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No Hollywood movie star gets a bigger reception in Japan than Tom Cruise – even if he is only in the country for 14 hours. The 48-year-old star cultivates his fans here better than any other actor. In the past, he has taken his fans on chartered plane and shinkansen rides.
Last week, he didn’t have as much time to spend in Japan, so 800 fans were specially invited to a red carpet premiere of his new movie, "Knight and Day," in which he co-stars with Cameron Diaz. Cruise arrived at Haneda at 7:30 a.m., joined Diaz for the evening premiere at Roppongi Hills Arena, which was broadcast live to theaters in Shibuya and Shinjuku, and then spent an hour chatting with fans (including former yokozuna Asashoryu), before heading back out to Haneda for a trip back to Prague where he is filming "Mission: Impossible 4."
“There is something special about coming to Japan,” gushed Cruise who has been here 14 times for 14 movies. “I’ve always had a great relationship with this country and fan support is something that I have never taken for granted.” Diaz, also a regular visitor to Japan, said she has loved Japan ever since she spent six months in Tokyo working as a model when she was 18.
In "Knight and Day," a kinetic spy film directed by James Mangold ("Walk the Line"), Cruise plays a spy on the run, pursued by his agency who believe he is a rogue agent, and by arms dealers who think he has the world’s first self-renewing energy source. Along the way, he bumps into an auto mechanic (Diaz) and the two of them go globetrotting on the lam together.
"Knight and Day" reunites Cruise and Diaz, 38, who last starred together in the 2001 film "Vanilla Sky."
“It was great working with Cameron again,” said Cruise. “At least, in this movie, she wasn’t trying to kill me.” For her part, Diaz had plenty of praise for Cruise. “There is no one better to work with than Tom,” she said. “He does his own stunts and he made sure we all had a blast on the set, and I think that when you see the film, it will be evident what a good time we all had.”
Cruise, who still retains his boyish good looks, said that after he made the serious World War II film "Valkyrie" two years ago, he wanted to make something light that audiences could just go along and have a good time watching. “I’m proud of 'Valkyrie,' but this film has a lot more it in – there is action, comedy and romance.”
Cruise hasn’t been afraid to go against type – most noticeably as Les Grossman, the vulgar movie producer in the 2008 film "Tropic Thunder." He reprised the character to perform onstage with Jennifer Lopez at the MTV Movie Awards in June.
“Now it’s back to action with 'M:I 4,' which will be out in December 2011, and I promise you all that I’ll stay longer next time I come,” Cruise said.
© Japan Today
23 Comments
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tokyotom
tom cruise said during his MI3 promo tour (on the shinkansen i should add) that MI4 would have a japan segment, well he is prague now filming MI4
so he has no credibility in my eyes
IdiotKiller
@tokyotom: and that's because..?
Just because he's in Prague doesn't mean there won't be a Japan segment. It's called a film schedule, dude.
ironchef
i think tom cruise will still sleep well at night even without credibility from you.
Dewaashita
Sounds like he had a long day.
mrskit
he looks like my brother,,,,gross i like how Cameron is always smily,,,,i wonder if that is her true persona,,,
smartacus
tokyotom
Stars always say they'll film their next movie when they visit Japan. I remember George Clooney and Brad Pitt announcing at Roppongi Hills Arena that they would do "Ocean's 13" in Japan. It's just talk for the crowd. In reality, a big production like "Mission: Impossible" would be nearly impossible to film in Tokyo because of all the restrictions on filming. You can't close off streets for a car chase, for example.
nath
nice lifts in his shoes to look like he is close to Diaz's height. In his recent spy movie, he looks like a little dork trying to act cool.
IdiotKiller
@Debucho: He IS a little dork trying to act cool.
Only he gets paid for it, big bucks :)
stormqueen
Toms great,MI series not rivetting,but no dork in these eyes.
nath
Amen. I am all for rakin' in the bucks, even if you are a 5 foot 1 inch dork
XXXXX
I don't watch their movies, but they look ok. Cruise w/height-enhancing things on his shoes + botox and Diaz w/reconstructed nose after alleged surfing accident + botox.
jojo_in_japan
Didn't you say the same thing about Leo the other month???
getsy
Cruise in Cruise out
papasmurfinjapan
Methinks he likes Japan because no-one here gives a damn what his religion is. Everywhere else the media tends to portray Tom Cruise as "Oprah couch jumping cult freak".
Dewaashita
Folks, you are kind of in the wrong area, and wrong country, to be emphasizing an assumed value of short anything. That goes especially for people. Cruise has long been a friend of Japan. And veteran actors should not be undervalued. As for developing a liking for Japan, Depp it seems has come around as well, and for the better.
DarkKnightNine
or not, Tom Cruise is an awesome actor and his religious beliefs are his business. I bet he's a helluva nice guy too. Let the dinosaurs of the past die please. Tom Cruise keep shining! There are very few actors in your league.
papasmurfinjapan
I agree.
alphawolf
She's wearing high heals and Cruise is trying to puff his chest out and stick his big nose in the air to be taller..
Takshi89
Sales in America weren't high, so he must be in Japan to make up for the loss.
bicultural
Are you kidding? Tom Cruise is always Tom Cruise, in every movie. If you think that's good acting ...
XXXXX
yes, plus he's...cheerful?