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Top Gun (1986)

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297 comments in total

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125 out of 152 people found the following comment useful :-
TOP GUN rocks, plain and simple, 5 August 2003
Author: Ocn169 (Ocn169@aol.com) from New Jersey

I can't believe the reviews I have read about Top Gun being technically inaccurate, not enough character development, an overall simple and childish plot... gimme a freegin' break! This film was made to look cool, sound cool, and define cool. Yeah, okay, the MiG-28s are really F-5 Tigers; I've read the 'goofs' section before. And Tom Cruise's height. And about 'Maverick going supersonic - I'll be there in 30 seconds,' and the laws of physics preventing him from covering 200 or so miles from the carrier in that time. Whatever! So what! If Top Gun had tried to be accurate and true-to-life in every respect, it would have been some oh-so-serious flick like Courage Under Fire. Here's some examples of what I mean:

1 - what's the best way to evade cannon fire? Do a snazzy barrel roll. Problem solved!

2 - the MiG pilots have tinted visors. The good guys don't. Go figure.

2.5 - Russian planes are actually grey or green. The MiG 28s are black. The Tomcats are... yeah, you guessed it... white! Good vs. Evil.

3 - Modern air-to-air combat is usually fought at distances of tens of miles between aircraft. Top Gun uses much cooler spitting-distance WWI era tactics.

4 - "It's too close for missiles. I'm switching to guns!" Enough said.

5 - the generic guy carrying coffee who gets knocked over by the fuming air-control officer. We never see him get up. Classic.

6 - even the edited TV version is a few steps above normal-cool. "... you'll be flying a cargo plane [edit]... out of Hong Kong!"

7 - the way Iceman says, "Mayday, Mav's in trouble. He's in a flat spin, and heading out to sea."

8 - the graceful way Top Gun maintained a PG rating, without using the F-word once.

Top Gun came out in 1986. That's 1986. Seventeen years ago. It rocked then... it rocks now. Just watch it and have some fun.

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86 out of 111 people found the following comment useful :-
I always liked a bit of cheddar, 30 April 2004

Author: punkmacinally from Boro, England

Absolute cheese on a stick, but Top Gun proves that that's not always a bad thing. This movie's got everything - an arrogant prodigy who'd be out on his arse if he wasn't so good, a sensible, uglier best friend, a love interest (although she's a bit of a mess), an arch nemesis and his dumb sidekick, a few cool high fives and catchphrases, an emotional death scene, a euphoric victory scene and of course, some unforgettable action scenes. What more could any red-blooded child of the eighties ask for!? And anyone born around 1980 will remember how everyone was doing that double high five and saying 'talk to me, goose' to the kid next to them in class. Certainly one of my all time favourites.

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72 out of 92 people found the following comment useful :-
And all the Air Force got was "Iron Eagle" ....., 3 November 2002
Author: ericjg623 from Twin Cities

If there's ever proof of the cachet of Naval Aviation, this is it. Those poor Air Force guys got a trio of "Iron Eagle" flicks that went from bad to horrible, whereas the Navy flyboys got this great 1980's classic. Sure, it's cheesy and corny, but it makes the cheese and corn taste pretty damn good. A cynic might argue that it's just a two hour long Navy recruiting ad (one that worked for me, two years later I found my ass in Pensacola sweating through AOCS, short for Aviation Officer Candidate School, the program immortalized in "An Officer and a Gentleman") but by making a pro-Navy movie, the filmmakers also got invaluable technical assistance from top Navy aviators, and it shows.

For starters, although this movie takes numerous liberties in order to entertain, the basic setup, in which fighter pilots from the fleet get sent to NAS Miramar, aka, "Top Gun" for intensive training, is 100% accurate. The Navy, back during Vietnam, was getting sick of losing too many pilots in air-to-air combat. The problem, they discovered, was their fighter jocks had been trained for purely long-range missile interceptions, meaning they'd lost their dogfighting skills. And, in Vietnam, several American planes were accidentally shot down by their own side by missiles, so, as a safety factor, enemy planes had to be visually identified, meaning American pilots were back to engaging the enemy at short range, hence the need for dogfighting. The "Top Gun" school was started as a result, and the rest is history.

