At this point, a number of readers might be shaking their heads that Heath Ledgers Joker isnt taking up the No. 1 spot, but there are many reasons why Michelle Pfeiffers Selina Kyle is the franchise's best character. Of all the actors who have been in the live-action Batman films since 1989, none seem to be having just as much fun as Pfeiffer is. Pfeiffer sells Kyles evolution from mousy, pathetic assistant to kick-ass, in-charge not-so-do-gooder. Shes absolutely electric to watch as Catwoman and far more exciting as an internally-conflicted love interest to Bruce Wayne than Vicki Vale ever was. And lets not forget that excellent costume. In the scope of the Batman films, theres a severe shortage of strong female characters. Some, like Vicki Vale, exist merely to fulfill the damsel in distress role; some suffer from shoddy characterization, like Rachel Dawes; some are just downright embarrassing, like Poison Ivy and Batgirl; and some just fail to leave any sort of solid lasting impression, like Anne Hathaways Selina Kyle. The sole exception, however, is Pfeiffer, who goes above and beyond in making Catwomans story so enormously fun to watch. If Ledger raised the bar for comic book performances - or, at the least, performances in Batman films - in 2008, then Pfeiffer should be credited for setting it in 1992, particularly for female characters in the superhero film genre. Like this article? Agree or disagree with our picks? Let us know in the comments section below.
Writer, film enthusiast, part-time gamer and watcher of (mostly) good television located on the fringe of Los Angeles, who now has his own website at www.highdefgeoff.com!
