Why do you hate Tom Cruise ??

[kentuck]

I know he jumped up and down on a couch on an Oprah show, but is that reason to hate him? He's been in some pretty good movies, including Rain Man, Born on the Fourth of July, and The Color of Money, and others. I do not think he is getting very good reviews for Valkyrie, his latest movie, and probably does not deserve them. However, that is no reason to blacklist him or to hate him? Where did this movement originate? It's puzzling to me??

[TexasObserver]

1. I judge his films on their merits. But he's a space cadet, personally.

[parasim]

2. Huh?

Isn't calling him a space cadet judging him other than just on the merits of his films?

[TexasObserver]

9. I judge his work as an actor. I judge his nutty behaviors as a person.

It's not complicated. He's a real person. He has a life outside of his films.

[parasim]

61. Oops, sorry, I misread your post.

I now realize that you said you judged his films by their merits not him. Sorry about that.

[cabluedem]

19. Any man lucky enough to marry a woman like Nicole Kidman then dump her is a chump, IMHO.

Tomcat is a self-centered, self-loving ****-wad who never deserved the love of such a talented, intelligent beautiful actress like her.

[StreetKnowledge]

24. Amen to that!

Kidman is as gorgeous as they come. Cruise is a chump who has seen better days. Pretty good in Top Gun, very good in The Rain Man. But man, he really needs to lay off the $cientology stuff.

[cabluedem]

109. Tom-cat will never step away from Scientology. He is thier poster boy, along with Travolta ....

but Nicole is a class act, for sure.

[DS1]

197. maybe she's a high-maintenance b*tch. maybe he is.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

254. Nicole Kidman

has had so much plastic surgery she looks like a mannequin. She is really ugly now.

[ZombieHorde]

72. Why do you believe Nicole Kidman to be wonderful?

[cabluedem]

110. Because she is. Period. n/t

[ZombieHorde]

111. Has she joined the legion of undead?

[Name removed]

113. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ZombieHorde]

117. By f**king, do you mean fucking? If so, what is the point of the "**"?

If you are a f**king, scientologist, bring it on, baby!!!

What is it exactly you would like me to "bring on"?

Warning: I'll hand you your head on a platter that you can serve up to
L. Ron Hubbard, your little "tin-god".

Warning noted.

[Rebubula]

129. Pffft

He blew it with Mimi Rogers...and I personally think that she is way more interesting and beautiful than Kidman (not bashing her at all - she is also pretty amazing).

Scientology is the only reason that I think that he is kooky.

Of course, L. Ron could have been right....

[DutchLiberal]

152. Well, if you could 'upgrade' to Penelope Cruz...

Why would you even care about any actor's love life? :shrug:

[bertman]

255. And, of course, you know Nicole Kidman personally so you are eminently qualified

to say why the prima donna actor was a self-loving ****-wad because he dumped the perfect, non-egotistical beauty superstar. Or maybe not.

[dweller]

3. i always thought his smile was fake

and therefore, i couldn't trust him.

plus, he sucked as Lestat.
dp

[RoyGBiv]

4. Lestat ...

What he did with Lestat is a major reason *why* I hate him. :mad:

[moobu2]

16. I didnt like him as Lestat

but the whole movie was disapointing. I read the entire book aloud to a group over a couple of weeks and we all loved it. The book was wonderful, the movie didn’t do it justice. Tom C was bad but the entire movie was.

[leftstreet]

5. Don't know much about him, but he was a GREAT hit man in 'Collateral'

He nailed it.

Not sure why he's controversial.

:shrug:

[question everything]

45. Agre. He was very good there (nt)

[DJ13]

6. Off camera his reputation is one of arrogance

But in all honesty, there are few movies of his I havent liked.

[undeterred]

8. Renee Zellweiger said he was the nicest person

she'd ever worked with, and Rosie O'Donnell says the same thing.

[undeterred]

7. He criticized Brooke Shields for getting medical treatment

for post-partum depression. He was way out of bounds on that, and it let people know how strange he is. I don't think people dislike him for his acting but for what he does in the rest of his life, especially promoting Scientology.

[MannyGoldstein]

21. He's A Scientologist - And Scientology Is Nasty, Nasty Stuff

They believe that all psychiatric drugs are dangerous - however, these drugs have allowed many people to lead much better lives.

This is just one of the extreme views held by this "church". See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology or http://www.xenu.net/, for example.

[earth mom]

39. self delete

[ColbertWatcher]

40. Not just medicine, but psychiatry in general. The cult hates science. n/t

[cabluedem]

82. Indeed. Scientology has stripped people who needed help, of all thier money & Tomcat is a spokesman.

[elshiva]

224. That and I don't think he's a good actor.

:hide:

[DainBramaged]

124. Doesn't he have a right to practice the religion of his choice?

There are people who believe Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Christianity is nasty nasty stuff. Does that give any of us the right to deny them their freedom of religion, no matter if we agree with them or not?

[DireStrike]

164. Of course he does.

That may be why nobody called for him to change religions, or for scientology to be abolished.

[DainBramaged]

171. But it's ok to bash his religion simply because it isn't an 'accepted' religion?

[MannyGoldstein]

190. It's OK To Bash A Religion To The Degree It Obviously Causes Harm

Particularly if that harm is to non-adherents. Scientology is particularly heinous in that it seeks to end freedom of speech. So far as I know, the other religions in the US don't seek to destroy that basic constitutional right.

[DutchLiberal]

249. Now that's funny.

Did you per chance miss the controversy over the 'atheist sign' that was being put up next to a nativity scene in California? (Was it?) Christians went ballistic over this and lobbied the governor to take it down. Just one of many examples.

[MannyGoldstein]

260. Was It Actually Taken Down?

Was it an official church position? Or was it a few dim-wits?

Do you have a link?

[DutchLiberal]

261. It was not taken down. It was stolen.

O'Reilly framed it as part of the 'war on christmas':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EuLjX6Flmc

[cabluedem]

209. Its a sham cult that tells people that mental illness can be cured by their beliefs alone, no meds.

[DutchLiberal]

250. That is dangerous!

Does it also tell people that homosexual feelings IS a mental illness that can be cured by anti-gay treatment, like Christianity does?

Don't get me wrong, I find Scientology to be disgusting, but I also get angry at the hypocrisy of so many people who are singling it out and pretend it's the only wacko religion.

[cabluedem]

207. Scientology is a scam cult, not a religion. Banned in Germany as a cult. nt

[DutchLiberal]

251. What's the difference between a 'cult' and a 'religion'?

And who gets to decide?

[DutchLiberal]

157. Many Christians believe the same about non-psychiatric drugs...

And they prevent their children from getting the injections they need against any kind of disease... and they're allowed to do that; the government doesn't consider it child abuse, citing 'freedom of religion'...

[MannyGoldstein]

179. Not Exactly

People have gone to jail when their children are seriously harmed by those actions - at least that's the case in Massachusetts.

[DutchLiberal]

188. Stupid me. I should have made clear I was talking about my own country...

Where the same people who are bitching about Scientology turn a blind eye on the practices of fundamental Christians who believe their children aren't allowed prevention from deadly diseases, because "it's God will" whether they die or not...

[MannyGoldstein]

189. Are You Actually Dutch?

The Dutch have always struck me as *very* practical - I'm surprised they'd allow that nonsense to go on (my wife's father and family are from the Netherlands.)

