1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- Top Gun

#780- Top Gun
Starring: Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer
Directed by: Tony Scott


Plot Summary: In the world of Navy fighter pilots, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell and his Radar Intercept Officer Nick "Goose" Bradshaw are selected to enroll in the Navy's Fighter Weapons School, also known as "Top Gun." Maverick is a loose cannon pilot with a chip on his shoulder, thanks to the infamous reputation of his father, but hopes to be the best fighter pilot. His biggest opposition is in the form of Tom "Iceman" Kazanski, who is just as cocky as Maverick but plays by the rules. Maverick falls for a civilian contractor with a Ph.D. in astrophysics, named Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood. With Charlie's support and Goose by his side, Maverick is confident to take on any challenge at "Top Gun," become the best pilot and a future instructor at the academy.


Now we've come to one of my favorite decades in all of pop culture, the '80s. Within this movie list, there are tons of movies I've always wanted to see from this gloriously cheesy decade. One of the films from the '80s I've wanted to watch the most was Top Gun. Like Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, or anything starring Sylvester Stallone or Arnold Schwarzenegger, Top Gun is one of those '80s action movies that are necessary for most moviegoers to see because it summarizes a lot of what the genre is about. Sure, the characters are unoriginal and you can map out every plot detail a mile away, but that doesn't mean the movie isn't good. While it is predictable, Top Gun does the one thing that most blockbuster movies strive to do: entertain the viewer.

The main protagonist of the film is Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, played by Tom Cruise. Maverick is exactly what his nickname would suggest, a hot shot pilot who doesn't play by the rules, and Cruise does a spectacular job of giving Maverick all those qualities by still making him likable. I think Cruise's biggest selling point in his charm is through that smile (which he flashes almost every time the camera is on him). The audience is able to see the amount of dedication Maverick has in being the best, so we are able to respect his ambitions and hope that he can accomplish his dreams, a very strong formula for a well-developed and memorable hero to follow. If Risky Business was the movie that put Tom Cruise on the map as a star, then Top Gun is definitely the movie that has cemented his status as one of the most iconic leading men of our generation.

Maverick's main competition at "Top Gun" is Lieutenant Tom "Iceman" Kazanski, played by Val Kilmer. Iceman is really only a bad guy because he is as good, if not better, than Maverick. He's a bit cocky of his abilities, but then again, so is Maverick. He really is like a mirrored image of Maverick, except he plays by the rules, and perhaps that is why he gets under Maverick's skin as well as he does. He is given the nickname Iceman because of his cool demeanor in flight, yet does show some moments of humanity when the situation is appropriate (thank goodness he wasn't your stereotypical '80s bully). Not everyone is a threat to Maverick, as is evident through his Radar Intercept Officer, Nick "Goose" Bradshaw, played by Anthony Edwards. Goose adds many fun moments to the narrative, as he is the stereotypical comedic best friend character to our main protagonist. The best part of Edwards playing Goose is that I never found myself annoyed at Goose's antics, which can be a VERY big problem with modern-day sidekick characters.

The stereotypical character archetypes don't end there however. Maverick's main love interest is Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood, played by Kelly McGillis. While she is described as a woman with a Ph.D. in astrophysics, it's very much glossed over. Most of her time is spent being pursued by Maverick. Even though she is supposed to be his superior, she throws all forms of professionalism away for a romantic relationship with Maverick (in a very awkward sex scene for an PG film in the '80s). Luckily, Maverick is able to seek professional guidance from his chief instructor, Commander Mike "Viper" Metcalf, played by Tom Skerritt. Skerritt plays Viper the way he's supposed to be, a no-nonsense mentor figure for Maverick, but is also kind and compassionate when he needs to be.

Every cheesy '80s movie needs an equally cheesy '80s theme song, and Top Gun has one of the absolute best in "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins. A lot of people think about "Danger Zone" when Top Gun is brought up and the two are mostly used together in homages and parodies (my personal favorite being with Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother) and it's not difficult to see why. It's a great song that knows how to energize an audience and sets a perfect tone for the action that takes place on-screen. The song is used so perfectly in the film, that it is used THREE different times. I'm sure there are millions of people who have driven down a highway and get hyped up when "Danger Zone" plays because it feels like an appropriate song for some feels the need for speed.

By this point, EVERYONE has pointed out the homosexual undertones in Top Gun. Admittedly, there are a lot of scenes and moments that people could point out, but I think I'll give the movie and plot the benefit of the doubt and say it was unintentional. Think about it from these two perspectives, the first being that there are only a handful of female characters in the film, and the second being that these are adolescent male characters bonding and joking around with each other (don't pretend that high school and college guys don't act this way). If anything, the recruits at "Top Gun" are like a fraternity of fighter pilots. What this film should REALLY be remembered for is that it is an action classic from the '80s in every sense of the word. There are certainly many moments that are over the top, but it is still a fun and exhilarating film from start to finish.


Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Top Gun is one of those '80s movies that are a perfect representation of the decade. The entire movie is corny and clichéd, but it is darn entertaining. I strongly recommend checking the film out at least once, and would even say it's worth owning in your collection, especially if you love all things '80s.

Comment below to share your thoughts on the movie or to discuss a topic that I left out of my review 

Top Gun and movie images are copyrighted by Paramount Pictures