Thursday, March 22, 2012

An Evening With Val Kilmer

Did the title of the blog alone make you jealous? It should have. Very, very jealous!

I'm going to a meet n' greet with Val Kilmer. Yes. Seriously. He's coming to Hannibal, Missouri to promote a pet project--in which he will play Mark Twain--and I got a ticket. (No, I'm not making a single bit of this up. I'm dead serious, people!) You can read all about the event here.

I've also learned something. How you react to the name "Val Kilmer" can, within 3 years, predict how old you are. Really.

For instance, if you say, "Val Kilmer? Is that a guy or a girl?" then I know immediately that you are a snot-nosed teenager who should be sentenced to watch Real Genius until you learn some respect for your elders.

If you say, "Val Kilmer? That creepy old guy?" then I know immediately that you are between the ages of 22 and 28 and should be locked in a room with Willow--and also the actor playing Willow, Warwick Davis (whom you probably only know as Professor Flitwick, you youngin').

If you say, "Oh my God, THE Val Kilmer? Can I come with you?" then I know that you between the ages of 29 and 45, and were going to the movies with me back in the late 80s and early 90s, when Val's intense acting and hunky bod took up almost all the space reserved for 'bad boys' in our hearts and minds. These women are my friends and do not have to be sentenced to watch Tombstone or Top Gun. They were already planning on coming over and bringing popcorn, wine, and tales of teenaged lusting-in-our-hearts.

If you say, "Oh, that Val Kilmer was quite something back in the day, wasn't he?" then I know that you are probably pushing 50 or higher, and you also saw Val in his prime, but were old enough at the time to *not* develop extensive, high-school crushes on an unattainable actor, no matter how focused his gaze could be. You're also invited to movie night, and will probably bring Junior Mints.

If you say, "Wasn't he in that movie from the 70s?" then I know that you are probably my Gram, who turns 97 today, and further attempts at explanation will only lead to the Spiral of Chit-Chat Death, so I'll just change the subject to how to pronounce the name of the new St. Louis Cardinals (Mah-THEN-ee, for the last time!)

An Evening With Val Kilmer isn't until May 2nd, which means I've got *loads* of time to drop another twenty pounds, find the perfect I'm-married-but-still-got-it outfit, and practice NOT devolving into a giggling, gushing, 16-year-old version of myself.

Because I'm going to meet Val Kilmer. THE Val Kilmer.

26 comments:

Lynne Silver said...

OMG Val Kilmer. Would you be prepared for gravity to reverse itself. But what about the lose change in our pockets? I know, nudity!

Amy said...

I would have said - "You get to meet Batman, Iceman, and Doc Holliday? Can I come with you?"

Sarah M. Anderson said...

Lynne, you're killing me! You can bring some snacks to the movie party--and bring your friends!

Sarah M. Anderson said...

Amy, God, I love Doc Holliday. I mean, Kurt Russell is a nice treat in and of himself, but Val just blows him out of the water in that movie. *fans self*

Amanda Renee said...

You better take a ton of photos! I'm so excited for you!

Pamela Cayne said...

I am *crazy* jealous, as Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday is the pinnacle of everything. (Not to mention Real Genius, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Heat, and I could go on and on...) I have an opportunity to meet John Cusack next month and my fear with him is the same as it would be with Val (I can call him that since we're so close)--that IRL, the man just might destroy the awesome image in my head. Here's to both of us coming away with something better than we started with. (And you'd better blog ALL ABOUT IT! WITH PICTURES!!!)

Sarah M. Anderson said...

Amanda, Pictures are REQUIRED--and I'm normally bad about photos, but not this time!

Pamela, that's a very real fear. What if he's really a creep or something? What if I have to revise decades worth of crushing? Lord, I hope not. Fingers crossed for both of us!

