Top Gun Maverick review thread with SPOILERS *DANGERZONE*
Discussion
Well there are 38 pages of people commenting on this film very kindly without spoiling anything for other people. But it's been out a few days now, a lot of people have seen it, so perhaps it's time to make a separate thread where we can really tear into it.
I honestly think it is the most I have enjoyed a film in many years, fantastic considering the hopes I had before hand.
It was a lesson in how to make a sequel, huge nods to the first film but not so much it felt like a remake. A different plot, and as promised, a real love letter to aviation. TGM really showed there is still value in cinema.
Ok here we go:
One theme I think it dealt with really well was the feeling of aging and seeing a younger generation come up. I think it portrayed those feelings really well, especially when Mav hears Rooster playing the piano. The strange friendship that springs from rivalry, a beautiful touch that Ice has been looking after Mav all these years.
The amusing but ridiculous trait of Mav just doing whatever the heck he wants and authority accepting and rewarding him.
The idea you could bail out at ten times the speed of sound without getting atomised is stupid but the resulting diner scene was great. Cool to see the LM Skunk Works branding, they obviously got behind the film. Some basic satisfaction from the hypersonic scramjet engines.
Amusing to see the F35 being ruled out because of, what was it? GPS denial? Is it that easy to counter Americas biggest defence purchase in history?
The whole premise of the mission is nonsense but results in such incredible footage that I really don't care. I'm sure a Predator drone could have done the job from a high altitude out of the range of the SAMs, or there's always a MOAB from a B2 option. Come to think of it, how did a job like this get handed to the Navy anyways?
The Mav/Rooster shoot down scene was great, especially when Mav pushes Rooster over and starts yelling at him. Mi-24s are really scary looking aren't they?
Best bit of the film for me is the Tomcat scenes; just nostalgia at its finest, with a little flyby of the tower too. Plenty of plot holes, but ZERO complaints. I am so grateful this film was made.
I honestly think it is the most I have enjoyed a film in many years, fantastic considering the hopes I had before hand.
It was a lesson in how to make a sequel, huge nods to the first film but not so much it felt like a remake. A different plot, and as promised, a real love letter to aviation. TGM really showed there is still value in cinema.
Ok here we go:
One theme I think it dealt with really well was the feeling of aging and seeing a younger generation come up. I think it portrayed those feelings really well, especially when Mav hears Rooster playing the piano. The strange friendship that springs from rivalry, a beautiful touch that Ice has been looking after Mav all these years.
The amusing but ridiculous trait of Mav just doing whatever the heck he wants and authority accepting and rewarding him.
The idea you could bail out at ten times the speed of sound without getting atomised is stupid but the resulting diner scene was great. Cool to see the LM Skunk Works branding, they obviously got behind the film. Some basic satisfaction from the hypersonic scramjet engines.
Amusing to see the F35 being ruled out because of, what was it? GPS denial? Is it that easy to counter Americas biggest defence purchase in history?
The whole premise of the mission is nonsense but results in such incredible footage that I really don't care. I'm sure a Predator drone could have done the job from a high altitude out of the range of the SAMs, or there's always a MOAB from a B2 option. Come to think of it, how did a job like this get handed to the Navy anyways?
The Mav/Rooster shoot down scene was great, especially when Mav pushes Rooster over and starts yelling at him. Mi-24s are really scary looking aren't they?
Best bit of the film for me is the Tomcat scenes; just nostalgia at its finest, with a little flyby of the tower too. Plenty of plot holes, but ZERO complaints. I am so grateful this film was made.
The first hour and a half of the film is brilliant, just brilliant. Yes it’s best you don’t think about the plot too deeply at times, but for me it had the right amount of cheese and throwbacks.
The final act, stealing the plane, just stretches credulity too far for me and I thought meant the film ended on a bit of a low for me.
Superb film though, I enjoyed it a lot and was really glad I went. I might even see it again in the cinema.
The final act, stealing the plane, just stretches credulity too far for me and I thought meant the film ended on a bit of a low for me.
Superb film though, I enjoyed it a lot and was really glad I went. I might even see it again in the cinema.
I enjoyed the film, but It didn't have enough depth to make me want to rush out and watch it again. My biggest complaint is that they seem to have lifted the plot of Star wars and remade it.
A younger 'troubled' apprentice missing his father.
An older tutor teaching him the 'way'.
culminating in a trench run, and failure to use the 'targetting computer' to get the bullseye on just pure 'skill'.
Also, I assume that the f18 was used, as they could get their hands on those for filming...
A younger 'troubled' apprentice missing his father.
An older tutor teaching him the 'way'.
culminating in a trench run, and failure to use the 'targetting computer' to get the bullseye on just pure 'skill'.
Also, I assume that the f18 was used, as they could get their hands on those for filming...
Jake899 said:
Mi-24s are really scary looking aren't they?
That thing was proper sinister!I genuinely thought the opening SR-72/Mach 10 thing was going to a dream sequence. The mention of scramjet engines added a touch of reality but ejecting at Mach 10+ isn't going to leave you walking into a random hick diner!
The mix of F18s & F35s on the first carrier scene seemed a bit of a setup to throw a bit of maguffin into the plot (and the aforementioned GPS anomaly).
The bird strike resulting in Phoenix going down was unnecessary in the grand scheme of things.
The outcome of the raid on the death star was a bit more James Bond than TG. Maverick has now ejected more times in a month than most pilots will ever do in a lifetime (plus he also ejected in the first one!).
Hangman coming in at the end to save the day just ticked the final cliche box.
Rooster being surprised the wings move on an F14 was ridiculous, any Top Gun pilot is going to know their aircraft history.
On saying all of that I did really enjoy it!
Absolutely brilliant film, I have flown a jet once when I was a military helicopter pilot and it all looked very authentic to me, even with my very limited experience of pointy stuff.
Clearly lots of it was fanciful such as the Mach 10 ejection, using flares on radar guided missiles (looked like SA6 to me!) and stealing a museum piece F14, to name just two. But I absolutely adored it and nearly blubbed at the Rooster/Maverick scene at the end.
At the end of the day it's entertainment and by god, it does that in spades....even my wife said she wanted to go back to see it again and the kids both loved it.
Clearly lots of it was fanciful such as the Mach 10 ejection, using flares on radar guided missiles (looked like SA6 to me!) and stealing a museum piece F14, to name just two. But I absolutely adored it and nearly blubbed at the Rooster/Maverick scene at the end.
At the end of the day it's entertainment and by god, it does that in spades....even my wife said she wanted to go back to see it again and the kids both loved it.
Yeah the F-35 would have negated the "team" ethos of the backseater, and there's no way to film it, and really the footage of the actors in the jets is what makes the movie.
I actually didn't mind the stealing the Tomcat scene, for me the F-14 is as much a star as Kilmer or Cruise so it was great to see it reappear. And as they are still flying in Iran, it's not such such such a stretch.
I have often used the "just walk calmly and look like you belong" approach in life and it generally works for me when I'm doing naughty things like skateboarding somewhere I shouldn't so I think the sight of two pilots running for their aircraft after a raid wouldn't actually attract too much attention.
It's a crime there isn't a more complete Tomcat available for taxiing/flying but it is the fact that Iran still have them that has necessitated grounding and decommissioning the American fleet. Parts for Tomcats are being aggressively hunted by Iran via shell companies. Actually the fact that they have kept the old Cats flying and indeed upgraded them is worth a thread on its own. Then the 5th gen (surely Su-57s) fighters interception scene was really cool, blowing the lead plane away before turning into the wingman. Despite the Top Gun movies, the F-14 was never a dogfighter really, being far too large and designed to rely on the long range Phoenix missiles to make a kill beyond visual range and well away from the fleet.
The cockpit really does look old fashioned now though with that tube radar screen and hundreds of relays and fuses. Loved the analogue rounds counter on the gun too. Nice touch.
I actually didn't mind the stealing the Tomcat scene, for me the F-14 is as much a star as Kilmer or Cruise so it was great to see it reappear. And as they are still flying in Iran, it's not such such such a stretch.
I have often used the "just walk calmly and look like you belong" approach in life and it generally works for me when I'm doing naughty things like skateboarding somewhere I shouldn't so I think the sight of two pilots running for their aircraft after a raid wouldn't actually attract too much attention.
