Earlier this summer I had the opportunity to watch “Top Gun: Maverick” in theaters. Although I went with somewhat low expectations because of the oversaturation of sequels and spinoffs of 80’s classics, I was instead completely blown away. For the first time in months of going to the movie theater, I left with the feeling of wanting more—so much so that weeks later, I went back to see it. Now that it has been out for a couple of months, I think it's worth revisiting to see what made this film become one of the biggest movies of 2022.
The story follows Maverick, one of the best aviators in the navy, played by Tom Cruise. 30 years after the plot of the first movie, he still has a reckless side. When Maverick is tasked with training a group of pilots, he returns to California where the Top Gun program is located. Throughout the training process, he is confronted by his past and eventually is forced to face it, all of it leading up to a climactic final mission that definitely does not disappoint. The screenplay, although having a relatively simple plot, creates a compelling narrative that shies away from overly-intricate storytelling and leans towards a more clean-cut story. But while critics may say it lacks a complex script, it absolutely delivers in great stunts and incredible cinematography.
The cinematography of “Top Gun: Maverick” miraculously makes us feel what the pilots feel by doing mostly everything without CGI. Every aerial scene creates an atmosphere of tension and excitement like no other. Throughout the entire run time, we’re exposed to the mind-blowing shots of Claudio Miranda, the cinematographer (who also produced films such as “Life of Pi” and “Tomorrowland”). From every aerial view we’re given, to the fighter jet choreography, there's a feeling of wonder that elevates each scene and adds to the surreal feeling of flying at insane speeds, much of which is due to the insane 800 hours of footage taken for the film. In many ways, “Top Gun: Maverick” serves as a love letter to aviation in which every flight sequence helps the audience experience what navy pilots feel.
Most movies today use greenscreens and CGI—but incredibly enough, every aerial scene in this film was done using real fighter jets. Using a camera set up inside and outside each aircraft, they were able to capture the real-time reactions of the cast who had to endure the absurd G-forces and act at the same time—not only adding to the realism of the film, but also to the audience’s enjoyment. Along with the camera setup, a company called CineJet was created solely to build aircrafts whose whole purpose was to function as high-speed aerial cameras. Much of the realism also comes from the stunt work done by the meticulously planned choreographing that real navy pilots had to learn and train for. Altogether these filming techniques create a final product full of visually stunning scenes and breathtaking action sequences, but above all else, knowing that these fictional events were done for real greatly elevates the viewing experience.
Originally, “Top Gun: Maverick” was slated to release in 2020—but as we all know, the pandemic hit, closing all major theaters and consequently delaying the film. Although there were several theatrical releases throughout 2021 and early 2022, none, aside from “Spiderman-Man: No Way Home”, were able to revive the movie going culture as much as “Top Gun: Maverick”. One could say it's nostalgia for a past 80’s hit film, great press exposure, or extraordinary trailers. While I do believe that those factors played an important role in getting people back into the theaters, I think it was also the still-standing star power of Tom Cruise, something that very few other actors have.
Currently, “Top Gun: Maverick” is the highest-grossing film of the year, racking up an astounding 1.4 billion dollars worldwide, which is not for nothing. In a year filled with lackluster superhero movies and generic blockbusters, “Top Gun: Maverick” is a breath of fresh air, doing everything a movie should do right. And while most people will never pilot an aircraft, this film makes the audience feel like they're right up there in the action. Altogether, “Top Gun: Maverick” is an out-of-bounds blast of thrill, leaving you at the edge of your seat. It absolutely does not disappoint.
In essence, this movie perfectly encapsulated how a fantastic blockbuster should look and feel. Unlike other blockbuster films that feel like soulless cash grabs, “Top Gun: Maverick” conveys all the effort of the hundreds of talented people that worked on it in every instance. Movies should serve as a way for us to have a glimpse at fiction we could only imagine. Not only does this film serve as a window into the surreal, but the added realism teleports us into a world of crazy stunts, insane missions, and high velocity.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.