Das Boot!

Top Gun… What a classic story about fast toys and the guys who love them.

Back in 1986 when this movie premiered, it hit the streets and went running. With Kenny Loggins (self proclaimed kind of Yacht Rock) at the helm of one of the soundtracks most popular songs, how could this major motion picture go wrong?

With a relatively new actor in Tom Cruise, they set out to make the best movie they could, with the greatest 80s synth soundtrack imaginable.

The result? One of the best movies about fighter pilots around (yes, I said it, feel free to quote me!). How can you go wrong with the likes of Cruise, Val Kilmer, Tim Robbins, Adrian Pasdar (Nathan Petrelli from Heroes for those of you who dont’ know), Tom Skerrit, the one armed commander from Starship Troopers, and the Principle from Back to the Future…

On to the good stuff… Review from today’s perspective

Plot:

Let’s see if I can grasp this concept… Showboating fight pilot and his goofy sidekick (rear nav) get lucky because their #1 quit, and were sent to an ELITE advanced flight school to compete with other pilots from around the navy.

In the midst of the training, the goofy companion and rear nav Goose dies, so the main stay in the story, Maverick (Tom Cruise), has to cope with inner demons and the ever so prevalent theme of "not being good enough".

Maverick comes to his senses and graduates Top Gun (not getting 1st place), only in time to be deployed to a real life air defense mission.

He comes through in the end, saves the day, and Val Kilmer states that he can be his wing man anytime.

Ohh yeah, and there is a sappy love story throughout the whole process too.

Honestly, I’d give the plot maybe 4 stars…I’d give the last star, but the love story really dropped it down for me. The Meg Ryan hotness factor makes up for it a bit.

Plot Rating:

Quotable Lines:

This movie is FILLED with quotable lines! If your a guy who grew up in the 70s or 80s, you LOVE this movie and there is a great chance it’s memorable lines made their way into your everyday conversations.

Here are a few examples:

Iceman: You two really are cowboys.
Maverick: What’s your problem, Kazanski?
Iceman: You’re everyone’s problem. That’s because every time you go up in the air, you’re unsafe. I don’t like you because you’re dangerous.
Maverick: That’s right! Ice… man. I am dangerous.

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Maverick: Tower, this is Ghost rider requesting a flyby.
Air Boss Johnson: That’s a negative Ghost rider, the pattern is full.

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Carole: Hey Goose you big stud!
Goose: That’s me, honey.
Carole: Take me to bed or lose me forever.
Goose: Show me the way home, honey.

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Iceman: You can be my wingman any time.
Maverick: Bullshit! You can be mine.

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Maverick: Too close for missles, I’m switching to guns.

Quotes Rating:

Montage Scene:

Gosh.. This is easily the WORST part of the movie. A bunch of guys playing beach volleyball, close up shots, no shirts on (or tank tops), and horrendously tight jeans…. Come on, this is almost as bad as Rocky 3.

Montage Rating:

Overall:

 This movie kicks major ass, US NAVY style. From fast planes, military intelligence, big name actors, you can’t beat this. It has withstood the test of time, and 20+ years later: It’s still a classic. I plan on letting my kids watch this movie when A.) I have them and B.) They are of age.

Overall Rating: