It’s an almost universally accepted opinion that Tom Cruise has lost much of his movie star luster over the past decade. His very recent antics, including but not limited to rocking out on a hotel balcony and revealing himself as deperate to impress the kiddies on the Rock of Ages set, haven’t helped matters either. Cruise’s oblivious posturing makes it even harder to accept the Xenu fog that proliferates the Mission: Impossible 4 – Ghost Protocol film and almost impossible to take him seriously as an action star. However, it wasn’t always that way. Back in the 1980s, Tom Cruise was king of the box office and had captured many of our young hearts with films like 1986′s Top Gun, which marked its 25th anniversary with a special AMC weekend return to theaters in April of this year. Now, one lingering question over this film still exists — will audiences open their wallets once again to relive the glory (and homoerotic vibes) of Cruise’s Maverick and Val Kilmer’s Iceman in “eye popping” 3-D?

Paramount certainly hopes that the nostalgia factor for this movie is a bankable one, for the conversion process is in full swing and will arrive at a muliplex near you in 2012:

Tom Cruise hit is being converted by Legend3D.

Tony Scott’s 1986 classic Top Gun starring Tom Cruise is being converted to 3D for a theatrical release.

A four-minute “world premiere” preview of the converted film — featuring the “Danger Zone” aerial flight sequence — was screened Monday at the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) in Amsterdam.

The 2D to 3D conversion is being accomplished at Legend3D, whose CEO Rob Hummel introduced the clip as well as its unique business model during an IBC panel.

“We think there is great potential for catalog titles in 3D, but studios have had trouble justifying the expense,” Hummel said, explaining that Legend 3D is funding and doing the conversion for Paramount.

“As I understand it, they are planning to release it in 3D in early 2012, though I known they want to get Tony Scott’s approval before they go forward,” he said, explaining that Legend 3D effectively has a revenue sharing deal with Paramount.

“I think Top Gun lends itself to 3D due to the aerial flight,” he said of the project. “You can have fun with 3D by bringing things off the screen if they are not attached to the edge of the screen.”

[From Hollywood Reporter]

Believe it or not, I am looking forward to this, unlike this weekend’s 3-D release of The Lion King. Instead, Top Gun might actually be worth the inflated ticket price, and it’s not just the aerial flight sequences that will lend themselves to 3-D. Seriously, what about the beach volleyball scene? I would wholeheartedly pay to watch that in 3-D. Paramount needs to market this conversion properly and target all of the demographics! If those nips aren’t properly tweaked out in 3-D, the ladies and the gays aren’t buying. Now, let’s revisit the original theatrical trailer:

Bloody hell, Val Kilmer used to be so hot. Arrogant hot, but hot nonetheless. Now, he looks like this. That’s so depressing. Also and because I cannot resist, those of you who don’t mind a little bit of R-rated language should revisit this video of Quentin Tarantino on Top Gun, which brings an added dimension of its own to the movie itself.

Movie stills courtesy of TomCruiseFan.com

In 2003, Val Kimer did a funny/disturbing interview in Rolling Stone. Val made the mistake of talking sh-t about his adopted home, New Mexico. He told the magazine, that he lives in “homicide capital of the Southwest” and he also claimed “80 percent of the people in my county are drunk.” Funny, right? Unless you’re a New Mexico drunk who didn’t want people to know your business. Anyway, Val’s neighbors have been pissed at him for years, it seems. And Val didn’t really give a sh-t, probably because he was one of the 80% of homicidal drunks. But now he wants something from New Mexico – permission to build a bed-and-breakfast/spa type place on the land that he owns. The county was all “Ah, no, we’re too drunk to approve this.” And so Val had to eat sh-t and apologize:

Hard feelings about Val Kilmer’s words resurfaced with a plan for his Pecos River Ranch to open three guest houses to paying customers. After Wednesday’s meeting and Kilmer’s apology, commissioners gave Kilmer the go-ahead.

Dressed in a black blazer, blue button-up shirt and a bolo tie, [he] had his hair tied back as he stood before commissioners and more than four dozen people at the county courthouse. With a prepared statement folded in his hands, he explained that his words were taken out of context and misunderstood.

“I can only ask that you view my apology as a stepping stone toward repairing this misunderstanding between us so that we can go forward, working together toward a common interest in promoting and protecting our beloved New Mexico,” Kilmer said.

He said he has lived in the area for more than two decades and loves it. His grandfather is buried here, his father lived here, and his children were born here and have grown up here, Kilmer said. But he understood why some residents are upset.

