Blog #7 (Top Gun)

Top Gun is a film directed by Tony Scott, produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer. The film stars Tom Cruise as Lieutenant (LT) Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a naval aviator invited to train at Navy’s Fighter Weapons School, known as TOP GUN, by the aviators. Other notable stars are Val Kilmer as LT Tom “Iceman” Kazansky, Kelly McGillis as Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood, Tom Skerritt as Commander (CMDR) Mike “Viper” Metcalf, and Meg Ryan as Carol Bradshaw. The film opened May 16, 1986 and grossed 353 million worldwide.
The plot is very well written and shows Maverick and his sidekick Goose (Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) Nick Bradshaw) flying over the Indian Ocean being pursued by Soviet fighters. Maverick a very talented fighter pilot inverts his jet and flips off the Soviet fighters and that gesture persuades the Soviets to leave the airspace. This actions pumps up Goose and Maverick and when coming back to the aircraft carrier to land Maverick asks the carrier’s Air Boss permission to do a flyby which is denied. Maverick continues through to do the flyby anyway and once landed was ordered to the Captain’s office to be reamed by him for the flyby stunt. After hearing the Captain scream to them about the flyby he states that Maverick has been invited to Top Gun for training.
During the training Maverick shows off very good skills but in the end its selfish flying. This is something that Goose expressed to Maverick. Maverick and Goose go out for some off time and that is how Maverick and Charlie meet and start a subplot between the love life of Maverick and Charlie. Meanwhile Maverick and Goose are flying during a flight session at Top Gun and fly into some jet wash and Maverick is unable to gain control of the jet and Goose and Maverick must eject from the jet and during the ejection Goose hits the head gear of the jet and dies. This makes Maverick not ever want to fly again. Viper keeps sending him up to fly but Maverick does not engage in the sessions. Finally, Viper and Maverick have a discussion about Maverick’s father another fighter pilot, heralded as one of the best. During the discussion Maverick ask Viper what are his choices. Viper explains that Maverick can graduate with his class because he has the required points or he could quit. Maverick choose to graduate and he goes on to his next assignment.
The whole movie is about Tom Cruise’s character whether it is his search for how his father flew, his love life, or his flying with his sidekick. I would recommend this movie for anyone.