It's a crime there isn't a more complete Tomcat available for taxiing/flying but it is the fact that Iran still have them that has necessitated grounding and decommissioning the American fleet. Parts for Tomcats are being aggressively hunted by Iran via shell companies. Actually the fact that they have kept the old Cats flying and indeed upgraded them is worth a thread on its own. Then the 5th gen (surely Su-57s) fighters interception scene was really cool, blowing the lead plane away before turning into the wingman. Despite the Top Gun movies, the F-14 was never a dogfighter really, being far too large and designed to rely on the long range Phoenix missiles to make a kill beyond visual range and well away from the fleet.
The cockpit really does look old fashioned now though with that tube radar screen and hundreds of relays and fuses. Loved the analogue rounds counter on the gun too. Nice touch.
I said this on the other thread as well after seeing it, this film has a lot of things that you could pick at if you want to.
However what it does brilliantly is make you say f
k it, don't overthink it and switch off your brain and enjoy the ride.
Like all those brilliant films from the 80's it recaptures that same feeling where most of the film you are just excited to see what happens next.
The throwbacks may be a bit OTT but it doesn't matter, it ties itself to the first film yet can still stand on its own.
I think it might actually be better than the original.
As soon as that first bell toll kicks in at the start you're already smiling.
I'm no expert on the navy or the types of planes/weapons or tactics used or even if what they did was possible but it doesn't even matter.
What this film is, is an epic blockbuster, a proper 80's type film in the modern day and needs to be seen on the biggest screen with the best sound system at least once if you can. Very rare in today's age.
However what it does brilliantly is make you say f
k it, don't overthink it and switch off your brain and enjoy the ride.Like all those brilliant films from the 80's it recaptures that same feeling where most of the film you are just excited to see what happens next.
The throwbacks may be a bit OTT but it doesn't matter, it ties itself to the first film yet can still stand on its own.
I think it might actually be better than the original.
As soon as that first bell toll kicks in at the start you're already smiling.
I'm no expert on the navy or the types of planes/weapons or tactics used or even if what they did was possible but it doesn't even matter.
What this film is, is an epic blockbuster, a proper 80's type film in the modern day and needs to be seen on the biggest screen with the best sound system at least once if you can. Very rare in today's age.
Radec said:
I said this on the other thread as well after seeing it, this film has a lot of things that you could pick at if you want to.
However what it does brilliantly is make you say fk it, don't overthink it and switch off your brain and enjoy the ride.
Like all those brilliant films from the 80's it recaptures that same feeling where most of the film you are just excited to see what happens next.
The throwbacks may be a bit OTT but it doesn't matter, it ties itself to the first film yet can still stand on its own.
I think it might actually be better than the original.
As soon as that first bell toll kicks in at the start you're already smiling.
I'm no expert on the navy or the types of planes/weapons or tactics used or even if what they did was possible but it doesn't even matter.
What this film is, is an epic blockbuster, a proper 80's type film in the modern day and needs to be seen on the biggest screen with the best sound system at least once if you can. Very rare in today's age.
yeah not everything can be done on Netflix, there's life in the old cinema yet. Totally agree at grinning like a loon as soon as the "golden hour" intro comes in... love it. Im still buzzing five days later.However what it does brilliantly is make you say f
k it, don't overthink it and switch off your brain and enjoy the ride.Like all those brilliant films from the 80's it recaptures that same feeling where most of the film you are just excited to see what happens next.
The throwbacks may be a bit OTT but it doesn't matter, it ties itself to the first film yet can still stand on its own.
I think it might actually be better than the original.
As soon as that first bell toll kicks in at the start you're already smiling.
I'm no expert on the navy or the types of planes/weapons or tactics used or even if what they did was possible but it doesn't even matter.
What this film is, is an epic blockbuster, a proper 80's type film in the modern day and needs to be seen on the biggest screen with the best sound system at least once if you can. Very rare in today's age.
Did the hero do the impossible, save the day, get the girl and fly off into the sunset - yes. I'd have liked to see more tension but overall I got what I expected to get. For me it was everything a post lock down blockbuster should be, and it hit all the marks expected, unlike No Time to Die...
Was there real jeopardy - yes. The scene with the gun ship was proper edge of the seat stuff. I did think they were going to kill Maverick and have the team kill the gunship to set up a Top Gun universe.