[DutchLiberal]

202. Our problem is the Christian-Democrats are *always* in government...

They remain the biggest party in every election, no matter how big they screw up. They have a very loyal constituency. They're not the fundies that inhabit the Republican Party, but their presence prevent us from overcoming some religion-related issues. (Another one is government subsidies for religious schools.) The only time they've been absent from power was from 1994-2002, for the first time in 80 years. It was in those 8 years that we legalized same-sex marriage, euthanasia and decriminalized abortion. It couldn't be done before.

And where did you think my username came from? :P

[cabluedem]

23. Right on the money. He had no business in her affairs at all. nt

[earth mom]

43. FYI-Tom apologized to Brooke & invited her to his wedding & she went. So enough about it already.

:eyes:

[ColbertWatcher]

51. He should be very thankful that she was forgiving of him. n/t

[earth mom]

63. Apologizing to Brooke proved Tom is a class act. And Brooke is too.

It takes a big person to swallow their ego and apologize publicly like Tom did.

[ColbertWatcher]

70. Yes, she was very "big" (your words) to accept his private apology for publicly criticizing her.

I wouldn't have used that word, but hey, whatever works.

In a related note, I think it was big of the New York Times to give her space to publish that piece about postpartum depression.

Not many reputable newspapers would have given an actress the space to say something serious.

[earth mom]

78. No, it was BIG of Tom to apologize. They were both gracious about it in the end. nt

[ColbertWatcher]

92. Like I said, she was very gracious ...

... to allow him not to publicly apologize after publicly berating her.

[cabluedem]

119. I disagree. Tom-cat knew he blew it and the scientology big-wigs gave him his marching orders. nt

[cabluedem]

81. I was a victim of Scientology so I will speak out agianst people who pimp it like Tomcat.

Scientology preys on the mentally ill, stealing their money and telling them that psychiatry is a big hoax and that L.R.H. has all the answers. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

[ColbertWatcher]

102. I'm sorry to hear that you were in that cult, but I'm glad that you got away. n/t

[cabluedem]

108. Thanks. Its a horrible cult, as I found out to my misfortune. nt

[Crunchy Frog]

87. He should apologize to all women who have suffered from PPD.

[cabluedem]

121. Tom-cat doesnt apologise for anything unless he is told to by his "church". nt

[DutchLiberal]

155. Oh no! He had an opinion on a subject!

Should he have minded his own business? Yes. Does any 'celebrity' ever? No. So I really don't know why Cruise is consistently singled out. When actors criticize others on Christian or political grounds, it's okay, but not when it's Scientology? Yes, it is crazy, but not more so than any other religion...

[Cha]

211. Yeah, and he apologized and she and her

husband went to his wedding to Katie Holmes.

[Pastiche423]

10. The movies you mentioned

were good in spite of the no talent Cruise. I don't hate him, I've never found anything to like about him.

[Cetacea]

11. Any actor good enough for Kubrick is OK in my book

And Rain Man and Born on the Fourth of July were great films, as were some others that he's been in.
I think the hatred here is mainly due to his involvement with scientology?

[REP]

48. Kubrick did make some stinkers; Cruise was in one of them

[edbermac]

69. The only stinker Kubrick made was his first feature Fear and Desire.

And he himself admitted that, calling it inept and pretentious. After that his films were better and better.

And Eyes Wide Shut WAS NOT a stinker. For your reading pleasure:

http://www.visual-memory.co.uk/amk/doc/0096.html

http://www.indelibleinc.com/kubrick/films/ews/reviews/harpers.html

[REP]

83. We all have opinions; some stink, like EWS

[Cetacea]

151. The point being that Kubrick could have any actor he desired

[JI7]

107. there was no chemistry between Cruise and Kidman

[hlthe2b]

130. I agree.. and because he is so public & proselytizing re: Scientology

John Travolta and many others are members, but are not so adament nor publically vocal about it as Cruise... That,along with his frequently bizarre and excessive behavior makes TC a lightening rod...

[RoyGBiv]

12. As an actor? A person?

As a person, I don't know him personally, but I know he's into Scientology, and distrust anyone into that. People as hardcore about it as he seems to be makes it worse.

But, mostly, I don't think about him on a personal level. Do. Not. Care.

As a actor, I dislike him because he's only played 1.5 characters in his entire career. That character is Tom Cruise, the same character he played in Risky Business. Everything he's done, with the possible exception of Born on the 4th of July (Tom Cruise part of the way, an actual character the other part), has been that character in different contexts.

And it's boring.

Rain Main was only good because of Dustin Hoffman. Dozens of people could have played Cruise's character, which would have been nice, since it was really weird to me to see that kid from Risky Business driving around with Dustin Hoffman's character.

[kentuck]

13. And you feel the same way about John Travolta ?

and others that believe in Scientology?

[RoyGBiv]

20. Yes ...

They are not people I know, and I do not spend my time worrying about them. The knowledge that he's into Scientology makes me distrustful.

But, since I'm never going to meet either of them, this consumes very little mental energy.

[cabluedem]

28. Travolta is only worse then Tom-Cat when it comes to promoting "sicken-ology". nt

[Orrex]

14. How about in Magnolia?

I thought that his performance there was excellent.

[RoyGBiv]

22. Ah, got me ...

I forget about that one. Okay, he's played 2.5 roles. :)

There's the thing, though. He was so good in that, he wasn't playing Tom Cruise, so I forget it is Tom Cruise.

I *want* to "forget" I'm looking at an actor when I see a movie, and it's very hard to do that with most of Cruise's roles.

[Hannah Bell]

222. yes, so good i forgot it was tc. he played it very creepy. wait, maybe that IS the real tc.

[Cetacea]

15. I don't know. You could say that about many of the so-called greats

They become caricatures of themselves.

[RoyGBiv]

29. Possibly ...

I look at it this way. I don't assume the Tom Cruise I see on the screen is Tom Cruise in Real Life. It's just a character he plays. And if all an actor intends or is able to do is play that character, that's not in and of itself a bad thing ... if the movie or whatever is suited for it. People wrote movies around the character Cary Grant played ... same with Jimmy Stewart, and they did well in those roles, and I enjoy the roles.

Cruise does his role well enough. I just don't like it and think it is placed into contexts that don't make sense.

But that's just me ...

I've actually enjoyed most of his movies. Top Gun II (aka Days of Thunder) was a particularly low spot as was his horrible portrayal of Lestat. But, generally speaking, his contribution to those movies is not the reason I like this and often tends to be the main thing I dislike about them.

[Mudoria]

166. The same could be said of Jack Nicholson..

He's been playing the "Cuckoo" character in every movie since.

[RoyGBiv]

170. I dunno ...

If that's true, there's a lot of variation to it. McMurphy was not Jack Torrance in some rather significant details, which is notable because the way he played the role of McMurphy is part of what recommended him for the Torrance role.

He has been branded by that, of course.

We might also consider that Nicholson had been making films for almost 20 years when the Cuckoo role came to him and had displayed a wide range to his acting ability already. IMO, it's Torrance, more than McMurphy that typed him, but they probably worked together to create a Brand for Nicholson. McMurphy isn't actually crazy, and a lot of Nicholson's roles afterward have him at some point on the crazy meter.

I think it's more correct to say that Nicholson tends to have roles that require a certain quirky intensity, some likable, some clearly not so. I see a lot of variation between McMurphy, Torrance, Garrett Breedlove, and Charley Partanna for example.

[1]

17. because every poster on du is absolutely perfect in his/her own life.

every poster on du has never fucked up.

every poster on du has lead an exemplary existence.

every poster on du is perfect.



that's why we can give others so much shit. we are so much better than them. and, oh by the way, our own shit doesn't stink!


booyah!

[Posteritatis]

26. I'm not perfect, but I'm also not a scientologist

I come out ahead there, I think.

