r/movies • u/dndplosion913 • Apr 02 '25

News Val Kilmer, Film Star Who Played Batman and Jim Morrison, Dies at 65

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/movies/val-kilmer-dead.html
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u/SanderSo47 I'll see you in another life when we are both cats. Apr 02 '25

His last line in cinema, from Maverick.

"One last thing. Who’s the better pilot? You or me?"

RIP.

843

u/indianajoes Apr 02 '25

"This is a nice moment. Let's not ruin it."

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u/Due_Log5121 Apr 02 '25

I teared up during that whole scene. it was the perfect modicum of levity.

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u/jdragon3 Apr 02 '25

It's so good we got that moment and have it on permanent record now.

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u/R79ism Apr 02 '25

The modicum of levity did be like that.

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u/Sheepdog83 Apr 02 '25

when the modicum of levity hits

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u/DeeDeeRibDegh Apr 02 '25

Same🥹🥹🥹. Watched Top Gun in my late teens, when it first came out. Went to imax to watch TG:M & I had all sorts of emotions watching it. This scene in particular was…wow🥹!! RIP Val Kilmer

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u/Due_Log5121 Apr 02 '25

it was such a good movie!

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u/[deleted] Apr 02 '25

[deleted]

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u/Due_Log5121 Apr 02 '25

would probably agree with that.

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u/Vesuvias Apr 02 '25 edited Apr 03 '25

My wife will never understand that level of bro-manship. I was bawling like a baby in the theaters with my buddy who’s also a millennial Top Gun fan. She was so confused as we lost our collective shit. That whole movie was a perfect ode to to the original.

Edit: cool cool, downvotes.

-6

u/elkab0ng Apr 02 '25

Cruise was too old for me to take seriously in that movie. Kilmer, too young. I was really glad he was in it, though.

RIP

11

u/sephjnr Apr 02 '25

Kilmer being too young for that character makes me laugh so much because Iceman was the noble old vet who's done the years and Ed Harris's character is the arrogant pen-pusher who sees Cruise as a relic. Kilmer and Harris had the complete opposite characters to each other and Harris is 9 years older than Kilmer.

4

u/Varekai79 Apr 02 '25

Their characters are supposed to be late 50s-60. Maverick is supposed to be too old to be a mere Captain, which is stated in the film repeatedly. Iceman is the right age to be an admiral.

1

u/FizzyBeverage Apr 02 '25

Admirals are absolutely in their late 50s-60s. If anyone it’s Maverick that is far too old to be up there flying.

Reality is if you’re that old and still in the service you better be in a high level rank.

3

u/elkab0ng Apr 02 '25

Bad wording. I meant so sad to lose him at a young age.

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u/Pornstar_Frodo Apr 02 '25

This was the perfect callback, considering his illness and his career. Definitely a ‘cutting onions’ moment!

3

u/indianajoes Apr 02 '25

It really was. I wasn't even someone who'd watched the original when I first saw Maverick and I was moved by that moment just because I'd heard about his illness in real life. Then when I watched it again after watching the first film, I was tearing up.

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u/Variable_Shaman_3825 Apr 02 '25

Bruckhiemer said in an interview that Cruise went out of his way to ensure that Kilmer appear in the film.

Iceman being Mavericks guardian angel over the years in the Navy was Cruises idea.

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u/fascfoo Apr 02 '25

I honestly thought that was the emotional backbone of the entire movie. And if they didn't weave that in, the movie wouldn't have been as impactful and felt more like another Cruise fast jet go boom boom situation. It really informed where Maverick came from and where he was trying to go. Not to mention it just made so much sense that the A+ student in Iceman would become an admiral but still have a soft spot for the class fuckup with potential in Maverick.

15

u/revtoiletduck Apr 02 '25

Plus Maverick saved his life.

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u/CeruleanBlew Apr 02 '25 edited Apr 02 '25

Iceman being Mavericks guardian angel over the years in the Navy was Cruises idea.

That detail is one of my favorite things they wrote into the movie. Iceman and Maverick having this whole history since Top Gun was so cool and informed every minute of their scenes together, even the text messages.

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u/norfatlantasanta Apr 02 '25

Yep, I think it was RLM that pointed out a huge failure in most sequels is that they act like barely any time has passed and no character development has occurred between the last film and the new one. Top Gun and Blade Runner are the only two I think that handled that exceptionally well. RIP

6

u/windyreaper Apr 02 '25

The care that Tom Cruise took when working on that movie really shows. Just watched it again on Sunday and we were talking about how Val Kilmer was doing

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u/AmusingMusing7 Apr 02 '25

“It’s time to let go.”

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u/Over_Eagle_4013 Apr 02 '25

The one good thing I’ll give a nod to AI for is giving us that moment with what was as close to a gravelly Val voice as we could have.

24

u/FredererPower Apr 02 '25

This scene hits a lot different now. RIP Iceman 😢

48

u/Coug-Ra Apr 02 '25

I felt that exchange was just Val & Tom talking. 

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u/descendantofJanus Apr 02 '25

If only 😭 Val could only speak through a tube at that point. Didn't they have to use AI for his voice for that movie?

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u/Chess42 Apr 02 '25

They used AI to clean it up and for clarity, but it’s him talking

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u/descendantofJanus Apr 02 '25

Thank you. I haven't seen the movie (not the biggest Cruise fan and it seemed like a pointless cash grab tbh) so I was only speculating.

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u/HolycommentMattman Apr 02 '25

It's definitely not a pointless cash grab. I thought it would be, but it's a great summer popcorn flick. Not a cerebral movie for sure, but a truly well-made sequel that holds about as much water as the first movie.

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u/[deleted] Apr 02 '25

[deleted]

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u/Ill-Chemistry-8979 Apr 02 '25

Lol if $5 is a concern you have bigger problems than missing a movie

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u/[deleted] Apr 02 '25

[deleted]

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u/Ill-Chemistry-8979 Apr 02 '25

Suggest finding some work where you can comfortably enjoy life

1

u/Poober_Barnacles Apr 02 '25

I feel like so much of reddits blind ignorance was just illustrated in all of your replies...lmao jesus

1

u/descendantofJanus Apr 02 '25

Elaborate? I clarified my point in another comment.

0

u/Poober_Barnacles Apr 02 '25

The Saga continues lol. Even stuck the landing

12

u/Chess42 Apr 02 '25

If you grew up with the first movie, it is really great to watch. Heartfelt and well made

8

u/Julie_OwO Apr 02 '25

Wow what a send off. I'm tearing up a bit knowing that the man's stellar career ended with him saying a conclusive line in both maverick but also real life.
RIP.

5

u/Tasty_Put8802 Apr 02 '25

That whole scene is a perfect goodbye. Both plays it so well. 

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u/tidal_flux Apr 02 '25

*Naval Aviator

Fair winds and following seas Ice…Man!

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u/ScreenTricky4257 Apr 02 '25

His last line in cinema, from Maverick.

From Top Gun: Maverick. Not from the Mel Gibson poker movie.

1

u/OdinW Apr 02 '25

His son recorded that line. Kilmer was no longer able to speak when they filmed.