Is Top Gun Maverick a good movie? Why?

[AmandaYVR]

Have you seen it? Please give a movie review (more than just a one line comment please.) Is it really as good as some people say it is? Why?

I know nothing about it. I have seen the original. It was ok at the time. I've never felt compelled to watch it again, or a reboot or update on what happened with Tom's character. But I probably will watch it when it comes on streaming. Have to see what the fuss is about. Is it founded?

Updates

1 y

Well since there are so many glowing reviews, now I think I'll ask also... what would you rate it out of 10? Is this possibly a 10/10 movie?

How about what's missing? Anything?

[MysticDevice]

It was excellent because of its production. The actors all had to do rigorous flight training by the navy and all the stunts were real. Real F-18s pulling real high-G turns, real actors trying to act while the stunt pilots flew. No sound stages, no motion capture, no green screen, all real effects, only blended with cgi when absolutely nessecary.

The characters: the tension and animosity between Mav and Rooster was tangible and all the others felt like real people with real personalities and ambitions. They all pissed eachother off and annoyed eachother and then came together in a believable and organic way.

And most importantly: there was NO POLITICAL PANDERING. No political correctness, no forced diversity, no throwing in a gay character just so the studio can say "hey look at our movie, its inclusive"

It was unapologetically over the top with action, energy, and 80s cheese.

[AmandaYVR]

Good summary, thank you.

[RolandCuthbert]

I thought it was good. Because it goes beyond the old tired tropes of American righteousness and nonsensical action.

It has a real plot about an aging fighter pilot who has sabotaged everything in his career and his personal life. And how in this last mission he resolves the problems with his friends and his comrades in the military. And he figures out how to get a real life.

I thought it was awesome the way they wrote Val Kilmer back into the story. He did a lot to help balance the plot.

[AmandaYVR]

Wow that was excellent.
I really like your summary of the issues of the first (I agree), and analysis of the second. Makes me think I might find something of value in that story then.
Thanks!
P. S. Yeah, poor Val, getting throat cancer. Glad they included him somehow. I met him years ago. Definitely had some presence, not a [what's the male equivalent of a 'shrinking violet'?]

[RolandCuthbert]

Respect! You met Val? I met Anthony Edwards before the premiere. And that was only virtually. He broke down the film for us. Then right before the showing the had a message from Tom Cruise. Did they show that to everyone in the theaters?

[AmandaYVR]

That's cool.
Yeah I used to work in a small custom print and photo lab in LA, close to the studios, and we had celebrities, pro photographers, etc. come in fairly often. (It was an unassuming place; I think they thought they'd have privacy. Which we always gave them.)
Val was one of them. He came to work with us on a personal passion project, do some printing for him. I still remember how he looked at me, looking for that recognition on my face. I did, but didn't react much. 'I'll leave you alone, Ice Man' I was thinking, lol. But he does not walk in a room quietly, I will say that.
Don't know.

[RolandCuthbert]

Well, that is certainly awesome.

The most famous person I met was Oprah.

At a McDonalds with Stedman.

What the hell was she doing at McDonalds?

[Greedier]

I loved it. I watched it some weeks ago and found the whole film very refreshing.

1. It wasn't like those type of actions films, that has only shoot, blood, bombs scenes and when you finally think it's over there it comes. More bombs. Lol

But that can also be a motive for people not to like this film.

2. It had some really fun and funny interactions, which brought a more light vibe to the film.

3. Shows the importance of team work and at the end, all the pilots will be friends.

4. The soundtrack's amazing, especially "I ain't worried, by OneRepublic" - I got more songs to add to my favs playlist after watching the new Top Gun film.

5. All the actions scenes are really real! The actors went through three months of training. Then, when filming began, they would sit inside the cockpits of fighter jets behind actual pilots who would fly them.

In a nutshell: Really good, but if you like the kind of action film with endless shoot, blood and bomb scenes... Then, this film might not be your style.

[AmandaYVR]

Good summary, thanks!

[BCRanger10]

Oh my goodness, Amanda, it is in every... possible... way entirely superior to the original.

Most sequels, especially after such a long period of time, feel like quick and easy cash-grabs. This, I tell you, it was not. I wasn't sure how they would develop the character of Pete Mitchell, aka Maverick, or figure out how fighter pilots would be relevant or necessary in the age of drone warfare, but they did and they did it spectacularly.

