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CNN Live Today

Interview With Mr. Moviefone

Aired December 05, 2003 - 10:49   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: It's a big weekend at the box office. Tom Cruise is one of those battling it out for the top spot in "The Last Samurai." For more on what's playing and what's worth your time, we're joined by Russ Leatherman also known as Mr. Moviefone. Good morning.
RUSS LEATHERMAN, "MR. MOVIEFONE": Hey, happy Friday, Daryn.

KAGAN: Glad to have you here. Let's talk Tom Cruise. does he have a blockbuster on his hands?

LEATHERMAN: Well he does have a big blockbuster on his hands. This is really "Braveheart" meets "Dances With Wolves" in Japan. This is a big epic action adventure movie. The story is terrific.

He plays a Confederate soldier who is really tired of fighting and drunken and "Born on the 4th of July" again. So he's then recruited by the imperial army to really rid Japan of the last remaining samurai who have fought to really protect the emperor for years. And he fights them but then he comes to love their honor, tradition, he loves their dresses apparently and he becomes one of them.

Here's the deal. This is a big epic, beautifully shot, well- acted, good story movie. The only problem I had with it is it seems like Tom Cruise is a little bit of a victim of maybe his own superstardom. Because you're watching the movie, you're loving, it's going along, then you look at Tome Cruise. It's like, hey, his teeth are straight, those look terrific.

Then you're watching the movie some more. It's like, Hey, Tom's in that dress. That look fantastic.

So the problem I had is I sort of got yanked out of the movie a lot of times because Tom is such a big star it's sort of Tom Cruise doing Tom Cruise doing Tom Cruise.

But if you're a Tom Cruise fan you're going to love the movie. Big epic, beautifully shot, good action. So it's probably a B-plus. Not a great movie, could have been great but it's pretty good.

KAGAN: All right, and if you love Tom, you'll love that.

Let's talk the other big epic out there, the third installment of the "Lord of the Rings."

LEATHERMAN: Actually, I believe you started riots at theaters across the country.

KAGAN: I did?

LEATHERMAN: It isn't in theaters today. It's not in theaters until the 17th. But what is in theaters today is a special edition limited release where it's the first movie. It's "The Fellowship of the Ring" and it's got 30 minutes of added footage, deleted...

KAGAN: Thirty minutes longer? Could that movie be any longer than it already was?

LEATHERMAN: Come on, Daryn. Now it's only 7 and a half hours. You've got the time.

KAGAN: I think I'm still sitting in the theater watching that movie.

LEATHERMAN: You know what? People are going to see the movie because they are so fired up for the third one and even more so now that they really just want to check this thing out.

And, by the way, if you're going to go see the third installment, which is in a week or so, definitely get your tickets in advance. The opening weekend is going to sell out. It is going to be fantastic. This is going to be the big holiday movie, I think, along with "Elf." These two movies, fantastic, you can't lose.

KAGAN: Finally, "Honey"?

LEATHERMAN: "Honey." This is Jessica Alba and really it's a "Flashdance" redo. I mean if she plays an inner city tough gritty girl who is trying to make it in the big city.

KAGAN: Isn't that Missy Elliott?

LEATHERMAN: The best thing about this movie is probably the sound track. It's got Little Romeo. He's also in the movie. But unless you're a 14-year-old girl and, Daryn, I know, I think you had...

KAGAN: Easy, easy.

LEATHERMAN: ... you're 19th birthday last year -- yeah, yeah, yeah. Unless you're that, you know, you are probably going to want to pass on this movie and check out something else. If you're a 13 or 14-year-old girl and like those moves then go check it out.

KAGAN: I did see "Elf" by the way I went with my nephew over Thanksgiving..

LEATHERMAN: How great is that movie?

KAGAN: I loved it, very sweet, finally a kids movie that's not scary.

LEATHERMAN: It's not scary and it's as funny for the adults as it was for the kids. I can't recommend it more highly. I love that movie. I love Will Ferrell.

KAGAN: For the record, it not being scary is important for Aunt Daryn. Six-year-old Jack is just fine with the scary movies. He would want that one on the record.

KAGAN: Go check out "The Last Samurai," too. You will like that one, Daryn. It's sort of your speed, I think.