Was the mission done well - well, it was filmed well but I've seen it before & better in Dambusters, 633 Squadron and Starwars to name a few. I'd rather have seen something else as the McGuffin for the plot but I don't know what that would be that could keep away enough from global politics to make sure the backers and key markets weren't upset. It didn't feel like there was enough jeopardy in the timing, something I think they could have got from the drone admiral like I said. Still, I got to see aerial combat done for real and done well. I'm just glad they persevered with releasing it in the midst of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Odds for TG3: Ghost of Kyiv?)
I thought the relationship was done well and it was all the better for being age appropriate too. Shame they couldn't find a place for Kelly McGillis but the daughter was a good foil for Cruise's attempts to romance her mother and took some of the shine off his smile. He was showing his age well too (or the scientologists had drastically deaged the photos from TG1...) so it does make me wonder whether he will start to make more films targeting the older cinema goer.
Was there cheese - by the bucket load. I need a cholesterol test and a good red.
Was there real jeopardy - yes. The scene with the gun ship was proper edge of the seat stuff. I did think they were going to kill Maverick and have the team kill the gunship to set up a Top Gun universe.
Was the mission done well - well, it was filmed well but I've seen it before & better in Dambusters, 633 Squadron and Starwars to name a few. I'd rather have seen something else as the McGuffin for the plot but I don't know what that would be that could keep away enough from global politics to make sure the backers and key markets weren't upset. It didn't feel like there was enough jeopardy in the timing, something I think they could have got from the drone admiral like I said. Still, I got to see aerial combat done for real and done well. I'm just glad they persevered with releasing it in the midst of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Odds for TG3: Ghost of Kyiv?)
I thought the relationship was done well and it was all the better for being age appropriate too. Shame they couldn't find a place for Kelly McGillis but the daughter was a good foil for Cruise's attempts to romance her mother and took some of the shine off his smile. He was showing his age well too (or the scientologists had drastically deaged the photos from TG1...) so it does make me wonder whether he will start to make more films targeting the older cinema goer.
Was there cheese - by the bucket load. I need a cholesterol test and a good red.
Edited by Collectingbrass on Monday 30th May 13:11
Enjoyable, but just a few questions
Was Jenifer Lawrence supposed to be playing the older Kelly McGillis, she still had a classic Porsche, but also a very nice yacht. But now owned a bar rather than be a tactical flight instructor?
Can a Tomahawk missile really fly faster than an F18?
How the heck do you persuade the US Navy to take part and supply the planes and, presumably, the real pilots? I watched in France and the French Navy are trying to recruit on the back of it.
It was good, but i do hope that there is not a Top Gun 3. MI films are far better.
Was Jenifer Lawrence supposed to be playing the older Kelly McGillis, she still had a classic Porsche, but also a very nice yacht. But now owned a bar rather than be a tactical flight instructor?
Can a Tomahawk missile really fly faster than an F18?
How the heck do you persuade the US Navy to take part and supply the planes and, presumably, the real pilots? I watched in France and the French Navy are trying to recruit on the back of it.
It was good, but i do hope that there is not a Top Gun 3. MI films are far better.
rdjohn said:
Enjoyable, but just a few questions
Was Jenifer Lawrence supposed to be playing the older Kelly McGillis, she still had a classic Porsche, but also a very nice yacht. But now owned a bar rather than be a tactical flight instructor?
It was Jennifer Connelly and no, a different character to "Charlie"Was Jenifer Lawrence supposed to be playing the older Kelly McGillis, she still had a classic Porsche, but also a very nice yacht. But now owned a bar rather than be a tactical flight instructor?
Although the character wasn't in the first film, I believe the character was mentioned.
Edited by cuprabob on Monday 30th May 21:13
cuprabob said:
rdjohn said:
Enjoyable, but just a few questions
Was Jenifer Lawrence supposed to be playing the older Kelly McGillis, she still had a classic Porsche, but also a very nice yacht. But now owned a bar rather than be a tactical flight instructor?
It was Jennifer Connelly and no, a different character to "Charlie"Was Jenifer Lawrence supposed to be playing the older Kelly McGillis, she still had a classic Porsche, but also a very nice yacht. But now owned a bar rather than be a tactical flight instructor?
Although the character wasn't in the first film, I believe the character was mentioned.
Edited by cuprabob on Monday 30th May 21:13
Bit sweary but worth it just for James Tolkans performance
Radec said:
I said this on the other thread as well after seeing it, this film has a lot of things that you could pick at if you want to.
