Fly back into the high-def danger zone with Tom Cruise as Top Gun makes it onto Blu-ray. What I can’t figure out is if it’s supposed to be a love story between Maverick and Charlotte or Maverick and Goose. Charlotte’s nickname is Charlie, hmmmmmm.
Everyone is pretty much known by their call signs so that’s how I’ll refer to them as well. Hotshot pilot Maverick (Tom Cruise) and his radar intercept officer Goose (Anthony Edwards) are serving aboard the USS Enterprise.
He may be the hotshot, but he’s not the top pilot on the ship. Cougar (John Stockwell) loses his edge and resigns after an in air incident that puts Maverick and Goose on the top of the roster.
The elite fighter pilot school, referred to as Top Gun, is bringing together all of the top pilots and with Cougar’s resignation Maverick gets to go. Maverick immediately rubs top student Iceman (Val Kilmer), instructor Jester (Michael Ironside), and commander Viper (Tom Skerritt) the wrong way.
He attempts to pick up Charlotte (Kelly McGillis) at a bar on his first night there but is unceremoniously “shot down.” It later turns out that the “Charlie” that is one of the school’s civilian instructors is short for Charlotte. Their brash confrontation soon blossoms into romance.
However, tragedy threatens to have Maverick drop out of the school. When he gets back in the air will he still have his “edge” or will Iceman’s opinion of Maverick turn out to be true?
Top Gun would be the film that firmly put Cruise on the top of the heap and would go on to earn over 300 million worldwide. I seem to recall it being a very good film, but maybe I was just watching it with more of a jaundiced eye this time around. I kept trying to figure out if this film was supposed to be a love story between Cruise and McGillis or Cruise and Edwards.
Mav seems far more broken up over the breakup with Goose than he does with “Charlie” since he’s slinking out of town without even talking to her.
I’ll try not to go into the homoerotic aspects of the film, but they do take every opportunity to go into the locker room or have shirtless volleyball games (now in high definition no less if that’s your cupa). The backslapping male bonding also seems a bit extreme as well.
What is great about the film is the flight sequences and there are some good songs on the soundtrack - though some probably haven’t aged well. It’s easy to make fun of (as Hot Shots proved). The film is obviously a product of its time, although one that still entertains – either on a serious or humorous level.
It’s nice to think of Cruise’s image as it was here and not without the baggage of today (though that still has a tendency to creep in as you watch it). I found the transfer quality exceptional and would have to be the best that I’ve sent the film looking.
Top Gun is presented in a 1080p high definition transfer (2.35:1). Special features come from the newer special edition (2004) and are in standard definition. First is a commentary with producer Jerry Buckheimer, director Tony Scott, co-writer Jack Epps, Jr., and naval experts Capt. Mike Galpin, Pete Pettigrew, and vice admiral Mike McCabe. Next is the massive 2 hour, six part “Danger Zone: The Making of Top Gun.”
It’s followed by multi-angle storyboards (7 minutes) with commentary by director Scott. The 28 minute “Best of the Best” looks at the real naval flying school. There’s also a gallery (17 minutes) of vintage music videos with the likes of Kenny Loggins, Loverboy, Berlin, and Harold Faltermeyer.
There are also TV spots (4 minutes), a behind-the-scenes featurette (5 minutes), vintage Tom Cruise interviews (7 minutes), and a 7 minute Survival Training featurette.
Top Gun probably hasn’t aged well, but it still has some great stunts. They look even better in high definition. It reminds you of when Tom Cruise was a big star and you wonder where he’s gone wrong (Oprah’s couch). This may be one of his bigger moments and Blu-ray now gives it a chance to shine again.
Top Gun [Blu-ray] is now available at Amazon . Visit the DVD database for more information.
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