Cruise Confronts 'Valkyrie' Controversy

[Nzdrovya4life]

Historically, nobody is more ashamed of Hitler than a German, just as nobody is more ashamed of Bush than an American.

[JG40061]

What took so long to have this story told? I'll never understand why Cruise was criticized for trying to show that there was some Officers who tried to make a difference- but came up short-

[pinklady051]

@JG40061

He was criticized because he is part of the Scientology Church, which is considered a sect in Germany.. And the controversy is about letting him portray col. Stauffenberg, one of the most heroic figure of military resistance to the Nazis. Now, it's sad they boycotted the movie because his portrayl was actually great and his personnal beliefs are totally off point. Anyway... that's the way things are.

[andenisa]

Whether you're good or bad, there will always be someone standing on the sidelines to criticize, and most of the time they do it just to be on the bandwagon. They don't even have a mind of their own, which is why I pay no attention to critics, especially the "wannabe" critics on youtube.

At any rate, I thought the movie was good and the acting was awesome. If you're into thrills and suspense, then I highly recommend it.

[gavin444]

Great film, considering we all know the outcome. Elastic with the reality of what happened, but it spurred me on to seek out the first hand accounts of what happened. The film doesn't show you the many times when a small action/detail could easily have occurred in a slightly differently - resulting in a totally different outcome!

[germanvisitor2]

@gavin444 If project Walküre had been cuccessful, Stauffenberg would have replaced Hitler, organized a cease fire and the mass murder of Jews, gays, handycapped and dissidents would have continued. Stauffenberg just saw that Hitler drove Germany into selfdevastation but he never had any second thoughts about nationalsocialism. Therefore this movie transfigures a criminal.

Indeed, actual success might have been worse.

[rattlunhum]

@germanvisitor2 sir...what evidence do you offer to support such a contention?

[gavin444]

@germanvisitor2 Quite possibly so. My comment considers the film and it's relationship to actual events and doesn't in any way indicate a view on actual events or outcomes.

[pinklady051]

@germanvisitor2

I don't think so... For what it's worth, i think he had just no interest in political power...

[rw5791]

it speaks to the skill of the director and cruise to achieve the effect of suspence in a story that everybody knows already.

[sm0ke2death]

they seem fags, but the movie is good, and who cares about the accent.

[wotansrevenge]

Director Singer. Name says everything!

[HeroofZero1871]

its a good thriller but for a historical film it is totally stupid cause has nothing to do with the reality. many people have a wrong view now, germany was so differnet at this time...

[brav0wing]

Actually with some small problems (eg: they removed Stauffenberg's brother from it), it's quite historically accurate!

[DrummerDan973]

Your all crazy Cruise is a great actor. I could care less about his personal beliefs. This movie was outstanding not only Cruise but the Rest of the Cast were stellar.

Very well done.

[drudge20]

This is a excellent film. I wish I had seen it in the movie theater. Dumb ass critics. Cruise turns in a excellent performance.

You don't need a german accent or speak german. To tell a great story and great performances by all. Well done!

[lMirrorsEdge]

i totally agree.

[drudge20]

Thank You. You and Me against the World.

[lMirrorsEdge]

yes, but really it was a great movie.

i saw it in theaters and loved every minute of the movie. like i agree it could of been better with german accents but come on that isn't going to totally affect the awesomeness of a movie. all i can say is that it was awesome and i plan on buying it soon.

[drudge20]

I'm with you,I will buy this dvd. It's a great story. Too many people in our own country who blindly wave the flag without asking question how are own country is being govern.

[sapphirestone99]

Here, Here!

[sapphirestone99]

This was an awesome movie. For anyone who wants to see this, DO NOT listen to the critics, they do not know what they are talking about. Sure, Tom has made some mistakes, but he does do the movie justice. Because of this movie, I now want to know more about this time in history.