LEATHERMAN: We'll talk about my speed another time. Russ, thank you for that.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired December 5, 2003 - 10:49   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: It's a big weekend at the box office. Tom Cruise is one of those battling it out for the top spot in "The Last Samurai." For more on what's playing and what's worth your time, we're joined by Russ Leatherman also known as Mr. Moviefone. Good morning.
RUSS LEATHERMAN, "MR. MOVIEFONE": Hey, happy Friday, Daryn.

KAGAN: Glad to have you here. Let's talk Tom Cruise. does he have a blockbuster on his hands?

LEATHERMAN: Well he does have a big blockbuster on his hands. This is really "Braveheart" meets "Dances With Wolves" in Japan. This is a big epic action adventure movie. The story is terrific.

He plays a Confederate soldier who is really tired of fighting and drunken and "Born on the 4th of July" again. So he's then recruited by the imperial army to really rid Japan of the last remaining samurai who have fought to really protect the emperor for years. And he fights them but then he comes to love their honor, tradition, he loves their dresses apparently and he becomes one of them.

Here's the deal. This is a big epic, beautifully shot, well- acted, good story movie. The only problem I had with it is it seems like Tom Cruise is a little bit of a victim of maybe his own superstardom. Because you're watching the movie, you're loving, it's going along, then you look at Tome Cruise. It's like, hey, his teeth are straight, those look terrific.

Then you're watching the movie some more. It's like, Hey, Tom's in that dress. That look fantastic.

So the problem I had is I sort of got yanked out of the movie a lot of times because Tom is such a big star it's sort of Tom Cruise doing Tom Cruise doing Tom Cruise.

But if you're a Tom Cruise fan you're going to love the movie. Big epic, beautifully shot, good action. So it's probably a B-plus. Not a great movie, could have been great but it's pretty good.

KAGAN: All right, and if you love Tom, you'll love that.

Let's talk the other big epic out there, the third installment of the "Lord of the Rings."

LEATHERMAN: Actually, I believe you started riots at theaters across the country.

KAGAN: I did?

LEATHERMAN: It isn't in theaters today. It's not in theaters until the 17th. But what is in theaters today is a special edition limited release where it's the first movie. It's "The Fellowship of the Ring" and it's got 30 minutes of added footage, deleted...

KAGAN: Thirty minutes longer? Could that movie be any longer than it already was?

LEATHERMAN: Come on, Daryn. Now it's only 7 and a half hours. You've got the time.

KAGAN: I think I'm still sitting in the theater watching that movie.

LEATHERMAN: You know what? People are going to see the movie because they are so fired up for the third one and even more so now that they really just want to check this thing out.

And, by the way, if you're going to go see the third installment, which is in a week or so, definitely get your tickets in advance. The opening weekend is going to sell out. It is going to be fantastic. This is going to be the big holiday movie, I think, along with "Elf." These two movies, fantastic, you can't lose.

KAGAN: Finally, "Honey"?

LEATHERMAN: "Honey." This is Jessica Alba and really it's a "Flashdance" redo. I mean if she plays an inner city tough gritty girl who is trying to make it in the big city.

KAGAN: Isn't that Missy Elliott?

LEATHERMAN: The best thing about this movie is probably the sound track. It's got Little Romeo. He's also in the movie. But unless you're a 14-year-old girl and, Daryn, I know, I think you had...

KAGAN: Easy, easy.

LEATHERMAN: ... you're 19th birthday last year -- yeah, yeah, yeah. Unless you're that, you know, you are probably going to want to pass on this movie and check out something else. If you're a 13 or 14-year-old girl and like those moves then go check it out.

KAGAN: I did see "Elf" by the way I went with my nephew over Thanksgiving..

LEATHERMAN: How great is that movie?

KAGAN: I loved it, very sweet, finally a kids movie that's not scary.

LEATHERMAN: It's not scary and it's as funny for the adults as it was for the kids. I can't recommend it more highly. I love that movie. I love Will Ferrell.

KAGAN: For the record, it not being scary is important for Aunt Daryn. Six-year-old Jack is just fine with the scary movies. He would want that one on the record.

KAGAN: Go check out "The Last Samurai," too. You will like that one, Daryn. It's sort of your speed, I think.

LEATHERMAN: We'll talk about my speed another time. Russ, thank you for that.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com