Now, back to the movie. Tom Cruise is Maverick, a hotshot pilot but also somewhat unstable. If "Risky Business" launched his career as a movie star, then "Top Gun" cemented it. Guys wanted to be like him, and women of course lusted after him. The plot is pure formula, but executed with consummate professionalism. The team who put this movie together knew exactly how to push all the right buttons. But the crème de la crème is surely the flying. I don't think that any movie, before or since, has ever rendered air combat in a more convincing and dramatic fashion. For nearly 100 years fighter pilots have been the modern equivalent of olden knights, men who brought a sense of glamour and romance to the deadly art of war, and this movie gives them a fitting tribute.

8/10

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35 out of 57 people found the following comment useful :-
Jerry Bruckheimer delivers again., 5 June 2002
Author: witheld

Jerry Bruckheimer; the name strikes fear into my heart.

The man honestly cannot tell the difference between action and boredom. With him its hit or miss.

In this case, hit.

Big hit.

Tom Cruise's performance is stellar, playing a role that he would end up playing again and again as the overconfident 'Maverick' who eventually learns his lesson. And a ham-handed lesson it is, hammered home in the end by his constant "I'm not leaving my wingman!" yell.

Val Kilmer shines...heck, the whole supporting cast shines! Meg Ryan, Anthony Edwards, Rim Robbins, Micheal Ironsides, Skerrit--they all come through beautifully. The action scenes are some of the best aerial shots ever shot.

On to the complaints.

Jerry Bruckheimer loads the sap on with a cement truck, nearly drowning this movie in it. The dialogue is corny. Basically--the very things that made the entire movie 'Armageddon' horrible mar the corners of Top Gun. The ending is worse than corny; it's a clear case of deus ex machina. A very clear case. The deus almost knocked me out of my seat.

A satisfying movie, altogether. Four out of five stars.

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11 out of 16 people found the following comment useful :-
Entertaining no brainer, 3 November 2005

Author: Lt_Coffey_182 from Portsmouth, England

Top Gun is a high quality, visually stunning film that does all it can to take your breath away. It is the excellently choreographed dog fights that remain in the mind longer than anything as they are high octane, dazzling bursts of excitement which bring the film to life. However, fighter jet sequences do not make a film and it is the plot where Top Gun has some occasional problems.

Parts of the story are overly cheesy and clichéd. The proud to be American theme is dire, repetitive and anyone who dislikes over patriotism in films will despise this. The story line involving Tom Cruise and Tom Skerrit approaches boredom and is the pinnacle of Top Gun's cheese. 'Cheese' is OK, as long as it is not serious and that is where that specific story line falls flat. The fun cheesy parts are some of the films best moments. The volleyball scene is truly a classic and the four actors involved are genuinely enjoying themselves. The relationship between Tom Cruise and Anthony Edwards is also very moving at times and the dynamic they have makes for great viewing.

The acting is what saves Top Gun from being Tinsel town garbage. Tom Cruise launched his career with this film. His cocky smile makes him perfect for this role and Cruise does fantastically at portraying a determined, passionate character. It is the emotional scenes where Cruise really sets himself apart from his peers. Cruise provides the few scenes where the audience are made to feel any emotion and he carries out his responsibility creditably. Anthony Edwards as Goose is also effective as the man who takes second spot to Cruise's Maverick. He is instantly popular with the audience with his wit, humour and charm. Val Kilmer and Rick Rossovich are great as the rivals. They play off each other really well and do a fantastic job to personify arrogance. Michael Ironside does what he does best and once again, manages to go through a whole film without smiling.

The story between Cruise and Kelly McGillis is very romantic and sensual. The heat between them is conveyed very well on screen and it is this that sets Top Gun above films such as Iron Eagle and Chuck Norris films.

Berlin's 'Take My Breath Away' is a song that still gets a good deal of airplay and suits this film to perfection; it's cheesy and its 80s. The music is very effective at setting the mood and complements the feel of the film.

Top Gun is a film that achieves its objectives, to entertain. If you're looking for intelligent writing or mass thought provocation, this film isn't for you. Top Gun is best suited to those who desire to switch off their brain and enjoy.

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5 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Great DVD to own, 22 August 2006

Author: darksideofthemoon32 from United States

Top Gun in dolby 6.1 sound is awesome.sounds better than when i saw it in the theater in '86. i thought they said this month cause an increase in people joining the Navy. Meg Ryan, Anthony Edwards,and Val Kilmer were virtually nobodies when this came out as well.All turned out too be prominent actors.Top Gun would not be as cool if it were made today because of the computer graphics.it would turn out like Stealth.The footage of them flying was awesome,especially for 1986. This movie was very quotable as well.i remember everyone saying "I feel the need...the need for speed!"and every guy i was friends with wanted a crotch-rocket bike after seeing Top Gun.