[Eirene001]

Cruise, always an opportunist, wanted to use his time in Germany to make the German gvt change the status of the Scientology Church there, which is considered illegal. It seems that the German authorities warned Cruise that te filming in Germany would have to stop if he would mingle in German politics for the sake of Scientology again. Okay, he got his award there, but I doubt if the Germans liked his movie. They can really do a far better job on the topic themselves, which they actually did.

[hopkins4545]

This was awful. Tom Cruise cannot act. He did not deserve the role of Claus Von Stauffenberg. Sebastian Kotch did a much better job in the German TV MOVIE "Stauffenberg", which can be found here on YouTube.

[LeHuyAnh]

It's not that he cannot act period, it's that he cannot play roles that are too complex or sophisticated. He's fine with the childish sci-fi stuff.

[Kinpatsu09]

Oy I don't really care for the way he acts in real life, but he makes one hell of a movie! I saw this movie and it is a bloody masterpiece!

[Mazumune]

Love the irony of Tom Cruise saying how germany gave him an award when his religion actively chants "Go back to germany you nazis" at pickets

[jazzperformance]

God the media tries to twist things - lie staight up; check the chick at the start!!!!!!

[SteveR88888888]

You Bastard Tom Cruise! Ya used your Scientology hypnosis on their asses eh? Jumped on their couch until they submitted? Watched it, crap movie, if anyone wants to believe history as Hollywood sells it, then ya, the ignorants will love this movie. Though anyone with half a brain will see just another Hollywood history rewrite. Enjoy, and, SCIENTOLOGY YEA! The UFO's are coming to take ya'll. Hey, "It's Based On a True Story" so the UFO's and this movie must be true.... lol

[100PercentGeeks]

Me and my friend absolutely sobbed at this movie. Its fantastic!

[RobDantay]

how can the play will smith : /

do you know anything about the nazis : S

[Zwartekaka]

2:15 Cruise admits that he loves Will Smith (and his family ;) , yeah right :))

[Zwartekaka]

They should have taken Will Smith to play the lead role. Real Holywood...:)

[wisesatyr72]

yeah you jew bastard...

[HTBRNGR01]

controversy? what controversy? .. maybe is because some wannabe movie critic said it was "nazi apology"? .. (seing ghosts where there are none).. Mr. Roger Friedman (what an amazing coincidence "FriedMAN".. I'm amazed) starts talking bullshit when he should educate himself about the true historical events... please... no further comments...

[jtsmails]

What? the german people gave tom an award for bravery? did i hear that right? sauce please?

[Zwartekaka]

Yeah what the fuck was that?

[coolprodigy]

Will Smith and his family - Great people hehehehe

aaaaaaw shit, he bit his tongue after this one.

[K4GE05]

i want to watch this movie. mainly for the historical value not for tom cruises bullshit.

this may turn my opinion on cruise. but we'll wait until i've seen the movie.

[1171171]

watch it, it's brilliant and eye-opening!!!

[masternutterbutter]

Watch This movie and 30,000 more for 100% free in dvd quality at greatmovies(DOT)tk

[Boelcke1916]

This is a truly great movie and this story needs to be told to the world. This is a movie that I highly recommend.

[nwrob12]

why have accents? just think of it this way, all the actors in the movie are actually speaking in german, and you understand and fluently speak german.i dont see what the big deal is, i think its better that they didnt have accents because it would make it seem fake..because why would they be in germany speaking english with a german accent lol..saw couple days ago and thought cruise did a GREAT job, this movie was really good and anyone who is interested in military and history should see this!

[Chokula99]

very true the accent thing is an stereotype that was created during world war II films.

[yukisan78]

I agree it's probably much better for English speakers that the actors don't imitate any German accent at all, but to a German it sounds really weird... The movie will come into German theatres tomorrow and I was curious if it's worth the money, so I watched a few videos on Youtube in English. It's funny how they pronounce the names, although they seem to be trying hard to pronounce them correctly LOL :D I'm quite happy they'll be talking proper German when I watch the film next weekend.

