Top Gun: Maverick 10/10

Tom Cruise never ceases to amaze in the movies he works on. In Top Gun: Maverick, he was not only the protagonist but also the producer of this famous film. Here, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell returns to Top Gun after 30 years of service as the Navy’s top aviator to train a group of graduates to complete a special mission. Maverick must face his past and fears to fulfill this assignment that demands sacrifice from those who choose to fly it. This sequel was a fantastic experience, something that I have not witnessed in a while. Even though the audience might have a clue of how the ending will go, the filmmakers had me at the edge of my chair, wondering what would really happen in the end. For me, these are the best types of films. 

We have seen Tom Cruise take over his own stunt in almost all of his films. Some of the most impressive ones are those in the Mission Impossible franchise. He didn’t go small either in Top Gun: Maverick. He maneuvered to take off one of the military aircraft. His ability to put himself at risk doing this adds a higher level of realism that would not be present if it were to be comped in post. When there is a high chance of the shots not being possibly done practically, Tom Cruise dives in and challenges the odds (something that also reflects Mitchell’s character in the film). I think that is one of the big reasons why Tom Cruise has a huge success and why he is such a respectable actor. Since he is producing his films within his own company, he has been able to pull off this level of risk. He is constantly working the extra mile to bring fantastic films to the big screen for young and adult audiences to enjoy. 

For this Top Gun sequel, Tom Cruise and the film crew had the opportunity to push forward the story with significant technological development, which was non-existent back in the 80s when the first film was produced. However, even though they had the technological advantage, most shots were done practically not to lose the real essence of flying the f-18s. Actors had to go through high-intensity training to learn how to fly these aircraft, get accustomed to the g-forces and learn what to do to survive an over-the-water emergency. What is unbelievable is that the cast was able to do in four to six months what the naval aviators do in almost two years. In some shots, the actors would be flying the aircraft themselves, but in most of these, they would be accompanied by a trained Navy Pilot for safety purposes. 

In addition to flying the jets, they had to learn to use cameras since a whole camera crew could not film mid-air. Director Joseph Kosinski couldn’t communicate with the actors or see the footage while the actors were flying the aircraft. Therefore, they invented a camera rig to go inside cockpits with the actors so they could have complete control of cinematography. They were actors, pilots, and directors at the same time. 

Top Gun Maverick’s practical effects aimed to make the audience feel what it’s like to be inside the f-18, something that could not have been done as successfully in a studio. However, not all of the film was done entirely practical. CGI was implemented to help and push forward the production. For example, the bombing, missiles, and bullet shooting between aircraft were done digitally, mainly for safety purposes. All of the CGI components were just to aid the practical effects in this film. Even some “ human imperfections” were intentionally left in the shots to sell this film as naturally as possible. For example, they could have cleaned some camera reflections seen in the aerial footage. Still, the filmmakers decided to leave them there to make it a more authentic experience and proof that this film was mostly done practically. 

I have to say that the actor’s performance and chemistry in this film were outstanding. It is one of the things that I enjoyed the most in this film. Not only was I impressed by the training they were put through and the amount of effort and talent they had to bring to the table to make this film a reality, but I was also moved by the narrative they sell with their performance. The Miles Teller performance as Bradley Bradshaw(Rooster) was excellent. I loved the character development in the film and how his complex relationship with Tom Cruise’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell bloomed into something admirable. There was incredible chemistry between Tom Cruise and Miles Teller on-screen and the rest of the cast. 

One of the most significant moments of this movie was the reappearance of Val Kilmer as Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky. Tom Cruise confessed that he would not have made the sequel if it wasn’t with Val Kilmer. The actor battled throat cancer since 2010, which required a tracheotomy, challenging him to speak. However, this was not an impediment to the actor being part of the film.  The central scene when Kazansky reunites with Pete and gives him some advice to complete the mission is the most moving moment of the entire movie. The character uses the written word to communicate, which shows how the actor is also battling his sickness. This was a moving reunion between the characters but also a reunion of the actors as well since they did not work together after the original Top Gun, making it the film’s biggest highlight. 

Even though the overall film was outstanding, the only aspect I found unnecessary was the romance included in this sequel. A big part of the original film was the relationship between Maverick and Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood, which is why I understand that they wanted to include a little passion in the second film. However, In the sequel, they decided to substitute the protagonist’s love interest with Penny Benjamin, who was only referenced at the beginning of the first film. Director Joseph Kosinski mentioned that the reason behind the absence of Charlie in this new film is because they want to look “forward instead of backward” in this sequel. This statement seems bizarre and slightly contradictory to me since there are plenty of references to the original film, especially with the reappearance of Iceman being one of the most moving scenes in the sequel. When Kelly McGillis (The actress that plays Charlie) says that her age-appropriate looks and weight are the main reason she did not return to the sequel makes more sense than the director’s statement. However, rather than hiring Jennifer Connelly, a beautiful middle age woman, to play the role of Mitchell’s new/old love interest, they should not have included romance at all. I believe that the movie would have been equally successful with or without romantic love.

This type of aviation production had not been done before Top Gun Maverick, and it will be hard to see again in any other film. I am looking forward to seeing it nominated for many awards because the plot, the actors’ performance, and the practical effects were outstanding. It is a fantastic film, and I believe it deserves a 10/10 rating. If you are a fan of the first Top Gun film or even if you haven’t seen it yet like me, you will definitely enjoy Top Gun Maverick. This is a cinematic masterpiece that no one should miss.