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9 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :-
Pistol, 3 July 2002
Author: tedg (tedg@FilmsFolded.com) from Virginia Beach

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Spoilers herein.

This film is of historical interest. It is the first engineered blockbuster focused on romanticizing the gizmos of war as toys. Post Tom Clancy. It marks the turning point of Tom Cruise from a promising actor with controlled energy in `Color of Money' to a strutting mugger.

It marks the first major screen debut of Meg Ryan, establishing her formula. So too with Val Kilmer, but both of those are mere celebrities rather than actors. Here also is Robbins who would turn into a fine actor.

It is the event that got the Department of Defense re-energized about the effectiveness of Hollywood.

But most of all, this film marks the switch between Ridley and Tony. Tony was expected to be the one to make intelligent films. Ridley had made two very impressive scifi films, but these were notable for their art direction. The money was on Ridley to fade, or find a commercial niche like Cameron. But things turned out the reverse. Tony has been making this same film over and over, each version more snappy, swoopy and gizmo-laden than the last.

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9 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :-
Trend-Setter of the Highest Degree, 3 June 2000
Author: KhaloodiY from London, England

I have been told that my reviews have a tendency to over elaborate the points of discussion. I cannot yet determine if this is because of my love for movies, or an arrogant assumption that what I write needs to be read. Or even a pompous self love for the flow of my own writing. In any case, with Top Gun I have decided to be as to the point as possible. I won't talk about the story or it's characters too much because, I can't think of anyone who hasn't seen this film.

Top Gun is one of those powerhouse films whose impact is unparalleled. It profits from repeat viewings and it's stylistic touches often take the breath away. Most go on to say that it's effects on the cinema screen enhance it's entertainment value by a a factor of 10. I wouldn't know; I was only 7 years old when it came out.

But Top Gun is a more important film that it's ever been credit for. I say this because, to date it remains the defining achievement of the Bruckheimer/ Simpson production team. This production team reshaped the face of the slick action film almost single-handedly. I would like to work the stretch and say that they almost created a new genre of film, but that would be pushing it.

Today, all action films cannot survive without various essential components; handsome stars, pulsating soundtrack, powerful cinematography, new and inventive action shots, exotic locales.......Top Gun was the first on the scene to adequately and successfully combine all these elements into one film. It is a trendsetter and has, needless to say, inspired the production of thousands of other films. Top Gun is a film everybody knows, and it carries with it an incredible subliminal effect. I say this because, even if your not conscious of it, Top Gun and it's influence is consistently at play in the back of our minds when we talk about film. Almost any film!

Today Bruckheimer (Simpson passed away 2 years ago) and his team are the paragons of this field. Most producers go unnoticed by the average audience; a huge number however, recognize and acknowledge Bruckheimer as a huge player and I can vouch for many who are just as eager to watch a Tom Cruise film as they are a Jerry Bruckheimer production. His influence is immense and this is all thanks to Top Gun being the revolutionary action film that is is.

As with many of Tony Scott's films (Days of Thunder, Last Boy Scout, True Romance) this film is about a cocky sure-fire character who thinks he has all the answers until he gets a whiff of the real world and it's responsibilities and undergoes a major character change. He experiences various heartaches; from love and love lost to the loss of those dear to him, and he must overcome all this and find the strength to win the day and thereby prove his real mettle and evolution. This story has been used ad infinitum but in this case the hero-zero-hero story is so well complemented by the 80's slickness brought to the foreground by Bruckheimer/ Simpson. Cruise should consider himself the world's most fortunate actor; Top Gun is one of the most important films of the 20th century and Tom Cruise was it's star. If the man did nothing else, he would have attained God-like status as an actor and continue to be lionized by an adoring public.

Many film-makers will despise this film; it has made it near impossbile for small budget productions to make a deep impact. Sure there are a number that make it, but Top Gun ensured that lest an action flick carry a budget of over $100 million, it would never survive. That said, all the things that make the hairs stand on the back of our necks today have been inspired, to a large extent, from this film. Even the cinema trailers today need to pack a whopping punch to make the audience eager. If you notice, movie previews today, look like they cost as much as the actual film. This genre of film packs a lethal punch. Only the big fish can swim; the small will be devoured!!

