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SPOILERS DOWN THE PATH; THE DISCUSSION BELOW WILL NOT BE COMPREHENSIVE WITHOUT IT.
TREAD CAREFULLY. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.
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SPOILERS DOWN THE PATH; THE DISCUSSION BELOW WILL NOT BE COMPREHENSIVE WITHOUT IT.
TREAD CAREFULLY. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.
Tony Scott's fighter plane porn stars Tom Cruise as Maverick, a young naval aviator who receives an opportunity to train with the top 1 percent at Fighter Weapons School, otherwise known as Top Gun!
Maverick is a rebel. He is extremely adept at his job, but dangerous at the same time. He constantly puts safety at the backseat. We follow this Lie of his until he loses his best pal and family - Goose (Anthony Edwards). In the end, he doesn't win the Top Gun trophy but surfaces as the best pilot the academy has ever seen, regardless. This is very much a film of its time, with the 80s cheese, testosterone, man sweat, model swag, beach volleyballs and machismo being on the top cover of almost every scene. But this is not to say Top Gun isn't relevant in other eras - it is still a good entertainment piece! However, the repetitive plot beats of Maverick not learning his lesson is not enough to be stretched into a 2-hour movie.
Performances are as required. Tom Cruise sells Maverick's low confidence and guilt after losing his friend well, with realistic pep talks that follow to rise his spirit up again. The constant rivalry between Iceman (Val Kilmer) and Maverick is entertaining! Maverick's romance with Charlie (Kelly McGillis) is enjoyable, and becomes more interesting when we learn she's his instructor.
Major downside of the picture comes from the fighter plane dogfights in the air. All the flights look the same and the action geography is not clear, rendering the dogfights boring and unclear. The finale sequence is somewhat exciting to watch one must say and the circus stunt fly-bys are funny. The overall score is pulsating and iconic! Who hasn't heard the numbers 'Take My Breath Away' and 'Danger Zone', right?