A Tribute to Tom Cruise

Bringing us a blockbuster hit nearly every year since 1981, he has given us over 30 films, rated one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world, made history being the first actor to star in five consecutive films that grossed $100 million, averaging $60 million per film with a winning smile to fall in love with, it is none other than Tom Cruise.

His new film, co-starring Cameron Diaz, 'Knight and Day' was just released yesterday June 23rd. Is this the comeback Tom has been hoping for? Not that Mr. Cruise is doing bad, but lets face it Cruise, you went a little crazy there for a second, you don't have Robert Pattinsons hair, and Valkyrie didn't do so well.

I am interested in seeing the results of this new film for Tom, but what I am really interested in is my little conspiracy theory surrounding this film and 'Killers' that was realesed only a few weeks ago. 'Killers' starred a much younger, fresh cast, Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Hiegl, with basically the same plot as 'Knight and Day'. Though Ashton nor Katherine do not have the experience Diaz and Cruise do, and no one can pull off action like Tom, I still think it was a ploy to release 'Killers' in hopes to ruin a little of the excitement for 'Knight and Day.' Cause who really wants to see the same film twice, especially if the first time around wasn't that great!

I am rooting for you though Tom. I am willing to forget about the couch scene, your love for scientology, and the fact that you may be too old for me now, but is the film community ready to accept you back 100%?

To continue the tribute to Tom, my top 5 Cruise films:

5. Mission:Impossible

4. Rain Man

3. A Few Good Men

2. The Firm

And my #1 Tom Cruise Film:
1. The Last Samuri

So, if you go and see 'Knight and Day' this weekend, I hope you enjoy it and I hope it is better than 'Killers'. I can't wait to see it myself, but I am not going to go in with high expectations!! Good luck Tom!!
And enjoy the movies!!!

TOP TEN

I put together my 'Top Ten' favorite films, from 10 to 1. Maybe reading through my list will help you decide on a film to rent this weekend......

10. GHOHSTBUSTERS

"Ray. If someone asks if you are a God, you say, "Yes!"

9. BANDITS

"You're gonna knock over a bank with a Magic Marker? What are you gonna do, write on 'em?"

8. SOMEONE LIKE YOU

"There are a few things sadder in this life than watching someone walk away after they've left you, watching the distance between your bodies expand until there's nothing.... but empty space and silence."

7. LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS

"It is an army bred for a single purpose: to destroy the world of men. They will be here by nightfall."

6. THE MUMMY

"You better think of something fast, because, if he turns me into a Mummy you're the first one I'm coming after."

5. TALLADEGA NIGHTS: RICKY BOBBY STORY

"I pretty much wake up in the morning and piss excellence."

4. BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY

"I like you, just the way you are."

3. TOMBSTONE

"I'm your huckleberry."

2. ROBIN HOOD, PRINCE OF THIEVES

"You! My room 9:30. You! My room 10 o'clock, and bring a friend!"

Last but not least, of course. My Number 1 for 1o years. Will another film ever take its place? Probably not!

The one and only:

1. GLADIATOR

"Are you not entertained!"

Movies from the weekend....

This weekend I was taken to 14th century England, a very CGI wonderland, and I drove a DeLorean. It was a very eventful weekend.

I decided to rent 'Robin Hood Prince of thieves' starring Kevin Costner, to compare it with the newly released 'Robin Hood' starring Russell Crowe. I have to ask first, Do you remember Disney's animated version of 'Robin Hood'? I would watch that film over and over again growing up. It was my #1. I recently rented it for Carson, but he wasn't too impressed. Anyways, Kevin Costner's 'RH' was similar to the animated version, which is one of the reasons I guess I liked it so much. I haven't seen the Costner version in many years, and now being older with a little bit more film knowledge, I still fell in love. Watching it made me realize many things, especially when comparing it with Russell's 'RH'. What every film needs, and what Costner's 'RH' had, was Morgan Freeman. Pairing Mr. Freeman ( he played Azeem the great one) as Costner's side kick was the best decision the Director and Producers could have made during the whole film. The whole film was perfectly casted. Costner and Freeman worked so well together, believable as true friends willing to die for one another and their beliefs. This is definitely what Russell's film was lacking, a true friendship, a true understanding of why the men stood by each other to fight. It really lacked the comradeship between Robin Hood and his men. Costner's film really showed the audience that Robin Hood and his men fought for a noble cause. Robin Hood was a little selfish, of course wanting more than anything to avenge his fathers death, but by the end of the film you saw it was to free his people, and for love. Russell's Robin Hood on the other hand was a man who walked in front of his men, the leader, with an 'you-do-what-I-say-and-I-will-ask-your-opinion-when-needed-but-I'll-never-need-it-cause-I-am-too-perfect' kinda attitude. I didn't understand why I did not like Russell's film when I first saw it, until I saw Costner's again. Now I understand perfectly, it was lacking the personal connection between Robin Hood and his men. 'Robin Hood Prince of Thieves,' Costner's film, receives an A.

