Posted on 06/23/2005 4:06:51 PM PDT by Paul Atreides
New York film critics have been barred from tonight's (Thursday) premiere of Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds, leading New York Times columnist Campbell Robertson to wax poetic -- Yeatsian, really -- to speculate whether the snub might have something to do with star Tom Cruise's Scientology beliefs, or last weekend's incident in which a bogus reporter squirted him with a phony microphone, or his bizarre behavior on Oprah Winfrey's talk show. ("The press lacks all conviction, while TOM CRUISE/Is full of passionate intensity, /Really, really passionate intensity.") Meanwhile, film critics in Germany threatened Wednesday to boycott War of the Worlds if they are required to sign an agreement not to publish a review before its June 29 release date in that country. While an informal agreement exists between U.S. critics and studios to withhold publication of reviews of new movies until the day of their premieres, no such agreement exists in Germany. In a statement released Wednesday, the Association of German Film Critics said that the studio demand represents "scandalous P.R." and "obstructs the press from its constitutionally guaranteed rights."
Maybe they just know that the movie really, really sucks and they don't want the news to get out.
A classical music station used to broadcast the entire original radio show "War of the Worlds" narrated by Orson Wells once a year, on Halloween. It sounded very real.
Of course they didn't have me fooled for a minute. I knew that, if creatures came from outer space, they wouldn't land in New Jersey, they'd land in Los Angeles.
"We are not amused."
At Neverland Ranch.
I can't imagine why people thought this would be a good movie. I guess people figured Cruise/Spielberg, but we know what happens. They die from bacteria, if the story follows the book. If not, who cares about a disaster movie?
Have to give Spielberg his due as a director--he's usually excellent. But after that propaganda piece he put together for John Kerry and the Democratic convention, I'll never see one of his films again.
Hold on now, this is France after all.
Oh no! Put that Uranium Pew-36 Explosive Space Modulator down.
I just cannot believe that he would cast Tom Cruise in the lead role. He just doesn't look like someone who could take on aliens, even if he is a Scientologist.
Maybe Tommy Boy is afraid of the critic's "Passionate intensity..." Wotta geek.
ROFL....It's great that simply posting a picture, no caption, can elicit a gut-busting laugh.
I have that version on DVD. From what I have read of the fan reviews, it is horrible. I'll wait and see, when I watch it.
Note to film critics...Stay away from any Kool-aid or applesauce served at post premiere parties.
Your ability to recall a line from a 1950s cartoon is...disturbing. :)
I hope I haven't disillusioned you.
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