“I have the same concerns as anyone else when you hear negative things about a place you love,” he told The Associated Press before the meeting. “That’s the good part of this story. Really, they care about where they live, and I do too. I share their concerns.”
Kilmer said he feels guilty “that I haven’t done enough work to make sure people know this isn’t me. I’m on the other side of the fight.”

There was increased security, with six officers from state police, the sheriff’s office and Las Vegas police inside the commission chambers. Some people were not allowed into the crowded room. Commission chairman David Salazar said Kilmer wasn’t forced to appear Wednesday but was simply offered an opportunity to speak.

“It took a lot, I think, for him to come down here and face everybody,” Salazar said. “It takes a lot to apologize, and a lot of people wouldn’t have done it, but he chose to come down here and do what he did, and I think he was sincere.”

The commission ultimately decided to approve a permit for Kilmer’s guest houses. The county’s zoning and planning commission approved the proposal 3-2 in March, but Rowe resident Abran Tapia appealed.

Tapia has accused Kilmer of being a bad neighbor and a racist. He claims the actor is trying to create “a segregated facility” by charging people to stay at the guest houses. He reasons that local Hispanics would be excluded because they couldn’t afford a stay at the private ranch. As in his previous pleadings with the commission, Tapia pointed Wednesday to comments Kilmer made in the magazine articles. Tapia didn’t accept Kilmer’s apology.

“We’re trying to make the world better too, but we won’t do it if we allow people like him to instigate,” Tapia said.

In October 2003, Rolling Stone published an article that quoted Kilmer as saying he lived in the “homicide capital of the Southwest,” and 80 percent “of the people in my county are drunk.” Rolling Stone stood by the article, but Kilmer denied the statements and said he had bragged about New Mexico during the interview. Days later, he took out an ad in the Santa Fe New Mexican, saying he loved New Mexico and Pecos.

Two years later, Kilmer explained for an Esquire writer the emotional toll acting takes on an artist by talking about soldiers who fought in Vietnam and how they couldn’t have mentally prepared for the horror of war. He was quoted as saying most were sent to the war because they were “borderline criminal or poor.”

Commissioners asked Kilmer about the articles.

“No one in this room, in this county, in the state, in the country, in the world, can make one statement and say that I’ve ever said one disparaging thing against anyone that has defended our nation, because it’s not true,” Kilmer said.

He said his words were twisted and he hopes residents of San Miguel County and New Mexico recognize he regrets the impact the comments had. He also discussed his efforts to help schools, improve wildlife habitat and encourage filmmakers to come to New Mexico.

County Attorney Jesus Lopez said the matter has been trying for him and the commissioners. Lopez said they have received hate mail, phone calls and e-mails from supporters of Tapia as well as from people who stand behind Kilmer.

“I hope we can put this to bed today and all live as neighbors,” Lopez said.

[From Huffington Post]

I know there are serious aspects to this – especially the alleged comments Val made about veterans and the very real accusation that he’s a racist (although those claims seem weird). But all of the stuff about drunk, homicidal New Mexicans and having to apologize to them just tickled me on this morning. Val should have showed up to the meeting drunk and armed. He should have apologized and said, “Okay, drinks are on me!”

Also, Val is definitely following the “Marlon Brando Method” of aging – just get fat and crazy. It kind of works!

Header: Val at Art Basel in Switzerland on June 15, 2010. Credit: WENN.

Val Kilmer told NY Post columnist Cindy Adams that he’s considering running for governor of his state of New Mexico and claimed that he’s been hand picked by current governor Bill Richardson to replace him. Richardson has been the governor of New Mexico since 2003, and hopes to become secretary of state in Obama’s cabinet. At first I thought that Kilmer was overstating Richardson’s endorsement of his candidacy, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. At least he’s realistic about it and says that he knows he’s not qualified.

“There’s sort of a rumor around that I’m maybe thinking about running to be governor of New Mexico? Well, it’s sort of true. It’s been my home 25 years. I really love my state. Poor, hardworking, decent people – Native Americans, carpenters, artists, expats mixed in with hundreds of the world’s smartest physicists at Los Alamos. I’ve always thought of myself as functioning as a candidate for them.

“The media interests me and it’s influenced politicians since the ’60s, and I’m approaching this as a worthy serious endeavor. I would be very comfortable in my position as a representative for the people.”

Val Kilmer? Who was the lead in “Batman Forever”? Moses in “The Prince of Egypt”? Druggy rocker Jim Morrison in “The Doors”? Ladykiller Val Kilmer? Governor of New Mexico?

