The iconic film that catapulted Top Cruise into action moves, and the film that took us all by storm. Eventually earning $176.8 million at the domestic box office, Top Gun was unlike anything that we had seen before. In the opening moments, a navy pilot, Maverick (Tom Cruise) and his partner Goose (Anthony Edwards) fly's upside down above a Russian built MiG and his partner snaps a picture of the enemy pilot flying. This American navy pilot then flips him the finger and peels off. It’s a basic stunt, but it makes the pilot famous among his friends in the navy. Eventually the Maverick is chosen to fly for Top Gun. Known as the Navy’s most elite flying school. Only the top graduates from each class get to fly there.  

 

Top Gun follows the basic formula for a movie about young pilots:  a military background, thrilling training sessions; a good-looking male lead in a spiffy outfit, a love tale, a competitive element; and of course, the most audience-pleasing element, we call the 80s montage. Which if you don’t know it usually consists of overdramatized scenes which are backed by an upbeat song. In Top Gun, the feature song was ‘Danger Zone’ By Kenny Loggins. This upbeat song encapsulates the dangers of the sky and working in it, it also helped capture the viewers' attention and makes them more interested in the film. The best example of a scene using the 80’s montage is the beach volleyball scene. This scene, however, wanted to portray how fighter pilots' physique is very important. It also highlights the constant competition that happens in the navy and how they compete on every possible level. 

 

The director Tony Scott worked closely with the Navy enabling them to use a birds-eye and cockpit view. Both of which, us as ‘normal people’ wouldn’t get to experience unless we enlisted in the navy or air-force. They filmed many scenes using a 360° angle making it seem that us viewers are in the cockpit with the pilots. This also enabled Scott to film and edit in his signature rock n’ roll style (emphasizing fast cuts, fast action and rigorous sound production) to try and give the film some powerful energy. Would you believe that this only cost Scott $1.8 million to work with them! This included the use of real pilots which in turn cost $7,600 an hour. To shoot some of the flight scenes, Scott put cameras directly on planes. The crew alone used an A-6 Intruder. In this they mounted 4 different cameras using special camera mounts. They mounted one in the cockpit, one under the belly of the plane, one mounted under a wing and the final one mounted on the tail of the plane. It also cost Scott $25,000 to get one specific shot! He was filming aircraft landing and taking off with the sunlight backing the scene. However, whilst filming the aircraft carrier moved off its course and the captain said it would cost $25,000 to do it.  

 

In Top Gun we get to witness Maverick and Goose’s relationship and how it encapsulates the loyalty of their relationship. No matter what Maverick did, Goose was always very loyal even when Maverick's inability to follow rules at some of their training sessions got them into trouble, he always stuck by his side. Even if he’s disappointed at Mavericks behavior he never left. This always motivated Maverick to better as he thought of Goose as like ‘the only family he’s got’ due to the trauma of losing his parents at a younger age causing his reckless nature. Even going as far to trying to prove everyone wrong and that he’s not like his father who was a disgraced Navy seal which caused Maverick to not be allowed into the flying academy, seeming like he, himself self-sabotages himself to many of his instructors who say he has great potential. Overall, it seems like he hasn’t worked through his trauma, which resurfaces after a traumatic event which Maverick seems responsible for, rattling him with guilt. 

 

Recently the sequel of Top Gun came out. Top Gun: Maverick, presents Maverick as a character who still has his devilish charm and rebellious spirit. He now, however, has more of a humility and a reluctant mindset. Completely the opposite to how we saw him in the first film with his recklessness and inability to follow the rules. We meet Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller) who’s the new pivotal character in the sequel. Once again Joseph Kosinski works closely with the US Navy but this time however we don’t get to see many up close, short/fast shots or the ability to have a 360° view in the sequel. Many people say that ‘there’s no substitute for the original 1986 top gun’. This is because of the style of filming that the late Tony Scott had. It’s described as a dynamic style that has seemingly been unmatched by any film maker in the war film genre, especially in the post war era of 1986.  

 

We however see a lot of the characteristics of Maverick, Goose and Ice man in the roster of recruits. Each of the new recruits shares one thing in common. They don’t have any respect for Maverick. But once you meet Hangman and Pheonix, you’ll start to see some of the old characters features in them. Hangman's character has been derived not only from Maverick, but also Iceman. He has Mavericks reckless and quippy nature, but the writers also took Icemans quick remarks and sense of flying. We also meet Pheonix who relates very closely to Maverick. Phoenix has had to fight her way into a job that’s full of men. She had to prove to everyone she deserved to be there just like Maverick had to prove that he wasn’t like his dad, and he deserved to be in Top Gun.