The 80s Blockbuster That Still Feels the Need for Speed
Nerdy Up North
The setup
Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell and his radar intercept officer Goose are sent to the elite Top Gun fighter school, where Maverick competes with Iceman, starts a relationship with civilian instructor Charlie and has to learn whether raw instinct is enough when the consequences of flying recklessly become painfully real.
Top Gun Might Be the Most 80s Movie Ever Made
Top Gun director Tony Scott really knows how to put together a blockbuster. From the way things speed up and slow down, especially during the many scenes involving flying, this movie maintains its excitement level throughout without ever feeling rushed into getting to another action packed moment. In addition, allowing breathing room for the characters’ emotional moments helps keep their relationships grounded.
The soundtrack of this movie just hits all the right places too. Danger Zone, Take My Breath Away, Playing With the Boys, each one lands perfectly for every scene.
This film was probably also one of the greatest recruitment adverts that were ever accidentally created. I am glad that I wasnt alive living in America back then. If I had been there when this movie was released I would have walked straight from the cinema and enlisted myself into the navy immediately.
I always think Tom Cruise is perfect when playing Maverick. He has all the confidence that is needed by the character, yet still manages to create some really great emotional scenes too. For most of his career he has played more of a bad ass type of guy with little emotion behind the screen, which can be quite hard to believe at times, but here, with Maverick, it works extremely well.
I love everything about this movie. Incredible flying scenes, great characters and proper emotions, and an even better soundtrack than most movies I've seen from this decade! I absolutely love it!
Positives
Outstanding aerial photography, Tom Cruise has the perfect arrogance for Maverick, Goose gives the film real heart, Val Kilmer is excellent as Iceman, one of the most iconic soundtracks of the 1980s, Tony Scott makes everything look huge and glamorous.
Negatives
The romance with Charlie is much weaker than the friendship material, some of Maverick's behaviour has aged badly, the sex scene is painfully awkward, the film is unapologetically military propaganda and does not spend much time on the human cost of the final battle.
Verdict
Top Gun is not subtle and it does not need to be. The planes, soundtrack, Cruise and Goose turn a very simple story into one of the defining blockbusters of the 1980s. A couple of parts make me cringe now, but when it gets into the air it is still brilliant entertainment.
