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Top Gun (1986)

Director: Tony Scott

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Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

The story is risible, the direction routine, the underlying ethic highly questionable; but the flying stirs the blood like speed. This concerns the exploits of one 'Maverick' (Cruise), who aspires to be top gun at the Top Gun, the US Navy Fighter Weapons School at San Diego. In what looks suspiciously like a retread of the An Officer and a Gentleman storyline, Maverick, an arrogant piece of Officer Material, climbs the ladder of fly-boy success, falls in love with his aeronautics instructor (an unlikely McGillis), and has his best friend and navigator (Edwards) fall off the ladder and into a concrete cloud. However, the traditional mainstays of love and death are here supplemented by lengthy and highly realistic dog-fight sequences, in which the pupils and instructors tail-chase each other all over the desert sky, and then do it for real with an unnamed enemy over the Indian Ocean. A great ride to hell and back; kick the tyres, light the fires, and you're away. CPea.

Author: CPea 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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User reviews of this film

  • Will Rothery said...
    Posted on Sep 29 2008 07:39 When I went into this film I was filled with expectation (and other things; hur hur hur), but this was quickly dashed when I saw two words. "TOM CRUISE", midget esquire. Although a good actor - I'll never slander a man's skill to fake an orgasm - I find him lacking both in height and originality, and let's face it, he'd never pass the pilots exams on acconut of being 2'3". His side actor, "Goose", should've been re-named "Lemming" and promptly walked off a cliff or comedically blown up with explosives. However, despite my original beginnings, I sat through the film; albeit clawing for my ever-present shotgun, to end my misery.
    I had entered with Max, a long-term friend and chick-flick watcher; and we were disgusted by the entire thing: shoddy acting, bad props, planes which were clearly cardboard, cars which sounded too real, etcetera.
    I still rate it full stars though, the film amused me beyond belief; despite ruining my life, so BEFOREHEAD I kill myself, I'll post his comment.
    DEATH TO CALLUM!
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Cast & crew

Director: Tony Scott

Producer: Don Simpson, Jerry Bruckheimer

Cast: Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, Tom Skerritt, Michael Ironside, Rick Rossovich, Tim Robbins, Meg Ryan full cast

Genre(s): Action/Adventure

Duration: 110 mins


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