Entertainment Binge

By Isaac White.

During my review of That 90’s Show, you may have recalled that I am not typically the type of person who anticipates remakes or reboots of older films with a sense of excitement. Whenever a sequel to a legendary movie doesn’t make it to theaters until more than 30 years after the release of the first movie, I usually take that as a hint that the new movie won’t live up to the standard set by the original. The topic of discussion for this week’s review is Top Gun: Maverick, the sequel to the iconic picture Top Gun, which was released in 1986. This movie is absolutely wonderful and quite frankly delivers even more than the first Top Gun.

You have successfully made your way back into the danger zone. Top Gun: Maverick is a lot more fun than it has any right to be, even if you, like me, didn’t think it was necessary to make a sequel to one of the best movies of the 1980s in 2022.

Top Gun 2 is a successful example of cinematic escapism that successfully revives the adrenaline-pumping aerial action, infectious character drama, and something for those who like to vicariously live through film for their military experiences. Having made over a billion dollars in theaters alone, people were certainly not reaching this movie with the same skepticism as me.

It has been rumored that Cruise fought against making a sequel for decades, but it seems that if you wait long enough, a plot will present itself. He climbs back into the cockpit as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, and despite what the higher-ups in the organization have to say, he cannot shake the need for speed. And at this point, enough time has gone since his co-pilot Goose died in the first movie for Goose’s son to have reached the age where he can be considered an adult.

The son, who is portrayed by Miles Teller, is a miniature version of his father and follows in his footsteps by serving in the Navy under the callsign Rooster. When Maverick is asked to teach the next generation of arrogant kids for a suicide mission that is similar to that of the Dambusters and the Death Star, the two are put on a collision course with one another. “And we’re off,” one character cynically remarks of Maverick’s anti-authoritarian antics, but he might just as easily be fully referring to the re-creation of the film’s glossy pleasures possible.

In case you haven’t seen this film yet, are a Star Wars fan and are outraged at the missions being eerily similar in nature, I urge you to chill out and give the movie a watch. The mission sequence plays to me like an incredible homage to George Lucas and Star Wars, so for the fanpeople out there just watch this thing and let it go.

It seems as though the previous 30 years have never happened when you first hear the inspiring Top Gun Anthem bell tolling. The opening credits are filled with nostalgia as even they are presented in the same manner as the original. The opening text caption uses the same language as the first movie to explain the idea of the US Navy’s Fighter Weapons School.

This opening sequence on the flight deck creates an atmosphere that immerses viewers in the movie, regardless of whether they have seen it before or not. It sets the tone for the rest of the feature, and does so in an incredibly effective manner.

The movie establishes a sense of authenticity right from the start by focusing on real-world elements such as fighter planes and sailboats, and featuring traditional stunts instead of relying solely on modern technology like drones or computer-generated imagery. The promotional material highlights the fact that the actors had genuine experiences flying planes, and although some CGI was likely used, the majority of shots give the impression of being practical effects.

The visual language of the original film is used in Top Gun: Maverick, with the camera being right inside the cockpit or shaking as it struggles to keep up with a jet screaming past. This is in contrast to recent blockbusters, which remove you from the action by using obviously impossible camera angles and over-the-top computer graphics effects.

Holding your film so close to a movie like Top Gun (even if it’s a sequel) is risky because the original film contained many iconic moments and memorable lines. In the sequel, however, there is not much more than a rehash of the planes and characters from the first film. Despite this, the sequel does not rely too heavily on reusing catchphrases or referencing past moments. The moments that are directly called back from the original are incredibly well used and truly help to push the film forward positively. While Maverick’s leather jacket and motorcycle are given their own theme tune, the sequel also utilizes Tom Cruise’s still-impressive charm and charisma as a powerful weapon, in addition to the fighter jets and aircraft carriers provided by the US Navy.

The movie strikes a balance between over-the-top action and emotions, such as humor and a touch of sadness. Tom Cruise’s character, Maverick, develops relationships with younger flyers and rekindles his romance with a bar owner played by Jennifer Connelly. With Connelly’s character as his old flame and Miles Teller’s character as his surrogate son, Maverick’s aging character provides enough heart to keep the story moving forward, as he grapples with the possibility of retiring.

One scene that stands out involves Maverick being reunified with his old 80s Top Gun pal Iceman, played by Val Kilmer. I don’t wish to spoil the movie too much for those of you who haven’t yet watched this film but if you haven’t seen the condition of Val Kilmer recently, prepare yourself for a bit of a jolt to your system. That scene is one instance where the use of technology is completely forgiven if not readily welcomed.

Overall, you can probably guess where the plot of this movie leads. I tell you that it doesn’t matter. This film is wonderful and yes I’ll probably catch flack for this but I like the sequel more than the original. I still adore the first Top Gun but the second movie hits on everything. It properly utilized nostalgia to grab you right at the opening credits.

Then it allowed the natural progression of Maverick’s life to put down the rest of the story. The filmmakers followed the rule of keeping it simple. Aside from the countless millions of dollars in CGI and high tech equipment and all that. In all seriousness though, I’m actually very happy this sequel was made and I’m happier that Cruise and the filmmakers didn’t try to reinvent the wheel. Or cockpit as it was.