Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes

[Anastasia]

I'm not clear on how you can be the top grossing film star when your top grossing film comes in at #45....http://www.imdb.com/boxoffice/alltimegross You'd think Daniel Radcliffe, for one, would have more right to that title, but then everything is about Tom Terrific

 

[thehepburn]

I'm not clear on how you can be the top grossing film star when your top grossing film comes in at #45....http://www.imdb.com/boxoffice/alltimegross You'd think Daniel Radcliffe, for one, would have more right to that title, but then everything is about Tom Terrific

So you are comparing child actor who is in a franchise movie series to a proven box office star over the past 20 years?

 

[oolie coco]

I think that everyone's point is that he's nuts.

No one is denying that he's a movie star.

 

[Nemova]

For weeks I've had this horrible feeling that when Katie give birth the world's gonna slowly start declining into doom.... there's just something about this whole situation that makes me uncomfortable.....

It's because the whole thing reeks of "Rosemary's Baby".

 

[Anastasia]

So you are comparing child actor who is in a franchise movie series to a proven box office star over the past 20 years?

No, I'm questioning "top box office draw", not "proven".

I also question why people go to his movies - if it's to see the movie, or if it's to see Tom Cruise. Before the Katie freakishness, I never thought one way or another about Tom. No opinion. I would go and see some of his movies in the theater, but none of them were because of him. My boyfriend and I saw War of the Worlds inspite of him because we wanted to see the special effects on a big screen, and figured with Spielberg, we'd get a semi-solid 2 hours of entertainment. And I also objectively think that Tom Cruise is a solid actor. He does a good, convincing job in most of his movies - I even thought he was excellent in Minority Report.

I just don't think he's the most lucrative or desirable human to ever grace the silver screen, which is what "top box office draw" suggests. There're a lot of factors involved.

 

[thehepburn]

I just don't think he's the most lucrative or desirable human to ever grace the silver screen, which is what "top box office draw" suggests. There're a lot of factors involved.

Lots of people may question why such-and-such are an A-List or a big star. Who really knows all the reasons why? But if you dont think Tom Cruise is NOT a "top box office draw" after 20 years in this business then I would like to know who you think is one?

 

[erin_k]

I watched Tom Cruise on Letterman last night and he seemed like .... a normal guy.....


....

 

[Anastasia]

Lots of people may question why such-and-such are an A-List or a big star. Who really knows all the reasons why? But if you dont think Tom Cruise is NOT a "top box office draw" after 20 years in this business then I would like to know who you think is one?

No one, actually. I don't believe the actor and actresses have that big of a pull compared to the vehicle. So we're probably approaching this very differently, which is fine, and I respect your opinion I have always believed that the percentage of people who choose to see a movie in the theater because it's starring a certain somebody is a distinct minority compared to the percentage people who go for the plot or director. Take Titanic for example, the #1 movie of all time. Yes, lots of teenies went because Leonardo's dreamy, but I suspect (from years of discussing films with many, many people) that the vast majority went first in waves to see the Titanic sink on the big screen in then cutting edge special effects, and then to see what all the hype was about. I think top grossing actors are considered such because they have made good career decisions in joining with certain movies. Tom has made good career decisions, and because he's a good actor, he is able to continue to make good decisions, and pair with people like Spielberg, and make franchises like MI.

Basically, I believe many more people go to see blockbusters because of the director, because of the types of movies they are, and because they tend to come out at times when more people go to the theater, than because of what actor is attached to the starring role.

 

[thehepburn]

Antastasia, that is interesting what you wrote and I respect your opinion too.

I would have to disagree on your opinion on Titanic. The reason why Titanic is the highest grossing movie of all time is because it kept on making $20 mil every weekend for about 3-4 months. The teenagers kept on seeing it week after week. You say that people saw it for the director or special effects but the special effects pall after the first or second viewing. I believe that the teens went for the love story and how dreamy Leo was. You may or may not remember but another film starring Leo came out during Titanic's run -- MAN IN THE IRON MASK. So one weekend, Leo had TWO pics making over $20 mil each. he truly was King of the World. Now I ask you, would MAN IN THE IRON MASK have done as well if it didnt have Leo? My answer would be "no". He was an A-Lister by then. TITANIC had put him in everyone's consciousness forever. He was so popular at that point that MITIM made a lot more than it was expected to.

I think movie savvy people like you and myself may say that they will see a movie because of a director but I would point out that the average middle american movie goer is not aware of the majority of directors beyond the bug names like Spielberg or Hitchcock. For example: X-MEN 3 which is coming out will be directed by Brett Ratner, who is considered a hack director. I dont know anyone who would see X3 because Ratner diretced it but DESPITE that fact that he directed. I would propose that the people who will be seeing this movie are comic book movie fans and the ones who are not who will see it will probably see it because Halle Berry, Rebecca Romijn are hot or Jack Hughman is charming.

Now despite all that, dont think I am a fan of Tom Cruise; I am not. However, I dont despice him as some people to and I think that if any actor could be considered a top box office draw, it would be TC. Now, it's mostly symbiotic with him. For the most part, TC almost always picks movies that would normally have mass appeal -- MAGNOLIA and EYES WIDE SHUT being the major exceptions. However, even in pictures that would have limited appeal like a civil war Japanese epic like THE LAST SAMURAI, I do believe his presence in such a film brings more BO than a movie would have had if he wasnt. That's where his BO clout can be most seen.

