Movie Man Darian Watching All Night Long

Top Gun : Maverick 

This film is one of the best sequels ever made! Now it’s been 36 years since the first film and fans myself included have been asking for a follow up to the first film for ages and I’m so glad they waited until the script was right as this is a masterful sequel on all levels. This film has breathtaking visuals with Some of the most riveting practical action sequences I’ve ever seen. Top Gun : Maverick isn’t just thrilling at the action set pieces but it digs deep into some very emotional themes that I didn’t think it would go. As the film takes on the topic of legacy and adapting to the new times while acknowledging what came before you and it’s all done in such a touching way that will get you emotionally swept up where you will have some tears streaming down your face. It is not like most sequels where it constantly references the first film as a lot of sequels do that where they have to constantly remind the audience how amazing the first film was in the sequel or have constant callbacks to the first film. Now Top Gun : Maverick is able to find a perfect balance with referencing the original film in such a smart and well crafted way that you’ll notice some nods to the first film for sure but it’s not constant as the film never leans on Easter eggs or nostalgia from the first film in order to entertain the audience it gives the audience a fresh new story with great new characters and truly amazing heart and soul that has moments for the fans of the first film for sure but it’s able to stand on its own as a damn good sequel without it having to make constant references to the 1986 film. Now Top Gun Maverick is a thrilling ride from start to finish and it has such jaw dropping action sequences truly solid laughs and a great undertone of emotion that hits you like a punch in the chest. 

Firstly, The action in this film is truly groundbreaking! Now Tom Cruise has been a huge advocate for doing his own stunts everyone knows that as he’s old fashioned in the sense where he likes his action films to be as practical as possible. Now when he did the first Top Gun back in 1986 that was his first taste of stunt work and since then has gone on to do some of cinema’s most thrilling action sequences ever caught on film so when this sequel came around for Top Gun he had such experience doing stunt work he knew their was only one way to do the plane sequences in this film which was to make not just himself fly in the cockpit but he trained the entire cast to fly for real in the airplane sequences and that has never been done before. So by making it so practical not only made it the more engaging but kept you on the edge of your seat because you knew going it that it was all real so the way the cockpit scenes and aviation parts are done are truly breathtaking and pulse pounding. 

Secondly, Now theirs the dramatic elements of the story that worked so well. So what also makes this film work so great is yes the action sequences are visually striking and greatly presented in the film but it’s balanced out with truly great emotional moments in the film that will hit you with a wave of emotion. As the tone of this film discusses themes of death, learning to forgive yourself and trying to mend relationships from traumatic experiences and it’s not over the top or cheesy it’s done in such a way that the whole cast especially Tom Cruise all deliver truly gripping performances that tug on your heart strings and may even make you cry. As it’s all about Maverick’s difficulty to adapt to todays world and also dealing with his own trauma and to see that really fleshed out in such a great and authentic way truly not only made the film stand out in terms of not just being a one note film that solely focuses on the action but takes it’s time and focuses deeply on the characters and how  they have evolved since the last time we saw them. As their is also a great moment with Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise in this film that just emotionally gutted me as it’s done in such a way that not only gives fans feelings of nostalgia but they weave Iceman into the narrative in a way that works for the story and not just putting him in the film for fan service but because it works with the emotional aspect of what their trying to express and wow was it so effective. The way they tap into the characters in this sequel needs to be recognized as I don’t think even Top Gun in 1986 gave us so much emotion within the characters as the new characters and the original ones all felt like fully realized characters with truly well structured arcs that got you to feel attached to them the moment they were onscreen and it’s all due to the fantastic direction and terrific writing as well. But what makes this sequel also so good aside from its action is the amount of heart it packs and it’s felt through every inch of the frame. 

Lastly, Top Gun : Maverick accomplishes something that’s extremely difficult which is surpass the original film in terms of story not many films can say it’s sequel surpasses the original and the ones that have is very few and Top Gun Maverick is a damn good sequel that came out at the right time and I’m glad they waited until the script was right in order to do this sequel right and not make it a cash grab but instead doing it for the story and the sheer passion and love for its characters which you could see everyone involved put their full heart and soul into this. As this film provides some of the most breathtaking and groundbreaking action sequences ever achieved for a film while delivering a incredible story packed with amazing call backs to the first film and introducing new characters for us to fall in love with all the while fleshing out it’s characters incredibly with rich emotion and layered complexity that was perfectly executed. Top Gun Maverick delivers on the action, the emotion and truly is a thrilling film that deserves to be seen on the biggest screen this is definitely one of the years best films and a truly knockout sequel! I recommend everyone go see this film. 

