Top Gun

Happy 40th anniversary, Top Gun. 🎞️🎞️🎞️ What a film honestly. I did not remember this being anywhere near this good. I also think the reason it resonated with me so much now is because this was an IMAX viewing, so yeah… that definitely carried some weight Actually watched Top Gun and Maverick back to back so the Maverick review will be out soon. I absolutely loved the opening here. That first “mission”, if you can even call it that, looks incredible with the sun in the background. It instantly sets the tone for the whole movie while also perfectly establishing Maverick as a character. Reckless, dangerous, emotional, but still willing to do anything for the people around him. And because of that, Goose’s future is basically set up immediately. You already know Maverick is going to carry that guilt, even if what happened wasn’t really his fault. Characters I also really liked Kelly McGillis as Charlie. Her chemistry with Maverick genuinely worked for me, and I think a lot of that comes from how Tony Scott shoots their scenes together. So many close ups and intimate shots make the relationship feel way more personal and believable. And honestly… that sex scene is genuinely one of the best I’ve seen in a movie. It doesn’t reveal too much, but still gives you enough emotional intimacy to fully sell the connection between them without feeling unnecessary or awkward. Another standout here is obviously Val Kilmer as Iceman. What I really like about him is that he isn’t just some stereotypical bully rival. He genuinely cares about the people around him and takes flying seriously because people can actually die from reckless decisions. He doesn’t hate Maverick as a person, he hates the way he flies. To Iceman, Maverick isn’t just dangerous to himself, he’s dangerous to the entire team. That’s what makes their rivalry work so well. Iceman isn’t trying to put Maverick down out of jealousy, he’s frustrated because he sees someone with incredible talent constantly putting everyone around him at risk. That’s one thing I didn’t like quite as much in Top Gun: Maverick, but I’ll get to that in the next review. Cinematography The flight scenes were incredible too. The dogfights feel authentic, and with the IMAX sound design the whole movie honestly came alive in front of me. Sure, the aerial cinematography isn’t quite on the same level as Maverick, but considering this was filmed forty years earlier, it’s genuinely insane how well it still holds up. And I HAVE to mention the soundtrack. Every single song they played was an absolute banger. I genuinely wanted to stand up, sing along, dance, and completely embarrass myself in the theater The score was amazing too, especially during the ending. Final takeaway I absolutely loved this. And honestly, when I rate movies, I rate based on the experience they gave me, not necessarily how “perfect” they objectively are. This movie might not be flawless, but it was genuinely one of the best theater experiences I’ve had in a long time. Seeing younger versions of Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, and Kelly McGillis was great too. They all completely fit their roles and make the movie endlessly rewatchable. And yeah, sure, there isn’t much substance to “the enemy,” but I honestly don’t think that matters here. That’s not really what this movie is trying to be. I do have to say though, this movie fits perfectly into my mate @joepif4’s theory that There Will Be Blood is secretly a movie about homosexual tension between men… because Top Gun somehow fits that theory even better I mean come on, a bunch of attractive buff dudes playing volleyball shirtless, getting sweaty, and then staring deeply into each other’s eyes for two hours? George Michael was probably ascending while watching this movie. Favorite lines "I feel the need, the need for speed." "they were abused children." 10/10 graduating students