Make no mistake about it, Top Gun is a vital contribution to modern day cinema. Our appreciation for sound quality in film, adrenaline-rushes, sex, action, cinematography have crucially been enhanced by this film.

After all I've said, I cannot help frown when I consider that this film is merely about fighter jets!!

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3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Classic 80's movie: Tom Cruise at his best, 19 January 2002
Author: GRL666 from England

The fact that people are still writing about this film 15yrs after it was first released (and I'm not just talking about me!) really says a lot. I was dubious about writing a comment, seeing as it really has been ages since it was released and thinking that most people who wanted to see it probably already have. After recently watching it for the umpteenth time on TV, I felt compelled to write a quickie ;) I have to say, it's the first time I looked up Top Gun on the imdb and I was actually quite surprised that it only received a 6.4 rating. If you haven't seen the movie yet, don't judge it by the ratings, read a few user comments first and just rent it out, I guarantee you'll have a good time, especially with its amazing soundtrack! The best 80's songs ever written, I still get chills down my back listening to them ;) It's a simple plot but there's something about it that makes it a seriously enjoyable film and one you can watch time and time again. Go have fun! Enjoy!

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3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Top Gun, the 80's at it's best!, 12 August 2001
Author: DonBarzini from Orlando Florida

Top Gun, a movie that can be defined by one simple word. Fantastic. *Warning* if you are a movie conisour who enjoys movies with deep plots and phenomenal profound acting, this is not the movie for you...

Top Gun is a movie that is in my Top 5, without a doubt. This movie is everything 1980's American youth craved. Action, patriotism, rock music, and of course our military forces decimating fragile and infinitesimal enemy forces.

Keep this in mind when watching this movie. Top Gun is not a movie that should be watched over with a fine tooth comb. If you actually watch this movie from a critical standpoint, you will notice that there are many technical glitches (i.e. switching of airplane registration numbers with the same pilot in them, enemy fighters appearing out of nowhere, etc.)and a couple of cheesy scenes (i.e. volleyball scene, shower scene, etc.). The acting at times gets a bit ridiculous, and of course Tom Cruise singing "You Lost That Loving Feeling", since when do hard core naval aviators sing sappy love songs?

Ok, so we have covered these items that critics jumped all over when reviewing this movie. It's time to get down to basics. What is the main purpose of a movie? To entertain it's audience of course. And when it comes down to basic entertainment, this movie rains supreme. The Ariel Dog Fighting scenes are absolutely fantastic. The acting is pretty good, and the plot is decent. A renegade navy pilot who doesn't play by the rules, comes back after loosing his RIO and becomes the hero. This ladies and gentlemen, is classic American heroism at it's best. And myself along with 90% of the American Public loved it. From the first "Stay on my wing, I'll take you all the way in" to "You can be my wingman anytime" this movie thrilled and entertained a confused American public, and re-taught them how to take pride in their country.

This movie was so successful because it reached out to all audiences. The guys loved the fast planes and rock music, the ladies enjoyed seeing Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer play volleyball topless. Top Gun along with movies like Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, 16 Candles, and Fast Times were the movies that were delighting 1980's youth around America.

The one star in this movie that dosen't get enough recognition in my opinion is the Grumman F-14 Tomcat. This plane which has been the backbone of the US navy for almost 35 years, is the real star of this film. An aircraft that is capable of supersonic flight, able to track 24 targets and fire on 6 of them by the push of a button, and is able to wipe out bogeys up to 80 miles away with it's Phoenix missile. DO you think this movie could of been made with the under-powered F-86? Absolutely not, this behemoth of an aircraft made Top Gun the best aerial/fighter plane film ever.

In closing, Top Gun is an awesome movie. If you enjoy those deep movies like Dead Poet's Society, don't even gaze your eyes on this movie as you pass it in the store. If your looking for a movie with fantastic action packed sequences, and macho un-realistic acting, hey welcome to the club. Pick this one up for sure, you'll really enjoy it.

Rating 10/10

EndNote: The only major flaw with Top Gun? Cruise has to drive around on that ridiculous motorcycle. Yes it added significantly to his bad-boy image, but he should of been riding around in a 1986 turbo charged Buick Grand National. Bad call on the motorcycle there props crew..

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