Good news! Tom came in top 10 for Vh1 and People’s collectors edition magazines top 200 greatest pop culture icons. Read the article here. And this is what the cover looks like

I have some e-mails from Chantal…, so let’s post some! Some are quite old since I took too long to post…

Cruising for a bruising
Actor threatens MP over ‘chicken’ comment

Tom Cruise has lashed out at tourism minister Kim Howells for suggesting the pint-sized actor is ‘too chicken to fly’ to Cannes. In a misguided attempt at boosting the number of visitors to the festival, and Europe in general, Howells had laid into Hollywood stars for their refusal to fly. Sadly for him, he made the mistake of not checking how many US actors made it to the film festival (quite a few), and of singling out Cruise for criticism. His lawyer immediately threatened to sue over the ‘false and defamatory’ comments made about the ‘courageous’ actor. ‘Mr Howells had better cross the street if he sees me or Tom,’ he said gleefully. Cruise rubbished the outspoken minister’s comments, blaming his absence from Cannes on ‘work commitments,’ while a publicist observed wisely: ‘It’s pretty hard to be in two places at the same time.’ ‘These people portray themselves as great action heroes,’ Howells had scoffed. ‘One would assume they had the balls to do a simple thing like fly to Europe. They love playing great heroic role with their big guns and big chests.’ Along with many of her purportedly Europe-fearing colleagues, including Austrian-born Arnie, Spaniard Penelope Cruz – cheerfully free of the testicles and big chest Howells had ascribed her – confirmed Cruise really did have other commitments.

From: People News

On Guard!

Up until now the only proof we’ve had that Tom Cruise has even been making a film down in New Zealand has been his word and a couple of slightly insubstantial teaser trailers featuring wind-chimes and groovy Japanese symbols. However, we’re pleased to announce that the first full trailer to Edward Zwick’s The Last Samurai is here and it’s looking rather good.

If you’re expecting to see Cruise take to the air like Chow Yun-Fat, you’re in for some disappointment, and truth be told there’s not even a wealth of samurai swordplay on display. What there is though is a pretty impressive rendering of nineteenth century Japan (the costume designer deserves a knighthood) and a hint of bigger and better things to come. Highlights include beardy Cruise looking sensitive yet deadly and an appetite whetting shot of him charging into battle in full samurai armour. Click Here.

And for a look at the film’s new poster, click below.

From: Empire Online

Did you guys see The Last Samurai Teaser Trailer yet? Check the official website at http://www.lastsamurai.com.

Chantal has sent a lot of news!!

Cruise And Kidman: Friends Reunited
Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman are ditching their differences following their shock divorce two years ago – by appearing together in hit TV comedy Friends.

The pair, who have little contact following their split and Cruise’s subsequent relationship with his Vanilla Sky co-star Penelope Cruz, will star together in an upcoming episode of the American show – although TV bosses have decreed that their roles should be filmed separately.

Kidman explained to a friend, “I usually wouldn’t do TV, but this I couldn’t pass up.”

Source: Teen Hollywood

This one is more about Penelope.., but oh, well…
Penelope Cruz Files Defamation Lawsuit

HOLLYWOOD (Zap2it.com) – Penelope Cruz appears to have caught the lawsuit bug from her boyfriend, Tom Cruise. The actress’ lawyers announced Tuesday (April that she is suing an Australian magazine for defamation.

The Spanish actress filed a defamation suit against the women’s magazine New Idea in the New South Wales Supreme Court claiming that a magazine article about her relationship with her “Vanilla Sky”co-star makes a number of “false and defamatory” statements about her. The story said that she cheated on her boyfriend.

Cruz’s lawyers claim Cruz first asked the magazine for a retraction, but when it didn’t comply, they decided to seek damages. Her lawyers said, “The article is almost entirely fictitious.”

“Ms. Cruz seeks substantial damages and is confident that the legal proceedings will vindicate her reputation,” said her legal firm, Gadens Laywers, in a statement.

Cruz, 28, has made headlines in Australia ever since she started dating Cruse, after his breakup from actress Nicole Kidman.

The case is scheduled to appear before the court May 30.

One of Hollywood’s most powerful actors, Cruise is well known for his willingness to defend his reputation in court. Earlier this year, he won a $10 million court award against Chad Slater, a former gay porn star who claimed he had been the actor’s lover. In 1998, Cruise and then-wife Kidman successfully sued a British tabloid magazine, which alleged their marriage was a sham, designed to disguise Cruise’s alleged homosexuality. They were awarded six-figure settlements.

Source: Zap2It

One more about Friends:
TOM AND NICOLE REUNITED

Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise are getting back together again, but only in the hit TV show Friends.

They are due to guest star in the series, according to reports.

