Our second trip to VAL-halla finds Paul, Arlo, and Eric contemplating two very different experiences of Val Kilmer's '80s career: Tony Scott's 1986 pro-war classic Top Gun and the 1988 Tolkien rip Willow, helmed by–of all people–Ron Howard. The twist is that the mega-popular Top Gun is a terrible, empty film that survives on aesthetics alone and the notorious flop Willow is a fun little high fantasy romp. The gang discusses the insidious nature of Top Gun, Val's fleeting scenes as Iceman, the superior role of Madmartigan in Willow, and the ominous James Horner horn riff. Plus, The Sandman season 2 arrives on Netflix and Arlo went to see The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

NEXT: everybody goes to see Fantastic Four!

BREAKDOWN

00:00:26 - Intro / Banter

00:17:50 - Top Gun

00:48:42 - Willow

01:35:25 - Outro / Next

MUSIC

"Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins, Top Gun (1986)
"Willow's Last Journey (Madmartigan's Farewell)" by KIMSUNGHOON, Val Kilmer Forever: A Tribute to a Hollywood Legend (2025)

532 - VAL-halla: Top Gun / Willow (feat. Eric Sipple)