No Action Role for Willis (Bruce Willis)

This Is London ^

[I'm ALL Right!]

No action role for Willis
28 February 2003

Pssst...He is famed for playing the all-action hero in Hollywood blockbusters such as Die Hard and Armageddon.

So, with the prospect of war in the Gulf looming, Bruce Willis proudly phoned President George Bush to tell him he was ready to don his trademark vest and volunteer for military service.

But he was shocked when an aide at the White House told him: 'Sorry, Bruce, you're too old to enlist.'

Willis said he was so sick of the antiwar attitude of his fellow actors that he offered to battle alongside US forces against Saddam.

In his 1998 film Armageddon, Willis played a drilling expert who averted Earth's destruction by nuking a giant asteroid from the inside.

He later told fans he would no longer make 'save the world' movies - but that clearly does not apply to his off-screen activities.

The 47-year-old said: 'I thought about signing up but my friends told me I was too old. I called the White House, called President Bush and asked what I could do.'

Apparently, Mr Bush told Willis he was past his prime - the age limit for new recruits is 34 - and to find a more peaceful way to serve his country.

'So I got involved with the national foster care programme,' Willis said.

The Die Hard star believes A-list stars such as Sean Penn, George Clooney and Martin Sheen, who plays a US president in political drama The West Wing, are reluctant to speak out in favour of military action.

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

The Die Hard star believes A-list stars such as Sean Penn, George Clooney and Martin Sheen, who plays a US president in political drama The West Wing, are reluctant to speak out in favour of military action.

That's a nice way of putting it. I think what he wants to say is that they're gutless morons.

[smith288]

The Die Hard star believes A-list stars such as Sean Penn, George Clooney and Martin Sheen, who plays a US president in political drama The West Wing, are reluctant to speak out in favour of military action.

Penn, Clooney and Sheen are hardly a-list in my opinion... And it has nothing to do with their ideology.

[IYAS9YAS]

Well, I for one, would like to see him team up with Arnold and Mel Gibson for some type of good guy movie.

This sucks, many of the movies I like have both actors I want to support and ones I don't...I know, I'll buy one ticket (for the actors I like) and sneak someone else in (for the ones I don't) ;-)

[Wolfie]

Uh..huh. Look, I'm sure Bruce's heart is in the right place, but I'm also sure he knew he was too old (and I'm equally sure he has a war movie coming out soon).

[I'm ALL Right!]

My thoughts exactly. He knew he was too old when he looked into it. However, I appreciate the sentiment, he is as sick of the hollywierd crap as the rest of us are.

[Cacophonous]

Well, I for one, would like to see him team up with Arnold and Mel Gibson for some type of good guy movie.

Gibson, yes, but Arnold is a moron, a true GOPer who is no Conservative. In other words, he would endorse anything GOP, irrespective of its merit. Willis, I think, and definitely Mel Gibson use their brains occasionally.

[stylin19a]

That's kinda what I was thinking. All he had to do was go to a recruiting office, yet he calls the White House. Did he think his "star" status would give him a special dispensation ? otherwise why call the WH ?

[Wolfie]

Like I said, his heart's in the right place (and I'm looking forward to his new flick).

[Tunehead54]

Well, I for one, would like to see him team up with Arnold and Mel Gibson for some type of good guy movie.

---

You forgot Bo Derek! I'd see the movie - on principle only of course.

Double Post coming up! Not my fault - FR is "refusing" my request. Hey! I paid last FRunderaiser!

[kms61]

If he's serious, he should look into the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

[CholeraJoe]

You forgot Bo Derek!

Who could forget Bo?

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

He knew he was too old when he looked into it. However, I appreciate the sentiment, he is as sick of the hollywierd crap as the rest of us are.

There's a great scene in the movie Yankee Doodle Dandy, when a 39-year-old George M. Cohan (played brilliantly by James Cagney) tries to enlist for World War I, only to be told he is too old. He clears space on the floor and does an improvised dance, to great applause. After this he is told he will be of more help to the American cause here (in America) than over there (which, in the corny way you only see in the old Hollywood musicals, leads him to compose the song "Over There").

I think Bruce could do a lot of good over here. Not by speaking out, necessarily, since that would be hypocritical, but by supporting the right side in other ways.

[ravingnutter]

I think they should let him go...my mom was telling me last night about a National Guard Reservist that just got deployed from MO...at age 55...I was shocked.

[shezza]

Got a contact number to send to Bruce, Tonk?

[Hugin]

Not by speaking out, necessarily, since that would be hypocritical, but by supporting the right side in other ways.

Huh? What would be hypocritical about speaking out? He's a citizen who is entitled to his opinion like anyone else. And his opinion just happens to be right on this.

[North Coast Conservative]

It sounds like the head of the USO should call Mr. Willis and tell him to pack his seabag.

When I was overseas with the Corps the USO show I saw was Woody Hayes and three hours of football films. I can't think of a better show, but then, I can't think of a better coach. *GO BUCKEYES*

The are all sorts of places that he could go, we have troops all over the world. Pick a country, you could probably hold a USO show.

In God We Trust…..Semper Fi

[lizm_77]

I have an entirely new respect for the guy

[jz638]

Apparently, Mr Bush told Willis he was past his prime - the age limit for new recruits is 34

With modern medicine being as advanced as it is, and fitness being such an obsession for so many folks, couldn't there be a sort of "fogey force" in the active military?

[battlegearboat]

Mr. Willis could go to Vitry-Sur-Seine, France and battle the macho goons that are terrorizing girls in high rise ghettos.

All over France, women are wearing tee shirts with "Ni Putes, N. Soumises" emblazoned across their fronts.

The translation: "Neither Whores nor Submissive!"

Bruce knows his way around high rises I believe.