But programme bosses are apparently keen defuse any tension between the former married couple after their acrimonius divorce two years ago.

The two will film their respective roles separately, according to the Daily Star.

“I usually wouldn’t do TV, but this I couldn’t pass up,” the newspaper quoted Nicole as saying.

Tom and Nicole would follow a string of stars who have appeared in the comedy sitcom, including Brad Pitt, Elle Macpherson and Reese Witherspoon.

Source: Sky

And guess this one what is it about? FRIENDS!
Tom and Nic back together
Forever Friends

You never thought it could happen, but Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman are getting back together – to appear in Friends. Two years after their acrimonious divorce, the Hollywood couple are attempting to the past behind them. Friends of the couple will be hoping the cameo in the popular sitcom will go some way to improving relations between them. While producers have been reassured that they are on friendlier terms these days, they have still decided that Tom and Nic will film their roles separately, for fear of a punch-up. Kidman reportedly told friends, ‘I usually wouldn’t do TV, but this I couldn’t pass up.’ Although Cruise and Kidman have been in touch with each other – Tom rang his ex to congratulate her on winning this year’s Best Actress Oscar – they haven’t met in the flesh for some while. The next scheduled meeting of the two actors will be at the Cannes Film Festival, when Kidman may also get the opportunity to rub shoulders with her replacement, Penelope Cruz.

Source: People News

Everyone loves Tom…
The temporary visit of a short but sexy 40-year-old Hollywood movie megastar with a blinding smile, casual clothes and a penchant for surfing. Since the world’s highest-paid actor, Tom Cruise, and the cast and crew filming The Last Samurai quietly took over New Plymouth this year, a change has come about in Nakiwood.

It’s evident in the main drag banners flapping about in the prevailing southwesterly Tasman Sea breezes welcoming the film’s cast and crew to the city; it’s in the shop windows sporting handmade signs that offer Cruise free icecreams and cups of tea; it’s in the way my mother looks up into the brilliant blue sky over New Plymouth Airport at a hovering helicopter and nonchalantly observes, “That’s just Tom”. The gentle fall of Hollywood glitter has seemingly ensconced New Plymouth in a gleaming embrace, and it appears few are insusceptible to its charm.
The producers acknowledge that Tom Cruise has been the secret ingredient to the way in which local people have supported and encouraged the movie. He is, after all, the Hollywood megastar of our time.

Not so much megastar as mega-friendly, if local lore is to be believed. Cruise has sneaked into New Plymouth’s only cinema complex to watch the latest Lord of the Rings movie among locals unaware of his presence. He has helped a family stranded at the side of the road with a flattie. He’s donated $7000 to Urenui Primary School in a now-famous telephone conversation with The Edge radio station’s announcers.

He’s eaten fish and chips with his son Connor (8) on Oakura’s main street, responding cheerfully to the plethora of welcomes from locals passing by. He has reputedly put offers in on the million-dollar coastal mansion he has leased from businessman Grahame Symons for a staggering $5000 a week, and frequently swims and surfs at beaches along the 105km Surf Highway 45. His red-and-black helicopter piloted by New Plymouth’s Matt Newton is a daily sight ferrying Cruise and family across the eight film sets dotted from Oakura to Uruti.

His presence here has given the city a buss, one local journalist says. We’re dreading the day he leaves.

Tour buses now include in their itineraries a slow cruise past Pukekura Park’s cricket pitch, protected by a high concrete wall and covered with a tent city ready for filming. Backpacker hostels say late summer visitor numbers have doubled as enthusiasts hope to get a glimpse of Cruise and his fellow actors.

For now, New Plymouth is humming to the beat of a Hollywood drum, with one of Tinseltown’s most powerful actors constantly hovering overhead. Ask Peter Avery what he hopes Cruise will tell his Hollywood pals about Taranaki, and he doesn’t hesitate in replying. “I just want him to have a good movie. If he is happy, then that is my primary focus and I’ll be satisfied. And maybe another place he can call home.

Carnahan to direct Mission: Impossible 3
“Narc” director Joe Carnahan is in final negotiations to helm Paramount Pictures and Cruise/Wagner Prods.’ third installment of their “Mission: Impossible” franchise.

Dean Georgaris is in negotiations to script “M:I-3.” The franchise’s original screenwriter, Robert Towne remains on board. Paramount is eyeing a summer 2004 release date for the film.

“M:I-3″ reunites Carnahan with the studio and the production company as it was Cruise/Wagner that urged Paramount to pick up for distribution Carnahan’s film “Narc.” Paula Wagner and Tom Cruise also had executive producing credits on the project.

In April, David Fincher had been finalizing a deal to direct “M:I-3″ but has since departed the project. “M:I-3″ was just one of several features Fincher had been attached to around town. Now Carnahan will continue the “Mission” franchise.

