Top Gun (1986)

Director:

Tony Scott

Writers:

Ehud Yonay (magazine article "Top Guns")
Jim Cash (written by) ...

Release Date:

16 May 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

From the Producers of Beverly Hills Cop and Flashdance [UK Theatrical]

Plot:

The macho students of an elite US Flying school for advanced fighter pilots compete to be best in the class, and one romances the teacher.

Plot Keywords:

Pilot | Flying | Fighter Pilot | Death | Raised Middle Finger

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 8 wins & 5 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Aug. 9

10:00 PM

TVLAND

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Tom Cruise	...	Maverick
Kelly McGillis	...	Charlie
Val Kilmer	...	Iceman
Anthony Edwards	...	Goose
Tom Skerritt	...	Viper
Michael Ironside	...	Jester
John Stockwell	...	Cougar
Barry Tubb	...	Wolfman
Rick Rossovich	...	Slider
Tim Robbins	...	Merlin
Clarence Gilyard Jr.	...	Sundown
Whip Hubley	...	Hollywood
James Tolkan	...	Stinger
Meg Ryan	...	Carole
Adrian Pasdar	...	Chipper

Also Known As:

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

UK:12 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Iceland:L | Netherlands:6 | Brazil:Livre | India:U | New Zealand:PG | Peru:PT | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-14 | France:U | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1986) | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 (DVD rating) | Sweden:11 | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Naval Training Center, San Diego, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

During the pilot briefing before the final furball, Stinger mentions that the MiGs carry the Exocet anti-ship missile. This is a real missile, however, it is of French manufacture and has never been used by the Soviet Union, Russia, or any of the countries that made up the Soviet Union.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: At the end of the movie, Maverick and the rescued crew meet up on the fight deck. The viewer may incorrectly think the engagement has taken place 120 miles away (making it impossible for the rescued crew to arrive so quickly), but it in fact takes place 120 miles from the SS Layton, not the carrier (the viewer is not told how far from the carrier the battle occurs, though indications are that it is within 30 miles).

Quotes:

[first lines]
Flight Captain:Good morning, Scott.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

Soundtrack:

Mighty Wings

Jerry Bruckheimer delivers again.

Jerry Bruckheimer; the name strikes fear into my heart.

The man honestly cannot tell the difference between action and boredom. With him its hit or miss.

In this case, hit.

Big hit.

Tom Cruise's performance is stellar, playing a role that he would end up playing again and again as the overconfident 'Maverick' who eventually learns his lesson. And a ham-handed lesson it is, hammered home in the end by his constant "I'm not leaving my wingman!" yell.

Val Kilmer shines...heck, the whole supporting cast shines! Meg Ryan, Anthony Edwards, Rim Robbins, Micheal Ironsides, Skerrit--they all come through beautifully. The action scenes are some of the best aerial shots ever shot.

On to the complaints.

Jerry Bruckheimer loads the sap on with a cement truck, nearly drowning this movie in it. The dialogue is corny. Basically--the very things that made the entire movie 'Armageddon' horrible mar the corners of Top Gun. The ending is worse than corny; it's a clear case of deus ex machina. A very clear case. The deus almost knocked me out of my seat.

A satisfying movie, altogether. Four out of five stars.