War of the Worlds Box Office numbers in US have reached over US$ 208,000,000, while worldwide the number is over US$ 500,000,000. The movie has opened a month ago.

Quite impressive for a movie that was predicted to flunk because Tom was being so public about his personal live and beliefs, huh?

Promo! Wanna win the War of the Worlds Soundtrack? And a Poster?
Starbuzz.com and TomCruiseFan.com will be awarding 8 lucky winners with the War of the Worlds Soundtrack and Movie Poster!

Please check Starbuzz.com for more information on how to participate.

Good luck!

No recent news, so I took some time to surf the www and found some opinions and views on life etc. ;-).
At Taipei Times.com I found a review of WOTW, in which Steven Spielberg and others that worked on the movie and the script give their views on the story, the background and the values behind the storyline. A bit similair is the story at Citizen-Times.com about Steven’s family values played out in the movie. Quite nice piece.

Very old is a little video about Tom at The Biography Channel.

Maybe you’ve noticed that everyone has an opinion about Tom these days. Well, I’ve found a story written by reporter Navarrette defending Tom in giving his opinion about using drugs because, basically, everyone is entitled to an opinion. Read it at the site of TucsonCitizen.com. He has a point. Speaking of which, the story “Tom Cruise may know more than we think” is quite interesting. And I found a little word of Mimi Rogers; she’s happy for Tom and is flabbergasted that anyone would judge his relationship with Katie, you can read at free-press-release.com.
Nothing spectaculair, but maybe something to think about. Maybe more next time!

‘War of the Worlds’ is also a great success in the United Kingdom. The BBC reports that Tom Cruise’s War of the Worlds topped the UK box office chart, taking £8.6m in its opening three days.

”War” is Tom Cruise’s best opening ever — Despite the actor’s controversial publicity-tour comments, moviegoers turn out in droves to see his ”War of the Worlds” by Dave Karger

If much of the American public has been turned off by Tom Cruise’s recent media appearances, their wallets didn’t show it this weekend, as War of the Worlds became the biggest opening of the actor’s career.

Over the four-day Fourth of July holiday weekend, War grossed $77.6 million, according to studio estimates, and a total of $113.3 million since its debut on Wednesday. That easily topped Cruise’s personal six-day best of $92 million, set by Mission: Impossible 2 in 2000. In fact, War is now already more than 50 percent on its way to topping M:I2’s $215 million total gross.
Source: EW.com

TheNewsTribune.com:

LOS ANGELES (AP) - “War of the Worlds” conquered the box office as easily as the movie’s aliens overpowered Earth. Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise’s sci-fi tale took in $77.6 million over the long Fourth of July weekend, lifting its total since debuting last Wednesday to $113.3 million, according to studio estimates Monday.

That fell well short of the all-time high held by “Spider-Man 2,” whose $180.1 million haul in its first six days led Hollywood to a record Fourth of July weekend last year. The top 12 movies took in $160.1 million, off 25 percent from that 2004 record weekend. It was the 19th-straight weekend that domestic revenues were down compared to last year’s, extending Hollywood’s longest slump since analysts began tracking detailed box-office figures. The worst downturn previously recorded was 17 weekends in 1985.

For the year, revenues are down about 7 percent, while factoring in higher ticket prices, admissions are off 10 percent. The longer the slump drags on, the harder it gets for Hollywood to dig itself out of that revenue hole, said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations. “There’s a spotlight on the slump and people’s dissatisfaction about going to the movies. That negative perception can create a negative reality,” Dergarabedian said. “It also gives people the opportunity to vent all the reasons they don’t like going to movies, whether it’s high ticket prices or the costs at the concession stand. So they feel validated in that by the slump.”