Cruise will reprise his role of Ethan Hunt, who works for a special undercover unit. Cruise produces the franchise with Wagner. “M:I-3″ will be the third collaboration among Carnahan, Cruise/Wagner and Paramount. Last month, the trio teamed with DreamWorks on “Killing Pablo”.

Tom Cruise’s witch
According to Daily Variety trade magazine, Cruise is preparing to star in a Danny DeVito-directed remake of the 1942 comedy I Married a Witch.
The movie is about a witch who puts a centuries-long curse on a family’s male descendants, only to fall in love with one of them and retreat to a life of mortal domesticity.

Ironically, Cruise originally developed I Married A Witch five years ago as a movie in which he was to star with his then-wife Kidman.

Cruise on Vanity Fair cover
Vanity Fair has apparently assembled a group of five big name male movie stars for the cover of its Hollywood issue, on sale March 7.
The magazine shot Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford and Jack Nicholson for its cover. A fifth actor, possibly Tom Hanks, will join the group.
Watch monday’s Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood for more details.

Some news! Thanks Chantal

‘Minority Report’ Advertising Campaign Backfires
(Zap2it.com) – Advertising watchdogs are criticizing 20th Century Fox for making unsolicited phone calls to British cinema-goers to promote the video/DVD release of the Tom Cruise movie “Minority Report.”

Eighteen people complained to the advertising standards authority after receiving a message on their mobile phones to promote the release for the Steven Spielberg-directed blockbuster.

According to media reports, a short clip from the film is used featuring a man drawing breath as people answer the phone. The voice, belonging to Cruise, says: “Where’s my Minority Report?” before screaming: “Do I even have one?” Moments later a woman’s voice replies: “No.” Only at the end of the message does it state: “Don’t miss out on your ‘Minority Report.’ Buy it now on DVD and video.”

Those who complained say that the advertisement is “offensive,” and could cause distress because it’s not clear it’s a promotion. Some owners also object to having to pay to call their answer phone to retrieve the bogus message. It is believed this is the first time anyone has attempted a voicemail campaign and it has backfired badly.

Fox Home Entertainment explains the message is sent only to people who registered their contact details on the company’s website and asked for information about film and DVD releases.

The ASA is upholding the complaints, saying consumers “would not necessarily immediately recognize the voice as being Tom Cruise’s,” believing the message could be seen as “menacing” and might “cause serious or widespread offence.”

‘Menacing’ Tom Cruise ad

LONDON, England (Reuters) — A British watchdog rapped film maker Twentieth Century Fox on Wednesday for a sending out a “menacing” mobile phone advertisement featuring the voice of actor Tom Cruise.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) criticized the company’s home entertainment arm after receiving 18 complaints from people who received the advert for the video and DVD release of the film “Minority Report” on their mobile phones.

The message used a short clip from the film beginning with a man’s voice drawing breath before Cruise asks: “Where’s my Minority Report?” He then breathes heavily before screaming: “Do I even have one?” Moments later a woman’s voice replies: “No.” Only at the end of the clip does the message reveal itself by stating: “Don’t miss out on your Minority Report. Buy it now on DVD and video.”

Complainants said they found the advertisement “offensive” and felt it could have caused distress by not making it clear it was a promotion. Others objected to having to pay to retrieve the advertisement from their voicemail.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment said the message had been sent only to people who registered their contact details on the company’s Web site and asked for information about film and DVD releases. The message was sent on a Monday morning which, the company said, would “minimize the risk of people having to retrieve the message because most people had their mobile phones switched on at that time.”

But the ASA said consumers “would not necessarily immediately recognize the voice as being Tom Cruise’s,” thought the message could be seen as “menacing” and might “cause serious or widespread offense.”

Cruise and Cruz May Team on Screen Again

HOLLYWOOD (Zap2it.com) – Hot couple Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz are in talks to star in an unusual project by Franco-U.S. production company Novem, titled “Paris Je T’Aime.” The film features 20 five-minute shorts about “falling in love in Paris” by several different directors.

If their schedules permit, Cruise and Cruz will star in a segment by Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (“Amores Perros”) where they play a famous couple hounded by Mexican tourists as they walk around the French city.

“We have been overwhelmed by the ballooning interest in our picture and the international talent which has put itself forward to become involved,” Novem head Emmanuel Benbihy tells Screen International. Benbihy explains that all directors are paid exactly the same, and that their crew choices are limited to first assistant and cast.

“Paris Je T’Aime” already features shorts by Brazil’s Walter Salles, China’s Jiang Wen, Japan’s Nobohiro Suwa, UK’s Tim Roth, Spain’s Fernando Trueba, Germany’s Tom Tykwer, Belgium’s Agnes Varda and Britain’s Sally Potter.