I enjoyed this as well. Was really surprised. Yes, it had cliches. One it didn't is mentioned in the above posts. Yeah, Tom killed a shitload of people. That's what made it a bit fresh for me. He wasn't the innocent good spy slylie dodging bullets and taking people out with judo chops. He just wasted them and kept smiling.

Because the movie was so over the top, the motorcycle chase was great, but ridiculous, I don't think many cared that he killed all those people. Because the movie sets its tone immediately. Its not to be taken seriously.

Yes, I hate Tom Cruise. I just had a hard time hating his character in this.

James

I really enjoyed this movie too, I am surprised it flopped in the US, do people really dislike Tom Cruise this much now, I know he's a bit of a nut, but I don't think the quality of a film is based on an actors religious beliefs, well most of the time.  And the strange thing is most people who see this film seem to like it and a movie like little fockers which has doubled K&D don't really care for it, yet it still is bringing in the bucks, oh well, I hope this movie finds new life on dvd cuz I think most people will enjoy it.  And I see some comments on the violence, and yes it has a really high body count the violence isn't brutal at all and pretty bloodless.  I would call this movie perfect popcorn entertainment.

Thought I'd commented on this, but obviously not.

Anyway, the frankly pathetic loathing of Tom Cruise helped give birth to my 'Cruiseaholics' project. Highly amusing to see someone 'hate' Tom Cruise. I am having fun developing the character who channels this behaviour.

As Jeff said, Tom has some real acting chops and his huge star power (which I would say has evolved as opposed to disappeared) has prejudiced analysis of his performances. His body of work and the calibre of his directing collaborators are sufficient evidence of what the man can do. Mangold's comments regarding Tom after working with him show how he's revered by actual talent and not some up his own arse, never going to make it director/critic/world changer.

This film never really struck me but then again, 'Valkyrie' required a second viewing for me to appreciate it. Perhaps 'Knight and Day' will need that second go. My problem with it (aside from an uncharacteristic inebriation while film-watching) owed to the feeling it was very disjointed. It straddled different genres and struggled to gain that cohesive direction of TC's and Mangold's previous work.

RE: its relative BO "failure" (by any other standards than a TC vehicle, it wouldn't be a failure but a mid-range performer) can certainly be attributed in part to the ludicrous campaign against Tom's belief system - it says more about the viewer that they cannot separate an actor from his performances. Perhaps some negative reaction to the film can also be tagged there, too, but I think the unprecedented level of bile and vitriol thrown his way has coloured views and conditioned some people to reject his product. Their loss.

Quoted from Andrew RE: its relative BO "failure" (by any other standards than a TC vehicle, it wouldn't be a failure but a mid-range performer) can certainly be attributed in part to the ludicrous campaign against Tom's belief system - it says more about the viewer that they cannot separate an actor from his performances.

I don't care about his belief system. Nor does most of Hollywood IMO. It was him jumping on Oprah's couch declaring his love for Katie Holmes. Him telling Matt Lauer he doesn't understand Psychiatry. He's a fucking actor. And a douche bag.

Like i said, loved his acting in this role. Was able to forget about that other stuff while watching. I just don't give a shit for anything he has to say off camera. Unless he gets squirted in the face by a microphone squirt gun, that was funny. Tom not too good with his own lines. Called him a jerk like fifteen times. A bit redudndant.

James