Trending ›
(WENN)
When Dakota Fanning was given a present of a cell phone from her “War of the Worlds” co-star, Tom Cruise, her parents were initially wary of allowing their young daughter to keep the gift.
“My mom and dad really don’t approve of mobile phones and they really didn’t want me to have one. But then on my birthday this parcel arrived from Tom and it was a phone. In the end they let me keep it.”
Did the child really say “parcel”? I don’t believe she’s really a twelve-year old girl at all–unless she’s got a time-machine and has traveled from the past of hoop-skirts and the Pony Express. Because the idea that she’s got a more sophisticated and old-timey vocabulary than me is well…totally plausible, actually.
newfgirl | February 7, 2007 at 3:27 pm
OK, they don’t want her to have a cell phone but it’s OK to let her act in a movie where she’s being raped??? WTF??
otto | February 7, 2007 at 3:52 pm
I wasn’t aware that having a cell phone was some sort of coming-of-age ritual, but so be it. But please – Dakota’s character was not raped onscreen. She simply played a rape victim (woah, imagine that, a girl actually raped, like THAT never happens). She filmed the entire scene alone, which was later edited to only IMPLY that the character was being raped. But the audience never actually sees the rape. It’s movie magic at its darkest, perhaps, but it’s still only an illusion. Now before you worry that Dakota is too young to handle such a role, keep in mind that she has already potrayed a kidnap victim in two movies, a young girl being stalked and almost murdered by her psychotic father, and last but not least a girl struggling to survive as aliens invade the earth. And there was that Cat in the Hat movie.
As for Dakota’s vocabulary, the girl simply READS, something most young people aren’t interested in doing as whole lot. Hence, Dakota’s expanded vocuabulary. The chick is simply smart.
newfgirl | February 7, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Semantics.
f.u. tom | February 7, 2007 at 4:08 pm
I also like the way Tom feels it’s ok to give her a cell phone knowing that her parents forbade it. He pretty much does what he thinks is right and doesn’t give a sh!t about anyone else’s morals or family priorities.
Ednonymous | February 7, 2007 at 11:45 pm
WHY does a GROWN MAN give a little girl a cell phone??????
colinspooky | February 8, 2007 at 9:04 am
parcel? What’s wrong with that. All UK packages like that are called parcels – we even have it officially named parcelpost. Confused…..
otto | February 8, 2007 at 1:49 pm
Ednonymous – Tom gave the cell phone to Dakota as a birthday present, after working with her on War of the Worlds. So calm down.
pickypicky | February 8, 2007 at 9:05 pm
Think about it people–would you let your kid keep a phone given to them by Tom Cruise?
superninja | February 9, 2007 at 1:59 am
He gave her a cell phone so he could recruit her for Scientology without her parents permission
Steven Mark Pilling | February 9, 2007 at 11:31 am
Dear Otto:
You’ve swallowed Deborah Kampmeier’s story hook, line and sinker. Others from that set have a different story to tell about how those numerous sex scenes were filmed. And that’s what’s of primary importance; not what you see in the final, much edited version (which was ugly enough).
And yes, she IS too young to handle this. The history of such things in feature films (and none of them as bad as “Hounddog”) reveals that child actors are vulnerable from their use by amoral filmmakers. Sometimes you CAN shoot around it, it’s true… but that didn’t happen here. Nor are past abuses, with Dakota or others, any justification at all for “Hounddog”.
Don’t be taken in by that “precocious” blabber, either. She’s an actress. She’s around adults all the time (and rarely with other kids) so she tends to ape their mannerisms. She performs that way in interviews and on screen. It doesn’t, by any means, equate to some supernatural maturity. She’s still a child… and she was used, along with other children, in ways that no decent person can defend. Never forget that.
Steven Mark Pilling | February 9, 2007 at 11:41 am
Dear Readers:
If anyone is interested in the anti-Hounddog movement and why we believe it to be so important an issue, allow me to recommend the following sites:
1. “A Minor Consideration” (minorcon.org) by Paul Petersen.
