‘Top Gun Maverick’ pulls of a rare feat- it not only elevates its predecessor- it rises above it in every manner and even exceeds where it excelled at. The drama is sharper, the script is more refined.
The original ‘Top Gun’ is a mediocrely scripted film that happen to excel in a handful of areas which included impressive- even ground breaking- areal choreography, a great soundtrack, and a charismatic lead. 'Top Gun: Maverick' also contains breathtaking areal chorography and stunt work, a great soundtrack, and a charismatic ensemble.
Tom Cruise's titular character Maverick is a more dynamic and an overall better character in this long anticipated sequel. He’s learned, seasoned, and humble where as in the first film he was reckless, arrogant, and not as charming as he thought despite his charisma and raw talent. Maverick now resembles Val Kilmer's Iceman character in the original- who was supposed to be the antagonist but was actually a good guy.
‘Top Gun: Maverick’ is a good film and it is tailored for a thrilling big screen experience. But is it a monumental achievement beyond its cinematography and areal stunt work? No. It just so happens to be a far superior film to the original. The film is also quite literally military propaganda as the US military provided resources and funding for the film. It glorifies war, asserts a dated status quo, and perpetuates the myth of American exceptionalism. Many films in Hollywood have been guilty of these traits throughout its history but by 2022 it’s eye-rollingly antiquated and tone deaf for a film of this caliber. 'Top Gun: Maverick' is a product of the fear of "wokeness" and the desperate need to coddle boomers.
MY STAR RATING 3.5/5 STARS
Check out other plane themed films available to check out at The Brown Deer Public Library.