[1]

42. but you didn't answer my question... so no, you are not. and no you do not...

my god the pretentiousness here...

[Posteritatis]

53. Hard to answer a nonexistent question, don't you think?

I'll just stay over here, not being a Scientologist and therefore being better than those who are.

[Name removed]

58. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dweller]

64. is that you, Tom?

:eyes: wide rolling

dp

[tkmorris]

97. I suppose you could have worded it as a question.

You know, with question marks. Instead of as the statement you did in fact write.

[cabluedem]

116. Yes, you do. Germany has declared scientology to be a cult, so NO tax breaks! he-he. nt

[Cetacea]

30. And we are all expert talent scouts. lol

[1]

44. or assholes. you get to choose... n/t.

[Qanisqineq]

89. lol

your post cracked me up :D

[tkmorris]

95. And we are chock full of pretentious ****'s, am I right?

Sorry friend, your DU stock cratered about 48 hours ago. I would suggest doing some mea culpas but I'm pretty sure you'd just get mad at me. Give it some thought though, huh?

[Jack_DeLeon]

18. scientology, nuff said...

[Posteritatis]

25. Indeed (nt)

[JohnnieGordon]

33. Nuff said, but if I were to say more, I hate all his movies anyway..nt

[SidDithers]

194. It's all I need not to like him...nt

Sid

[awoke_in_2003]

196. ....

(insert any religion here), nuff said...

[jobycom]

27. I like him. I think some people have a misplaced sense of iconoclasm.

Always cracks me up. You get in a discussion with a Cruise hater, and they say "He always plays the role he played in Top Gun." So you ask "What about Rain Man? Color of Money? Fourth of July? Last Samarai? Interview With The Vampire? Magnolia? Collateral?" They say "Well, he was good in (whatever), and I haven't seen him in the rest, but I just know he always plays the same role!"

His peers love him. They call him an Oscar magnet because of his co-stars who have won or been nominated for awards. (This is where someone will say something unrelated, like "I don't judge movies by popularity or peer recognition." No one does, but it's hard to argue he's talentless when the best in his industry think he's skilled. Stanley Kubrik, Oliver Stone, Paul Thomas Anderson, Stephen Spielberg, Paul Newman, Nicholson, Hoffman, etc.)

I can understand not liking him, but the hatred is ridiculous, and it predates the couch.

Plus he's a Democrat.

[Cetacea]

31. Bingo. n/t

[RoyGBiv]

32. Well ...

Literally, I'm not a "hater." I just don't like him all that much, i.e. I don't go to movies because he's in them and sometimes question whether I'll see it if he's in it.

But, I'm responding here because if you were addressing me as a hater and brought up those movies, I'd point to most of them as proof of concept. :) It's not the "same character" he played in Top Gun. It's just the same character, underneath the surface trappings, he tends to play.

He brought the "Tom Cruise Brand" to Lestat and had horrible results.

[Cetacea]

34. I agree somewhat and think that Kubrick capitalized on this.

It sucks that he died so young.

[RoyGBiv]

37. That's a good example, actually ...

That character *works* in that role.

Kubrick also brought out a lot in him that other directors might not have. Kubrick was quite simply a genius ... a bastard to work for if you believe the stories, but a genius nonetheless.

He is definitely missed.

[Cetacea]

56. If you've never seen it, you might like the Kidman interview on EWS

She and Cruise give great descriptions of what it is like working with him. The Kidman interview is better imo. Thanks for the reply.

[RoyGBiv]

123. I know I've seen them ...

But, for some reason, I don't remember the content.

I do remember, especially, Shelley Duvall and Jack Nicholson talking about him and the work on The Shining especially.

And it's interesting because they both give the impression he was a total ass, yet they came out of the experience with a very great respect for him. This is rare. My boss is a psychopath (and that's not just hyperbole ... she's the single most unpleasant, incompetent individual I've ever worked for), and I have no respect for her. I've had other bosses I didn't like at all, but I still respected them and their ability and to this day would not say a harsh word about their skill at their jobs. Hell, I gave a former boss I hated a recommendation once.

That seems to be Kubrick, based on things like that I've read or heard.

[Cetacea]

146. He certainly made actors work for their money.

I have never seen him referred to as a psychopath before. I am sure that would have come out before he died and was able to defend such charges.

[RoyGBiv]

154. To clarify ...

I had some poor wording in that. No coffee in my system yet.

"Psychopath" was a description of my current boss, which is not how I see Kubrick.

I've had other bosses that were very demanding and hard to get along with but still held your respect. That reminds me of Kubrick.

[Cetacea]

167. Thanks for taking the time to clarify.

I read your post before I'f had my own cup, and hope my response was not insulting to yoi. It wasn't meant to be and apologize if it was.
I have seen comparisons drawn between Kubrick and Cameron directing styles. (sp?) Cameron has admitted to being a bit of an arse.


Cheers!

[Stardust]

52. Right on. I think envy plays a big role here. Tom was so hugely popular

in the wake of Risky Business that it was almost inevitable for people to start picking him apart. Why we can't separate our feelings about a star's personal life and their performances is a mystery to me.

On Letterman recently, he seemed just perfectly normal and downright likable. It made me wonder why he's derided so much.

Maybe the Valkyre role is not that great, but apparently he was excellent in Tropic Thunder. More power to him. It's a tough, shitty business.

[ColbertWatcher]

59. "Why we can't separate our feelings ...

... about a star's personal life and their performances is a mystery to me."

It's kinda hard to do when the "star" makes his personal life so much a part of his public one.

Personally, I find his obsessive need to interject his personal life (the cult he's trapped in) into every interview, conversation, etc. a little sad.

It's almost like he's desperately crying for someone to get him out of it.

[earth mom]

62. Tom tries NOT to talk about Scientology. The press HOUNDS him about it. nt

[ColbertWatcher]

71. That's not true and you know it. Just ask Matt Lauer. n/t

[earth mom]

75. I LOVED that Tom told Matt Lauer off. Lauer is a rethuglican tool and you know it.

Lauer was shilling for the pharma giants who have way too much control and influence in this country.

Anyone who is paying attention can see that the pharma giants won't rest until every person in this country is on one prescription or another. :puke:

Which is why I am so glad that Tom pointed that fact out to the american public. :applause:

[ColbertWatcher]

79. The cultists didn't say anything for or against the big pharmaceutical companies ...

... he said what he said to promote his cult.

As far as Lauer is concerned (I'm not on a first name basis with him) he is as much a tool as anyone whose livelihood depends on someone else writing his words for him.

[earth mom]

86. I don't know Tom personally either, but I don't feel like I should be calling him "Cruise"

I use first names with other celebrity's I like, like Tom Hanks, Dave Letterman, etc. It just feels a tad bit colder to me to call them by their last names. :shrug:

Anyway, perhaps we should just agree to disagree here because I don't see the harm that Scientologists are doing that is any different than what other religion do when they demand that people tithe their weekly pay or follow ridiculous edicts like no birth control etc.

As I said before, at least Scientologists aren't knocking on my front door trying to sell me their religion or pushing it down my throat by controlling politicians/laws/government or via the corporate media like jerks like Rick Warren are doing. It is NO mistake that Oprah had Warren on her show earlier this year you know-it was a planned media blitz to sell more of Warrens stupid book. :grr:

[ColbertWatcher]

91. I'm glad you qualified your comment about the harm $cientology is doing.

But, make no mistake, they are causing harm, whether it inconveniences you personally or not.

[earth mom]

98. As I said ALL religions are cults, which means they all do harm to some extent.

Religion has just about destroyed this planet and we are on the path to destruction BECAUSE of religion given the situation in the Middle East.

