Photo Courtesy of Variety
Top Gun: Maverick
Cinematography: 9.5/10
Costumes: 9/10
Sets: 9.7/10
Acting: 9.8/10
Special Effects: 10/10
Character development: 10/10
“Top Gun: Maverick,” quite literally gives a whole new meaning to the saying “sitting on the edge of your seat.” The much anticipated sequel to the original film stars Tom Cruise as all star fighter pilot Pete Mitchell, better known as Maverick, nearly 40 years after the first Top Gun was released. It received a whopping 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 1.488 billion dollars in the box office, and is rated PG-13 for intense action and extreme language.
The film starts out strong and fast paced, and within the first ten minutes, characters are practically unchanged from the first film. The plot builds on the original film, through many continued plot lines and character arcs. Throughout the film, the character development is thoughtfully planned out. We are reintroduced to Maverick’s determination for the need for speed, a trait that was present in his original character. The film also builds on themes of loss, closure, and unity. It parallels different character relationships from the first film, however, such as the enemies to friends plot line between Maverick and Iceman in the original, and the relationship between Rooster and Hangman in the sequel.
The cinematography in the different scenes where Maverick is flying is incredible, this is mainly due to the filmmakers’ use of different techniques. One thing in particular that stood out was the use of different angles in the film. Scenes involving the planes and more intimidating characters showed them from lower angles to give the illusion of more power. Not only is the cinematography incredible but the sound design also increases the intensity of the film. The use of music and special effects had an enormous impact on setting the tone. Sounds of a ticking clock and heartbeat in the background make already nerve wracking scenes even more stress inducing for those watching. You will undoubtedly find yourself wrapped up in a blanket you didn’t know you had, biting your nails like there’s no tomorrow.
However, for all the things that Top Gun: Maverick did well, the movie was long, and there was quite a bit of forced sentimentality that we thought was unnecessary. The love story between Maverick and Penny, for example, made Penny’s character come out of nowhere and had very little character development. One of the biggest factors that plays into the winner of Best Picture is the writing and the story line, and while the film had a few iconic lines (“you told me not to think!”) we don’t think it was enough to overall win. However, it definitely deserves an honorable mention for character development, special effects, and cinematography. Overall, even as someone who does not like planes (or air travel at all) we found this movie to be fabulous and a must watch!
