Top Gun has been an 80's staple since it first released and remains a classic action film to this day. Even so, it's hard to believe they would come back to it over 30 years later. When it was first announced that this would be happening, bringing back a now nearly 60 year old Tom Cruise as character Maverick, I was highly skeptical. Shouldn't Maverick be retired by now? The trailers for the film didn't do much to sway my opinion. Then the positive reviews came in and I was still skeptical.
Having seen the film, I was completely wrong. This is easily one of the years most entertaining films yet. With the completely dependable Tom Cruise not missing a beat, easily stepping back into the shoes of Maverick, and high flying, practical action that will...ahem...take your breath away, this 36-years-later sequel surprised the hell out of me.
The film's overall structure is pretty similar to the original film, with lots of training at Top Gun followed by a tough mission. We meet the near dozen characters whose top tier pilots will be taking on the mission. The biggest difference here, put out early on in the film, are that the stakes are immediately raised. This is no longer just following the pilots as they train, leading into a military career. The nearly impossible mission these pilots are to be sent on is laid on the table right away. We know what's to come. There's also an emotional elements established outright, with Maverick still filled with guilt over the loss of his friend and ROI from the first film, Goose. This is compounded by Maverick having a soured relationship with Goose's son, Rooster, played by Miles Teller. We also get some familiar character types here, the most notable being Hangman, who is the pilot that most comes across as how Maverick was in the first film.
The film's emotional and more visceral stakes are well established and keep the film feeling like more than just another retread of the original film, but even if you don't feel a strong connection to those aspects, you'll likely still find yourself entertained. There's no shortage of action here and it's all superb. Cruise wanted this done with practical effects and it really translates into an adrenaline pumping, well shot, exciting time. The aerial action is outstanding, shot well and trumping anything we saw in the original film. It all leads up to what is arguably one of the most exciting aviation scenes ever produced for screen.
As someone who doesn't necessarily call myself a huge fan of the original film, I wasn't expecting this to be something I would like as much as I did. I figured the film would lean hard into the nostalgia and give us a little bit of action, but I should have trusted Tom more. His high standards show here and director Joseph Kosinski, who's body of work (including previous Tom Cruise collaboration Oblivion) would never suggest he would deliver something of this caliber, has certainly left a mark demonstrating his action filmmaking capability. This is a movie likely to go down as THE blockbuster of the summer, even amidst major releases like Jurassic World: Dominion, Thor, and Bullet Train. Film goers looking for an exciting, action packed good time in the theater need look no further.
Having seen the film, I was completely wrong. This is easily one of the years most entertaining films yet. With the completely dependable Tom Cruise not missing a beat, easily stepping back into the shoes of Maverick, and high flying, practical action that will...ahem...take your breath away, this 36-years-later sequel surprised the hell out of me.
The film's overall structure is pretty similar to the original film, with lots of training at Top Gun followed by a tough mission. We meet the near dozen characters whose top tier pilots will be taking on the mission. The biggest difference here, put out early on in the film, are that the stakes are immediately raised. This is no longer just following the pilots as they train, leading into a military career. The nearly impossible mission these pilots are to be sent on is laid on the table right away. We know what's to come. There's also an emotional elements established outright, with Maverick still filled with guilt over the loss of his friend and ROI from the first film, Goose. This is compounded by Maverick having a soured relationship with Goose's son, Rooster, played by Miles Teller. We also get some familiar character types here, the most notable being Hangman, who is the pilot that most comes across as how Maverick was in the first film.
The film's emotional and more visceral stakes are well established and keep the film feeling like more than just another retread of the original film, but even if you don't feel a strong connection to those aspects, you'll likely still find yourself entertained. There's no shortage of action here and it's all superb. Cruise wanted this done with practical effects and it really translates into an adrenaline pumping, well shot, exciting time. The aerial action is outstanding, shot well and trumping anything we saw in the original film. It all leads up to what is arguably one of the most exciting aviation scenes ever produced for screen.
As someone who doesn't necessarily call myself a huge fan of the original film, I wasn't expecting this to be something I would like as much as I did. I figured the film would lean hard into the nostalgia and give us a little bit of action, but I should have trusted Tom more. His high standards show here and director Joseph Kosinski, who's body of work (including previous Tom Cruise collaboration Oblivion) would never suggest he would deliver something of this caliber, has certainly left a mark demonstrating his action filmmaking capability. This is a movie likely to go down as THE blockbuster of the summer, even amidst major releases like Jurassic World: Dominion, Thor, and Bullet Train. Film goers looking for an exciting, action packed good time in the theater need look no further.