Look no further than how the fundies are pushing for a holy war to bring on the rapture with the goal to annihilate the Earth and all life on it.

That is by far more diabolical or dangerous than whatever the Scientologists are doing that has you so upset.

You are focusing on the wrong scapegoat here.

[ColbertWatcher]

100. "You are focusing on the wrong ..." No, I am not. This thread is about a cultist ...

... I am focusing on the cult and the sad members stuck in it.

[earth mom]

143. If you are so worried about cults you should worry about the fundie christians & their cult.

They have done more damage than any other cult.

[ColbertWatcher]

208. I hate all cults and that includes $cientology. n/t

[earth mom]

240. Sorry, but I still don't understand your extreme hatred toward Scientology

instead of the fundies who are trying to control everything and everyone while they go about waging a holy war in order to destroy the planet in order to bring on the rapture. To me, what the fundies are doing is such seriously evil and alarming shit that it should have us all up in arms against them.

Whatever beef you have against the Scientologists simply does not compare to the bat shit crazy extremes to which the fundies are going that could maybe kill us all. :nuke:

[DutchLiberal]

160. Do you also feel this way about the celebrities who constantly babble about Jesus?

Or is that somehow different?

[elshiva]

225. Great point.

"It's kinda hard to do when the "star" makes his personal life so much a part of his public one."

[Asgaya Dihi]

115. I've always disliked that particular argument

Seems to be a stock reaction whenever someone we like gets criticized, we claim it's just envy or jealousy. In some few cases it might be right but in most cases I'd think it's wrong.

"On Letterman recently, he seemed just perfectly normal and downright likable. It made me wonder why he's derided so much."

No argument there. He probably is a nice guy. From all accounts so is Mike Huckabee, almost every interviewer he's seen has liked and joked with him and a lot of people here were surprised by and commented on it as well. Doesn't make him any less dangerous though. It's the policies and the people he supports, not a personal value judgment on if we'd maybe enjoy a barbecue with the guy.

I don't care in the slightest about him personally or about his movies. Scientology on the other hand is dangerous, aggressive, and has hurt people and his role in building and enabling it can't be ignored. A decade and more before the couch incident when I was working the admin.net-abuse.email newsgroup we'd have occasional reports there and in the net-abuse.usenet counterpart where someone was being harassed over a conflict with them. They'd file false lawsuits, start calling people at work and suggesting financial or criminal problems to their employers, stuff like that if you went after them for spamming or whatever. That type of crap is a part of why almost everyone used to post under their real name and almost nobody does now, though it was a lot more than scientologists doing it.

Given personal knowledge of how aggressive they could be then and what I've heard in the years since I can't support anyone who is helping or enabling them, liking or not liking their movies or other work has nothing to do with it.

[tomg]

156. I saw Tropic Thunder, and

Cruise was hilarious.

[dweller]

54. what about Cocktail?

just thought i'd toss out another title.

you see, i make the distinction between what his role is and what he is as a person. Once i detect he's carrying his charactor over into his real life, i might suspect he's acting then too. Carrying your real life experience into a role would lead to genuine, original craft, but it doesn't carry both ways.

so, like i said, i don't trust him. In real life, it appears he's acting.
dp

[tomg]

159. Jesus that was one terrible movie. nt

[jobycom]

165. Name an actor who hasn't done a crappy movie or two.

I don't care about his personal life. At all. Mostly, I just don't believe I know a damned thing about it, since I trust the media less than I trust Dick Cheney. They create fictional images of real life people, and people think they know something about that person. So I just don't even worry about a celebrity's "real life." The only thing I ever see of celebrities is what they or someone else wants me to see, and only because they are trying to create an image by letting me see it. Even the couch thing was just a misdirected PR stunt.

[HopeFor2006]

73. Plus he's a democrat....

Which is why the right wingers attack him. They have done the same to Barbra Streisand, Kevin Costner and many others in Hollywood who promote progressive causes.

[JI7]

35. the couch thing was pretty bad

[earth mom]

36. I love Tom Cruise-I can't wait to see him win an Oscar. But I think many people are jealous

of his success so they find bullshit to pick him apart over like his religion.

I could give a damn about what religion Tom is except to say that Scientology has made him a good person who genuinely cares about others. I'm also glad that he doesn't proselytize about his religion either. Which is what drives me up the fucking wall about fundies. They just never shut the hell up about gawd and jezus. Enough already!!! I could give a damn! :puke:

[WillieW]

47. Ditto - to each its own.

[Missy Vixen]

101. Jealous of his success?

You're kidding, right?

He might have lots of cash, but he's not anyone I'd ever be jealous of, for a variety of reasons.

>Scientology has made him a good person who genuinely cares about others. I'm also glad that he doesn't proselytize about his religion either.

Now I KNOW you are joking. Tom Cruise has spent most of his career proselytizing his "religion". "Cares about others"? I'm sure his ex-wives might have something to say about that. Oh -- they'll get sued if they even say a word.

Julie

[ColbertWatcher]

38. Who hates Tom Cruise? I despise the cult he promotes. n/t

[earth mom]

65. All religions are cults. nt

[ColbertWatcher]

68. And I despite his. n/t

[earth mom]

77. I don't despise it because Scientologists don't proselytize. I could give a damn what people worship

because it's none of my damn business.

But when they shove it in my face with jeezus this and jeezus that, and try and change laws and break the Constitution with their bullshit then I come out swinging. :grr:

[ColbertWatcher]

80. "Scientologists don't proselytize" That's not true. n/t

[earth mom]

90. If so, they aren't knocking on doors or doing a fraction of what the fundie zealots are doing. nt

[ColbertWatcher]

93. If you've read Naomi Klein's "Shock Doctrine" you wouldn't be saying that. n/t

[rollin74]

180. scientologists do proselytize

it's just that their numbers are so tiny compared to fundie Christians that you don't notice it nearly as much. They don't really have a big enough following to do a whole lot of door knocking. It doesn't make them any better (as people) than the more traditional fundie nuts we're used to.

[pnwmom]

94. They not only proselytize -- if you'd seen

Cruise talking on TV about Scientology that's exactly what he does -- but they use the tactics of cults to control their adherents. And they have a very active legal staff fighting any former member who talks about their experiences. This isn't a benign organization.

[earth mom]

99. The fundies aren't benign either and given their thirst for the rapture, I am far more concerned

with their agenda to annihilate the earth and all life on it.

[pnwmom]

104. I agree that millennialist fundies are the bigger threat.

At this point, anyway.

[pnwmom]

105. They proselytize using celebrities like Cruise and other opinion leaders.

http://www.factnet.org/Scientology/celeb1.htm

SNIP

To create a favorable environment for Scientology's expansion, church executives are working to win allies among society's power brokers and opinion leaders. This theme is expounded in church publications, "We need to be able to approach the right people in order to get things done," wrote Heber Jentzsch, president of the Church of Scientology International, in the newspaper Scientology Today. "We need to find out how to reach key people in the media, in government, in the control points of society, the people who rule things." Underscoring the campaign's breadth and determination, a pullout questionnaire entitled "Communication Lines to the World" was inserted in the Scientology newspaper. It asked Scientologists to list their connections to people in six areas:

POLITICS: "This would be political figures on a local, state or national level, such as local city officials, mayors, governors, senators, congressmen, and members of parliaments. It would also include government agency officials and civil servants."

MEDIA: "This would be any media terminals that you know, such as owners or proprietors of magazines, newswire services, newspapers or publishing houses, and radio networks or stations and publishers and editors of any type of news media." LEGAL: "This would be any judges, law enforcement officials, lawyers, barristers and so on."

