Top Gun Maverick - Veteran pilot teaches Top Gun pilots for Impossible Mission

Top Gun: Maverick is a sequel to the 1986 film Top Gun with Tom Cruise reprising his starring role as the naval aviator Maverick. It is directed by Joseph Kosinski and written by Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, and Christopher McQuarrie based on a story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks, that are based on characters of the original film created by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr. It also stars Val Kilmer, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, and Ed Harris.

The film tells the story of Pete "Maverick" Mitchell callsign Maverick as he is task in training a group of younger Top Gun graduates, including the son of his deceased best friend, for a dangerous mission. A past Maverick regrets so much. Also spoilers ahead.

As plot goes Top Gun Maverick is just former Top Gun veteran (Maverick) task on training a bunch of younger pilots so they can accomplish a seemingly IMPOSSIBLE MISSION (<---see what I did there) of destroying a hidden military bunker inside a fortified mountain whose only entrance is a low fly through a SAM infested mountain valley. The story is decent if not for the fact that it sounds a lot like the plot for Ace Combat 5. And to add salt to the wound that said impossible mission in the movie sounds a lot like Ace Combat 2 Mission 5 OperationGreased Lightning. The writer or at least someone is probably a big fan of the game. Also its fun when the movie keeps going even after you think its already over.

On a different note if you want to read about my review on Ace Combat 5 you can read all about it here. 

The start of the movie felt slow and only picks up one they are on the planes and doing training. Also I know Top Gun is supposed to have a love story in it but it is probably one of the slowest parts of the movie for me and thankfully there is really not much of that in this movie. Still outside those similarities to a certain game the movie is its own thing specially the later part of the film where they are forced to fly a stolen plane from a now destroyed runway…oh right there is also this.

The characters are pretty decent. Having Val Kilmer as Tom “iceman” is a good choice. I personally love the back and forth banter between Tom Cruise as Pete “Maverick” and Miles teller Bradley “Rooster” character specially at the later third act of the film. You do feel their character has grown so much from what they were at the beginning of the film to what they are later on. I do feel they had more character in the movie than necessary but then again we wouldn’t have enough training scenes if they lessen the pilot count during the training scenes. Also hats off for putting Ed Harris on this one too.

I love how they handled the dog fight scenes and the mission cinematography. From the extreme close up to the twist and turn the film shows you intense action without you getting confuse on who is who or what is going on and that’s a feat hard to pull specially for planes flying at break neck speed. Also since the plot of the film mirrors Ace Combat it also gives me hope that there is a possibility of an Ace Combat movie in the future if the big folks in Hollywood want to make one.

The only downside I found is the slow pacing at the beginning and the probably unnecessary love story angle the film has. It won’t break the film to have a love story I am sure but I do feel the film would still be okay without said parts as it has enough plot and character to keep the film interesting. Also there is one joke or two at the beginning that feels really cringe when Tom Cruise character walks into a bar wearing his helmet and asked for water. You know what I mean when you see it.

Overall Top Gun Maverick is really an enjoyable film specially if you’re a fan of fighter planes, dog fights and surprisingly good story telling. The film is not for everyone but the film knows what it is and does it really well. The cast is likable and the story is as gripping and adrenalin inducing as it gets. This film proves that he can still pull off a convincing Maverick persona and make it good. Highly recommended if you’re a fan of the franchise or in the mood for some movie with a good plane dogfight.