Top Gun has a strange place in my heart. I have neither been a massive fan of the original nor did I flock to watch its sequel upon its release. However, I have certain memories of my youth in which I had its famous anthem on a small cassette tape that I would often ask to have put on -- I didn't have cassette tapes, and I was pretty limited to what I could do whenever I went to my father's place. The anthem was something that I would always rely on to fill the void when there. The boredom, and the quiet, often emptiness that infiltrated the house with the passing of my step-sister. I always had a slight fascination with fighter jets as well, an outcome of using Top Gun as escapism, and growing up in a militarised town in which Chinooks would often fly over, and military shows were frequent. A few years later, I had a step-father that owned his own small, four-seater plane. Scared, but loving the idea of flying, we would both fly together sometimes; weirdly at the age of 14 I had been not just given the incredible experience of flying privately, but being capable of piloting the plane myself. Later years would be spent attending airshows and more military events. Even roaming the abandoned barracks of prior years (though I probably should not have done that in hindsight). Despite all of this, I actually have a slight fear of flying now.
But my interest in the -- and often very cruel -- aspects of military has never really changed. I find myself constantly watching the developments of the technology that get created at the worst of times, with the best outcomes. Seeing engineering and human perseverance result in many developments that have propelled us technologically; as we reach into the concepts of futurism present in the media we consumed decades ago that was more the thing of dreams. THough, I had no real interest in Top Gun: Maverick when it was announced and eventually released. I saw the sudden praise it received from audiences -- who didn't see that, though? -- and still had little interest in it. It, for the most part, appeared to be yet another Tom Cruise franchise film aimed at offering a blockbuster that is different to the world of superhero ones that plagued the cinemas for such long periods of time, where original films and well anything that was not a superhero film became few and far between.
I believe much of this film's success stems from its reach having been delayed over the period of the pandemic, incapable of being released and seeing a successful release that would actually bring in some money due to the many restrictions around public and enclosed spaces. Had the film released six months earlier, I suspect few would have seen it. Is that success it did see justified, however?
Top Gun: Maverick
Now that the dust has settled a bit, Top Gun: Maverick can finally be viewed with a true perspective that is not influenced by the masses that gave it such heavy praise. It carries on from the prior film and is certainly a sequel, but I can see how many would go to see this film having not seen the first. I would go as far as arguing that it is not even that necessary, with only brief pieces of context throughout that connect the two films together. Though due to how much fan service there is, I think it is definitely best to view the first film before this one. Characters are referenced, new but old locations make a comeback, and the film's narrative is tightly connected in a more poetic manner that pulls on the manly heart as a result of the prior film's events.
Though Top Gun: Maverick starts off pretty strong, with an instant dive into the cool side of things: jets. Our protagonist is still flying around into his old age, though seemingly in some more secrete department of the military that focuses on the advancement of jet technology and flying experimental craft; this department clinging to its existence as its budget is threatened in favour of pursuing unmanned aerial vehicles, given that, as the film implies, they are the future. This sets up our protagonist in the expected manner: still very much defiant, still very dangerous, and pretty much in the same state he was in his youth. There is plenty of the traditional blockbuster structure here, where things are quickly explained or given to the audience in a more on-the-nose method. I found myself getting a bit tired of this, particularly when the film ended up resorting to just utter trash modern music that did not go with what was happening on the screen.
Top Gun: Maverick's narrative takes our protagonist out of this troubled department and into Top Gun yet again, where he must now play the role of a trainer, preparing the world's best pilots for a seemingly impossible mission; though the stakes come from the fact that one of these ambitious young pilots is none other than his former co-pilot's son. There is then this aspect of back-and-forth rivalry and father-and-son emotion in our protagonists attempts to protect him while also letting go of the past. And as expected for a blockbuster reboot: much of the film's events are about handing the torch down to the next generation, accepting their route and preparing them to the best they can be.
It even follows a very similar structure to the first film, ensuring it doesn't shy away too much onto its own path. However, the structure works for this film: characters introduced, a threat to call them into action, and their growth in preparing to deal with that threat. It hides this quite well and ensures it doesn't get boring by providing us with plenty of what we expect: action. And these scenes are definitely something to love. Fast-paced, close-up perspectives of jets. Afterburners and engines. Military porn all over the place. I have seen people criticise the film for simply being a love-letter to the military–industrial complex, and yeah, I see it. But the film tries too hard to not focus on who the enemy is, giving us no particular faces or locations responsible for being the threat. We don't really need to know much about them, given the film is more so about the growth of these cocky pilots that believe they're the best, while still never really facing the reality of war.
Directing and cinematography
Despite my announces with the music in parts, I have to admit that the sound design in this film was wonderful. It really ensures that you feel immersed, part of these pilots and within the small space of these jets. Constant bursts of the engines, the humming of being in a plane, and the weight of this multi-million dollar machines of steel. The cinematography and directing also ensures that you get the best immersion you can get, and really gives the audience plenty of time to be inside the cockpit, seeing the view of the HUD and all the many buttons and screens. The film knows precisely why you're watching, and unlike many other big franchise films which tease and hide the good stuff, Top Gun: Maverick gives you plenty of it. Though sometimes there are moments where special effects are quite evident, but I can give the film a break due to the fact that they used jets and actual footage during flights. Having trained the actors like actual pilots and recording as much as they could for real.
This alone makes the film incredibly impressive. The way it rejects the modern approach to blockbusters and ensures that the subject it focuses on is done in a way that respects it. Giving the audience the immersive and often terrifying perspective of pilots that speed across the skies. I really enjoyed these moments; though I must admit that even the slower parts of the film that bridged the action together was done very well. The scenes were incredibly beautiful, with dim lighting and strong attention to detail. They were some the most beautiful shots I have seen in a blockbuster in a long time. Shadows rolled off, strong depth-of-field attention resulted in emotional moments where our characters were removed from the background and with heavy focus. Where the bokeh and lighting was smooth and warm. Equally met with the cold, grey colour grading found in the moments around jets. Connecting us to the bolts and steel. The mechanical.
I have to say, it had its weakpoints, but it also had its strengths. I think it pushed filmmaking to another level that's both very expensive but also achievable; sending a message to the rest of Hollywood: put in the effort, and audiences will come. Though the film does still establish itself in the same way many blockbusters do; and that definitely had it lose a few points from me.