FINANCIAL / CORPORATE: "This would be any members of the board or presidents, vice presidents or other senior officials/executives with banks or other financial institutions (such as savings and loan companies, credit unions, etc.) financiers (this could be government or private industry) stockbrokers, financial advisers and commodities brokers."

ENTERTAINMENT / CELEBRITIES: "This would be any producers or directors in the stage, motion pictures or television; actors, artists, writers and any opinion leaders in these areas."

SNIP

The first thing to realize about recruiting celebrities in Scientology is that they are kept ignorant about what is really going on until they are hooked. The celebrities are shielded from all bad news. They are pampered and isolated in the finest buildings in settings like country-clubs. They're kept totally away from all the cruelty and the abuse that goes on inside the organization, and at Scientology's gulag-type concentration camps and punishment centers.

Most Scientology celebrities are victims that don't know that they are being systematically deceived and rendered suggestible by use of counseling processes that are no more that covert hypnosis. A very few of them know about Scientology's secret goals, but most of them have no idea about the suicides or the attempted suicides at the Celebrity centers or other centers. Any time they hear anything negative they are told "It's all lies. Don't listen to it"

SNIP

[cabluedem]

118. You cant bet the bank that both Tom-cat and Travolta know whats going on with Hubbards' cult. nt

[Blarch]

140. Yep.

I get a good laugh at Christians making fun of Scientology.

What hypocrites.

[pnwmom]

163. I get a good laugh at people who know who lump all Christian denominations

into one, and who make ignorant comparisons with Scientology.

Just because one church has abusive or mind-controlling tactics doesn't mean they all do.

But which Christian denomination compares with this?

http://www.factnet.org/Scientology/celeb1.htm

SNIP

The first thing to realize about recruiting celebrities in Scientology is that they are kept ignorant about what is really going on until they are hooked. The celebrities are shielded from all bad news. They are pampered and isolated in the finest buildings in settings like country-clubs. They're kept totally away from all the cruelty and the abuse that goes on inside the organization, and at Scientology's gulag-type concentration camps and punishment centers.

Most Scientology celebrities are victims that don't know that they are being systematically deceived and rendered suggestible by use of counseling processes that are no more that covert hypnosis. A very few of them know about Scientology's secret goals, but most of them have no idea about the suicides or the attempted suicides at the Celebrity centers or other centers. Any time they hear anything negative they are told "It's all lies. Don't listen to it"

To recruit a new celebrity, Scientology staff members at a Celebrity Center often create a battle plan. This battle plan in many cases could or would contain a flowchart of the celebrity's key connections, their "psychological buttons" and their "emotional buttons.

Everything is done to learn as much as possible about the target non-Scientology celebrity. The following are just a few key areas of information that are assembled on the target: who are the celebrity's closest friends, their business contacts, places most often frequented, credit histories, public records and police reports.

SNIP

[DutchLiberal]

203. It doesn't matter which 'denomination' you belong to, all religion is in essence...

no more or less insane than Scientolog. All Christian 'denominations' use abusive and mind-controlling tactics. That's the basis of all religion.

[pnwmom]

212. Yeah, and all political parties are the same, etc.

They are, to the mindless.

[DutchLiberal]

219. If you believe there's a religion that does not rely on mind-control, YOU are the mindless...

Convincing people they have to follow a certain set of rules in life and accept an invisible magic being as a personal saviour, otherwise they will brun in hell forever after they die... is not mind-control???

[question everything]

41. Because he thinks that just because he had some good movies that you mentioned

means that we have to listen to his opinions about other issues.

I don't hate him, and will probably see the Valkyrie which, at least, in the local paper got very good review. But I don't know why hosts of TV programs have to bring him on and try to make him a man full of wisdom whom we should listen to. He is an actor who is good in his profession. Period.

[ColbertWatcher]

46. Did you know his cult got him a gig on Sports Center? n/t

[dysfunctional press]

49. because he gets to wake up next to this...

[ColbertWatcher]

50. Chris Klein's ex-girlfriend? (Now with pictures!)

Damn if that baby doesn't have his eyes!

[JohnnieGordon]

55. Well if you believe the rumors, he actually wants to wake up to something hairier and deeper voiced.

[ColbertWatcher]

57. ...

[cabluedem]

112. You mean a dumb brunette who can't act? Here is what Tom-cat used to wake up to.......

A woman who has talent, beauty and brains, all in one.

That would be the one and only Nicole Kidman, of course.

[dysfunctional press]

172. talent beauty and brains...?

nicole?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:...

[Enrique]

122. not as good as it might seem

she might make him watch some of her acting.

[DutchLiberal]

161. I don't think she's a bad actress. I've seen her in 'Batman Begins'.

[cabluedem]

214. Bale can act quite well; Holmes "acting" skills are a joke, a bad joke. nt

[DutchLiberal]

221. I don't think so. Why are you so obsessed aout this?

[cabluedem]

239. Becuase you belong to the cult, but your "fair game" allows you to lie and to decieve people. nt

[DutchLiberal]

245. Uhm, no I don't. Where did I say I was into Scientology?

And I was asking about your obsession wit Nicole Kidman. Why do you care so much Tom Cruise dumped her? Do you have no life of your own?

[dysfunctional press]

173. a very small price to pay...

nt

[Subdivisions]

60. He's ok, I guess. But I have a difficult time getting past the Scientology stuff. n/t

[blogslut]

66. I enjoy his as a film actor

Having never met the man, my opinions of his actual personality mean nothing. I am sorry he is involved with Scientology because I think it is as full of money-sucking hucksters as are most religions. Just the same, I'm never going to know Mr. Cruise and what he chooses to do in his personal life is his business.

I've not seen all of Cruise's film performances but the ones that I have seen were quite good - for a film actor.

Now, if we want to have a debate concerning film actors versus stage actors...I'll side with stage actors every time.

[devilgrrl]

67. Because he's below average actor that's been relentlessly shoved down our throats the past 25 years

Kind of like trickle-down economics.

Also, Sean Penn, Robert Downey Jr., Russell Crowe, etc. could be in comas and still out-act that talentless hack.

[ColbertWatcher]

74. LOL! You're never one to mince your words are ya!? n/t

[emmadoggy]

228. ROFL!!

Agree.

[emilyg]

76. Why waste energy hating someone unimportant?

[Adsos Letter]

84. I saw Valkyrie today...he played a great part in what turned out to be a very good movie.

[Crunchy Frog]

85. He's just plain fucking nuts.

That he would attack Brooke Sheilds for getting treatment for postpartum depression is over the top. I don't have any power to blacklist him, but the idea of going to see him in a movie is just plain creepy to me. I would never try to tell anyone else what to do. (Not part of any movement, just personally averse.)

[SeattleGirl]

88. As an actor, I think he's done a good job.

On a personal level, well, let's just say I don't subscribe to his beliefs at all.

[oldnslo]

96. It's not his movies, it's his personality that puty me off.

I don't even "hate" him. The bit with jumping on oprah's couch because he was "so happy", and calling Matt lauer "glib", and on, and on, and on is why he's on everybody's negativity list. He is a shallow fellow who is very selfish, and he shows it in every self-serving thing he does. I won't even bother seeing his movies. Just about everyone is a better actor than Tom.

[Maru Kitteh]

103. I do not hate him. I find him shallow and inconsequential. This is not a reason

to hate. I find him to be a poor actor, and so I do avoid films he "acts" in, unless the film comes recommended by someone I trust.