[gillan5]

@nwrob12 I tried

[gillan5]

@nwrob12 Are we speaking about the same movie? I am German and what I heard was Cruise speaking American accent and Brannagh British accent. For me it was akward but this is not Cruises fault. I reckon he did the movie in good intention. We had some popular and good German actors in the movie who werde mighty proud to film with Cruise.

[charlieiscool1000]

Yeah well most of the actors in the film were English and german so i think it was quite good for the English speaking audience it was good i know for germans watching it it would be quite werid hearing them speak in different accents but its quite normal for us.

[hello12america]

Valkerie Rocks my sox

[travelogue200]

Cruise wouldn't know truth if it bit him. His whole life is an act.

The fact that Cruise is a supporter who aggressively promotes a totalitarian ideology ($cientlogy) but then wishes us to believe in his portrayal of a victim of a totalitarian regime (Nazis) is vulgar. He couldn't even be bothered to do a German accent. He still sounds like Ethan Hawke, but I guess this is Mission:Impossible (literally) IV but set in the 40's.

& Hollywoodn't ever tell the plain truth. It rewrites the world!

[filhodovento20]

Alicia Quarles is very hot...

[mymatemartin2]

Ok, havn't seen it yet but the whole idea of an American actor playing the lead role, and Tom Cruise with no attempt at a German accent at that, just turns my stomach. Historically a great topic but why, for gods sake why could they not find a German to play the 'hero'? On a similar point I really enjoyed 'The Last Samurai' but again the thought of an American actually being the last Samurai standing is a slap in history's face. Valkyrie seems to follow suit. The US, fake it till you make it.

[chihuahuavata15]

In the movie he plays a tall sane heterosexual, and in real life he belongs to a criminal fascist nutzoid cult.

[VirginiaPatriot]

Saw it, it sucked and so does Tom Cruises acting here. Just an awful film and waste of money not to mention historically innacurate. Cruise dumps yet another film dog on the public

[sarielx]

Let me get this correct, Tom states he received an award for having the courage to play the role, by the "people of Germany?" It was kind of like an Oscar", no Tom, it was like a Key to the City, or Honorary Doctorate. Some moron, decided this, NOT the populace of Germany. I truly hope he realizes that the majority of Germans would have wanted to personally evict Cruise from the country if they could have...

[kokaneegoldbeer]

Why would anyone want to Kill Hitler? They are traitors to their own people. What scum!

[iloverobertlewis]

omg i think tom cruise is ugly

[Davis44455]

Valkyrie is a great movie.

[LoveHaterJones]

Wow did you hear about Tom receiving death threats? I mean what did this guy do to have people mail him anthrax? He's not Osama bin Laden. Why do people want to kill him? This is sad. Congrats Tom on your movie.

[Chadhasaplan]

Great movie, also Seven Pounds is a good movie as well.

[232TV]

I love Tom Cruise, I don't see why the media hates him yet they love Perez Hilton. This movie was worth my money.

[Aliceloves1]

I saw the movie with my father and grandfather and my grandfather who is 81 love the movie. Afterward he started to tell me what he did during that time and how the world was effected by Hitler. Yes time is crazy but he is no Mike Tyson and seems to be a cool crazy guy. LOL. I say go see the movie everyone. It freaking made Box Office 4th place over the holidays.  I mean a war movie that does good over the Christmas holidays! Go see it for yourself.

[1171171]

totally agree, more stories like this need to be told. I knew the story but still the end nearly made me cry, those men were such heroes but no-one really knows.

[zarkoid]

I just saw the movie and it was great! People should pull their faces out of the gossip tabloids and get a life. Stupid people make too much out of the paparazzi nonsense to the point that their mushy minds are brainwashed into disliking an actor when they haven't even seen the movie. I bet that I'm the only one so far who actually saw the movie. Also, it is a normal practice to make historical movies in contemporary English.

