The Ice Princess

[Catwoman]

oopsy.

[johnnygobbs]

and i don't mean me *growls*

THE ICE PRINCESS!!!

Physically speaking, I thought she was absolutely gorgeous in an admittedly shallow, generically blonde kind of way.

As far as her function in the film is concerned, as much as she served as an important plot device (i.e. the basis for Batman being framed, and therefore demonised in the public eye), I also thought she functioned in a sub-textual sense as a striking contrast to Selina Kyle, both before and after her transformation into Catwoman.  Selina starts the film as a dowdy, overworked, undervalued, downtrodden, and not especially glamorous (albeit still obviously very beautiful despite her drab clothes) secretary, who is required to play down her evident intelligence in Shreck's male dominated work environment.  Whereas, from what can be derived from her minimal screentime, the Ice Princess is popular, spoiled, glamorously dressed in furs and a glitzy costume, and despite her blatant stupidity, much beloved, even though all she is essentially required to do is press a button (which she still struggles to get her head around).  In fact, her dim Paris Hilton-like character seems very prescient in today's celebrity-obsessed society.   

The following link to a book called 'The New Avengers' by Jacinda Reid contains an interesting feminist take on Batman Returns:
 
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=5enW1Bm2uhIC&lpg=PA175&ots=yJmb8Fm42X&dq=batman%20returns%20the%20new%20avengers&pg=PA175#v=onepage&q=batman%20returns%20the%20new%20avengers&f=false

At pages 194 to 195, the writer makes a contrast between Catwoman and the Ice Princess, suggesting that whilst the Ice Princess is 'stupid, childish and feminine', Selina starts off as 'intellectual, serious and dowdy', and later, post-transformation, seeks to assert herself as 'witty, sophisticated and sexy' in contrast to both the Ice Princess' type of character and her own former persona.

Anyway, what do you think about the Ice Princess, er, Ice Princess?

[Catwoman]

well when i'm i'm in my happy go lucky goofy dumb blonde mood, she reminds me of me. she's beautiful as well. all around i just think she deserved a better fate but oh wells. they needed an expendable character so hell.

[The Dark Knight]

I thought she was a good character, but in the end, she was just a supporting character. They didn't owe her anything. She could have just been in one scene. Be grateful for what you did get.  

[Catwoman]

ok in that case her one scene should have been at the start. she could have stood up there with a microphone on her and go "ok, so the tree lights up and then i push the button...no..no no no, wait wait wait, i push the button and THEN the tree lights up." and everyone stares at her.

[Catwoman]

even though all she is essentially required to do is press a button (which she still struggles to get her head around). 

thank you. that made me giggle. i needed it.

[johnnygobbs]

ok in that case her one scene should have been at the start. she could have stood up there with a microphone on her and go "ok, so the tree lights up and then i push the button...no..no no no, wait wait wait, i push the button and THEN the tree lights up." and everyone stares at her.

That would have been hilarious.  I guess she must have had a prompt in her first scene where she got the correct sequence of pressing the button, and then watching the tree light up.  I do recall seeing her apparently being trained in the 'fine art' of how to go about lighting a tree in the background of the scene in which Bruce Wayne meets Selina Kyle outside Shrecks Department store.   

[The Dark Knight]

I do recall seeing her apparently being trained in the 'fine art' of how to go about lighting a tree in the background of the scene in which Bruce Wayne meets Selina Kyle outside Shrecks Department store.  

Really? I didn't catch that. I'll have to give it a look. I must always be in awe of Pfeiffer.  

[johnnygobbs]

Yeah, she's in the background of the shot where Bruce is arranging a dinner date with Selina just as Alfred honks the horn of the Rolls.  You can see a guy surrounded by a group apparently trying to instruct the princess on the process (and presumably the order) of lighting the Christmas tree.  Although the following scene in her dressing room suggests those instructions were lost on her pretty head...

[Catwoman]

it was prolly just too much info.