going to be brought back to life by magical cat powers.
2) The costume doesn’t look like this:
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_HUPSNFGR757ZDHYRGS3RLZT7NE Steve
Wow, two horrible costume reveals in as many days. First the horrible Superman costume and now the not-Cat Woman abomination that we just saw.
Big pass.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_HUPSNFGR757ZDHYRGS3RLZT7NE Steve
Wow, two horrible costume reveals in as many days. First the horrible Superman costume and now the not-Cat Woman abomination that we just saw.
Big pass.
jolie752
Anne Hathaway does not a good Catwoman make and this awful costume just proves that.
Anonymous
I’m fully of the opinion this isn’t the full Catwoman outfit (especially since the picture is titled “Selina_Kyle”). The suit is fantastic. Seeing the pics of it with the stunt double accentuates what an excellent choice it is.
Seeing the masquerade-style cat mask in other set photos left me a little cold and you could kind of see it as the bases for the eyewear she’s donning in this pic. But this seems more like something tactical she would use while riding the Batpod (?!).
I expect to see a cowl with the ears at some point. The sticking point will be if it’s a mask or goggles that they use for the “eyes”.
Anonymous
I’m fully of the opinion this isn’t the full Catwoman outfit (especially since the picture is titled “Selina_Kyle”). The suit is fantastic. Seeing the pics of it with the stunt double accentuates what an excellent choice it is.
Seeing the masquerade-style cat mask in other set photos left me a little cold and you could kind of see it as the bases for the eyewear she’s donning in this pic. But this seems more like something tactical she would use while riding the Batpod (?!).
I expect to see a cowl with the ears at some point. The sticking point will be if it’s a mask or goggles that they use for the “eyes”.
http://www.facebook.com/nickotmazginnick Nick Otmazgin
Breaking Jaw… ;XD
http://twitter.com/arkhamdaily David Lawyer
The costumer so far looks bad ass. They need to venture as far away from the original concepts of Catwoman, that was featured in previous films/tv shows, as they can. Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Batman has been brilliant thus far. No reason to soil it borrowing corny concepts of years past.
The pixie cut may be YOUR preference but don’t generalize that applies to the majority.
Also, what does hair length have to do with thieving or fighting skills? After all there are such things as pony tails to get them out of the way. Even non metas like Huntress have long flowing hair. Doesn’t affect her fighting skills whatsoever right?
I also think Darwyn Cooke’s Catwoman is the ugliest thing ever. Doesn’t she look like a bug? I’m glad Nolan skipped the cowl here.
So the current cat mask and goggles don’t work for you? I think that would look really good on screen.
Val
I see a lot of people complaining about the goggles/lack of cat-ish things about the costume. But this is, for all we know, Selina’s transformation into Catwoman and this shot might be from somewhere in the beginning of the movie and her costume will become something more like what we are used to by the end of the film and we will get to go through that transformation with her.
I don’t know, I’m keeping my mind open because in Nolan I trust.
Val
I see a lot of people complaining about the goggles/lack of cat-ish things about the costume. But this is, for all we know, Selina’s transformation into Catwoman and this shot might be from somewhere in the beginning of the movie and her costume will become something more like what we are used to by the end of the film and we will get to go through that transformation with her.
I don’t know, I’m keeping my mind open because in Nolan I trust.
THEDARKKNIGTSRISES!!!
Dont worry about the goggles. She will wear the “ears”. This is just a single-screenshot. It like when Batman uses the sonar vision in TDK, thats just a one timer so far. She will have a mask similar to Batmans, the only expection being Batmans ears are straight up on his mask, the Catwomens tilted to the sides as always.
The movie will be great, as always when its done by an excellent director and actors, and dont forget all the people who are doing a great job of screen( Nolan already mentioned).
Not gonna lie, its refreshing to hear from a male that catwomen is about more than just sex appeal.
That being said, I also will be extremely depressed if they took away her ears/cat features. I’ve been reading batman since I could read, and was pretty much raised on the movies. Catwoman was one of my first (and favorite) female role models (right after Poison Ivy – She just wants to save the planet!). You can’t make a character something its not. Its no longer that character anymore!