Short version... have you seen any of the Iron Eagle movies? Especially Iron Eagle II? It's basically IE2, only better. Illegal nuclear weapons are being stored in an unnamed country by an unnamed enemy. Drones would be ineffective and special forces wouldn't have the time or firepower to take it out. So Admiral Tom Kazansky, aka Iceman, tasks Maverick, the only American pilot with real-world dogfighting experience, to train other Top Gun-certified pilots and select the most qualified ones to go on the mission.

In the meantime, Maverick rekindles an old flame in Penny Benjamin (mentioned in the first movie) and fights to overcome his past struggles.

There's action, humor, suspense, love, friendship, everything.

Let me put it this way. I never, ever...e... ver get emotional during a movie. There were several moments when I almost did. Though... maybe that was also because I had to use the bathroom really badly for about 3/4 of the film's runtime but refused because I didn't want to miss anything (also a sign that a movie is really good).

So yes, long story short, this was an absolutely fantastic movie and I couldn't recommend it enough.

[AmandaYVR]

Wow that's quite the plot synopsis/teaser.
Nope, never heard of Iron Eagle.

[BCRanger10]

The Iron Eagle movies are basically a poor man's Top Gun. And by poor, I mean living in a box down by the river.

Seriously though, Maverick was, if you'll forgive the expression, a joyful experience.

[SaoirseS]

It's a good movie. I'm not really a Tom Cruise fan, but let's face it Tom Cruise movies rake in revenue at the box office.

I saw the first one on DVD a few years ago. The action sequences were great, but there were some things that made me roll my eyes. All in all, it was a good movie but I wouldn't watch it again.

The action sequences in this one are spectacular. It's a movie made to be seen in the theaters, and I doubt it would be as effective on a home TV screen. The story line is that Maverick gets called in to Top Gun to prepare pilots for a mission that is politically nuts and from an aviation standpoint, absolutely insane. It's got a little bit of everything in it, from resentment, friendship, romance, and even some bromance in it. There's no beach volleyball scene with Rick Rossovich striking a homoerotic pose, but there is a beach football scene. All the flying scenes were reportedly shot in real Navy aircraft. Sure, there's no doubt some CGI in it, but when it comes to authenticity, I think it would be hard to beat this one.

I'd recommend seeing it.

[AmandaYVR]

Wow that was an excellent summary! Thanks 👍

[SaoirseS]

My pleasure!

[LaFerrari]

Yes it's a great movie, a lot better in IMAX, I saw it twice, once in normal theaters and IMAX. There are real fighter jets, Top Gun pilots and the actors/actresses had to go through extensive months of training to even fly with the instructors/top gun pilots. The way each actor/actress filmed their own scenes onboard the flights with no camera person makes it even more special and unique.

it's quite hard to fake or act G forces, so it's all authentic those actors are really hitting Gs with minimal CGI when it comes to the flying, but of course some more dangerous maneuvers can't be performed so they use CGI in some scenes.

They invested a lot into this movie, not with just the flying sequences that costed millions but into the plot, I think it's a lot better than the old movie, with the old charm with it, it's a great tribute to the original, with plenty of "Easter eggs".

Tom Cruise goes over the top in any film he does, he performs all of his own stunts and is dedicated in going to the extremes to make the movie experience an even better time for viewers. I've always enjoyed his work, he's an incredible and brave guy.

It's better to watch it in the theaters, you won't feel the experience at home in my opinion. The sounds and vibrations in the theaters make it so much better, like you're there with them.

[AmandaYVR]

Great review! Thanks. Helpful.
We do have an IMAX theatre near us actually. I don't know what's playing there, hope it's not just some nature show over and over. (I used to like those, but been there done that. I want a story.) I'm hoping Bullet Train is playing there, because I heard that's on IMAX too.

[Chazmatazz269]

If you liked “Top Gun”, you will almost certainly like “Maverick” more. It’s immediately among rare sequels that are at least as good as their predecessors, or arguably better. I can’t say for sure how important seeing the first one is. There are a number of nods, homages and character recalls that make it extra special for those of us who did, but that might leave people who haven’t seen the original wondering what the big deal is. Ell oh ell!
To that point, streaming Top Gun and then going out to watch Maverick might make the latter feel a bit redundant.
And that’s all i’ve got to say about that.

