Customer Reviews

Top Gun

5 star:		(119)
4 star:		(34)
3 star:		(27)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

One of my all time favourites even better in Blu-ray!
I am anxious to see even more of my favourites in Blu-Ray!

We've seen it all a million times: Maverick and his buddies, fueled by Reagan-era geopolitics, knocking the Soviet fighters out of the sky; Maverick wearing his shades while riding his bike without a helmet (racing a jet fighter no less). Slick, explosive and full of MTV moments, "Top Gun" is the epitome of 80's movie-making. It's also one of the clearest exercises in plastic filmmaking I've ever seen.

In the midst of its 1986 release, the only thing missing from the hoopla surrounding "Top Gun" was any reference to the film's message. The reason is simple: there isn't one. In its place are instantly memorable images that clearly fit the recipe for success repeatedly concocted by producers Jerry Bruckheimer and the late Don Simpson.

In fact, "Top Gun" is little else behind a potpourri of slick shots of fast jets and good-looking people. Quentin Tarantino's now classic dissection of it as an introspective study of a man's struggle to come to terms with his own homosexuality gives too much credit to this overproduced and overhyped vacuum of a movie. Tony Scott, who has repeatedly shown that he can make above average Hollywood fare (e.g., "True Romance," "Crimson Tide"), fails to give the story any depth whatsoever. This becomes painfully evident when "Top Gun" unloads its inept attempts at getting us to identify with Maverick's "struggle" via the supposedly moving guitar theme and references to his relationship with his father. Heck, I didn't buy it when I was 13, much less now at 26. Then again, it figures that, being a man, I was immune to the movie's "Tiger Beat" factor, which I can only imagine would help account for its success.

Which brings me to the actors. I would give "Top Gun" only one star, but I would like to credit the casting director with assembling a first-rate ensemble, including Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Anthony Edwards, Meg Ryan, Val Kilmer and Tom Skerritt. Sadly, they are ill-served by roles that could easily be played by William Shatner in all his hammy majesty. It's like putting together a team of top painters to do a color by numbers book.

The incredible preponderence of style over substance thus permeates the whole movie and, as a reference point, is eerily prescient of Joel Schumacher's 1990's oeuvre. Thankfully, the talent involved in this overlong commercial would eventually go on to do projects far more worthy of their abilities.

Someone down the line said this is a movie for people"into aircraft and dogfights." If anything, it's foreveryone else. All of the dogfights in this movie are completely contrived and utterly preposterous. The action sequences are predictable and boring the first time, irritating the second, and disgusting the third.

The drama? What drama? All this movie contains are a few annoying one-liners, some ... 80s-qua-80s music, a pseudo-Romance, and a Tom Cruise who is playing impeccably himself. That is to say, he's doing absolutely nothing for the part.

Which might not neccessarily be bad. I'm not sure if there's anything that can be done with the plot. It's pathetic and boring from start to finish, a few arrogant two-bits strapped into paper-mache F-14s doing impossible tricks and fighting lame enemies.

Yawn!

TOPGUN..wat can i say. i grew up watchin this film ,its fun, exciting,thrilling and above all SEXY..tom cruise has never looked soo hott...this movie has given a new meaning to the song 'Youve lost that loving feeling' youd be surprised how many pilots, footballers sing this to girls in bars...it has an amazing soundtrack. 'take my breath away' performed by berlin is a wonderful emotional lovesong that truly melts your heart. so if your a fan of a little romance then this will be a movie top of your list. i know a lot of my boy friends have enjoyed this film so its not just a sloppy romance for girls. the boys get a kick out of 'Maverick' the stud played by Cruise who is 'one hell of an instinctive pilot' who learns never to leave his wing man. His best friend 'Goose' is the coolest character hes so entertaining. there are really fun sexy catchprases, such as 'goose ya big stud take me to bed and loose me forever' and 'son your ego is writing checks your body cant cash'
Top gun is a great movie to just chill out with some popcorn on the sofa and watch with your best friends. ill guarantee you will definately enjoy it.
"there are no points for second place in Topgun." (girls checkout the volleyball scene...mmm)

Top Gun [Blu-ray]

This movie is a classic! I've loved it ever since I got a copy on VHS. The Blu-ray version is fantastic, with full digital surround sound and high-def video, it really comes alive.

This movie is a definate classic. The story line is interesting and not mindless like many of hollywoods other movies. Plus we have a beautiful guy with a smile that will make you melt playing the sensitive yet daring main charecter; need I say more? Be careful about chosing when to watch this though, you may have trouble focusing your brain on anything other than Tom Cruises amazing smile.

Absolute cheese on a stick, but Top Gun proves that that's not always a bad thing. This movie's got everything - an arrogant prodigy who'd be out on his ass if he wasn't so good, a sensible, more down to earth best friend, a love interest, an arch nemesis and his dumb sidekick, a few cool high fives and catchphrases, the emotional death scene, a euphoric victory act and of course, some unforgettable action sequences. What more could any red-blooded child of the eighties ask for?

Anyone born around 1980 will remember how everyone was doing that double high five and saying 'talk to me Goose' to the kid next to them in class. Certainly one of my all time favourites - entertaining stuff.

Top Gun really is the best of the best. this film is all about a maverick(literally)fighter pilot making it at Top Gun, the best fighter school around. Tom Cruise plays an excellent character, without doubt the best character ever invented, and he does amazingly. The soundtrack is brilliant and the script is amazing, with quotes to die for eg "i feel the need, the need for speed". This could be called a cheesy film, but it will, always, make the audience feel delightfully happy, and with a great ambition to become not only a fighter pilot, but also to be maverick. Amazing footage of planes. This film is perfection through and through. This is not an exaggeration. If you have not seen this film, watch it now.
- Lt. Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell: a 23 years old, 5'7'' Tom Cruise.
- Charlotte 'Charlie' Blackwood: a 28 years old, 5'10'' Kelly McGillis.
- Lt. (j.g.) Nick 'Goose' Bradshaw: a 23 years old, 6'2'' Anthony Edwards.
- Carole Bradshaw: a 24 years old, 5'8'' Meg Ryan
- Lt. Tom 'Iceman' Kazanski: a 26 years old, 6'0'' Val Kilmer.
- Cougar: a 25 years old, John Stockwell.
- Wolfman: a 22 years old, Barry Tubb.
- Sundown: a 30 years old, Clarence Gilyard Jr.
- Hollywood: a 27 years old, Whip Hubley.
- Lt. (j.g.) Sam 'Merlin' Wells: a 27 years old, 6'5'' Tim Robbins.
- Lt. (j.g.) Ron 'Slider' Kerner: a 28 years old, 6'4'' Rick sossovich.
- Lt. Cmdr. Rick 'Jester' Heatherly: a 36 years old, 6'0'' Michael Ironside.
- Cmdr. Mike 'Viper' Metcalf: a 52 years old, 6'0'' Tom Skerritt.

"Top Gun", starring Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer in 1986, was a glamorous showcase film for the Navy. Actual Navy recruiters set up shop in theatre lobbies, signing up young hopefuls filled with visions of drinking beer while singing "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'", making afternoon delight with Kelly McGillis, while tear-assing through the skies like a bat out off freedom.

STEVEN TRAVERS
AUTHOR OF "BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN"
STWRITES@AOL.COM

good soundtrack, awesome actors, classic lines, exciting flying sequences and just all-round fun makes "Top Gun" one the true classics of the 80's movie era. In the time of Terminator, Rocky, and the other greats, "Top Gun" is another one of that category. Just a good 'ol fun 2 hours - a good way (escpecially in today's stance) to let loose, laugh, cry and wonder.

a great film. :)