 

[jml2]

Jack Hughman was that deliberate?

 

[jml2]

I think Tom Cruise has recently lost whatever box office power, and that will reveal itself in the near future. Everyone thinks he is nuts now. something about getting his sister to do his PR, was probably a big mistake

 

[Nemova]

This doesn't quite belong in here, but there was no point in starting a new thread so here it is:

From IMDB.com

Cruise Starts All-Action Day with NYC Firemen
Tom Cruise kicked off his mad dash across New York City yesterday by driving around Times Square on top of a fire engine. The movie star used a helicopter, motorbike, car and the Big Apple's famous subway system to attend three city-wide Mission: Impossible III premieres. And the new dad got his busy day started by visiting MTV's studios on top of a fire engine, and introducing pal Kanye West's live performance on Total Request Live from the street outside. The action man called up to the rapper, "We'll see you in Harlem," as West prepared to perform new tune "Impossible" from the soundtrack of Cruise's summer blockbuster. The fire engine transported Cruise to a helipad, where he took off to buzz around New York's skies in a helicopter. Cruise's day continued with a string of speedy traffic encounters, including one on his very own subway train. The movie star's production company rented the train for an estimated $12,000 so that Cruise could arrive at the official US premiere of his new film in Midtown in style.


The headline sounds a bit dirty to me. All action, Tom Cruise, firemen....

 

[Jennika]

ha ha ha ha ^^^^ that headline does sound really gay

 

[canuckcutie]

Tom's trying way too hard to be cool and it reeks of desperation. He reminds me of those older guys who hang out in clubs trying to pick up younger women and they are dressing and acting like they are 20. That's Tom. He's what mid 40's now? His star is on the decline but he's desperately trying to fit in and be cool. I see him hanging out with Kanye West and I have to roll my eyes. It's like, "all the kids like Kanye, his music is very popular so I shall make him my new best friend".

At any rate he dragged the Kate Bot out to the premiere of MI3 tonight. I'm only surprised he didn't drag baby pillow down the red carpet as well.

 

[rainglow]

Pics from premiere

all pics from AP via Yahoo

I can't help but wonder how much of this appearance was her idea...personally, if I had given birth 2 weeks ago and was feeling frumpy and lumpy (which the choice in dress might suggest), you couldn't drag me away from my couch and my sweatpants!

 

[cosmogrl5]

This just makes me so angry--if it's true. At this point, I would put nothing past Tom! From the superficial:

Tom Cruise has signed Katie Holmes up to a company called Buff Brides to get her in shape in preparation for their wedding this year. A source tells the Daily Mirror:

"Katie can and will do it... She has great motivation. She loves her fiance and was proud that Tom oversaw this programme. He told her he wanted her to be the most beautiful bride ever. She was in tears when he said that."​

Buff Brides? He might as well have sent her to a place called Man Camp or The Sex Change Insitute of America. It doesn't matter how much muscle Katie puts on, Tom needs to realize nothing will ever compare to that special night in the woods he first felt the soft caress of a steroid-pumped man in a thong.

 

[thehepburn]

I dont believe it. Very few things from the superficial turns out to be true.

However, that doesnt mean that I dont think TC is an ****hole. I'm surprised they didnt take the baby out so the unworthy unwashed masses could kiss its precious feet.

 

[Anastasia]

I think movie savvy people like you and myself may say that they will see a movie because of a director but I would point out that the average middle american movie goer is not aware of the majority of directors beyond the bug names like Spielberg or Hitchcock.

This is an excellent point, thank you for bringing it up, because it totally slipped my mind Through Netflix, I watch 150 movies a year, as a conservative estimate. Blockbusters, major Hollywood productions, indies, foreign movies, old movies, etc. My favorite films of 2005 were Millions, Junebug, and The Constant Gardener - outside of the people who watched them with me, I can count on one hand the number of people I know in real life who even saw them - they all loved Wedding Crashers and WOTW (not that there's anything wrong with that So for me, a LOT more factors into whether I will see a movie, or enjoy it, than who is starring in it. But for those that don't watch a lot of movies, I can see the actors being the biggest draw - they're the most visible, tangible part of the film; and if your film watching is limited because of time or interest or whatnot, the actor is probably your safest bet as to whether you'll enjoy it or not.

And I agree that Tom is a solid actor, despite his real life antics and personality

Favorite recent Tom comment? On GMA he said that Suri was born with "instant neck control". And apparently, on Regis and Kelly, he claimed he ran 17mph while doing stunts for MI:III, which gives him a 3.5 minute mile! Way to go Tom!

 

[brokenenglish]

^He is such an egomaniac!

Sometimes, like at the MI III premiere I think him and Katie....oops, I'm sorry Tom- Kate... make a very cute couple.
(If neither of them speaks)

 

[DreamsAreMade]

^I agree...as an average couple I would think "Wow! what a cute couple!"
But I can't do that anymore now that she's become a robot and he has developed invisible Jack Nicholson eyebrows and shark smile....
I can't think of anything but "freakshow"