[AmandaYVR]

No, the original is not my thing. Too much... just too much, in so many ways.
I'm interested in this as a standalone piece, potentially. I don't need to follow up on Maverick, and all the others.
But people have been raving, and some of the themes seem ok, so I'll give it a go.

lol. Ala Forrest Gump.

[Chazmatazz269]

Did you even see the original, or just knew it wasn’t for you?
If you didn’t, i’d be very interested in reading your own review of Maverick as a stand-alone. In my mind, it’s superior in every way. But because i have seen the original, more than once, i’m not sure how much those callbacks triggered my warm fuzzies.
Update the question after you see it.

[AmandaYVR]

I said in the body of this that I saw it. Wasn't very impressed. Not my thing. You can also see my exchange with @RolandCuthbert

[Chazmatazz269]

I blocked him. He couldn’t get his meds right or stay off my posts. Ell oh ell!

[SomeGuyCalledTom]

It's fantastic. But you really have to see it in the cinema, preferably IMAX. It's the sort of movie designed to remind everyone why cinemas are still relevant. Waiting for it to hit streaming services is like skipping your favourite band's concert in your home town just so you can wait for people to post videos of it to YouTube instead. The practical FX, visuals, sound design, actors' performances and everything else really do put you in the cockpit with those fighter jets. I also thought the story itself was well-paced, with a solid emotional core, and no unnecessary filler. I don't have any strong nostalgia for the first film, but this film made me feel nostalgic for an era of cinema I wasn't even alive to witness. If it's not too late I would implore you to get to your nearest IMAX theatre with Dolby audio, watching it on streaming services as your first viewing should be a criminal act. 😛

[AmandaYVR]

lol, my, strong words ("criminal") Ok, I'll look to see if it's still playing at the IMAX near me.

by the way, don't know if you're interested, but this British therapist does some very good movie reviews. I subscribe to his channel. He's a good balance of intellect and heart.
www.youtube.com/channel/UCYtu3JxrpI1XjNn-B_HqW4Q

Thanks for the detailed analysis. I think I will agree.

[SomeGuyCalledTom]

Glad I've convinced you 😁

I've just subscribed to that channel you suggested, it seems right up my alley. Another channel that balances film analysis with psychology is The Evil Eye, which focuses more on villains from various fiction works -- mostly films but not exclusively -- and analyses their evilness through the lens of psychopathology and whatnot.

[AmandaYVR]

Link? Can't find the channel. That term is too common.

[SomeGuyCalledTom]

My bad, it's The Vile Eye

Link : https://youtube.com/c/TheVileEye

[AmandaYVR]

Thanks!

[Lynx122]

The biggest selling point of the movie is that they did all the flying scenes for real this time and it looks very nice. The biggest negative is that like a lot of Hollywood movies it's basically an ad/ propaganda made by the U. S. military. If you don't mind that then it's a good movie. I saw the first one and I liked this one. For a fun throwback action movie it's as good as you're gonna see and compared to movies overall it's good but I wouldn't put it in the great category because there's a lot of areas where it doesn't even compete but for what it is it's good.

And I do think it got a bit overhyped for political reasons. I liked Dune more but other than that it's the best movie that came out recently but I don't watch many movies anymore either because once you've seen a bunch of good ones it doesn't hit you the same anymore.

[Knoxmandz19]

I've seen both movies & I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt, Mavrick is above and beyond the original by a long shot, Cruise puts so much effort into this movie and and made it look amazing, Tony Scott the original movie would be proud as punch I think how it turned out, R. I. P Tony

[AmandaYVR]

Yes, the Scott brothers were quite the phenoms, weren't/aren't they.
Seen Deja Vu? I love that movie. And I am not a Denzel fan anymore.

[SecretsofKB]

So my dad made me watch the first one when I was younger. I didn't hate it, but I enjoyed just how much it embodied the 80's lol.

I actually went out and watched the newest one with a few friends opening weekend and I actually really enjoyed myself. I'm usually hesitant about sequels, but I will admit, this was the best sequel I've seen in my opinion.

My partner really liked it too and she is not into these kinds of movies usually. I would recommend it.

