The world forgot why Halle Berry won her Oscar after the "purr-fectly appalling" Catwoman, a comicbook caper directed by Frenchman Pitof. Sadly the notion of the one-time beauty queen prancing about in PVC pants was not enough to lure moviegoers and critics just laughed it up. Coming hot on the heels of schlock horror Gothika, it looks like Berry has used at least two of those nine lives.

Pussyfooting

In a superficially interesting Making Of featurette, Halle Berry shockingly confesses, "I am not a cat person. I don't like cats!" Apparently what appealed to her about the role was the chance to "get in touch with my sexuality" and celebrate "the power of a woman". Hmm. It seems Ms Berry has been watching too much Oprah, but at least the costume designer is more honest when he explains, "It was all about showing as much skin as possible."

Interviews with co-stars Benjamin Bratt and Sharon Stone are also included but an introduction to 'The Cat Wrangler' is by far the most engaging section of this featurette. Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to train a cat to sit, stand, fetch and pose for the camera, although Berry admits to being a little freaked out by this (and clutches her Oscar even tighter).

Kitsch Kitties

TV Catwoman Eartha Kitt hosts The Many Faces Of Catwoman, a half-hour look at the evolution of the feline superheroine. It chronicles her first appearance in DC's Batman comics through to the popular television series (Biff! Pow! Wham! etc), the animated show, and her big screen debut in Batman Returns - in which she looks a lot like Michelle Pfeiffer. "I read a couple of cat psychology books," reveals Ms Pfeiffer in an archived interview that lends weight to what is otherwise a chance for old television has-beens to revel in past glories. Even Adam 'Baggy Tights' West gets in on the act, dropping such clangers as, "I think Michelle Pfeiffer's performance was... quite good." Meow!

An alternative ending is included in five deleted scenes ie Berry triumphantly smooching Benjamin Bratt. But the funniest of the bunch sees her being chased down by a drooling mutt shortly after Patience Phillips' 'transformation'. Hey, even unintentional laughs are better than no laughs at all.

To put it kindly, this selection of extras is thin enough to slip inside Halle Berry's costume. There's woefully little insight into the creative process and contribution from French director Pitof is limited to just a brief soundbite. In short, this DVD is definitely not the cat's meow.

EXTRA FEATURES