Moving on, cause I go could write an essay on the comparison of those two films.

After leaving Sherwood Forest, I found myself falling down a hole into Wonderland. I must be honest and tell you that I decided to rent this because Johnny Depp played the Mad Hatter in the film. I guess also because anything Tim Burton does is pretty imaginative and impressive. As I began to watch the film I realized I should have done some research before hand. A little spoiler here, but the film is a sequel. A sequel to the Animated version I guess, because it was stated over and over again in the film that Alice had been there before when she was younger, even showing flashbacks including painting the roses red. So, this was a sequel, and I did not like it too much. I did like the cast. It was almost a tribute to Alan Rickman weekend. He plays the Sheriff in 'Robin Hood: p.o.t.' and the Caterpillar in Wonderland. Depp's Hatter was kinda creepy, even more so than his usual characters. I enjoyed the actress who played Alice, Mia Wasikowska. I had not seen her in anything else before this. The film was perfectly casted, but I did not enjoy the plot and was bored, but it was visually entertaining, even so I give the film a C.

Finally, I joined Michael J. Fox in 'Back to the Future III.' The one with cowboy boots and gun fights, and though this final chapter of the films is not as enjoyable as the first 'Back to the Furture,' it was still pretty entertaining. Just the idea alone to be able to travel through time. It is the same feeling as if you were to watch 'Peggy Sue Got Married.' Or even 'Mr. Destiny.' We all have something we wish we could do over, or go back and change. So, I think that alone are reasons why people enjoy films such as 'Back to the Future.' What can I give this film but an A. Back before movies were competing to see who could create the most CGI scenes, 'Back to the Future' was the real thing. Those were real flames at the end of the movie lighting up the street from the DeLorean. That's when I think film sets must have been real exciting. Though cheesy, 80's films were still great and super creative without CGI, and 'Back to The Future' is proof. The 80's weren't so bad after all. Thanks Mr. Spielberg!

KILLERS!

With electronics taking over the world, everyone twittering, face booking, emailing, texting, it came as no surprise when the 'King of Twitter,' Ashton Kutcher announced he was going to film the first 13 minutes of his new film 'Killers' on premiere night and share it with the world over the Internet. The film had yet to be released to critics, no junket, nada. What a smooth decision on his part I think, good tactic, cause I gobbled it right up and followed Mr. Kutchers instructions and watched the first 13 minutes and at the end I was dying to see more! I wonder how many others fell into the trap? I wonder if they hired someone to sit and calculate and track how many viewed the online taping, if they can figure out if this might be the best new way to attract people to come and see a new movie. Because like I said, it got me there.

Side Note: Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz just wrapped up a film called 'Knight and Day.' They released a trailer for this film last year. 'Knight and Day' is produced by 20th Century Fox, 'Killers' by Lionsgate. 'Knight and Day' is about a couple being chased down, together they fight to stay alive- sound familiar? Wait a minute I just saw this film, but with Kutcher and Heigl. In the end what film will be better? It's Cruz vs. Kutcher.

Back to 'Killers'. So, after watching the first 13 minutes I rushed off to see the film. I was excited, so many ways the film could go, and with Kutcher already half naked in the first 5 minutes I knew it could only get better. But..... I was wrong.

While Kutcher can be super charming, and Heigl is perfect as the timid, coy, girl next door, the story was too predictable and I had seen every scene all before.

They did bring Tom Selleck back from the dead, and his never changing perfect mustache. But, even he looked bored with his role.

And was it not enough that this couple was being gunned down by who they thought were friends, that the writers felt the need to add a baby to all this commotion. It was as though the writers didn't quite know where to take the story, so just as TV series add a baby to the mix to try and spice things up, so did this film. Wasn't working for me. Didn't really seem necessary.

The fight scenes were good. But as I watched them I began to think: In an interview Ashton Kutcher states that he wouldn't go through glass during the shoot, but every other 'stunt' he did. So basically Ashton is in this 1 hr 40 min. film for approximately 20 minutes. Enough time for us to see him half naked and fake driving.

The best part about the film was that it was just the right length of time. Just when I was searching for my phone to see the time, it ended, and I was happy.

The Second best part of the film was, well, the ending. Now this is a huge SPOILER, in the end Selleck and Kutcher realize they are one in the same, both killers, both secretly working for the government. That is when the funny moments came, and I think that's where the film should have taken off. Selleck and Kutcher = Killers! Now that sounds like an entertaining movie.

I give this film a C. Kutcher and Heigl made a good team and I enjoyed them, but the story line has been overdone, overwritten, overplayed. Hopefully this film doesn't ruin the chances for 'Knight and Day.' And hopefully Cruz and Diaz give us some surprises. Just so I can compare the two I must go see that one next!