Saturday, June 11, 2022

"Top Gun: Maverick" (2022) -- Initial Thoughts

Are you looking for an adrenaline rush movie with repeated jolts of excitement?  Go see Top Gun: Maverick (2022).

Do you want a feel-good movie?  Go see Top Gun: Maverick.

In the mood for a gentle romance between two mature adults who don't jump into bed the moment they lay eyes on each other?  Go see Top Gun: Maverick.

Need a shot of nostalgia that leaves you happy, not lonely?  Go see Top Gun: Maverick.

Looking for an unapologetically pro-American military movie?  Go see Top Gun: Maverick.

Have you missed summer blockbusters that didn't involve aliens or robots or monsters?  Go see Top Gun: Maverick.

Want a movie that will make you laugh and cry both?  Go see Top Gun: Maverick.

Wondering just how good Tom Cruise still looks on a motorcycle?  Go see Top Gun: Maverick.

Really curious as to how they worked Val Kilmer's character Tom "Iceman" Kazansky into the plot, knowing that Kilmer has battled cancer and lost his voice?  Go see Top Gun: Maverick.  (Spoiler: it was clever and well-done and respectful.)

Seriously, this movie was FAR better than I expected.  Granted, I've only seen Top Gun (1986) maybe four or five times, and most of those were when I was in college.  But what I remember of it was not nearly as nuanced or emotionally satisfying as this one is.  I am impressed.


(And, yes, Tom Cruise still looks really good on a motorcycle.  But it's highly unfair that the man turns sixty this year and still looks that good in jeans and shirtless.)


This post is dedicated to Colonel Michael A. Haack, USAF (Ret.), my real-life hero.  Every time I watch a movie that involves the Air Force, particularly fighter pilots, I think of my cousin Mike.

10 comments:

  1. I love how you did this review! It's so fun and different! I wrote my review for Maverick last night and I'm still overwhelmed at how great the movie was. The scene between Pete and Ice was so heartbreaking though! I've always been an Iceman girl (Val Kilmer was peak perfection in the original film!) and I love how they showed Iceman once again being the voice of reason in Pete's life.

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    1. Thanks, Ivy! It really is a gem. I'm more of a Goose fan, even though Val Kilmer is one of my favorite actors. So all the stuff with Rooster kept making me tear up.

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  2. I too just saw Maverick this afternoon. Took Michael and Brandy along. One sat on either side me. Both could quickly tell you my opinion of the movie by the number of times I gripped their arms and tears by the end of the movie! I was a big fan of the original TopGun and had seen it numerous times (although has been many years ago). This one is much better! And oh my gosh, Yes!! Tom Cruise still looks absolutely fabulous no matter what he is wesring or not wearing!

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    1. Merylin, how fun that you got to see it with Brandy and Michael! I'm so glad you enjoyed it too :-)

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  3. Wasn't planning to watch this at all, but now you've intrigued me. Do you think it would be enjoyable/understandable for someone who hasn't seen the first film? (I tried watching Top Gun once upon a time, but...it bored me. *hides face*)

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    1. Eva, it probably would. They give you a few flashbacks to help you understand what happened to Goose for instance. Hard to believe the original bored you, tho! Huh.

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    2. Yeahhh I don't know where my head was. =)

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    3. Eva, well, I'm the one who didn't like 3:10 to Yuma or Hour of the Gun the first time... so don't worry about it ;-)

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  4. Only seen Top Gun four or five times? That's a lot! LOL! I've only seen it twice - once in the theater when it came out, and once on dvd sometime in the 2000's. I remember only a couple key plot points from it. I really enjoyed this sequel, particularly the end mission. The flying footage was incredible and I laughed in delight all through the last bit of it. I was really happy for the humor. Definitely a worthy movie and great on the big screen.

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    1. DKoren, lol! Well, I had college friends who had seen it way more than that. The end mission here was fantastic! And all the flying, yes.

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