A. A. Short said...

Seriously, it was Val as Doc Holiday that had me in a tizzy. And, Sal, I can't believe you've put us into a category with 45. You know I'm having a difficult time accepting my birthday that is all but screaming in my face. I looked in the mirror last night and thought: When I'm turning 56 will I stand before the mirror and think the same thing?---How can I be this old (looking at all the wrinkles) because I certainly don't feel it. And YES I'm so jealous it's ridiculous and I'm nervous for you. :)

Sarah M. Anderson said...

Amy, Amy, Amy, calm down. All I'm saying is the 30 to 45 bracket was, let me do the math, 15 to 30 when Val was at his most hot--all women potentially capable of nurturing long-standing fantasies about Val. It doesn't make us older than we are, or younger than they are--it just means that, collectively, we all appreciate a hot hunk o' man flesh as much as the next woman!

Aurelia B Rowl said...

Just about covers it for me. I'll be his wingman any day of the week ;o)

Aurelia B Rowl said...

Hmm... there was definitely a SQUEEEEEEEE at the beginning of my previous comment - somebody must've stolen it LOL

Sarah M. Anderson said...

Aurelia, this is a squee black hole zone--squees go in, they don't come out! :)

Kira Sinclair - AKA Instigator said...

I'm so jealous! I could watch the Saint all day long. There's something about that wounded, brilliant, chameleon character that gets me every time.

Pictures. I definitely want to see pictures.

Kira

Sarah M. Anderson said...

Kira, there will be pictures. Oh, yes, there WILL be pictures, by God!

Robin D said...

Have a great time, Sarah! I was in Play Production (drama class) with Val in high school ...he already had that special "Val Kilmer thing" going on. I was a lowly sophomore when he was a senior, but he was nice to everyone - I'd be very surprised (and disappointed) if he had turned into a jerk since then. Oh, and I'm with Kira - the Saint is my favorite Val role, although he was also amazing as Jim Morrison.

Sarah M. Anderson said...

Robin, that's good to know! There were always rumors that he was 'difficult', but then other people would say, nicest guy, very serious about acting. Thanks for your info! Val in high school--wow!

Carolyn said...

Well, I have a question for all---two---1. Tell me no matter what your age, you did not drool a little bit at Willow. 2. Why in the hell did Val Kilmer not get an Oscar for Doc Halliday in Tombstone????????

Sarah M. Anderson said...

I don't know, Mom. Those are really good questions!

phoenix said...

Take it from someone who has met and talked with Val, you have nothing to worry about. Despite how the media perceives him, he was sweet, friendly, talkative and so polite. Hope you enjoy his show. And if you are on Facebook, you are welcome to like his page as well as the official US Fan page run by yours truly. :)
https://www.facebook.com/valekilmer
https://www.facebook.com/ValFansUS

Sarah M. Anderson said...

Hi Phoenix! I'll be sure to check that out! I'm glad to hear he's quite nice. I'm so excited to meet him!

capehope3 said...

My favorite Val Kilmer films are "The Doors"(which I saw in the theater in high school),"Real Genius", and "Top Secret". I was mesmerized by him in high school. So, can I come with you?

Sarah M. Anderson said...

CapeHope, you can join me in spirit--I saw The Doors in the theater, too!

rattlesnakebabe said...

Hey, this is great!! That's so exciting, you're going to have a great time! It's funny, I'm one of those snot-nosed teenagers, but I've been in love with Val Kilmer since I was about 3 (I had my own VHS copy of Willow and I watched it till it broke!) And here is my very own Val Kilmer fan-blog http://everyday-is-val-times-day.tumblr.com/
:)

Sarah M. Anderson said...

Okay, Rattlesnake baby, you prove that, even if you are a snot-nosed teenager, you can still be raised up right, so good on your folks there! There's hope for the future generation after all!

taywesa said...

omg !!!!! val kilmer wow you are a goddess lol i loved him in thunderheart he is such an awsome actor wish i was going ,now im gonna go cry in my pillow ;)

Anonymous said...

Hey! I'm 27 and I ADORE Val Kilmer...I first watched Batman when I was 14 and I had such a huge crush on him!