“War of the Worlds,” Spielberg and Cruise’s update on H.G. Wells’ classic about space invaders laying siege to Earth, had the second-best four-day opening over Fourth of July, behind the $115.8 million for “Spider-Man 2.” “Anybody disappointed with the second-biggest opening ever on Fourth of July weekend should really sort of seek help,” said Rob Friedman, vice chairman for motion pictures at Paramount, which handled domestic distribution for “War of the Worlds.”

The studio hopes “War of the Worlds” will have a long shelf life at theaters, since Spielberg and Cruise’s audiences tend to skew older than crowds that rush out over opening weekend for such comic-book adaptations as “Spider-Man 2,” Friedman said. “This is not a sequel. It’s not based on a comic book and a young fan-based property. This is based on a 100-year-old literary property,” Friedman said. Spielberg and Cruise’s “movies tend to play longer, stay in the marketplace longer, so I think as it relates to ‘Spider-Man 2,’ we’ll have to wait and see what the long haul brings.”

Opening in 78 countries last week, “War of the Worlds” took in an additional $102.5 million overseas from Wednesday to Sunday [Reuters: $15.7 million in Britain, $15.1 million in Japan and $7.8 million in Spain], putting its worldwide total at well over $200 million. Paramount did not yet have figures on how much the movie took in internationally on Monday.

“War of the Worlds” bumped “Batman Begins” to second place after two weekends in the top box-office slot. “Batman Begins” hauled in $18.7 million over the four-day weekend to raise its three-week domestic total to $154.1 million. The weekend’s other new wide release, Martin Lawrence’s basketball comedy “Rebound,” fouled out with just $6 million from Friday to Monday, coming in at No. 7.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Monday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released Monday.

Director Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds, starring Tom Cruise, has earned $101.7 million domestically in its first five days from 3,908 theaters for Paramount Pictures. The $132 million-budgeted sci-fi thriller, which opened Wednesday, earned an estimated $66 million from 3,908 theaters over the Friday-to-Sunday frame, marking the second-best Fourth of July opening, trailing only Spider-Man 2 ($88.2 million).

War of the Worlds has now earned $204.2 million worldwide.
Source: comingsoon.net

This should make for a nice birthday present for our man, WotW is holding strong at the box office:

War of the Worlds Earns $21.5M on Day 3
Paramount Pictures’ War of the Worlds, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Cruise, earned an estimated $21.5 million on its third day to push its domestic total to $57.2 million. The sci-fi thriller, budgeted at $132 million, is playing in 3,908 theaters.

The other newcomer, Martin Lawrence comedy Rebound, collected just $1.7 million from 2,464 theaters on its first day.
ComingSoon.net

More reviews:
- king5.com
- zap2it.com
- TheStandard.com.hk (and this interview with Tim Robbins)
- ledger-enquirer.com
- news.inq7.net
- texarkanagazette.com
- icNorthWales (uk)
- smh.com.au
- NewsTodayNet.com
- icWales (uk)
- icLiverpool (uk)
- BismarckTribune.com
- bradenton.com
- acadiananow.com
- SiouxCityJournal.com
- moviehole.net
and Reuters reviews the reviews!

Director Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds, starring Tom Cruise, added an estimated $14.7 million from 3,908 theaters on Thursday for a two-day domestic total of $35.96 million.

The film earned $13.35 on Wednesday internationally giving it a worldwide total of $49.3 million so far (a Thursday international figure is not available yet).

On Wednesday, the sci-fi thriller took in $21.256 million domestic, representing the largest opening day in the history of Paramount Pictures as well as the largest opening day for a Tom Cruise movie.
(Source: Paramount Pictures, ComingSoon.net)

“War of the Worlds” is a big hit! Read the following:

‘War of the Worlds’ Marks Biggest Opening Day in Paramount History and Tom Cruise’s Largest Opening Day Ever

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., June 30 /PRNewswire/ — “War of the Worlds,” a Steven Spielberg film starring Tom Cruise, has opened to an estimated $34.606 million, worldwide, in its first day. The film took in $21.256 million domestic in 3,908 theaters, representing the largest opening day in the history of Paramount Pictures as well as the largest opening day for a Tom Cruise movie. The film also made an estimated $13.350 million internationally from 46 territories; the film has yet to open in 10 markets, including the U.K., France, Belgium, and Korea.