[yardwork]

106. Who hates Tom Cruise?

[rucky]

128. Everybody but the people responding to this thread.

[Downtown Hound]

114. Don't hate him, just think he's an idiot

There's a difference. As far as I'm concerned, Scientology is a dangerous cult underneath that sappy exterior they try and put out through celebs like Cruise. I don't really have a whole lot of respect for anybody that would whore themselves for it the way Cruise does.

[raouldukelives]

120. I kinda like most of his movies

At the very least more than Stephen Baldwins.

[saltpoint]

125. He seems to have more producer instincts than he has acting talent.

He has the sense to work with people like Dustin Hoffman and Paul Newman, but in those films, I'm unable to imagine Cruise's character -- in RAIN MAN, for instance -- taking the Hoffman role. No director would cast Cruise in that role because only someone like Dustin Hoffman has the talent to play it.

He has limited range. He's not the worst actor ever but I'd rather see any number of others on-screen. He isn't really hateable, but he's been very clumsy stage-managing his public persona.

[MadHound]

126. I don't,

He's done well in some films, he's done poorly in others, and he's been rather pedestrian in still others. Overall his body of work is decently impressive.

On a personal level, I don't know him, so I really don't have an opinion one way or the other. Has he done some outrageous things in public, yes, so have many other celebrities. I imagine that if you put anybody under the intense microscope that we subject our celebs to, everybody would have "outrageous" acts splashed all over TV and the tabloids, I know that I would.

As far as Scientology goes, hey, it's another religion to me, complete with weirdness and the elements of a con job thrown in. Not my cup of tea, but then again neither are other organized religions. Scientology is no better, or worse, than other "mainstream" denominations.

[mnhtnbb]

127. Don't hate, just don't respect him as a person because of his strange attachment to Scientology.

My shrink hubby (psychiatrist/psychoanalyst) LOVED Tom Cruise in Born on the 4th of July. But his admiration for him as an actor does not extend to him as a person for his lack of appreciation for
the value of psychiatry.

On edit: Hubby spent a good part of his professional life working in a VA hospital in Los Angeles
after the Vietnam war. He said that Cruise just nailed his part in 4th of July. Just nailed it.

[northernlights]

131. I don't hate him

I just think he's an idiot for the way he treats women. He belongs to an idiotic "religion" that is really a business that uses the title religion to get out of paying taxes (which, yes, most religions are but at least some of them do have some shred of decency about them, feeding the poor with some spirituality thrown into the mix). And he's a lousy, totally one-dimensional actor. He's "good" playing at a specific role, and I got tired of the role after about the 2nd time.

As far as Kubrick and EWS, I consider it arguably the biggest waste of my time and money in my life. Holy crap what a piece of shit. I kept trying to get up to leave, but I couldn't believe it was as bad as it seemed to be, that there was something I must be missing. So I kept sitting there waiting for something I was missing to be revealed. Afterwards, a woman turned to me over the sinks in the ladie's room and asked blankly, "What was that?!?!"

I had no idea. After some time and thought, though, I have considered this. The critics had gone on about how Kubrick hated "Celebrity actors" and how amazing it was that he'd hired the biggest "Celebrity couple" of them all -- Cruise and Kidman -- for the job.

I concluded that Kubrick probably hated not only "Celebrities" but critics and audiences too. So he played a dirty trick on us all as a parting kick in the butt. He humiliated Cruise and Kidman by displaying them in that piece of shit, knowing that critics would make asses of themselves writing how brilliant it was and audiences would believe them and fork over 6 bucks and waste 3 hours of their time watching a piece of shit and then use it to brag about how deep it was...or whatever.

For Cruise, the abuse was ok (I seem to remember Cruise saying he made him repeat one entrance into a room something like 47 times?). But Kidman deserved better. She's a fine actress.

[Toucano]

132. I have never liked Tom Cruise. He's a movie star, not an actor.

His performances generally seem stiff to me, Magnolia being a notable exception.

To me, his development as an actor became stifled by his celebrity.

I personally think he has never merited the attention he has received, but hey, that's me.

[Mad_Dem_X]

133. He is arrogant and a member of a dangerous cult

He also seems very, very controlling. Plus, I don't think he's really that great of an actor.

[lonestarnot]

134. I think it's his persona, but personally, I don't 'hate' him. I don't even know him.

Snort. LOL

[Deja Q]

135. I think he's nutty but I don't *hate* him

[Botany]

136. I let him visit my house once

[undeterred]

137. You should have set some guidelines!

:rofl:

[Botany]

139. Well Ron Howard & Rob Reiner knew what to do and Charlize Theron

made a really good guacamole dip ..... Tom just didn't have any real good
"house manners" .... and don't get me started on Stephanie Miller

[natrat]

138. i like actors that are cool, he is not

[Orsino]

141. He's a snake-oil merchant.

Scientology is not medical treatment, and ought not to be sold as such. Cruise promotes this fraud.

[NashVegas]

142. I Don't Hate Tom Cruise. I Just Think He's More "Star" Than "Actor" And Dislike Most of His Movies

The only movie I've ever seen Tom Cruise play someone other than Tom Cruise in was Magnolia.

In everything else, it's "Tom Cruise as a horny teenager;" "Tom Cruise as a Vietnam veteran;" "Tom Cruise as CIA agent."

I also think he's living a lie, like a lot of gay Hollywood actors, and that's a huge negative. Teaching 12 year old girls to swoon over men they'll never get near is one thing. Teaching them to swoon for guys they'll never get near, even if they're out on dates with them, skews their perceptions of men and of themselves.

[gmudem]

181. Well aren't those roles?

I don't think he's an amazing actor but he is a pretty good one. He does a good job in Collateral and A Few Good Men to name a couple. And I don't see how the whole swooning thing is his fault, and it's hard to criticize a guy for supposedly being in the closet when you have no real idea of whether he is or not.

That said, his involvement with that insane cult is scary and it makes me question his sanity, as well as the sanity of anyone involved with it.

[Javaman]

144. flame bait for the idle mind. nt

[Dulcinea]

145. I don't hate him.

But he's an average actor & a freaky human being mixed up in a cult. That said, I don't give him much thought.

I suspect Katie's his beard.

[L0oniX]

147. He offends me because I am a couch potato

[Atman]

148. He is a dick. People can wreck themselves and make a comeback, IF they're likeable...

Look at Robert Downey Jr as a prime example. I brilliant actor who seriously fucked up his life, wound up in jail and rehab numerous times. Could have/should have been a career killer. But the big difference between Cruise and Downey is that Downey is genuinely a likeable guy, and very talented. People are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Cruise, otoh, is simply a giant tool. An arrogant, condescending dick. I cannot stand the guy.

.

[aikoaiko]

149. His incredibly dangerous position on medication is enough for me to hate him as a person.

But I still enjoy most of his movies even if they aren't great.

[DutchLiberal]

150. David Spade had a monologue in his 'Showbiz Show' about this...

He made the excellent point that, yes, Tom Cruise acts a little crazy, but he's not endangering his children, like Britney Spears who was caught driving at high speed with her little son in the front seat of the car. Tom Cruise isn't endangering his own health by doing drugs. He's not an alcoholic. He hasn't murdered anyone, like O.J. Simpson. He wasn't caught with a 14 year old, like R. Kelly. So why do so many people despise him so much?

Yes, the Scientology stuff is weird and freaky and gross... But is it really *that* different from other religions? Scientology, as far as I know, is based on a book by a science-fiction writer. What do think Christianity is based on? It just happens that Christianity has been around for centuries, so we don't regard it as strange anymore. But back in the days when it got started, everybody thought they were cooks! Drinking the blood and eating the body of a deceased man? And what's with all the robes and the funny hats? And they pray to statues!

