Like a long haul flight in business class, in spite of some slight turbulence, it's a really pleasant ride.
Fighter pilot Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell is called back to Top Gun to train a group of pilots to fly a secret mission and the rest should be obvious.
Despite raising the obvious tropes of the genre, the film throttled back on the romance and, though it came dangerously close to crashing into the nostalgia factor, it was able to pull up at the last moment and soar into some wonderfully filmed action sequences.
And that's what saves the film in the end. The ability Maverick has to include an emotional payload with its feats of aeronautical derring-do makes the movie successful in what it wants to be: a decent big-budget action film that takes off from the original film without remaining grounded in it.
Just caught the first screening in my city. Have to say it was a terrific movie. Its a simple storyline and the major focus is on the flight scenes. Was simply blown away by what the team was able to achieve. It was breathtaking! The time just flew by. Even the nostalgia bit was nicely done. Do catch it on the big screen...
Just watched this in the pre-release. It’s exactly as over the top and predictable as you would expect…. And I loved it! It even opened with “danger zone”… What more could you wish for. I was 12 when I watched the original, and felt 12 again when I just watched this. No it is by no means Oscar material, but if you liked Top Gun as a kid, this is a must-see!
I thought the release date for this is November 19, 2021, not July 1st, 2021.
Loved Top Gun as a kid and so excited for this to come out (although I fully expect Hollywood to ruin my childhood)
Review by PorterUkVIP 5BlockedParent2022-05-27T18:12:11Z
I've seen this twice in 3 days. That's why it is a 9 out of 10 for me.
Some details...
First up, a round of applause to Tom Cruise and his team for not making a disgrace of a film. They have delivered a worthy sequel to the original - a film that we hold so dear but time has not been too kind to.
the jet sequences are phenomenal. Absolutely beautifully shot but they're direct descendents of the MI franchise, particularly Fallout, and it goes to show how this film has been percolating for a decade or so. They're the benchmark for aviation shots.
the cinematography. I'll say it, it's a mixed bag. The colour is borrowed from the first but there were times the higher frame rate in dramatic scenes made it verge on the Cobra Kai/Netflix feel. My second viewing reduced this a bit so it may be the cinema you watch it in could define the experience.
Jennifer Connelly... I'm not sold on her acting here. It's a bit too cocky that it comes across as monotone. But it's a minor niggle as she's essential to the plot and her arc works very well.
The students. A little bit Cobra Kai again. But by the time the final 3rd comes around, we're past caring about anything hammy or contrived. The story rolls like a freight train and everyone comes along for the ride.
I found this film more enjoyable on a 2nd watch. The pacing is excellent and you appreciate that on the second watch. Cruise gives you what you want in the first 3rd, builds a wonderful tapestry (there's a reason it's called "Maverick") in the second 3rd, and then gives us what we need in the final 3rd.
Truly, Tom Cruise needs a lot more appreciation than he gets - across the board. This guy doesn't phone it in. He is totally believable in these roles. His dedication to the craft should be lauded from the rooftops.
I know these are just films. But they are also cultural touch points. And this one deserves to have the same impact as the first one for its absolutely spectacular aerial cinematography.
9/10