Rob Friedman, Vice Chairman of the Paramount Pictures Motion Pictures Group, said, “We’re ecstatic; this is just the beginning of a long and successful run at box offices around the globe. We’ve got a dream team of Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg and they’ve both delivered yet again.”

(Reuters.ca):
‘War of the Worlds’ tops $21 mln on opening day
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The new Tom Cruise, Steven Spielberg movie “War of the Worlds” took in $21.3 million during its first day in U.S. and Canadian theaters, the biggest Wednesday debut for a Paramount Pictures movie.
Worldwide, the film about an alien invasion of Earth raked in an additional $13.3 million for a global opening of $34.6 million, Los Angeles-based Paramount said in a statement on Thursday.

Some commentators have speculated about a fan backlash against Cruise for his behavior in recent television interviews in which he enthusiastically professed his love for actress Katie Holmes and trumpeted the views of Scientology, his religion. But the movie drew generally strong reviews, and fans turned out in solid numbers for the Spielberg-directed film.

“We’ve got a dream team of Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg and they’ve both delivered yet again,” Rob Friedman, vice chairman of Paramount Pictures Motion Pictures Group, said in a statement.

Movie ticket sales have been down for 18 straight weeks in the United States and Canada, and Hollywood is looking for something to help it break out of the doldrums.

The Wednesday debut of “War of the Worlds” at the domestic box offices tops $15 million by “Batman Begins” earlier this month, but not the $40 million from “Spider-Man 2″ last year. “Spider-Man 2″ hit theaters at the same time last summer with the pent-up demand that a sequel brings, whereas “War of the Worlds” does not have the immediate fan base of a sequel. As a result, “War of the Worlds” will be hard-pressed to beat the $180 million “Spider-Man 2″ tallied in domestic theaters in its first six days, box office watchers said. One of the top all-time blockbusters, Columbia Pictures’ “Spider-Man 2″ debuted in 4,100 U.S. and Canadian theaters last year versus roughly 3,900 for “War of the Worlds”.

Today in the news:

Soldiers who acted in ‘War of the Worlds’ get sneak preview
Steven Spielberg picked Fort Drum troops to star in “War of the Worlds.”
“It feels awesome to help save the world,” said Sgt. Christopher Lumpiesz. Thirty-two of those soldiers watched the movie Monday night, along with a capacity crowd of special guests. The other 10 soldiers were on leave or have been reassigned since the scenes were shot in the first week of December in upstate New York and Connecticut.
“Spielberg wanted real soldiers to make the scenes more authentic. He was quite impressed. You don’t get any more Army than the 10th Mountain Division,” said Lt. Col. Paul Fitzpatrick. Spc. Kenneth Wright: “Everybody in my family is going to go see me … I mean the movie.”
Read the complete story here.

By the way, ComingSoon.net has the complete NY interview with Tom and Steven: read part 1 and part 2.

Also as promised the interview from CBS’ Early Show, read part 1 here. Part 2 will follow as soon as posted on the site of CBS.

Then I’ve found a story at Theglobeandmail.com from a reporter who was invited to join Tom and Steven on the promo tour around the globe! He describes the premieres in Tokyo, Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris, Marseilles, London, Madrid, New York and finally Los Angeles.

