I saw Top Gun Maverick (spoilers)

[Morrus]

... and I enjoyed it.

I love the first movie. I know not everybody does, but I do -- they general cheesiness, the music, the way it doesn't take itself too seriously. That movie has a lot of charm, warts and all.

I've read everywhere that this is a better movie than the first, and it probably is. I don't think it's quite as likable as the first, but anybody who liked the first one will like this one.

The final act is literally lifted from Star Wars though. The trench run. They even say 'stay on target!' at some point in the movie.

The 'antagonist come good' in this one, Hangman, is no Iceman. But he's fine. Fills the exact same role. On that note, it was good to include Val Kilmer. It's a bit sad, as in real life he can barely speak either.

I'm not clear whether Maverick leaves the Navy at the end or not. Maybe they are deliberately vague about that?

This feels more... clinical?... than the original. I'm not 100% the super hi-res crisp clean images make it better than the orange glow, haze, and silhouettes of the first movie. That said, the opening few minutes are basically exactly the same, even down to the music.

If you didn't like the first one, you might like this one -- it is less macho and a bit more thoughtful, and the aerial sequences are incredible. One thing I love about something like this is that it's not all CGI. It makes it feel more real; I feel adrenaline watching actual planes fly that I don't watching CGI planes fly. Also, when you know the stunts actually happened, it adds something solid to the movie.

It's not perfect. But it's a fun movie. Not as good as the first in my book, but depending on your feelings about the first that may be a good thing for you.

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

I have read that the emotional scene between Cruise and Kilmer makes the movie worth it for fans of the first one.

 

[Morrus]

I see that people sweat less in 2022 than they did in 1986.

I wasn't clear on what John Hamm and his sidekick's job was? In the original Jester and Viper were instructors. These two guys don't appear to be (and one's an admiral, right?) -- they just kinda hang around. Maverick appeared to be the only instructor there? Plus they followed the pilots to the aircraft carrier and then hung around there too.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Is it weird that I grew up in the 80s but have never seen Top Gun?

 

[deganawida]

Is it weird that I grew up in the 80s but have never seen Top Gun?

Maybe, but probably not as weird as not liking it despite being the G.I. Joe: ARAH-loving son of a former Navy mechanic who worked on fighters and who bought a VCR just for it because he was so exited.

I’m glad it’s getting good reviews, as I know a lot of people loved the original. I just never got it.

 

[Morrus]

Is it weird that I grew up in the 80s but have never seen Top Gun?

Nah, there's loads of classic 80s films I haven't seen. Goonies and Beetlejuice bring to mind. Or The Thing. Bill & Ted.

 

[deganawida]

I see that people sweat less in 2022 than they did in 1986.

I wasn't clear on what John Hamm and his sidekick's job was? In the original Jester and Viper were instructors. These two guys don't appear to be (and one's an admiral, right?) -- they just kinda hang around. Maverick appeared to be the only instructor there? Plus they followed the pilots to the aircraft carrier and then hung around there too.

Not to digress, but that’s actually something I have been thinking about quite a lot lately, and was really brought home by another viewing of Casablanca last weekend. People don’t sweat in modern movies. Heck, people don’t sweat as much in real life anymore. I live in southeast Georgia (the state, not the awesome county), and thanks to AC I don’t sweat inside anymore, unlike I used to when younger. Heck, I don’t even sweat much when exercising, unless I’m doing a ten mile walk in the heat of summer (90-100 degrees Fahrenheit).

It’s so weird. Glad I’m not the only one who has noticed that about modern movies.

 

[Morrus]

Not to digress, but that’s actually something I have been thinking about quite a lot lately, and was really brought home by another viewing of Casablanca last weekend. People don’t sweat in modern movies. Heck, people don’t sweat as much in real life anymore. I live in southeast Georgia (the state, not the awesome county), and thanks to AC I don’t sweat inside anymore, unlike I used to when younger. Heck, I don’t even sweat much when exercising, unless I’m doing a ten mile walk in the heat of summer (90-100 degrees Fahrenheit).

It’s so weird. Glad I’m not the only one who has noticed that about modern movies.

The sweating in the original Top Gun was an artistic choice -- they had people constantly spraying water into the actors' faces, whether they were in a plane, on an aircraft carrier, in a bar. It wasn't real sweat!

 

[deganawida]

The sweating in the original Top Gun was an artistic choice -- they had people constantly spraying water into the actors' faces, whether they were in a plane, on an aircraft carrier, in a bar. It wasn't real sweat!

View attachment 249487

Gotcha, didn’t know that. Probably a very wise artistic choice.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

What I want to know is if they justified (or attempted to justify) Maverick's age and career length. He's about a dozen years past mandatory retirement date without a significant break in service.

 

[Morrus]

What I want to know is if they justified (or attempted to justify) Maverick's age and career length. He's about a dozen years past mandatory retirement date without a significant break in service.

