Cheat Sheet

Okay, I may not love Tom Cruise's Scientology, but we have clearly hit a tipping point here. Anyone who has feared that Cruise seemed a little fanatical, in a couple of interviews two years ago, can now see that the Tom-Cruise fear-mongers have totally outdone him--to the point that he is not allowed to do a brave movie about a German officer who had the courage to risk his life to remove the ultimate fanatic from his seat of power (and this world). What sort of balance is reflected in the view that anyone who does this story is a Nazi-sympathizer? Is that true, too, of those historians who documented this bold act that could have changed history, but instead resulted in the gruesome death of the protagonist? Or perhaps we should imagine that all people caught up in this terrible national movement were that same?

The world should never stop studying this horror--and it is just that--and all the sub-characters who either aided it, or tried to stop the strange leader who made it possible.

Tom Cruise's recent interview on these topics was genuine, and displayed the humanity we have seen him depict on film. I, for one, salute him for having the courage to bring to dramatic life an event from that time about which most Americans know very little or nothing at all.

Cruise has a right to do that, and to believe in whatever religion he wants to. After all, I don't recall him making in threats to anyone in behalf of his beliefs. My suggestion is that we go back to simply treating him as a very talented actor and be enlightened by his efforts. From what I can tell, underneath all the intensity, and strict belief structure Cruise is a decent guy.

Whatever...Valkyrie is the story of some slightly less-evil Nazis trying to kill Hitler. The "brave Germans" were still racist, eugenics nut-jobs who thought that the 3rd Reich was a grand idea...they just didn't like Hitler.

Scientology? ugh. Disgusting that this sort of garbage is tax-exempt.

The only bombs going on around Tom Cruise are the films that he's in.

valkyrie the movie is not the same as the valkyrie the history.
valkyrie and his secret group were german soliders who felt like hitler was expanding his empire too quickly. they wanted to stop the constant war, and govern the country -- militarily of course.

the plot to kill hitler had nothing to do with them recognizing him as the vile heinous individual that he was. it had to do with power.

that being said, if you are offended by the movie...just don't go see it. thats the best kind of protest there is.

as for his religion, if one believes in freedom, then one must accept that everybody is free to believe what they chose. tom cruise believes in scientology. while i may not believe in it, i don't have a problem with those that do. i certainly cannot understand nor condone violence against somebody because of their religious beliefs.

Those aren't signs of madness, who wouldn't want an underground bunker if they could afford one? If I could, I'd have an egg-chair in mine, and hire struggling actors as minions and henchmen.

I'd have to say, religious freedom aside, Scientology is more open to mockery than most. There's tales of rampant exploitation by religious institutions from all over, but few institutions have been deliberately and openly formed to bilk idiots out of their money and lives with a tale published as fiction and repackaged as a gospel.

However, it could be that without Scientology, the Jedi or Starfleet or the Cylons would move in to fill the gap. At least as it has alienated both governments and the majority of people as an exploitative cult, it makes it a little easier for disenfranchised members to get away and tell their stories.

But then I say this as someone who likes to point and laugh at all devoutly religious people. I'm just a bad person.