early Valkrie reviews are not promising

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by gee_ess

I cannot stand Tom Cruise. I think he has done a good job is some movies but the minute I saw the trailer for this movie, I knew he would be in over his head. A period piece for Tom? I don't think so!
Some of you may already know this, but my friend who has a friend "in the business" out in California swears the whole Katie/Tom marriage is a publicity stunt with a signed contract that spells out her compensation,etc. They had supposedly approached other b-list celebs before Katie agreed. She also says it is common knowledge that Tom is gay.

That comes as no surprise to me.

I haven't seen any of his movies in years, but the whole July 20, 1944 plot to kill Hitler scenario is near & dear to my heart. I had read a book which inspired me to start (read: almost finish) a screenplay about the plot, only told from a different point of view. Then I read that somebody else had written one based on the same source (The Berlin Diaries, 1940-1945 by Marie Vassiltchikov), and that Nicole Kidman was going to star in it. It's so fascinating, I'm sure that's where the idea has come from. FYI, one of the major players in the real plot was Adam von Trott - the gggrandson of John Jay.

[Thetagirl218]

Originally Posted by honeychile

That comes as no surprise to me.

I haven't seen any of his movies in years, but the whole July 20, 1944 plot to kill Hitler scenario is near & dear to my heart. I had read a book which inspired me to start (read: almost finish) a screenplay about the plot, only told from a different point of view. Then I read that somebody else had written one based on the same source (The Berlin Diaries, 1940-1945 by Marie Vassiltchikov), and that Nicole Kidman was going to star in it. It's so fascinating, I'm sure that's where the idea has come from. FYI, one of the major players in the real plot was Adam von Trott - the gggrandson of John Jay.

That info is fascinating! Thanks for sharing, honeychile!

I do want to see this movie because of the historical aspect, though I loathe Tom Cruise with a passion.....

That was the main thing that irked me: here's a movie made about Germans, and the main character doesn't have a German accent? WTF?

In tons of movies, the actors don't even attempt to have to accent the characters should have! Do all the actors have no accent? It would be pretty stupid if Cruise was the only one with no accent. At least they tried to have accents in the old WW2 movies of the 50s and 60s....Battle of the Bulge anyone?

[honeychile]

I'm posting a link to a good article on Valkyrie - it barely mentioned Tom Cruise! http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08360/937508-42.stm

I rather like Bill Nighy in the first place; now I love him!

[AKA_Monet]

Thanks, I can somehow wind up with a screener bootleg version for $5.

Anyhow, most "Nazi" picture employed English accented actors to play all the roles. The BEST "Nazi" picture I've seen to date is "Downfall" or "Der Untergang" all done in German with subtitles.

The Germans I know do have an accent when they speak English. But, I cannot tell their accents when they speak German. They did speak openly about "after the war", but NEVER right before or during the WWII. I guess, they just do not discuss it with outsiders... And these were young men (~20-something). Something tells me they do know plenty, but culturally, it is in bad taste to discuss any merits of WWII from a German's perspective. IDK?

All this to say, I would never think Tom Cruise as an actor could effectively pull off a legit, non-glamorizing "Nazi" movie. It's like portraying the Antebellum south American pre-Civil War movie--just overall, not a good "period piece" effort for him... Tom Cruise with a Southern Accent? Has he done that before? IDK?

The "Defiance" movie is out January 2nd. I think folks will appreciate that one more.

[moe.ron]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Thanks, I can somehow wind up with a screener bootleg version for $5.

$5 for a bootleg? I pay $.63 here in Indonesia.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by moe.ron

$5 for a bootleg? I pay $.63 here in Indonesia.

Don't talk about bootlegs unless you got some to offer... Wassup with the hook up?

While there quite a few internet site, too, I have recently found out about tracking devices on sites, lately...

[moe.ron]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Don't talk about bootlegs unless you got some to offer... Wassup with the hook up?

While there quite a few internet site, too, I have recently found out about tracking devices on sites, lately...