[VirginiaPatriot]

You must work for Cruise or you will watch anything. It was god awful. I especially liked the Germans with British accents. Kenneth Branagh looked as if he wanted to kill himself for accepting a role in this arrogant Tom Cruise dog of a film. If you must see it, wait for the 99 cent store. It'll be there SOON.

[zarkoid]

"The Mission" with Robert DeNiro won the Golden Palm award at the 1986 Cannes Film Festival, and the Spanish and Portugese conquistadors spoke with upper class British accents. No problems there, so why your whining? You clearly have an agenda against Cruise for some reason. What movies DO you like?

[VirginiaPatriot]

What does the "awards meat market" as George C. Scott referred to it have to do with my opinion? Cannes, the Oscars, etc. are all politically and economically tainted love fests and are 90% tainted by partiality. That said, I'm sorry if I insulted your boyfriend, who has made some good films in the past. This one just sucks, and Cruise has been sucking as an actor for some time now.

[zarkoid]

Well, Virginia, you're pretty feisty for a girl, but it is clear that you do have an agenda. You just said, in effect, that ALL Hollywood movies suck, so why zero in on this one? Logic is not your strong point obviously. Maybe spend a little less time teasing your hair.

[VirginiaPatriot]

First of all, I'm male, not female. Second, where did I say all Hollywood movies suck? They don't. But this one sure does. I DID say the awards process is a meat market. It's political. and leans heavily toward liberals and blacklists conservative actors, directors, and producers. It's the new McCarthyism. Again, a succesful film suspends disbelief. This one does not, and coupled with the overacting and arrogance of Cruise, spells box office suicide. Wait for the 99 cent rental.

[zarkoid]

I thought your name was Virginia. I take it you are a Patriot FROM Virginia. I'd think that someone who talks about the "new McCarthyism" would tend to support an independently produced movie that has been largely airbrushed out of mass media coverage because it fails to portray all Germans as devils. Most hate-propaganda about this movie is because it is about German resistance to Hitler, a fact of history that some leftists want censored. You'd think a free thinker would like the movie.

[VirginiaPatriot]

The media has been giving this dog of a film TONS of coverage, and the studios have done MILLIONS in ads for it, but the word of mouth has gotten around that it is just a plain crappy movie. Hype can only go so far. As for the subject matter, that's a separate issue. There have been plenty of documentaries on this subject. It's also such an interesting historical subject that it's a crime that Cruise made it such a waste.

[ronineditor]

Virginia, LOL... it's far surpassed the studio's expectations and is holding its audience which means the word of mouth is good. Clearly you have a bias against Tom Cruise, as evidenced by your last sentence.

[VirginiaPatriot]

You're one of several who take my review of Valkyrie personally.

[ronineditor]

"You're one of several who take my review of Valkyrie personally."

Um... what? Why, it is a personal thing with you? Why must it be "personal" if I defend the film, obviously it is affects you personally. You seem very up in arms and defensive about it, where it can do no right in the family-dominated X-Mas film season.

YES, this out-performed expectations, maybe not YOURS but it did. This film is ripe for the home and cable market. Do you know understand this? Want me to explain?

[VirginiaPatriot]

Oh, and with a production cost of $75 million and another $50 million to market it, that makes the cost $135 million. It has recouped $62 million thus far. That's 50% of the cost to release. I'm thinking the studio's "expectations" are for MORE than it cost to make. Maybe not in your world.

[ronineditor]

Viriginia, Virginia... this has be out TWO weeks in ONLY the US! $63 million for a non PG film during the holiday season is GREAT, and it hasn't even been overseas, LOL!! One more weekend and it's made back its production, worldwide it becomes "profit" and the cable/home market makes it a huge success.

My God are you stubborn... you don't even understand film distribution/marketing, yet, you want to pontificate about a film's "value." Sorry you hate Tom Cruise, but this film is a success.

[ronineditor]

Not in my world? Where do I work again, ah, as an editor in Hollywood... where are you from? Ah, Virginia, Mr. Know-it-all. Do you know that most films aren't profitable for a studio? Most studios are happy to break even at the box office. Most of the money is made on the back end these days. This film hasn't even been released overseas and you've already dismissed it. There's NOTHING it could to do please you... you're a moron who knows nothing about Hollywood.

