[Sam Cree]

"and they wouldn't have had to use much in the way of special effects to make him look short..."

Yeah, and I think Tolkien considered many orcs to be fairly short, also.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

I think Tolkien considered many orcs to be fairly short, also

I think you're right! Cruise may be too good looking to be an orc, though. I think he would have made a good Mouth of Sauron... but then they would have had to use special effects to make him look tall.