It's pretty blantant here in Indonesia. They're very upfront about it and have shops in malls. I'll take pics of the place.

It's also hilarious, last year, the American ambassador was complaining about dvd piracy in a news conference here. About 3 hours later, I saw him buying bootleg DVDs. I guess, when in rome.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Thanks, I can somehow wind up with a screener bootleg version for $5.

Anyhow, most "Nazi" picture employed English accented actors to play all the roles. The BEST "Nazi" picture I've seen to date is "Downfall" or "Der Untergang" all done in German with subtitles.

The Germans I know do have an accent when they speak English. But, I cannot tell their accents when they speak German. They did speak openly about "after the war", but NEVER right before or during the WWII. I guess, they just do not discuss it with outsiders... And these were young men (~20-something). Something tells me they do know plenty, but culturally, it is in bad taste to discuss any merits of WWII from a German's perspective. IDK?

All this to say, I would never think Tom Cruise as an actor could effectively pull off a legit, non-glamorizing "Nazi" movie. It's like portraying the Antebellum south American pre-Civil War movie--just overall, not a good "period piece" effort for him... Tom Cruise with a Southern Accent? Has he done that before? IDK?

The "Defiance" movie is out January 2nd. I think folks will appreciate that one more.

Eerrrrmmm...can you say The Last Samurai

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Eerrrrmmm...can you say The Last Samurai

He was playing a Union soldier who got sent to Japan to originally fight the Samurai, then wound up joining with them. He did not use an American Southern accent to play that role.

In fact his ex-wife, Nicole Kidman can portray a better Southerner, IMO...

[cheerfulgreek]

At 1st I thought it was going to be in subtitles, boy was I glad it wasn't.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

All this to say, I would never think Tom Cruise as an actor could effectively pull off a legit, non-glamorizing "Nazi" movie. It's like portraying the Antebellum south American pre-Civil War movie--just overall, not a good "period piece" effort for him... Tom Cruise with a Southern Accent? Has he done that before? IDK?

In reality, the Valkyrie plotters wondered about that very thing, a lot. Would people believe that there were Good Germans, or would the world think that they were all Nazis? Even though these people were mostly Nazis, they had joined the party either to "fix" Germany or because they were forced to do so, just to work. It happens. The one plotter who doesn't seem to be mentioned much (Adam von Trott) was constantly going to Sweden, England, and other countries to try to get their support.

[amanda6035]

i saw the movie tonight. I was disappointed. Of course, that probably had alot to do with the fact that i sat on the row where everybody and their grandma had to get up 4 times during the movie.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by honeychile

In reality, the Valkyrie plotters wondered about that very thing, a lot. Would people believe that there were Good Germans, or would the world think that they were all Nazis? Even though these people were mostly Nazis, they had joined the party either to "fix" Germany or because they were forced to do so, just to work. It happens. The one plotter who doesn't seem to be mentioned much (Adam von Trott) was constantly going to Sweden, England, and other countries to try to get their support.

IDK? I am no expert, but I think the German law is "once a Nazi, always an Nazi"... And I believe Simon Wiesenthal would say "never again"... This whole movie just seems like I might be waiting for it on HBO--unless moe.ron hooks me up with the bootleg.

[honeychile]

I got very interested in the plot after reading The Berlin Diaries 1940-1945 by Marie Vassiltchikov. It's one of a kind in so many ways, I'm sure to be disappointed by Valkyrie, but I have to see it.

You can read a little about the author here. "Vassiltchikov's diaries are the only known first-hand account of the July 20th Plot to kill Adolf Hitler. In addition, her description of the repeated bombing of Berlin is considered one of the best testimonies of that event."

"In addition, her [Missie's] diaries detail the bombing of Berlin, the daily life of what remained of Berlin's cosmopolitan pre-war nobility and intelligentsia, and her own journey from privilege to near-death at the end of the war."

If you're not going to see the movie, give yourself a treat, and read Missie's book!