Movie Review – Top Gun: Maverick
After 36 years of waiting for a sequel, after delays, pushbacks, and other issues preventing Top Gun 2 from being released, the time has finally come to hit theaters. Of course, the biggest concern going in is if this long awaited sequel is worth the wait? We are here to tell you that’s “Affirmative, Ghostrider!”
After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete Mitchell is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him.
In a lot of ways, the long wait adds more to the overall story, the emotion, and the character development between films. Unlike most sequel films, Top Gun: Maverick doesn’t try to play off of audiences’ expectations or retelling the same story from the original, just with different characters. The film does give audiences everything that was enjoyable from the first installment including the fun characters and action, of course. Given that there’s been so much time between films, this would leave a lot of questions for die hard fans. The ending of the original Top Gun left the audience curious about the characters and where they ended up. Maverick brings answers to all of those questions.
As much as Top Gun: Maverick is a drama, it is still very much an action film! One of the most exciting things about the action in Maverick is the flying scenes are all real! This film used no green screens or CGI(for the most part). The flying scenes are so amazing, complete with beautiful aerial shots, that the audiences truly feel like they are up in the cockpit as a co-pilot ! As requested by lead star Tom Cruise, specific scenes were shot and framed to look similar to the first Top Gun. These nods to the original film were to bring back some of the nostalgia that the ’86 version brought us. From the opening scene playing the iconic “Danger Zone,” to the bar where all the pilots hang out, to the amazing flying scenes, Top Gun: Maverick is the perfect mix of the original and a new story.
Summer hasn’t even begun, and this may be the biggest summer blockbuster of the year! This makes for the perfect family night out, date night, movie with friends, or just wanting to enjoy an evening alone. You will not leave disappointed. This is the type of film that is worth leaving the house for!
Top Gun: Maverick is rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action, and and some strong language.
TIP JAR
Manuel Ruiz is a film maker from Ridgecrest. He has been working on Big Hollywood films such as Django Unchained and The Lone Ranger for more than 10 years.