I love the costume though, including the goggles. Just wish they would have at least added a little more catty-ness to it. :)
-Myssi.
http://www.facebook.com/mattbrooksss Matt Brooks
They have posted one picture. Who knows, she very well could get the cat ears. But also remember they have only called her “Selina Kyle” not Catwoman. They’ve been clear with that.
Anne Hathaway is a stellar actress and I’m sure she will do a great job. Nolan wouldn’t do something stupid.
r u mentally handicapped Tim Burton may have brought Batman to the screen but he did everything wrong with Batman….in Burtons movies in no particular order changes Catwoman’s complete origin story, screwed Batmans costume, the big one killed left and right (attaching a bomb to a guy and then lighting another one on fire with the Batmobile, ad infinitum….Burton even admitted he doesn’t read comic books they are for children why do u think Kevin Smith had such a problem with his horrible ass take on the Bat franchise….jesus he even changed Batmans origin by having the Joker kill his parents instead of Joe Chill
I agree I ride a Roadstar motorcycle and if your riding around on the Batpod your going to need something that is going to make you ride better try going 100mph without goggles now try riding the Batpod without some kind of Bat echo location radar goggles maybe it will show from her perspective and she will have a 360 degree view like some of the new military gear the Army is trying out
Punktu8
dude there was no Batman 4 there was some spoof Batman movie they called Batman & Robin but that was like Scary Movie to Scream it wasn’t a real Batman movie or even in the series of Bat films lol
Anonymous
Halle should have been a cat woman in this movie. I loved her in “Catwoman” and loved the costume too. She was and is sexy as hell and she would have been perfect.
Ries
you do know that Hugo Strange will be in this movie as well right
This character is stated as Selina Kyle not Catwoman Nolan has never said Catwoman is in the film!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Benjamin-Eugene-NElson/659451790 Benjamin Eugene NElson
You fail for being so pig headed that you’ll hate a movie before it comes out.
Troy Clawson5
And the growling voice was actually Bales idea, so there’s that.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Russell-Warren-Waddel/1818607315 Russell Warren Waddel
Ok, lets start with the obvious people! This is a PRODUCTION photo, which will probably have NOTHING to do with the final film. We don’t know what is going on as we’ve yet to see an actual Theatrical Trailer for the film. So, without context, this article is bupkis since it doesn’t have any merit on the film itself. C’mon. This is just a snapshot in time of Anne Hathaway in a suit with some goggles on sitting on the bat-bike. Until I actually see a PREVIEW (aka Theatrical Trailer) I’m not holding my breath. Many comments were made about The Dark Knight when Heath was cast as the Joker. Look at how many people (critics included) who walked out of the theatre with their feet in their mouths because they doubted Chris’ directing abilities. So, to all you haters and trolls out there, WAIT until the movie comes out in summer of 2012 and THEN make your opinions. Don’t waste time on stupid production photos like this. They don’t tell you anything.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Russell-Warren-Waddel/1818607315 Russell Warren Waddel
Here’s a thought…Batman: the animated series used that “growling voice” first. They wanted Batman to have a somewhat different voice than Bruce Wayne. Obviously he wouldn’t want people to know WHO he was. If the general populace knew who he was then he would be useless as a symbol. People would just say “there’s bruce wayne dressin’ up again.” Ergo, the voice of Batman is different. I’m surprised that in Spiderman Mary Jane didn’t recognize Peter sooner, since he didn’t disguise his voice. It will be interesting to see what they do with Andrew Garfield’s Spiderman. But, I digress. People may have their own interpretations of “who’s Batman is better.” I say, they are all great! Except George Clooney. Really horrible. Just abysmal. Other than that, they are all great Batmans.
http://www.facebook.com/lunaloco13 Tiera Branch
I may not see this movie specifically because Anne Hathaway was cast as cat woman. Sorry…but in my opinion she is suppose to have a sort of slinky sex appeal like a cat and right away Anne H. does not fit that description. Not once have I ever looked at Anne H. and thought “wow, if I was a guy I would totally bone her”. One of my favorite comic book characters seems to be totally ruined by who was cast and by the lame costume…
Andrew Cole
actually the growling bat voice was tim burtons idea for the original batman movie and has stuck ever since in all continuities
Andrew Cole
the costume in the first two batman movies wasn’t messed with it was very much as expected at the time for armour it was the later movies which screwed with it.
BK Alley
You obviously didn’t see her in Get Smart, and you’re gay
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