2. “Demand Justice For Child Sexual Exploitation In Films” (thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/467880755) by Rob Lacey.
3. “Blue Line Radio” (bluelineradio.com) by Tre Benson. Note: Click “crimeblogs” and find nine separate threads dealing with “Hounddog” plus another containing exerpts from the original screenplay.
Be sure to sign Rob’s online petition! Best wishes.
Tom Sederburg | February 10, 2007 at 11:52 am
Look at Tom Cruise making dreams come true.
Such an angel. lol
Later,
Tom
Bubba | February 10, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Beware Dakota, that phone sends secret alien messages.
Rick James | February 25, 2007 at 6:45 pm
You people are fanatical… You’re like tree huggers. Should be SHOT.
orly | March 8, 2007 at 1:44 pm
oh, by the way, everything steve says about what “really” went on is just him trying to start rumours. notice how he never has any info on what went on or any evidence supporting it, other than the quote that the crew left the set. in actual fact, they left because of money issues. steve would like you to believe otherwise, however. steve, you’re like the person who knows they’re wrong but can’t bear to face that, and they lie so much to themselves and others that eventually they almost convince themselves that they are right. i know how it goes. i’ve done it.
Steven Mark Pilling | July 1, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Nice try, Orly… only I don’t deal in rumors except to cross-sectiion them against facts to judge their validity. I deal in reality. And, unlike you, I also deal in morality. This film doesn’t represent some kind of off-beat intellectual exercise. It’s about a direct threat to the hearts and minds of America’s children. When you use child actors in scenes of stark depravity, you influence their developing personalities.
There exists in this country two opposing philosophies as to the worth of children. One (your’s) states that children are little, pre-sexualized adults and therefore legitimate tools in the agendas, personal and political, of the adults who hold sway over them. The rest of us see them as they are; as human beings still in the process of development. That’s why they have parents. They are not mature and not yet capable of handling adult issues without those parents to guide them and shield them from emotional damage.
However, when those parents are themselves amoral or misguided and when their children are actors with a large popular following among their peers, then the potential ramifications of their own children’s public exploitation increases dramatically. These are only a few reasons why the “Hounddog” case is so important. And I stand by my earlier comments.
JM | November 11, 2007 at 2:45 pm
I happen to know numerous girls that actually were raped or molested at her age or younger, so she’s not too young to portray it in a movie. Maybe if young girls see that stuff they won’t be so naive and they’ll be able to avoid that fate themselves. The girls I know never told anyone, and I’ve asked a few other girls (friends of mine) what they’d do if they were raped, and they wouldn’t tell either. If awareness was raised on it, by their PEERS, then maybe they’d be enpowered enough to take action if it did happen. Personally I’d like to see it just out of curiousity as to how the writer/director had the girl react to it and if she actually told anyone.
Casey Anderson | March 15, 2008 at 11:11 am
She wasn’t raped at all in the movie and How do I know this, because I am her 5th cousin, My name is Casey Lee Anderson. And I do know where Dakota Fanning lives. She lives in Studio City, California, and visits her hometown in the summer unless she is not filming.And my address is 61 Wolfskin road, Arnoldsville, GA 30619.
Dakota Lives IN Studio City
Dakota Fanning | May 20, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Hey Guys Dakota Fanning Here!
I Did Not Get Raped In War Of The Worlds!
But I Will In My New Movie “Hounddog!” -Cant Wait For It To Release!!!!! Well Got To Go :( Bye You Guys Later!!!!!! Love You All!
Steven Mark Pilling | November 24, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Dear Socialite: For God’s sake, please remove that post by Casey. She’s obviously a young girl and unaware of the danger she’s put herself in by posting her address on your website. And it’s been there for eight months!
proud mom of 2 babygirls | February 3, 2009 at 9:49 pm
hey i love that MAN ON FIRE movie it was a real coool movie… sad but cool and i love dakota fanning she is hella smart and real cute….
nyzqpk rwfatpdvs | March 30, 2009 at 2:08 am
yhjktrcg vkhqm olexfm mfphryx ztfkg geymwcn opwz