THE BUNKER

01/05/2009 (5:35 pm)

Did Tom Cruise Build $10 Million Dollar Bunker To Protect Himself From Aliens Or Critics?

(Post co-written with contributor Lilly von Marcab)

Tom Cruise has money to burn. Even a relative flop like Cruise’s latest film, the WWII epic Valkyrie, has somehow managed to make $60 million despite poor reviews and a maelstrom of troubles. So, you see, even when Tom loses, he wins. What’s $10 million dollars for a post-apocalyptic style bunker to a guy like Cruise? Nada.

Still, you have to ask yourself, why does a huge star like Tom Cruise, who maintains homes in Los Angeles, Telluride, and now all of Manhattan, need with a high end hideyhole? I guess the answer depends on when you ask him. According to reports in 2007, Cruise and Holmes were beginning the process of building their “alien-proof” bunker beneath their compound in Telluride, supposedly as protection against when alien overlord Xenu comes back to exact revenge on Earth. No, seriously, from the Sydney Morning Herald:

According to several mags this week, Cruise is building an “$11 million luxury underground bunker” at his property in Colorado so his family can survive an “alien invasion”.

“It’s a self-contained underground shelter with high-tech air purifying system,” Woman’s Day reports. Other essential alien fighting features include a helipad and swimming pool.

As a fervent follower of Scientology, Cruise believes humans are covered in ancient alien souls stranded here by an evil alien emperor named Lord Xenu. The Church teaches its followers (after taking outrageously expensive courses) that all our earthly problems stem from these trapped alien souls, who were coincidentally, killed by atomic bombs at the mouth of volcanoes covering the planet by Lord Xenu himself. It had something to do with overcrowding in the galaxy. Very technical stuff, kind of hard to explain to none-OT folks. Bottom line, Xenu will be back and Tom wants to be ready.

So, if you were to believe such things, then obviously having a bunker available to protect yourself would be wise. Fast forward to 2008, which by all accounts, was NOT a good year for Cruise and Scientology. What, with all the leaking of those Tom Cruise videos, monthly protests in front of Scientology Orgs, protesting Katie Holmes’ Broadway debut, mea culpas on Oprah and Matt Lauer’s couch, Tom’s probably feeling a little overwhelmed. Who could blame a guy for not getting his protective fortress stories straight.

New reports are stating that Tom and Katie are so afraid of a group of Scientology critics calling themselves Anonymous, that the bunker will be built to protect he and his family from the masked, though peaceful, protesters. Tom’s even enlisted the aid of his famous friends Victoria and David Beckham in his efforts to stay safe from those who would question his beliefs:

The Hollywood couple turned to pals David and Victoria after being targeted by groups opposed to their Scientology religion.

And since speaking to the Beckhams, they now travel in bomb-proof vehicles and have built a £5million underground bunker in the grounds of their Colorado home.

Cruise has received threats from people angered by his portrayal of Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg – who was at the centre of the 1944 plot by Nazi officers to assassinate Adolf Hitler – in the film Valkyrie.

When he attended the Los Angeles premiere of the movie last week, he was abused by members of the anti-Scientology group Anonymous.

The 46-year-old actor has become more worried about his family’s safety since 30-year-old Katie’s temporary move to New York to star in a Broadway play. And he is so concerned for her and their two-year-old daughter Suri that the FBI has been alerted to assess the death threats.

Cruise is due to fly to London for the UK premiere of the film on January 21.

“Tom is terrified,’’ the source added. “He doesn’t feel safe anywhere.

“He and Katie know the Beckhams have had to live in the shadow of similar threats and have asked them for advice on how to cope.

“They have had to take the threats seriously. Unfortunately there are plenty of cranks out there – particularly in LA.’’

The couple’s ordeal began four months ago when Cruise was warned anthrax would be placed in the air vents of his LA office. England star David, 33, and his ex-Spice Girl wife Victoria, 34, have spent much of their lives coping with similar threats.

Dealing with threats is an unfortunate side-effect of being famous, and certainly more so for a controversial figure like Tom Cruise, but what strikes me as odd is how juxtaposed this is to the reality of Cruise’s life and that of his family. You can’t open a tabloid magazine without being bombarded with images of his youngest daughter Suri Cruise, often out and about with his wife, actress Katie Holmes. The couple’s 2-year old daughter topped the list on Forbes “Hollywood’s Hottest Tots.”

Forbes.com, which ranked celebrity children five years old and younger based on media attention and their parents’ popularity, said Suri - known for her stylish outfits and haircut - popped up in more news articles and blogs than her peers.

The question is, how do you reconcile the safety of one’s family with one’s desire to remain relevant and popular? Apparently, by building a $10 million dollar bunker. Nothing like using fake fear to drum up sympathy. Only problem is, how can it protect you if you are never in it?

Pesky little problems of the rich and crazy."

http://glosslip.com/2009/01/05/did-tom-cruise-build-10-milli on-dollar-bunker-to-protect-himself-from-aliens-or-critics/