“He was a natural born flyer, not a cultivated one, and he had
always known it: the ability had been there from the start;
the small amount of effort required to convert it to excellence
had been small. It was like being a boy with a good memory in
a history class.”
- The Hunters, by James Salter
Saw Top Gun last night. Not a bad popcorn movie but excepting a few scenes, totally predictable. Which is okay but they could have put a little more creativity into the script. (Jennifer Connelly is totally underutilized. John Hamm and Ed Harris, called in their performances). In many ways it suffered from multiple climaxes; did not know how or when to end the movie. Typical Tom Cruise movie with him making sure nobody steals the show from him. Poor Tom.
Beautifully photographed, lit, and art directed and edited. Many of the ‘shots’ redefine the meaning of the word iconic with so many being blatantly homoerotic I am surprised nobody picked up on that. Maybe it is just me and my gaydar. And too much bro-love for me but I get what they are trying to communicate, it’s just a bit overdone for my taste (think double hug, last scene). Like they say in the auto sales business . . . don’t talk past the close.
It could have used some serious editing, like 1/4 to 1/3 the movie left on the cutting room floor. Too much back story with nothing to really nothing elevate the character or the plot, which is never clear or convincing. But if you suspend all belief, it is all good. I’m just a tough crowd.
The flight scenes, real, are likely to not be repeated in my lifetime. Just incredible to watch but again, a bit overdrawn and repetitive. Like in bodybuilding, more is not always better.
I think it had the potential to be a so much better movie considering the access they had to the best of the best in all departments, just disappointed they were not a bit more creative, less formulaic and predictable. It was a safe (not logistically)
and easily marketed film to make and given their goals, they succeeded admirably, never missing a beat, knew their core audience perfectly.
In so many ways I liked the original better. But like they say, you always remember your first, and very usually fondly.
7/10
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He said the flying sequences were fantastic.
