Students at the United States Navy’s elite flying school compete for the right to be Top Gun. The story follows Lieutenant Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell (Tom Cruise). A man whose flying style and appetite for rules matches his callsign. He will battle with father issues and a tragedy that he feels at fault for whilst fighting for the love of instructor Charlie (Kelly McGillis) and the Top Gun trophy. 

As we approach the release of Top Gun Maverick, a ‘legacy’ sequel to a film made thirty-six years earlier I felt it important to revisit a film that holds a particularly sentimental and nostalgic grip on my mind. Given that I would have barely been at school at the time of its release I am not quite sure why I love this film so much but perhaps it was a regular feature on terrestrial television by the time I was a teenager allowing me to watch it frequently. What ever the reason, I love Top Gun and have been incredibly excited about the forthcoming sequel and wanted to see if it was as good as I remembered. 

I have to say that the opening minutes of the film are faultless. We have an opening write up that explains that on March 3, 1969 the Navy established Fighter Weapons School to train the top 1% of its pilots. The flyers call it Top Gun. We are then treated to some amazing aerial footage as Harold Faltermayer’s 1980’s synthesiser heavy soundtrack kicks in. I have to admit, it still gives me goosebumps. It just feels electric. 

The opening of the film also gives us everything we need to know about Maverick and sets up the entire film. Despite the risks he faces and the seriousness of the situation he is having a heck of a lot of fun up in the sky and is still prepared to disobey direct orders to shepherd in his wingman who is left particularly shaken by the engagement. This also results in him being picked along with his co-pilot Goose (Anthony Edwards) to head to Top Gun where they will face off against the best of the best, including top rival Iceman (Val Kilmer). 

Honestly from this point there is very little story and everything that holds the feature together is style, fun and excellent aerial footage of jets going very fast. 

Music plays a big part in the feature, we are treated to karaoke versions of “She’s Lost That Loving Feelin’” and “Great Balls of Fire” and of course the film features “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins and “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin. 

There is plenty of macho playfulness that verges on the homoerotic, who can forget the shirtless, oiled up beach volleyball game? And if you want more on that subject, seek out a film called Sleep With Me purely for the Quentin Tarantino cameo where he explains why Top Gun is a film about a man struggling with his homosexuality. Or just watch the clip on YouTube. 

It features memorable imagery, not just of jets but of Cruise driving a motorcycle with no helmet and just his sunglasses for protection. John Woo must have been a fan, just watch Mission Impossible 2. 

It also includes lines that everyone knows. “Your ego is writing cheques your body can’t cash!” And “You can be my wingman anytime” come instantly to mind. 

Is it deep and meaningful? Hardly. But does Tony Scott deliver a visually arresting blockbuster that generates awe and excitement? Absolutely. Does Tom Cruise hold the entire film by the scruff of the neck and launch it into the stratosphere? Definitely. 

Ultimately if I listen to my head it probably is not as good as I remember it. But it still has the power to make me feel exhilarated and what more can you ask from a blockbuster film? Bring on the sequel.