Dr. Fortyseven 🥃 █▓▒░<p>Oh man, this one hurts. </p><p><a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/news/val-kilmer-dead-batman-forever-tombstone-1236354606/" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">variety.com/2025/film/news/val</span><span class="invisible">-kilmer-dead-batman-forever-tombstone-1236354606/</span></a></p><p>I've always loved Val Kilmer. I mean, the guy is just one of _those_ actors, man; one of those special ones that comes along every now and then. Just a really cool personality. Great on-screen presence who's involvement in a film is always welcome.</p><p>But for me, my favorite role of his has to be Chris Knight in 'Real Genius'. </p><p>Man, I watched that film _obsessively_ as a kid. Real Genius was one of the first VHS tapes I'd ever purchased with my own money. I wore that fucker out. Not just being a great film in its own regard, but I also kind of looked up to Chris as a role model, of sorts?</p><p>Now, if you know the movie, Chris Knight is a brilliant genius. I am not. </p><p>But his friendly, flagrant disregard for authority and playful, fun-loving spirit as a coping mechanism for pressure left a lasting impression on me.</p><p>"Moles and trolls, moles and trolls, work, work, work, work, work. We never see the light of day. We plan this thing for weeks and all they want to do is study. I'm disgusted. I'm sorry but it's not like me, I'm depressed! There was, what, no one at the mutant hamster races. We only had one entry into the Madame Curie look-alike contest and he was disqualified later. Why do I bother?"</p><p>Thanks, Val.</p><p><a href="https://defcon.social/tags/valkilmer" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>valkilmer</span></a> <a href="https://defcon.social/tags/chrisknight" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>chrisknight</span></a></p>