Lionsgate
Starring: Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson
Also Starring: Arthur, Sammy, Spirit, Stewie
Directed by: Frank Miller
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!
Synopsis: Based on the comic book series by Will Eisner. Rookie police officer Denny Colt (Gabriel Macht) is killed and returns as The Spirit to fight crime in Central City.
Cat Cattle Call: The spirit has an affinity for cats as is evidenced in the opening titles. Many cats are present in his secret lair.
Featured Feline: One cat in particular, an Egyptian Mau whose name is Arthur, follows as the Spirit leaves.
Arthur is seen in several scenes alongside the Spirit, often listening to him as he talks.
Arthur is also present during some of the Spirit’s darkest hours, such as when he’s fighting villains or when he falls into the water and starts to drown.
Purr Blur: The outline of a cat that meows is seen for just a second as the Spirit and others are riding in an elevator.
Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): In one scene the Spirit is captured by his enemy, Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson). Another villain named Silken Floss (Scarlett Johansson) is working with Octopus to steal an ancient urn with mythological blood of Heracles that can grant immortality. The pair explain how their attempts to secure the right formula to mix with the blood ended in failure. Silken Floss has a tiny white long-haired kitten named Muffin in a cage and picks it up, then picks up a hypodermic needle.
Kitty Carnage Warning! Octopus deposits the contents of the syringe into a dentist chair sink full of milk and they let the kitten drink. The kitten then melts away leaving only its blue eyes. The actual melting is only shown briefly on screen, most of it is conveyed by pitiful mews and the Spirit’s angry face.
Arthur the cat is credited as playing himself, although the Mau team from Animals for Hollywood, including cat actor Cairo, likely played the part. The part of Muffin was played by a trio of kittens named Sammy, Spirit and Stewie.
Final Mewsings: Only a truly evil villain could melt a kitten.
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