Yeah, Scientology disapproves of psychiatry and medication and that gets people angry. But as far as I know, and correct me if I'm wrong (but be nice, please), it doesn't say homosexuals are sinners who don't deserve any rights and will burn in hell. And it doesn't say women are subordinate to men and should do exactly as men tell them. I don't see Scientology spokespersons calling for denying any minority their rights. And although I disagree on psychiatry, I think they have a very valid point about most medication.

So why do *I* hate Tom Cruise? He stole away Katie Holmes! :cry:

[ColbertWatcher]

232. "as far as I know" That's a little simplistic and naive. You really oughta do some research. n/t

[DutchLiberal]

252. I asked to be nice. That was too much to ask, apparently.

[kentuck]

153. And what do you think of Kirstie Alley ...?

and Greta van Susteren? Of course, Mimi Rogers, Tom's first wife, got Tom involved in Scientology in the first place, being a few years Tom's elder. At least, that's what my wife tells me. :-)

For further gossip, just check back to the "kentuck" household...

[otohara]

158. Control Freak Towards His Wives

if they don't convert to Science Fiction Religion he dumps them - makes them walk behind him, make them dress like him. Just a creepy kinda guy for about 10 years or so. Last movie i liked was Jerry McGuire.

[underpants]

162. I like that one movie he made

the one where he is a self obsessed jerk
who falls for this girl and she teaches him about love and life
they break up
he reassesses himself
reinvents himself
and they glorious get back together

[spiritual_gunfighter]

168. I hate Tom Cruise because he is a spokesman and member

of a very dangerous cult that has killed people and ruined peoples lives in the name of "fair game". He claims to be an expert on mental health all the time claiming it to be quackery and giving a public voice to ignorance. That is reason enough to hate him.

[DutchLiberal]

204. And the difference with Christians is...?

[cabluedem]

216. Christians don't have legal teams to silence former cultists, that's what. nt

[DutchLiberal]

223. Ever heard about 'ex-communication'? (n/t)

[ColbertWatcher]

230. You cannot equate ex-communication with what the $cientology cult does. n/t

[Name removed]

236. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

247. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DutchLiberal]

246. Why not?

[spiritual_gunfighter]

226. Oh so you think just because I am talking about Scientology

that I am somehow a Christian, I am a devout Atheist. Give it up.

[DutchLiberal]

248. "Give it up"? Why so hostile?

Was I hostile toward you? :shrug:

[spiritual_gunfighter]

253. It sounded like

you were accusing me of being a Christian. I took offense because the last thing I want to be accused of is being a Christian. If that wasn't your intent, then I am sorry.

[DutchLiberal]

262. I can see you took it that way. No big! Peace.

[ZombieHorde]

206. He is Catholic?

[dorkulon]

169. The Answer:

http://buffalobeast.com/73/feature6.htm

[Marr]

174. I'm at a loss to understand how people even form an opinion on people like Tom Cruise, much less

a passionate one. He's an actor. He's made some films I enjoyed, and a few I didn't. I don't know him personally and I have nothing to say about him as a man. I don't know him.

[RedCappedBandit]

175. He promotes scientology in the same way any fundy would

and scientology is sick shit.

[JuniperLea]

176. Hate is such a strong word...

I reserve such emotions for freaks like George W. Bush and his side-kick, Darth Cheney. Tom Cruise just isn't important enough to hate.

I think the myth of a religion he follows is a lot more creepy and freaky than most, and I tend to question the mental state of anyone who would choose to follow their dogma. LRH wasn't even a good science fiction writer, and the Scientology mythos is a perfect example of his inability. Whenever I read any of it I find myself shaking my head in disbelief. I just cannot imagine what state I'd have to be in to believe any of it; it makes the Bearded Cloud Being, and even the Flying Spaghetti Monster seem rational.

[proud patriot]

177. I don't hate him

:hi: loved him in Jerry Mcguire ,Rainman , color of money
The firm, A few good men ,Risky Business was my coming
of age movie .. snuck in to watch it at age 14 ..

Really wasn't too impressed with the mission impossible
movies , but that was more about the storyline than
Tom Cruise .

I did sort of side with Nicole Kidman in the Breakup
but that's just because I wanted her to be okay .
I loved the Movie Far and Away with her and Tom.

[Cetacea]

178. "Far and Away" was a good movie.

I am not a fan but I think they worked well together.

[TK421]

182. Well, I don't hate him....he's been in some good movies but most of which

he hasn't really played a starring role or stood out like he could have done that....

His acceptance,belief ( fanaticism ) of Scientology really turns me off as far as that goes, personally ....

I understand he has made some fairly significant contributions to the Democratic party, and that sounds good to me, I just wish that he wouldn't sound like such a frigging loon when he talks about his Scientology ( scam )


The more I learn about Scientology, the more I hate it and the people who buy into it...nothing...NOTHING but a money scam

[yella_dawg]

183. Top Gun

`nuff said.

[Hanse]

184. Mostly because he's a shitty actor who won't go away.

He's been cast in some good films, but mostly because he's a Hollywood celebrity, and not because of his talent.

Lesser reasons include his apparent total assholery, from the recent scientology breakdowns, to his obsession with not looking short.

[awoke_in_2003]

185. I hate him...

for the same reason Pat Condell does- because he is always playing someone who is much taller than he is :)

edited for link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzMHrVCgU38&feature=channel

[AtomicKitten]

186. His abject narcissism has hit full-tilt on the freak meter.

[InvisibleTouch]

187. He's like Ahnold, to me...

...or any number of other actors/actresses/musicians. I can like their movies or their creative work without necessarily agreeing with their politics or their personal choices in life.

So no, I don't hate him.

[LWolf]

191. I don't.

I neither "hate" him, dislike him, or like him.

I don't know him.

I don't watch talk shows, although I've heard he made a fool of himself in at least one.

I did know, in my misspent girlhood, some actors who were scientologists. Their families were well adjusted and happy, regardless of whether I approved of their belief system.

Life is too short to spend it making lists of people I "hate" and people I "approve of."

[and-justice-for-all]

192. He may be a nut, but I would still bang him! nt

[yeswecanseattle]

193. I like him!

I like people who are hated for no good reason.

[pitohui]

195. people resent his denial of his sexuality -- folks resent being fibbed to

he sues everyone who even comments on the fact, but looking at his first wife (forgetting her name at the moment) who said she divorced him because of the "celibacy thing" and his second wife nicole kidman (he divorced her at ten minutes to ten years because under cali law that's what you have to do to keep from splitting the fortune) with whom he bought his kids at the store instead of just having them the normal way (and she later had a kid the normal way with somebody else so we know it wasn't HER who refused) then it's like c'mon dude!

i like a great many of tom cruise's movies and i like the chances he has taken w. his career, he could be in just crap and make bazillions, but he has taken risks, i like vanilla sky and minority report

but, as a person, why the fuck doesn't he put down the scientology bong and admit that he thinks that normal penetration is just icky and gross and he likes it a different way? does he really think anybody would think less of him if he jumped up and down on the couch to say, fuck it, i think penetration sucks? we already grok that he isn't like the rest of the m&m's in the bowl, the only reason we make fun of him is because he's so obviously trying to pull a fast one on us


in my humble opinion, everyone has the right to be private about their sex life, but it's the way he goes about it...it just kind of insults people's intelligence and that's what peeves people off

no one is convinced when someone jumps up and down on oprah to say, "no, i'm straight, i FINALLY found a woman i will fuck one time no really!" it's just ugly and it smacks of an older man using a young, not too sharp young girl

i just wish he was a better man than that...don't you?



personally i wish him nothing but the best -- but i also wish that one day he feels comfortable enough with his fans to say, fuck it i'm taking off this mask

[KoKo]

198. I don't know...he just never seems believable as an actor to me...

Sort of see him as a "teen heart throb" even though he's too old for that, now. Lightweight actor and I hear he couldn't even try to do a German Accent playing Rommel in his new feature movie. I guess my standards go back to when actors tried to at least "fake" an accent if the part was important and the studios would hire a "voice coach" to make sure the end product sounded at least somewhat authentic. I guess no one cares about that kind of authenticity or "standards," anymore...as long as one can hire a star who is "appealing" to the proper demographic audience the advertisers are trying to appeal to.