I don’t know (and am not asking about!) US military regulations, but Iceman is now a big shot admiral and is basically his guardian angel who keeps saving him from being thrown out.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I enjoyed it, even though the only thing I remember about Top Gun is from Hot Shots. And even that's next to nothing.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I don’t know (and am not asking about!) US military regulations, but Iceman is now a big shot admiral and is basically his guardian angel who keeps saving him from being thrown out.

Yeah, it's Hollywood. So they wont follow the rules or expect realism, and would likely have hand-waved everything. But I was curious if they attempted an explanation.

But with the assumption that the movies are contemporary to their release dates (so Top Gun is set in 1986 and Maverick 2022):

- Maverick and Iceman are both Lieutenants (O3) in 1986 in Top Gun, meaning they entered the service between 1976 and 1982. We'll use 1982 because it gives us the most time to work with, though 1980 or sooner would make more sense given level of experience in the movie.

- In Maverick, Maverick is a Captain (O6) in 2022. Without a break in service, that's 40 years of service -- but O6 are statutorily limited to 30 years of service (outside of one very specific exception I'm aware of for service academy professors). So he's about 10 years past mandatory retirement for his rank -- and admirals don't get to waive the law!

- Age-wise mandatory retirement for non-flag officers is 62, so assuming a normal commissioning age of 22 in 1982, Maverick is also sitting at mandatory retirement age so even if he had some significantly-long break in service he should most likely be out.

- Flag officers can serve past 30 years. As a four-star (O10) Iceman could conceivably serve 40 years (the current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs is sitting on 42 years of service), but will bump up against mandatory retirement age at 64 (though this can be deferred to 68 under special circumstances).

 

[Morrus]

Yeah, it's Hollywood. So they wont follow the rules or expect realism, and would likely have hand-waved everything. But I was curious if they attempted an explanation.

But with the assumption that the movies are contemporary to their release dates (so Top Gun is set in 1986 and Maverick 2022):

- Maverick and Iceman are both Lieutenants (O3) in 1986 in Top Gun, meaning they entered the service between 1976 and 1982. We'll use 1982 because it gives us the most time to work with, though 1980 or sooner would make more sense given level of experience in the movie..

- In Maverick, Maverick is a Captain (O6) in 2022. Without a break in service, that's 40 years of service -- but O6 are statutorily limited to 30 years of service (outside of one very specific exception I'm aware of for service academy professors). So he's about 10 years past mandatory retirement for his rank -- and admirals don't get to waive the law!

- Age-wise mandatory retirement for non-flag officers is 62, so assuming a normal commissioning age of 22 in 1982, Maverick is also sitting at mandatory retirement age so even if he had some significantly-long break in service he should most likely be out.

- Flag officers can serve past 30 years. As a four-star (O10) Iceman could conceivably serve 40 years (the current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs is sitting on 42 years of service), but will bump up against mandatory retirement age at 64 (though this can be deferred to 68 under special circumstances).

That bit in parenthesis was really important.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

That bit in parenthesis was really important.

I thought others might wonder about the reason for my question.

 

[GreyLord]

Originally when people talked about this movie on this site I predicted a flop (I figured it was an outdated property that had no interest for most movie goers these days).

I was wrong. It is apparently drawing in a LOT of older audiences back to the theaters. It looks like it is going to be a bonafide hit.

Thought I should post that I was dead wrong in my evaluation of how well it would do.

 

[MGibster]

Originally when people talked about this movie on this site I predicted a flop (I figured it was an outdated property that had no interest for most movie goers these days).

You and me both. I haven't seen the original since 1987, and just didn't think there'd be a whole lot of interest in 2022. I'm happy to be wrong through; it's great that so many people are enjoying the movie.

 

[Morrus]

I thought others might wonder about the reason for my question.

Also the film was finished a few years ago pre-pandemic, so it's not set in 2022. They do say in the movie it has been 30 years and this is his last assignment. At the end it's strongly implied (though not explicitly stated) that he retires.

 

[trappedslider]

so this is going on

A Wild 'Top Gun' Fan Theory Suggests Maverick Was Dead the Entire Movie

 

[Stalker0]

Just saw it myself, and really enjoyed it. It hits all the right notes, awesome aerial stunts, some fun "machismo", gives some closure to some of Maverick's previous relationships. In a world of CGI movies, having something real and visceral was really great, and I tell you Tom Cruise still gets it done (when he's on his motorcycle, the smile on his face is like a kid in the candy store, you can't help but smile right back).

One thing I appreciated, so a key part of this movie is that Maverick is able to handle G forces that are difficult for even fellow Top Gun aviators. Considering his age that is highly unlikely....EXCEPT for the fact that he's been handling experimental aircraft for some length of time going incredibly fast and pulling extremely high Gs. So he's basically been G training for years.

That's what I like....I want to believe in a movie like this...I just need that little bit to hold onto. That was all I need to go "sure Maverick is old but still could pull off that crazy manuever, I'll buy it"