Top Gun (1986)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Tony Scott

Writers:

Ehud Yonay (article)
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 | F 14 Fighter Jet | Item Thrown Into Water To Honor Family Or Friend

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 8 wins & 5 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Wed. July 22	8:00 PM	OXYGEN
Wed. July 22	10:30 PM	OXYGEN

US Showtimes:

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Cast

Tom Cruise	...	Lt. Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell
Kelly McGillis	...	Charlotte 'Charlie' Blackwood
Val Kilmer	...	Lt. Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky
Anthony Edwards	...	Lt. JG Nick 'Goose' Bradshaw
Tom Skerritt	...	Cmdr. Mike 'Viper' Metcalf
Michael Ironside	...	Lt. Cmdr. Rick 'Jester' Heatherly
John Stockwell	...	Lt. Bill 'Cougar' Cortell
Barry Tubb	...	Lt. JG Leonard 'Wolfman' Wolfe
Rick Rossovich	...	Lt. JG Ron 'Slider' Kerner
Tim Robbins	...	Lt. JG Sam 'Merlin' Wells
Clarence Gilyard Jr.	...	Sundown
Whip Hubley	...	Lt. Rick 'Hollywood' Neven
James Tolkan	...	Cmdr. Tom 'Stinger' Jordan
Meg Ryan	...	Carol Bradshaw
Adrian Pasdar	...	Chipper

Also Known As:

Top Guns (USA) (working title)

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 | 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:

Following the movie, some of the F-5s used as the "MiG-28s" maintained their black paint schemes and served as "aggressor" aircraft simulating enemy planes in the real-life Top Gun program.

Goofs:

Continuity: First date between Charlie and Maverick, level of wine in bottle goes down then up and down then up and then some before the first drop is poured.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Flight Captain: [spoken as flight captain walks into control room]
[said to first controller on his left while hand is placed on controllers shoulder]
Flight Captain: Good morning Scott

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Drillbit Taylor (2008)

Soundtrack:

Playing With The Boys

Entertaining no brainer

Top Gun is a high quality, visually stunning film that does all it can to take your breath away. It is the excellently choreographed dog fights that remain in the mind longer than anything as they are high octane, dazzling bursts of excitement which bring the film to life. However, fighter jet sequences do not make a film and it is the plot where Top Gun has some occasional problems.

Parts of the story are overly cheesy and clichéd. The proud to be American theme is dire, repetitive and anyone who dislikes over patriotism in films will despise this. The story line involving Tom Cruise and Tom Skerrit approaches boredom and is the pinnacle of Top Gun's cheese. 'Cheese' is OK, as long as it is not serious and that is where that specific story line falls flat. The fun cheesy parts are some of the films best moments. The volleyball scene is truly a classic and the four actors involved are genuinely enjoying themselves. The relationship between Tom Cruise and Anthony Edwards is also very moving at times and the dynamic they have makes for great viewing.

The acting is what saves Top Gun from being Tinsel town garbage. Tom Cruise launched his career with this film. His cocky smile makes him perfect for this role and Cruise does fantastically at portraying a determined, passionate character. It is the emotional scenes where Cruise really sets himself apart from his peers. Cruise provides the few scenes where the audience are made to feel any emotion and he carries out his responsibility creditably. Anthony Edwards as Goose is also effective as the man who takes second spot to Cruise's Maverick. He is instantly popular with the audience with his wit, humour and charm. Val Kilmer and Rick Rossovich are great as the rivals. They play off each other really well and do a fantastic job to personify arrogance. Michael Ironside does what he does best and once again, manages to go through a whole film without smiling.

The story between Cruise and Kelly McGillis is very romantic and sensual. The heat between them is conveyed very well on screen and it is this that sets Top Gun above films such as Iron Eagle and Chuck Norris films.

Berlin's 'Take My Breath Away' is a song that still gets a good deal of airplay and suits this film to perfection; it's cheesy and its 80s. The music is very effective at setting the mood and complements the feel of the film.

Top Gun is a film that achieves its objectives, to entertain. If you're looking for intelligent writing or mass thought provocation, this film isn't for you. Top Gun is best suited to those who desire to switch off their brain and enjoy.