:shrug:

[Dappleganger]

199. Anyone who believes in scientology is an idiot.

[ZombieHorde]

205. Do you believe this for all supernatural beliefs, or just some of them?

[Zynx]

258. It's not the supernatural aspects. It's their extreme control over human behavior

that goes beyond even some of the most strict applications of other religions. I'm not sure that Scientology is even a theistic religion as far as I know.

[Toasterlad]

200. Because He's Not Naked In My Bedroom

Like he secretly wants to be. ;)

[bevoette]

201. when Robert Duvall was out politicking for McCain...

i said even though i disagreed with him strongly, that was his personal opinion and he was still one of the best actors in Hollywood and i loved his movies and his body of work.

i say pretty much the same thing about Tom :)



now...if, saay...Ashton Kutchner ever turns out to be a wacko, i won't have such a hard time 'hating' him (LOL - i'm kidding! no lectures, please ;) )

[sentelle]

210. I don't hate him.

I just think he is a talentless, hack, a dirty old man (for marrying a girl that could be his daughter) and a whack-job.

But that's not hate.

[Initech]

213. I hate his pimping of Scientology, but that aside, he has been in some pretty good films.

I loved his cameo in Tropic Thunder, and he was pretty bad ass in Collateral.

[carlyhippy]

215. That is a hot man there....

A few good men, ooofdah!!! Giddy Giddy Giddy Goo!!!

[CBGLuthier]

217. Because he spouted bullshit about depression treatments.

Because he is arrogant and ignorant, always a deadly combination.

He is a tool. Literally a tool of his batshit church that has told him he is their "holy one."

Also he ruined Mission Impossible and War of the Worlds, so fuck him.

[Skittles]

218. I don't hate him, and I plan on seeing his latest film

he really turned me off when he dumped on Brooke Shields but I understand he apologized and she accepted. I consider him an entertaining actor who has unfortunately allowed his private life to dominate the news.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

220. I like him. I think he is a good actor.

I have always enjoyed movies I've seen him in. I think people are just very critical of him because he is famous. Maybe they are jealous of his wealth and good looks?

[RB TexLa]

227. It's an actor how could you have any emotion toward them? Half a step above a trained monkey

[emmadoggy]

229. "Hate" seems a little strong to describe how I feel about him...

on the other hand I really don't like him. I have always felt this way about him, not just because of the more recent stuff. I have just always found him to be very over-rated as both an actor and a sex symbol. He has also just always "rubbed me the wrong way". His demeanor.... I don't know I can't really explain it. I don't find him particularly good -looking - his eyes are too deep set and more piercing and creepy to me than sexy, his nose is not attractive, and his smile is off-center and too toothy. His laugh is grating and annoying to me. I always get a vibe of fakiness from him - he just doesn't seem all that genuine or sincere to me when I see him as himself. Almost like he is trying too hard or something. Trying to be "cool" and "funny" and "nice".

I have seen most of his movies and while I have enjoyed many of them to varying degrees, I don't think that enjoyment has come as a result of HIM in the movie. In most cases I think I would have enjoyed the movie just as much or more with someone else in his role. He has also had a few movies that I thought were just downright awful - Eyes Wide Shut, Magnolia, Vanilla Sky. Of all the movies I've seen him in, War of the Worlds was probably the first time I really wasn't so distracted with my annoyance with him. I felt like he actually became the character in that movie.

Beyond that, the personal stuff is all just rumor and hearsay, but I was very turned off by the whole breakup with Nicole and felt horrible for her (I really admire her). I thought his behavior during that time was just mean. He "seems" to be domineering in his relationships and that is a big turnoff to me. The Scientology stuff is weird and creepy and he talks about it way too much. The Brooke Shields incident was horrible (even though, yes, I know they have made amends since then).

I just have never understood the hype around him and have found him to be grating and annoying. But that's just me. My younger sister feels the same way I do, but my older sister has loved him since Top Gun. To each their own, I guess!:shrug:

[Cash_thatswhatiwant]

231. Who hates him?

I do find the incident where he gets squirted with water and him repeatedly calling the squirter a jerk, funny though!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C4UvvHMoZs

[bluedawg12]

233. Because Rick Warren was Unavailable .

Hah! I worked in Rick Warren! :rofl:

[busybl]

234. He's weird. nt

[Feron]

235. I don't hate him ,but he promotes an evil cult.

Scientology is an evil mind fucking and money stealing cult. I'm sorry that Cruise got sucked into it, but I give him no quarter because he promotes the organization and their dangerous lies. Vitamins and L. Ron's "tech" do not solve mental illness. Or any other problem for that matter.

Operation Freakout and Operation Snow White are also good starting points. Elite Scientologists like L.Ron's wife framed Paulette Cooper for a crime and then tried to push Cooper to kill herself. Cooper's crime against Scientology was that she wrote a short book critical of their "church".

And Scientology is infamous for their harassment of critics. Say what you will about Christians or whatever, but they won't follow you home, sue you, or have a PI tail you simply because you are an outspoken critic.

xenu.net and exscientologykids.com are good starting points.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt4bLtMx-BA Part 1 of the BBC's look at Scientology. The other two parts are available from the same user.

[Fearless]

237. Homophobia, Scientology, Southpark lawsuit, and he sucks at acting...

Anything else?


For the record I don't hate him, I hate what he is/does.

[Quantess]

238. Before I read any replies:

I like Katie Holmes and I hope she can somehow escape his controlling grasp.

[IdaBriggs]

241. His arsine comments about Post Partum Depression.

He was spouting off about something he obviously knows NOTHING about -- here is a shocker from someone who has a clue: Hormones Can Affect Mood -- and yes, depression after child birth happens.

Freaking Idiot. :eyes:

I don't 'hate him' but I also don't find him worth listening to. His films are normal and variable in watchability.

[DailyGrind51]

242. Tom Cruise is always "Tom Cruise", not the character he is supposed to be portraying.

[Flubadubya]

243. It's kinda like the story about the misfortunate chap...

who had nothing but a run of bad luck for so long that he finally got down on his knees and prayed to God...

MISERABLE CHAP: "God, what have I done to deserve all this misfortune and misery?"

GOD: "I dunno really, there's just something about you that chaps my ass!"

So it is with Tom Cruise. No one has been able to really define it, it's just that he chaps a lot of people's asses! :shrug:

[Geek_Girl]

244. I think he's your typical hollywood star: good looking, talented and somewhat dumb

I enjoy his movies and find him to be talented. But I was around a few actors when I lived in LA and they all strike me as a little dumb.

[fishbulb703]

256. Scientology, and religion in general. (nt)

[Zynx]

257. I'll come right out and say it: Crazy Scientology stuff and assorted creepiness.

His beliefs regarding psychiatry and his predatory controlling behavior toward his wife are the problems.

[Zynx]

259. Also, his acting is extremely overrated and he is an unusually large ego even for Hollywood.