The Tokyo premiere of Steven Spielberg’s film War of the Worlds has been cancelled due to security fears.June 5th, 2005 by Roy Berman |
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Film distributor UIP decided to shelve the gala screening on 13 June amid concerns about protecting the picture’s stars, including Tom Cruise.There were also worries about pirate copies of the film being made from illegal recordings at the event.
Some 7,000 Japanese fans who won seats at the premiere are likely to be offered alternative prizes.
I have trouble imaging how security could be such a problem in Japan that they cann’t guarantee Tom Cruise’s safety. Who would want to hurt him? Unless there is of course some kind of secret war brewing between the Scientologists and Japan’s Alpeh cult (formerly known as Aum Shinrikyo).
June 5th, 2005 at 1:58 am
This Mainichi Shinbun article suggests it was the piracy fears rather than the stars’ security that caused the premiere to be cancelled:
http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/news/20050604p2a00m0dm003000c.html
A bit paranoid if you ask me. These sorts of irrational decisions aren’t rare in Japan though – as I’m sure you know.
June 5th, 2005 at 10:15 pm
It is likely to have misread it because it was not detailed to English.
Do you say that the stage greeting and screening will be discontinued?
Did it make a mistake as a mysterious country that it was natural to bring the video camera in to the theater?
It is only a face that looks like, and a national character is quite different.
June 6th, 2005 at 7:43 am
I wouldn’t be surprised if Cruise is actually concerned for his safety (warranted or not). During the filming of War of the Worlds he spent almost all his non-set time in his trailer or surrounded by bodyguards while Speilberg (much in contrast) actually absorbed some local culture and greeted fans as thanks for letting them film there.
Of course… local culture means Newark, NJ,... so maybe Speilberg is the crazy one.
June 6th, 2005 at 8:26 am
From an interview with Tom around the time Last Samurai was released:
“I always wanted to see other places and learn about how other people lived… [a]nd when I go to Japan, it’s so enigmatic to me. It’s different. The culture is different. I find it aesthetic and the people fascinating. I wanted to know more, more about their history, how they lived, how they got to where they are today. One of the great things about being an actor is that I get to travel to these places. I get to learn about the people and that is the most enjoyable thing for me. To learn about the history of people and how people live and their daily lives.”
(Whole interview here:
“http://actionadventure.about.com/cs/weeklystories/a/aa112503.htm)