And of course the movie reviews will follow one by one, with WOTW going in premiere today. Read reviews from
- TeenHollywood: “This is Spielberg as we know him!” about Steven, and of Tom they say “When Cruise plays traumatized, realizing he’s covered with the cremated remains of his neighbors, he strikes gold”. In general: “Spielberg and company have given us what we’ve missed in a summer blockbuster for so long… heart, empathy and a heck of an adventure. War of the Worlds delivers.”
- zwire.com
- PaloAltoOnline
- EmpireOnline
- NewTimes
- Jam! Movies
- CNN: “That said, “War of the Worlds” is one hell of a ride. The special effects are seamless and the story succeeds in being both touching and horrifying. “War of the Worlds” can be a nightmarish trip, but it’s a terrific film, a blockbuster that lives up to its billing.” (don’t miss the video link)
- roanoke.com: “This time, Spielberg mainly wants to scare you — and that’s a skill he’s honed since “Jaws.” “Cruise is a likable and convincing actor, and he shows the kind of vulnerability that only parents know. He’s heroic but not a super hero.” “The special effects are astonishing, as should be expected. But Spielberg stays true to the Wells book in the story’s salient points; audiences who don’t know the book may find the ending anti-climactic. Spielberg did the right thing, though, and should be commended for it.”
- Newsday.com: ““Since terror made incarnate is never as creepy as terror unseen — a truism classically illustrated by “Jaws” — “War of the Worlds’” array of spindly, tentacled aliens are rarely as scarifying as they are objects of wonder.”

Video’s: Watch a video of the fan screening here. Also scary clips of the movie are shown.

Don’t forget AccessHollywood with all their specials about Tom and WOTW. Their review, a video and photo’s you can access here. MSN.com also has a WOTW-page. People.com has a special about Tom & Katie.

To view some pictures go to the sites of sky.com (Tom and Katie on Tom’s bike) and ComingSoon.net (45 WOTW pics).

I haven’t had the time to read/watch everything myself, I hope you do and enjoy it!

Read Part Two of the Matt Lauer interview (Today Show) here.

And a very little excerpt from and interview with Tom by CBS; Tom recently sat down with The Early Show entertainment contributor and People magazine senior editor Jess Cagle to discuss Katie, WotW and more. The complete interview will be online tomorrow; I’ll post it here of course.

And maybe you’ve heard Tom would like Nicole to attend his wedding to Katie (Examiner and Hollywood.com). If it’s true I don’t know, just reporting [so no comments on that please]!

I’ve found this interview from inq7.net. It has put a smile on my face and I felt like I was there and could see it with my own eyes. A nice interview:

NEW YORK-Tom Cruise did not jump up and down his chair during our interview with him Thursday afternoon at the Essex House.

But he playfully knocked on the table to test if it was sturdy enough for him to do a repeat performance of his by-now-famous bouncing on Oprah Winfrey’s sofa to declare before the TV audience that he is in love, yes, he is in love!

Cynics may scoff at the love affair of Tom and Katie Holmes, now nicknamed TomKat. But having interviewed Tom several times in the past, I can say that this is a less uptight, more accessible guy. He was open not only in discussing his romantic life but even in the way he dressed up. Where he would normally be dressed in a suit or a long-sleeved dress shirt, the superstar appeared in a short-sleeved black shirt, with several buttons undone, no-tan arms exposed.

The rain, too

The man who used to be very guarded during interviews-a master at being engaging without revealing much-repeated his public declarations for Katie.

He was even effusive about the sudden rain soaking the trees (so green in summer) in Central Park right across the street. “I love that rain! Isn’t that great?” gushed the man in love as he gazed at the windows showcasing the park in all its leafy glory.

The press con began with the obligatory questions about the movie “War of the Worlds,” which he was promoting. This newest cinematic adaptation of H.G. Wells’ classic book about alien invasion is a movie as entertaining as only Steven Spielberg can make it. It has spectacular effects, thrills, the dazzling screen presence of Tom and, best of all, Dakota Fanning. Only 10 at the time of the filming, Dakota has been declared an acting genius by Spielberg himself in a published interview. I experienced the fear from the invading aliens in this movie through this girl’s eyes.

