11 Most Intense Performances In Comic Book Movies

By Ewan Paterson /

10. Michelle Pfeiffer - Catwoman (Batman: Returns)

Warner Bros.

Batman Returns is a veritable classic of the comic book genre, and while it does pale somewhat in comparison to its immediate predecessor - Batman 1989 - it's still a great film.

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It's iconic for a whole host of reasons, chief among which sits Michelle Pfeiffer's rendition of Selina Kyle. Stylish, charismatic and devilishly over the top, Pfeiffer's Catwoman stole almost every scene in Burton's Bat-sequel, bouncing off of Michael Keaton's Batman with an unpredictable edge that manifested most iconically during the character's transformation sequence.

Beautifully shot by Stefan Czapsky, the way Pfeiffer manages to convey Selina's transformation from an anxious and frustrated secretary into a sleek and confident crook is remarkable, unleashing years worth of anger into one explosion that propels the character down a path they cannot hope to turn back from.

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As far as Batman films go, Returns is definitely one of the darkest. Without the talents of Michelle Pfeiffer however, there's no way it would be as iconic as it is.