Tom Cruise 'Always Wanted to Kill Hitler'


SEOUL, South Korea (Jan. 19) - Tom Cruise fulfilled a boyhood dream with his role in his latest movie 'Valkyrie' - trying to kill Hitler. Cruise says he identifies with his German character, who led a failed plot to assassinate the Nazi leader.
"I've always wanted to kill Hitler. As a child, I used to wonder why someone didn't stand up and kill him," Cruise told reporters Sunday.

Cruise said he "came to greatly admire" the real person he portrayed in the film, Col. Claus von Stauffenberg. "Although the story takes place during the World War II, I found the story ageless," he said. Making the movie "was a powerful experience that I will never forget."
Despite mixed reviews, 'Valkyrie' had a solid $21.5 million opening weekend in North America in December and has made a total $77.6 domestically since then, according to the box office tracking Web site Box Office Mojo.
Cruise's visit to Seoul, where "Valkyrie" opens Thursday, marks a rare promotional stop by Hollywood to South Korea, which traditionally focuses on neighboring Japan as the industry's main Asian market. 'Valkyrie' director Bryan Singer said South Korea was picked as the first Asian country for the movie's release because it's "an extraordinary rising market" for both local and international films.