Top Gun (1986)

Top Gun

• As one of the most iconic films of the 80’s, it’s a fun watch if you love fighter jets and action. Tom Cruise is the definitive movie star to me, and this film is really what helps define him as an actor. And as many action films as there are, it’s nice to get one that feels very grounded and realistic. Now, my biggest complaint is in the story department. There’s honestly not too much there, other than the themes of friendship and grief. But other than that, it’s mostly just flight training, and the stakes aren’t super high. For some, that makes it a bit boring, though it’s still exciting, and every flight scene is a rush of adrenaline. They were pretty well shot, and the film does a fantastic job of putting you right up there with the jets. For an 80s action flick, the editing was pretty seamless. The cast is decent all around, with standout performances from Cruise, Anthony Edwards, and Val Kilmer. Everyone else was just alright, but the main three are so iconic, even if the acting was horrible, you’d still love them. Plus, the bromance between Maverick and Goose is one for the ages. They bring a lighthearted feel into a serious film, which was nice. The music was also good, and very fitting for 1986. It has the very overused 80s sound, which is both good and bad. It’s good because it’s an electric score that boosts the excitement, but it’s bad because it sounds like every other 80s film ever. But it could be worse. I also really love the inclusion of “Danger Zone”. It’s definitely one of the best songs ever used for a film, and it’s so iconic. Overall, I would definitely recommend this film to all action lovers. This film is officially Berry Approved, so go see it now!