Kilmer IS "The Kid"
Added 10/17/2008
William Bonney aka Billy The Kid - a much portrayed character right out of the pages of American history. The bad boy we love so much has been the subject of so many great Hollywood films. To mention a few of the best there's "Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid" (Kris Kristofferson),"Young Guns" (Emilio Estevez) and 'The Left Handed Gun" (Paul Newman).So when reviewing this film it's hard not to compare to those but Gore Vidal's "Billy The Kid", although not quite the "A" films those are, is certainly a film not to be missed by Western lovers,Billy enthusiasts, and fans of Val Kilmer.
Kilmer who probably at least 30 at the time the film was made(1989),and not quite as seasoned as he is now, plays the teenage Billy with the same gusto he gives to all his real life characters. He becomes the man he is portraying. His takes on Jim Morrison in "The Doors" and Doc Holliday" in "Tombstone" are other great examples oh how he not only brings the infamous characters to life but takes on the physical attributes as well. He fuses Billy's young innocent prankster side with the dark heart of a desperate man in this take on the time he was on the run and a murdering spree following the Lincoln County Wars.
The story pretty much follows the same line as the above mentioned films, starting from the time he sought revenge for the cold blooded killing of his boss whom he loved and admired, and believes he is doing the right thing in the revenge he seeks(as maybe does the audience as well). Historically the film is a pretty accurate telling of the events, although there are some minor differences in the way things happened. I happened to drive through New Mexico a few years ago, and after checking out the aliens in Roswell(practically mandatory),I followed Billy's path and stopped at towns that all had Billy stories to tell, all the way to his well protected grave. In Lincoln, I went through the courthouse where he made is infamous escape, killing two lawman, and from the bullet hole still in the wall at the bottom of the stairs, I can say that the scene portrayed in "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" was more likely the way it happened. Oh and by the way, I asked the residents of the small town - who make their living educating and giving tours to tourists on the legend - which film they felt best portrayed Billy and the events surrounding Lincoln and they all agreed it was "Young Guns"- but said the sequel was nothing but a Hollywood fluff. I still like em both.
Kilmer has a great supporting and seasoned cast to help bring the legend to the screen. Rene Auberjunois,Albert Salmi,Michael Parks,Red West and Wilfred Brimley round out the film nicely. It was directed by William Graham and written, of course by Gore Vidal.
I didn't see this film on DVD yet, A real shame, as the film is a keeper, but the VHS is a pretty bad print.
Val Kilmer, Gore Vidal and Billy the Kid make for great Western fare.
Saddle Up once more with 'The Kid' and Happy Trails.....Laurie
also available here:GORE VIDAL'S BILLY THE KID - check for best availability
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excellent
Added 7/31/2008
BOUGHT AS GIFT THEY SAID WAS WHAT THEY EXPECTED
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I was there
Added 10/26/2007
This is a great story. Best Billy the Kid ever and written by Gore Vidal. After about one week of filming, Val Kilmer was really into his character and actually looked like the picture of William Bonney. I was there. I was the Location Manager on this film. It was shot at the Old Tucson Studios in Tucson, AZ. Gore played the Preacher in the Cemetary. You can check it out of IMDb.
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Not a big budget movie, but good entertainment.
Added 10/26/2004
This is not a glossey high amp western with a great sound track like the Young guns set. It doesn't even cover much of the Lincoln county war. What it does have though is a somber and gritty realism. What it covers of the kids life is historically pretty accurate.I gave this film four stars because of the fine portrayal of the kid by Val Kilmer. He shows him as a some what awkward troubled adolecent with a wry sense of humor. And when he has the famous portrait done,with that toothy grin, he really could pass for William H. Bonney.I recommend this movie for those who don't require constant action and would enjoy a good historic story.
8 out of 8 people found this helpful.
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Good but not Perfect
Added 2/18/2001
This movie was pretty good, and I speacially like how they had Billy not drink much in the beginning. Sadly, they did the traditional thing and made Billy have very few partners. In the movie, Billy and Tom kill Brady and one deputy, in actuality, Billy, Jose Chavez Y Chavez, and 4 other regulators killed Brady and 3 deputies. I also hate how they skip the entire Lincoln county war. Kilmer did good as Billy, but they made him too cold blooded. I admit, Billy wasn't a romeo or a Robin Hood, but Billy was not cruel! Every man he killed had it coming to them. In the movie they made Billy get mad fast and in the end he drank alot, where as in reality he didn't drink and he wasn't easily angered(or there'd have been alot more people killed by him).
8 out of 10 people found this helpful.
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