Top Gun 1986

Rough Drafts
3 min readJul 25, 2023

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Review of Top Gun Part 2 — The Old Film

Top Gun is a 1986 American action drama film directed by Tony Scott and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer. The film stars Tom Cruise as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a Naval aviator who is training at the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) alongside other elite pilots. The film also stars Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, Tom Skerritt, and Meg Ryan.

The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $356 million worldwide against a production budget of $15 million. It was praised for its aerial combat sequences, visual effects, and soundtrack. The film also helped to popularize the bomber jacket, aviator sunglasses, and Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses.

Top Gun is a visually stunning film that delivers on the high-octane action that fans have come to expect. The film features some of the most impressive aerial combat sequences ever put to film, and the cast delivers solid performances. Cruise is excellent as Maverick, and he is supported by a talented cast of young actors.

The film also features a strong emotional core, as Maverick grapples with the ghosts of his past and tries to find redemption. The film also explores the themes of legacy and mentorship, and it ultimately delivers a satisfying conclusion.

However, there are some things about Top Gun that are wrong with it by today’s standards. For example, the film’s portrayal of women is outdated and sexist. The film also features some homophobic and racist stereotypes.

Here are some of the key elements of Top Gun:

  • Aerial combat: The film features some of the most impressive aerial combat sequences ever put to film. The sequences are visually stunning and exhilarating, and they offer a realistic depiction of what it is like to fly a fighter jet.
  • Cast: The cast of Top Gun is excellent. Tom Cruise is excellent as Maverick, and he is supported by a talented cast of young actors. Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, Tom Skerritt, and Meg Ryan all give strong performances.
  • Emotional core: The film also features a strong emotional core. Maverick grapples with the ghosts of his past and tries to find redemption. The film also explores the themes of legacy and mentorship.
  • Portrayal of women: The film’s portrayal of women is outdated and sexist. The film’s only major female character, Charlie (Kelly McGillis), is objectified and sidelined. She is also portrayed as being less capable than the male pilots.
  • Homophobic and racist stereotypes: The film also features some homophobic and racist stereotypes. For example, one character makes a homophobic remark, and another character uses a racial slur.

Conclusion: Top Gun is a product of its time, and it has some outdated elements that are wrong by today’s standards. However, the film is still visually stunning and exhilarating, and it features strong performances from the cast. If you can overlook the film’s flaws, then you will still find it to be an enjoyable watch.

Overall

Top Gun is a classic action film that helped to popularize the fighter pilot genre. The film features some of the most impressive aerial combat sequences ever put to film, and it also has a strong emotional core. However, the film’s portrayal of women and its use of homophobic and racist stereotypes are outdated and problematic.

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