However what it does brilliantly is make you say fk it, don't overthink it and switch off your brain and enjoy the ride.
Like all those brilliant films from the 80's it recaptures that same feeling where most of the film you are just excited to see what happens next.
The throwbacks may be a bit OTT but it doesn't matter, it ties itself to the first film yet can still stand on its own.
I think it might actually be better than the original.
As soon as that first bell toll kicks in at the start you're already smiling.
I'm no expert on the navy or the types of planes/weapons or tactics used or even if what they did was possible but it doesn't even matter.
What this film is, is an epic blockbuster, a proper 80's type film in the modern day and needs to be seen on the biggest screen with the best sound system at least once if you can. Very rare in today's age.
This. Just saw it, absolutely loved it. However what it does brilliantly is make you say f
k it, don't overthink it and switch off your brain and enjoy the ride.Like all those brilliant films from the 80's it recaptures that same feeling where most of the film you are just excited to see what happens next.
The throwbacks may be a bit OTT but it doesn't matter, it ties itself to the first film yet can still stand on its own.
I think it might actually be better than the original.
As soon as that first bell toll kicks in at the start you're already smiling.
I'm no expert on the navy or the types of planes/weapons or tactics used or even if what they did was possible but it doesn't even matter.
What this film is, is an epic blockbuster, a proper 80's type film in the modern day and needs to be seen on the biggest screen with the best sound system at least once if you can. Very rare in today's age.
Regarding the option of the F-35, apart from the fact that there are a million reasons you'd rather film this in F-18's, the film was originally due to be released (and therefore was filmed prior) in 2019. The US Navy didn't even get F-35's until 2019.
One thing I really love about this film was the happy ending. Everybody won. Seemingly every film made in the last 10 years has felt the need to kill off a character for emotional weight or subversion of expectation. This film rightly ignored that bullst and just gave you a feel-good bonanza.
Yes, I know that Iceman dies, but in a very different manner to how modern films seem to deal with these things.
One thing I really love about this film was the happy ending. Everybody won. Seemingly every film made in the last 10 years has felt the need to kill off a character for emotional weight or subversion of expectation. This film rightly ignored that bulls
t and just gave you a feel-good bonanza. Yes, I know that Iceman dies, but in a very different manner to how modern films seem to deal with these things.
Edited by Marumi on Monday 30th May 23:29
Well it hit all the right notes for me...sure some cheese in there but it was pure action cinema at its finest...the aerial scenes were spectacularly executed. The enemy plane was a Sukhoi SU-57 I believe, what an awesome looking thing. It showed incredible maneuverability in the scrap with the F14, in the real world I suspect Tom wouldn't have had a chance! Might well go see it again as its made for a huge screen and an earth shattering sound system...I bloody loved it!
RSbandit said:
Well it hit all the right notes for me...sure some cheese in there but it was pure action cinema at its finest...the aerial scenes were spectacularly executed. The enemy plane was a Sukhoi SU-57 I believe, what an awesome looking thing. It showed incredible maneuverability in the scrap with the F14, in the real world I suspect Tom wouldn't have had a chance! Might well go see it again as its made for a huge screen and an earth shattering sound system...I bloody loved it!
He didn't have a chance, he was going to lose the fight until Hangman showed up. That said, most commentators think that the SU-57 is a Gen 4.5 at its absolute best, and in current fit probably closer to Gen 4. The development has been a disaster. There are currently a grand total of 5 in 'service.'
Russia has a long history of overstating its fighter capabilities.
2fast748 said:
The US military has a long, rich history of effectively sponsoring Hollywood output to get it's message across.
I would say every applicant for US naval aviation in the last 35 years has seen the original and thought "yep I'll have a piece of that please"...and also probably quite a significant proportion of international military aviation worldwide too.
Going along with the original movie was probably the best recruitment decision the USN have ever made.
BobToc said:
The final act, stealing the plane, just stretches credulity too far for me and I thought meant the film ended on a bit of a low for me.
It lets them include the Tomcat, which means Mav gets his girl.Looks as if it was done twice in WW2, both times in Europe, by LT Bruce Carr and Lt Bob Hoover. We at one point had a plan to insert Jeffrey Quill to steal an FW190, so there is definitely precedent.
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