[VirginiaPatriot]

Well, that explains the bias toward Tom Cruise. If you work in Hollywood and want to keep your job, you better pay tribute. Better keep towing that Hollywood line if you want to keep receiving invites to those soirees eh? Admit it. It was AWFUL. Most reviewers are saying the same and saying wait until it's on HBO or the 99 cent rental store. Tom brought this film down like a lead balloon.

[ronineditor]

So if I don't "hate" Tom Cruise like you do, then the only other option is me having a "bias" for him - gotcha. I can speak freely about whomever, do you see my real name listed? Btw, Tom is actually considered an outsider to Hollywood. He's socially blacklisted in award shows. Of course, you feel he never deserves a nod, ever.

Admit what? Being 2nd Gen. German, I went into this film skeptical but was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. If you want 'blow em up', then rent Rambo.

[ronineditor]

Btw, Virginia... "most reviews"? Would you consider Roger Ebert an expert? He says, "I'm at a loss to explain the blizzard of negative advance buzz." He went onto give it three stars.

See, Virigina, anyone can cherry-pick bad reviews to slant your point, or you can be objective and look at the big picture. The FACT is that the word of mouth is positive, giving this legs. People like you lowered the bar so low that people are pleasantly surprised.

[KULCAT]

The weekend the movie came out the suits at United said they were pleased by the opening. How many of this medium budget(and yes, in today's world 70 million is medium budget) come out making 10 mill? Valkyrie is mid level success. Just the US Market will recoup the investment and the world market and DVD-Blue ray market will make this a winner.

[korrdxl]

Also based on a true story, I hope.

[osu67]

yes, it was. There were actually 15 or so attempts made but none were remotely successful. Germans do not = nazis, but most were brainwashed by his charisma and the sad state of the german economy after WW1 and the great Depression. They needed a strong leader, unfortunately Hitler, like most politicians, offered alot, but gave little.

[okonh0wp]

courage might not have been the right word, but the fact is he got an award by the german government and most people think the german government banned him for his scientology. it's simply not true

[willbond]

Tom Cruise portraying a tall sane heterosexual. Not buying it.

[BeasTxMode2000]

speaking of queers, if you hate the guy so much why do you waste your time posting comments about him lol fag

[ljae07]

I never heard any Deutch word spoken! Nyet!

[zarkoid]

How would YOU know? "Nyet" is a Russian word, not a Deutch word.

[ljae07]

It doesn't matter! They never spoke any German

word on the movie! It's a shame!

It's a flop !

[fluteplayer007]

actually they did talk German in the beginning

[zarkoid]

Most people dislike subtitles, because you are so busy reading them that you miss the on-screen action. Das Boot (The Boat), for example, is available in Deutch with subtitles or dubbed into English. I prefer the dubbed version, because then I can watch the movie. If I want to read, I'll buy the book.

[EpicFaiIGuy]

Whoo, Tom is totally out of his mind.

[BradleyD1146]

Tom Cruise practices Scientology what can you expect ? Along with Katie Holmes they are both idiots.

[tecpaocelotl]

He's just crazy.

[Canada1812]

why do you need courage to make this film? wow nice ego.

[DawnWeatherby]

YES, my question exactly. What the hell courage does it take to ACT in a film about killing hitler? Von Stauffenberg's family didn't want cruise to play the part because he is such an idiot. I hope this movie bombs

[BeasTxMode2000]

because they take a bunch of abuse by idiots like you. You idiots hate him because he is happy LOL get a life and dont worry about his

[lordmaldad]

I just saw the film and thought it was great. The only flaw throughout the entire film I could find was the fact that the lead actor was Cruise.

[TainaAtheist1]

Tom Cruise is as much of an ass as the character he portrays.

.

[bleeda2]

first