At this afternoon press con, it didn’t take long for the personal questions to come. Tom was savvy enough to discern this and say, “I love it when you’re about to ask a question and this smile comes on. It’s like, okay, I’ve asked the movie question-now comes the personal question.”
(Later, when we joined a large group of US and international print and TV media folks for a press con with Tom and Steven Spielberg, the legendary filmmaker reacted to the first TomKat question by looking at his watch, putting on a mock surprised expression and saying, “Twenty minutes went by without that being asked!”)

That laughter

In the past, Tom deflected personal questions in a very polite manner, of course. This time, with our small group, he let out his loud, deep, cackling laugh-that Tom Cruise laughter which should be a column topic by itself. And then he answered the TomKat questions.

A colleague congratulated Tom on his engagement and mentioned the reams of stories about l’affaire TomKat. He pretended to be surprised, broke into that toothy Tom Cruise smile, leaned back in his chair and said, “Really?”

He lowered his voice when he talked about Katie. The effect, of course, is dramatic and emotional. As I wrote in my earlier column on Katie, if being in love results in an actor being more accessible and expressive, I’ll take this open Tom Cruise anytime.
“Never be surprised about how stupid people can be,” he declared about folks who are suspicious of his motives in trotting out a romantic relationship with Katie. “I am in love. Something extraordinary has happened to me and I haven’t felt this way. I can’t restrain myself,” he said, exulting in his explanation of the palpable change in him. “It’s a beautiful thing. People ask me and I’m going to be honest about it.”

Good, genuine

Of Katie, he said, “She’s such a good person and so genuine.” When he was apprised of Katie’s gushing declaration of his best qualities, he quipped, “Did she cover all of them?” And then came the cackling laughter again.

But there were certain things that Tom didn’t want to discuss. He still wouldn’t say how and where he and Katie first met. He didn’t want to say where he bought the four-carat diamond engagement ring that he slipped into Katie’s dainty finger at the Eiffel Tower.

And he claimed that details of the wedding have not been discussed.

He tried not to dwell on the incident at the London premiere of “War of the Worlds” where a man, pretending to interview him on the red carpet, squirted water from a mock mike at him. “It was the best premiere I’ve ever had in London except for that one incident,” he said instead to put a positive spin on the incident. “It (the water squirting incident) is not even worth talking about.”

Would he have been as calm if Katie had been the victim of that prank instead of him? “I’m just happy it didn’t happen to Katie,” was all he would say.

I told him how impressed I was with Dakota, who said, “I wish them the happiest marriage that anyone has ever had” after he dropped the bomb that he and Katie were engaged. Tom showed me how he turned around to face the young actress, who is now 11, and told her, “Thanks, girl.
That’s so touching.”

Next life?

When a writer asked what he would like to be in his next life, Tom appeared like it was a strange question to ask. “I’m having a great time right now,” he said. “This isn’t bad; this is pretty incredible actually.”

Toward the end of our interview with Tom, I looked behind, to the back of the room, and lo and behold, Katie was there, dutifully standing by. Whoa. This sure is a very public couple.

After our session, Tom greeted each one of us. As he shook my hand, he looked me in the eye and said, “Thank you for coming all the way to New York.”

I congratulated Katie on her engagement, teasing her that just a few weeks ago, a colleague had asked her when they were going to get married. And now she has an engagement ring. Sans makeup, in a simple getup of pink sweater, blouse and blue jeans, she looked like an innocent and pretty 18-year-old girl (she’s actually 26). When Tom went out of the room through another door, she bolted to catch up with him.

In the hallway, I saw them walking to the elevator, arms intertwined in the back. Both in blue jeans, the pair looked like teenage sweethearts rushing off somewhere. I wish them luck.

Coverage of the NY premiere of War Of The Worlds:
- Hello! Magazine
- Fashion Wire Daily
- USA Today

As you know, Tom was on the ‘Today’ Show yesterday. Host Matt Lauer sat down with Tom and talked about Katie, “War of the Worlds” and his comments on Brooke Shield’s use of therapy and drugs to cure her postpartum depression, and the media responding to that. Watch the interview and/or read it at the site of MSNBC.