[AmandaYVR]

What was good about it?

[SecretsofKB]

So I enjoyed the fact that it knew it was a sequel by didn't lean to heavily on the popularity of the first movie. I think it would have been good as a standalone.

[AmandaYVR]

I see. 👍

[AviatorTom]

It's an EXCELLENT movie. Great action scenes, a good plot, filled with suspense, and a great sequel to the 25 yo original TOP GUN.

Before seeing Maverick, I suggest you watch the original TOP GUN. It's available online. That way, you'll understand some of the interpersonal actions in Maverick.

[AmandaYVR]

Yep, as I wrote up top, saw it back in the day.

[AviatorTom]

@AmandaYVR My SO and I watched the original TOP GUN at home (online streaming) the day before we saw MAVERICK in the theater, and then watched it again at home a few days later.

[AmandaYVR]

Wow you really went on a Top Gun binge didn't ya? I'd be cooked.

[MTC29]

I enjoyed it more than the first film. Naturally there was plenty of fine aerial footage, so if you like aircraft- and I do, the film was easily worth the admission price.

The romantic scenes were usually brief, and some actually funny. I had imagined that the "relationship" between Maverick and Goose's son would drag the film down, but they made it even more enjoyable.

No spoilers from me, but there is a great scene with Maverick and Iceman which was magnificent.

I can see why Top Gun Maverick has made over $1 billion USD at the box office- which is roughly equal to the earnings from a million Indian/Bollywood films.

[Andres77]

Sit in the front row, center.

Awesome plot.

Plot twists. Suspense, humor, action, good actors. Just a really good all around experience. I've seen it three times.

I'm not a tom cruise fan but he knocked this out of the park.

[AmandaYVR]

Damn! Reeeally.
Yeah I'm pretty over Tom Cruise. (My husband is watching The Last Samurai for the fourth time right now.)

I haven't been to a theatre in so long (covid, the stories nowadays.) But I'm looking forward to seeing Bullet Train in a couple of weeks. Starring and made by Brad Pitt's production company. Looks like a lot of fun. He wants to "bring people back to theatre to have some fun."

[Andres77]

And he’s got a classy welcome message that’s only in theaters.
He made it to be best seen in the theater.
If you missed it then a large screen and surround sound.
I hope you like it

[AmandaYVR]

Yeah y'all are right. If it's that good it should be seen on a big screen.
Sometimes our 46" is seeming way too small these days.

[Andres77]

I'd say, yes, 29/29.

[Andres77]

Crap...10/10
(Fat fingers).

[AmandaYVR]

lolol. (inside joke.)

If you'd typed 837/837 (for instance) I'd really be worried.

[Andres77]

Agreed

[Lliam]

Sorry, I haven't seen it. I'll check it out when it is available to stream.
I know people, both men and women, who have seen it and said they enjoyed it. I guess they like the thrilling action and tension.
I like airplanes a lot, so I'll see the movie eventually. I do have a problem with some of the totally unrealistic stunts they pull, though. Some of that stuff ruins it for me.

[madgoat]

An aging Tom cruise, ace pilot, faces the passage of time and the challenge of the latest crop of ace pilots. Not gung ho, plenty of action, and respects the original film and characters.

Well constructed for what it is. It has heart. Who knew modern Hollywood could pull that off.

[ChrisMaster69]

Yeah it’s pretty good.

great flying sequences and story line.

there were some technical bits that were a little meh but other than that’s it’s a decent movie.

suggest watching the first one before 2nd

[EnglishEuropean]

Well I mean Hollywood doesn't do new movies any more. But they're environmentally friendly because they recycle everything.

[AmandaYVR]

That was quite clever.

[Kreneman]

The movie was great and it was a learning experience plus it surprised the whole audience in a way that it was not expected. There's nothing really missing but I would have to watch it again.

[Sixgunsound]

Top gun Maverick is a rip off of Star Wars: a new Hope. If you don’t believe me check out this video which tells it best:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/QN6qBDQMEq8

[Jammaa]

I haven't personally seen it but my brother is a huuuge movie critic who does not usually talk that highly about movies but he loved this movie. He said it was better than the original.

[dailyoctopus94]

It's just as corny as the first one.
Don't watch these movies for the plot, watch them for the action scenes.