My first memory of Val is probably the Real Genius movies.
I never saw “The Doors”, but I’ve been told Val did a perfect, method actor job of as being Jim Morrison.
To me? His iconic role is Iceman in Top Gun, this, Tombstone...
I actually enjoyed him in “The Saint”.
His Batman was decent, and worthwhile for more exploration.
I know (without looking) he was Julliard trained.
But, again, despite it all, “Real Genius” was my favoite.
https://screenrant.com/val-kilmer-julliard-drama-school-youngest-student/
Meant to say, that my probably favorite line isn’t “I’ll be your huckleberry”.
It’s the “My hypocrisy only goes so much”.
Val Kilmer, chewing gum, shoves his face forward, snaps his mouth shut, and hisses an intake of air showing his top front teeth.
I don't know why, but that facial gesture, that odd, snapping of his jaws shut and the hiss of air, like an angry, venomous snake, of all Val Kilmer's in the movie, is the one that sticks out to me!
His role in Tombstone was far, far more interesting and gave him a wider latitude, but that scene in Top Gun is the one from that movie that was memorable for me.
The Saint was weak. Not like the TV show.
I wish his Top Gun part had been bigger.
I saw him in Deja Vu with Denzel. Either it was horribly edited or the part was not well written. Seems like he wasn’t even in it.
I couldn’t get through Heat. Too much Pacino and De Niro.
His Batman was a good Bruce Wayne. Joel Schumacher destroyed the movie with his campy look (i.e. see Batman and Robin) and over the top acting villians.
Kilmer made it better. Lost weight in that outfit and heated him up. Limited filming time. But a 24 year old Robin?