“People in the state are being supportive. Our current governor, Bill Richardson, who’s hoping to be picked as secretary of state, and whom I’ve seen down in the dirt helping people you know could never help him in return, and whom I love, had a dinner for me and said not to dismiss the idea. Said I could be a great governor…

“After I wrap this film, I’m off to LA to see my kids then home to New Mexico to talk to friends and see what they say. I know I’m not yet qualified for the job. It’s not like I need fame. If that’s what it’s all about, I wouldn’t live in New Mexico. But I don’t want to be a train wreck. I have to see if people will put up the money for my run. I have to think about putting my acting on hold. Being famous as a movie actor is one thing, but they take no prisoners in politics. I have to think what this might do to my kids.

“Or to anybody. I plan to sit down with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Like I had dinner with Jane Fonda years ago and said even though I’m against war and didn’t vote for Bush, I would support anyone who becomes president because I couldn’t let any single person ruin my definition of America. She never invited me back. That’s a bitch because I really liked her.”

[From NY Post's Cindy Adams via Huffington Post]

This could very well be true and not just wishful thinking by Kilmer. Governor Richardson is quoted as saying in September that “I like the idea [of Kilmer running]. Val Kilmer is a New Mexican, he was Batman. You know there have been successful actors going into politics. I haven’t talked to him about it, I don’t know how serious he is, but you know if he jumps in a race he’s got name ID, so it can’t be discounted.”

Kilmer has a reputation of being surly and offbeat in interviews, and he’s a Christian Scientist. Followers of Christian Science do not go to doctors or use conventional medicine. They’re advised to seek out the help of other members when they’re sick who will “help people through the false reality of illness.” There have been many deaths of Christian Scientists and their children who were denied or otherwise refused medical treatment in times of crisis. (Update: former member Noelle below says it’s not as strict with medical denial and that members may seek medical assistance. There are several high profile cases involving deaths of members and their children who could have been saved with medical treatment however.)

Should a guy who doesn’t believe in modern medicine or the scientific method be running the government of an entire state?

At first I was suspicious that Richardson might be a closet Christian Scientist, which could explain his friendship with Kilmer. His biography states that he’s Roman Catholic, though. I did find one site that once listed him as a Christian Scientist, but his name is only up in search results and when you view the source of the site, and has since been removed. Maybe he just genuinely likes Kilmer and thinks he’s a good man for the job.

We may know why Val Kilmer is so buddy-buddy with Cindy Adams at least – she’s also a Christian Scientist.

Kilmer, 48, is currently in Bulgaria working on a film he describes as heavily influenced by the Hitchcock classic North by Northwest.

Val Kilmer is shown on 6/7/08. Credit: PRPhotos.

50 Cent and I clearly have a different definition of friendship. And I think I like his a hell of a lot more than mine. While I always thought it meant being there for the other person in good times and bad, occasionally drinking too much with them, complaining about men together, and having the occasional naked pillow fight, 50’s idea of friendship involves lavish vintage gifts. And I think that makes a hell of a lot more sense.

50 Cent knows how to treat his costars. Not content to drop off a basket of sugar-free muffins with a note saying “You were totally in the moment,” the rapper-thespian gave his Streets of Fire costar Val Kilmer a car, according to In Touch Weekly.

And not some tax-write-off clunker, either.

Fiddy bestowed on Kilmer a 1965 Chevy Impala said to be worth $100,000. The two, who play police officers dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, bonded over their appreciation of classic vehicles, which led the rapper to give one of his very own autos to Kilmer.

Really? “Yes he did,” Fiddy’s rep told us. No word on Kilmer’s thank-you plans, but you can be sure of this: Muffins just ain’t gonna cut it.

[From E! News]

Sounds like the start of a bromance to me. And what a way to kick it off. At first I thought 50 might have some kind of non-sexual crush on Val Kilmer, a la that famous Seinfeld episode. But then I saw a picture of Val Kilmer, and… I have a policy of never making fun of someone’s weight. But let’s just say that if there were ever a time I would consider breaking that rule, it’d be right now. So I’m pretty sure there’s no crush going on here. But I think that explains E!’s joke about the sugar free muffins.

Either way, I think it’s very important that I star in a film with 50 Cent. I’d just like a Honda, thanks.

Header of 50 Cent performing live in Sydney on April 23rd and Val Kilmer leaving Sushiya restaurant in L.A. on March 5th. Images thanks to WENN.