Hi-Sci-Fi

by Irma Arkus

One of the more intriguing rumours to hit the web are the current considerations of bringing Catwoman back to city of Gotham in the next Christopher Nolan’s production of the Big Bad Bat. The usual suspects that infuse me with that familiar bloodcurling sensation seem to be missing, and rumour is that Nolan is eager for someone more gothic, darker and mature, and he is considering Cher as Catwoman for his next production.

I’ve been a vocal proponent of simply ignoring existence of previous attempt by Pitof at Catwoman, featuring Halle Berry, and encouraging we “move on,” so to speak.

Allowing Catwoman to grace the silver screen yet again, is not only desired, but needed, as overwhelming amount of male-centered super-heroes have been gracing our screens during last few years, while their female counterparts are either entirely missing, or are supplemented by those damsels in distress cowering in darkness.

Let’s face it, we are in dire need of some female super-heroes. And they better bring them fast.

The choice of Cher seems an odd one at first, but then again, we need to consider the full impact of Heath Ledger’s cinematic performance as Joker. Until Nolan, there has been no depiction of a fantasy world so harsh, and strangely realistic, and populated with Oscar-deserving actors. Whoever inherits the task of being the Big Bad will be compared to now legendary Heath Ledger, which is why the choices of next villains must consist of ripened actors, expressive human beings, and not the usual eye-candy excuses we are “meant to enjoy” on screen.

Heath Ledger, Robert Downey Jr., Christian Bale, Edward Norton - these are some of the exceptional actors that have graced our screens in form of super-villains and super-heroes and not by accident. The act of turning comic-books to live-action performances has not only increased in popularity, but has also gained a sort of maturity in the eyes of its critics and audiences alike.

It no longer entertaining to make a super-hero fight, or fly, or have any extraordinary abilities. The amazing and unreal has been reproduced by computer-generated graphics many times over, and we are no longer satisfied by special effects alone. A semblance of a storyline with phoned-in performances by yesterdays soap-stars will just not do, because our tastes have matured. Now we want, and expect more.

This is why I am eager to think about the next Big Bad in Christopher Nolan’s films. And it is why we are to applaud the more unusual choices. In other words: Cher as Catwoman? That is interesting.