By Fred Topel | Image property of Paramount Pictures
The actors of Stop Loss all talk about honoring the troops and making the movie to tell their story, not to send a political message. Channing Tatum even admits that he may have been selfish in his desire to make the film.
Channing Tatum Returns for Stop-Loss
"I really wanted to play a soldier," he said. "I really wanted to play a soldier and try to do them right, really do it some justice. With everything going on, I wanted to make them proud. Then it became something else and I started to really learn about soldiers and what it takes to be one. It was a real eye opening and humbling experience."
Going through military training toughened Tatum up and made him a good shot. "I'm all right. I'm from Alabama so I've shot guns before. It's just one of those things that kind of goes along with living in the country. It was hilarious because we're out there shooting presents and stuff, and I've done a version of that. In Alabama, you just go out and shoot things for some weird reason. I don't know why it's fun, but it's fun."
Now that he's won the respect of the troops, he has to engage in other macho displays. "I had a head butting contest with Stu, one of the soldiers, last night. I lost. It sucked. It was just head butting, head butting, head butting and then I was like, 'Okay, I'm done' and he head butts me right again, right in the face. I was like, okay."
Stop-Loss
Stop-Loss
After Stop Loss, Tatum shot the G.I. Joe movie, but that is not an accurate military story. "It's crazy. It's like Star Wars. I'm a comic book character. It has nothing to do with real war. Originally, I passed on the movie because I was afraid of playing a fantasy war movie. In a time of war, I was like, 'It's just not right.' Then when I read the script, it's X-Men. That's all it is. It's a fun movie. No one's taking it too serious. Everyone's just having fun with it. Stephen Sommers is a big kid with a really large erector set. All the guys, all the actors on it are unbelievable. They're so nice and it's just going to be a fun ride. Joe's killing it. I haven't seen him do any of his Cobra, any of his doctor scenes yet. I hope I didn't just give something away."
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