Read some of the stories on the press conference given by Tom and Steven while they were in New York:
- smh.com.au
- scifi.com
- Hello! Magazine
A link to a video is already posted yesterday but you can click here to watch it.

Also little news: Asked whether he and Katie would be hearing the patter of tiny feet, Tom smiled and said “yes”. But he told People magazine that before things move forward “we would have to talk to our families about it”.

I searched the internet and came up with the following stories.

Hello! Magazine has a little special about Tom & Katie, watch it here. Also on the site is the story that they met Penelope Cruz and her family while being in Madrid, promoting WotW. They had a great time, read it here.

I just have to show you this picture… so nice:

Also a press release that Tom will host a special screening of WotW for fans! It’s his idea to invite hundreds of fans in Los Angeles. Tom: “I’m thrilled to be hosting this screening for the fans. I’ve received so much support from them over the years and it feels great to have the opportunity to share the movie with them personally.”
No tickets will be sold for the event. Hundreds of military guests and webmasters of fan sites, who have supported the film from the very beginning, have already been invited; in addition, fans can win tickets to the event by listening to the radio, as reported by biz.yahoo.com. Of course, when we know/hear more about it, we will report it here!

ET has a little story about Tom in New York; read it here.

CNN published Steven Spielberg’s comments on the media madness (their reaction) to Tom & Katie being in love, read it here if you like.

And I close with the news of a six-minute b-roll clip that features a bunch of takes through out filming. It features tons of behind - the - scenes footage featuring action shots, Tom, Dakota and various discussion dialogue, including a scene feature of Tom reacting to an alien attack on city streets with a store window blowing out right next to him. Another clip is a shot of Tom running through what looks to be a farm as Spielberg sings the Mission Impossible theme! Click here to watch it.

That’s it for now, enjoy!

To view behind the scenes of War of the Worlds, visit the Featurette of Hollywood.com!

New dates have been added. Madrid will have a premiere on the 21st! And Marseille will be also the home of the French Premiere, on the 17th, here is all the list

- WOTW Premiere: Tokyo - June 13th
- WOTW Premiere: Berlin - June 14th
- Tom honored in Marseille, France and also the Premiere of WOTW - June 17th
- WOTW Premiere: London - June 19th
- WOTW Premiere: Madrid - June 21st
- WOTW Premiere: New York - June 23rd
- WOTW Premiere: Los Angeles - June 27th
- WOTW World Premiere: June 29th

Regarding comments, if you’re posting a comment and it’s not appearing it’s because all comments need to be approved before it shows up. It usually just takes a few hours. I’m sorry I had to do this, but there are way too many people not respecting me.

The Official War of the Worlds Website has been updated with a new game level, a countdown to the movie, film clips and tv spots

I’ve been getting some e-mails asking about premiere dates, some of you didnt noticed the appearences box is right below the top layout banner, maybe it’s because of the layout change and it might take a while to adjust. *Points top-right*

In case you still can’t see, the next scheduled appearances are:

- Tonight Show with Jay Leno: June 8th
- WOTW Premiere: Tokyo - June 13th
- WOTW Premiere: Berlin - June 14th
- Tom honored in Marseille- June 17th
- WOTW Premiere: London - June 19th
- WOTW Premiere: New York - June 23rd
- WOTW Premiere: Los Angeles - June 27th
- WOTW World Premiere: June 29th

And just like it’s written on the appearances box, I don’t have information about exact locations.

Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds starring Tom Cruise will be having its world premiere in Tokyo, Japan on Monday 13 June, Stewart Till, Chairman and CEO of UIP confirmed today in London.

Tom Cruise will continue the promotion of War of the Worlds through Europe with premieres in Berlin, Marseille, London and Madrid. War of the Worlds opens worldwide on June 29.

Source: WaroftheWorlds.com

The premiere has not been cancelled, just moved places.