Rewind Back to 1986: “Top Gun” (40th anniversary)

The movie I chose for this particular review is one that I will always enjoy no matter how many times I have seen it. The last time I revisited this classic was actually a few years ago when its belated sequel was finally released and I checked it out for the Examiner and the sequel is just as good! The classic I’m talking about is the 1986 film “Top Gun,” which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year!

“Top Gun” was released in the US on May 16, 1986 and received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for its visual effects and soundtrack, but criticism for its screenplay and practically classified the film as military propaganda. Despite this, “Top Gun” overcame initial critical resistance to become a huge commercial hit. Today, the film is still just as popular as it spawned a sequel released in 2022 and a third movie officially in the works.

The Top Gun Naval Fighter Weapons School is where the best of the best train to refine their elite flying skills. When hotshot fighter pilot Maverick is sent to the school, his reckless attitude and cocky demeanor put him at odds with the other pilots, especially the cool and collected Iceman.

But Maverick isn’t only competing to be the top fighter pilot, he’s also fighting for the attention of his flight instructor, Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood.

The 1986 film “Top Gun” delivers a lot of thrilling aerial dogfights, and a still iconic, adrenaline-pumping soundtrack. The high-octane action we get throughout the film can still easily captivate the viewer and the genuine emotional stakes between the characters are also a major highlight of this entertaining film.

I still enjoy the action that “Top Gun” delivers as the production team actually used Navy pilots and real F-14 Tomcat fighter jets instead of relying on computer graphics, which probably would’ve looked not that great at that time. Also, with some of the aerial dogfights and more fighter jet action, it still feels like you’re in the fighter jet with them!

One thing that “Top Gun” is remembered for is Pete “Maverick” Mitchell’s character arc throughout the film. Audiences can easily connect with Maverick because he’s more than just a cocky daredevil. The writers of the film added a crucial backstory about his father’s classified death, which gives him a deep-seated chip on his shoulder. This vulnerability, combined with the tragic death of Goose, forced Maverick to confront the consequences.

Also the friction between Maverick and the by-the-book rival Iceman is another highlight especially as we see how their dynamic evolves from being adversaries to a profound friendship (“You can be my wingman anytime”). Their moment together in the

2022 sequel is also one of the best moments in the sequel! 

The “bromance” between Maverick and Goose also serves as the emotional anchor as audiences can be deeply moved by their easygoing, genuine affection, making Goose’s tragic death later an emotionally devastating turning point.

The soundtrack itself is probably the biggest highlight of this 1986 classic. Audiences embraced the soundtrack for its high-energy. Synth-rock, memorable power ballads and the seamless way the music heightened the intensity of the film’s visual storytelling. Some of the popular tracks include Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone,” Berlin's “Take My Breath Away” and even the Grammy-winning “Top Gun Anthem,” which is one of the most well known themes of the 1980’s.

The 1986 film “Top Gun” received a mixed critical response upon its initial release, but overcame that resistance to become an unprecedented commercial juggernaut and cultural phenomenon. While professional film critics debated its narrative depth, audiences fall in love with its high-octane energy.

Over the decades, retrospective reception has grown increasingly positive, with many considering it the quintessential 1980s blockbuster. In 2015, the US Library of Congress selected “Top Gun” for preservation in the National Film Registry. The enduring love for the original paved the way for its 2022 sequel, “Top Gun: Maverick” (which I plan on revisiting soon), which eventually surpassed the original in critical acclaim.

MPA: Rated PG   (runtime 110 minutes)

Initial release date: May 16, 1986

Streaming services: Paramount Plus/Pluto TV/various PVOD services   (as of writing this review)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Klc__shdj88

• Stunt pilot Art Scholl was killed during the production of the movie, aged 54. He died when his Pitts S-2 camera plane failed to recover from a flat spin and plunged into the Pacific Ocean. Scholl's last words over the radio were "I have a problem - I have a real problem." The exact cause of the crash was never determined, and neither the aircraft nor Scholl's body were ever recovered. The film is dedicated to him.

• Jerry Bruckheimer on convincing Tom Cruise to sign on to the film after his initial reluctance: "So they (the Navy Blue Angels) take Tom up there, and they do five Gs. They do barrel rolls, they do everything. He's heaving in the plane. He gets on the tarmac, runs to a pay phone ... and he said, 'I'm in. I'm doing the movie. I love it. This is great.'"

• The Pentagon charged Paramount Pictures $1.8 million to use all of their planes and aircraft carriers for the film.

• For the opening of the film, director Tony Scott wanted to shoot aircraft taking off and landing on the aircraft carrier, back-lit by the sun. The carrier captain had changed course of the ship, and when Scott asked if the ship could continue on the previous course and speed, he was told that turning the ship cost $25,000. Scott then wrote the captain a quick $25,000 check so the ship could be turned and he could keep shooting for another five minutes. According to Scott, the check bounced.

• Paramount Pictures commissioned Grumman, the makers of the F-14, to develop and install special camera mounts on the plane. This allowed the filmmakers to use real aerial point-of-view footage of the Tomcat in flight.

• The tension between Maverick and Iceman isn't just down to good acting, Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer kept their distance from each other and never socialized.

• This film is credited with starting the home video industry. Originally, VHS tapes were priced at $100 upon their first release, and were sold mainly to video stores. This film was priced to own immediately upon release, made possible by Pepsi Cola buying ad space at the beginning of the tape. Since then, pricing VHS tapes to own right away became a common practice.

• The elevator scene (in which Maverick and Charlie meet after his workout) was filmed post-production. Kelly McGillis's hair had already been colored for another movie role, which is why she is wearing a hat. Tom Cruise's hair is longer in the shot as well.

• Most of the actors who portrayed F-14 crewmembers received backseat rides in the F-14, and several of the scenes which appear in the film were filmed with the actors in the air.

• The highest-grossing movie of 1986.

• The film was inspired by an article in the May 1983 issue of "California" magazine about the U.S. Navy's Top Gun School.

• The line "I feel the need...the need for speed" ranked at number 94 of AFI's list of 100 Years 100 Movie Quotes.