This film centres on Maverick being ordered back to Top Gun to train new pilots in order to execute a mission that is dangerous and nothing even Maverick has ever faced before all while dealing with the emotional demons that have been haunting him for years. 

Rated PG - 13 : Some Strong Language

Sequences of Intense Action

Tom Cruise : Cruise delivered one of his best performances in a while! Now Tom Cruise is no stranger to doing dramatic heavy roles as back in the 90’s his filmography was filled with them from Jerry Maguire, Born On The Forth Of July, Magnolia, Rain Man and Eyes Wide Shut to name a few. He’s shown he can definitely knock it out of the park with his incredible dramatic range as an actor now in the last 15 years he’s embraced the action star persona which fits him well don’t get me wrong. I though have missed seeing him flex his dramatic muscles as he excels so well in emotionally heavy roles and here he delves quite deep into Maverick the second time around in a way he didn’t with the first film. As here his arc is so much more fleshed out and you see the mileage and years that have really affected him especially the deep rooted trauma that’s haunted him for years. You see when he comes back to his old stomping grounds the eerie feeling in his heart he has as he knows what happened last time he was their he lost a friend who tragically died with him in the pilot seat and he does not want to repeat history in that way. Tom is able to channel so much intense emotional depth that he hasn’t tapped into in quite sometime and Damn is it compelling to witness as you can see him wearing his heart on his sleeve. The sheer excitement he has when he hears that he’s going back to Top Gun lights up his eyes and soul but it’s only when you see that his wingman’s son will be on the mission that his heart sinks and he has to learn to let go of the trauma that’s been occupying his heart for long and to know that what happened to his friend wasn’t his fault and to take that burden off of himself. Cruise explores so much of Maverick in this film from the deep rooted hurt he Carries on his shoulders that I mentioned to the fun playful charismatic and witty aspect of the character as well he peels back layer after layer of what’s been going on with Maverick since we last saw him and quite a lot has settled into his heart and in this film he unpacks all of that in such a engaging way that you can’t look away from.  Cruise lights up the frame every time he’s onscreen with his eclectic onscreen presence and he gives his absolute all the depth he brought to the character this time around didn’t feel forced or cheesy but natural and really worked well to help show more of who he is as I find we learn more about Maverick in this film compared to the first Top Gun. Cruise channels his emotional range in sometimes really raw ways that will bring you to tears and I haven’t seen him so emotionally vulnerable like this in quite sometime. He doesn’t just give a solid emotional performance but mixed it with that fun action star quality we know and love him for as well and it results in a truly fantastic performance that’s one of his best. 

Joesph Kosinski : This man has been really making a name for himself recently! Now Joesph Kosinski is a filmmaker who I’ve seen only one of his films before Top Gun Maverick. The last film of his I saw was Tron : Legacy back in 2010 in theatres which was a hell of a theatre experience the film wasn’t the best in terms of plot but visually it’s incredible. Now he’s gone on to do Only The Brave, Oblivion and that’s really it in terms of directing and he’s really evolved into quite the solid director as here he takes one of the most beloved 80’s films ever made and crafts a sequel that not only surpasses the first film but truly gave a follow up  that is one of the all time best sequels ever made. You can compare it to even Tron as with that film he was in charge of taking on a huge classic like Tron and try and live up to the hype with its sequel now he did a good job with that film but here you can see how much he’s learned since 2010. He also had the advantage of had worked with Cruise on Oblivion and Miles Teller with Only The Brave. He dose not let the big visuals distract him from focusing on what’s most important which is the journey Maverick and Rooster go on into this film. As yes the flight scenes are jaw dropping and I’m not saying that lightly as the aviation sequences in this film are truly the stuff of cinematic brilliance. He makes sure the characters are fully fleshed out and all have moments to shine both new and old faces as he wants you to be invested into each person in the film which he does greatly. All the while giving fantastic elements of authentic emotion that is felt through each frame of the film and then adding to that incredible action sequences and a hint of romance that all combine into this outstanding well balanced tones that show such depth and keeps you engaged the entire time. He knew how to give fam service without it overriding the brilliant original story at hand which I respect so much. As yes it’s a sequel to Top Gun but he made sure he had the basis of a solid story first before focusing on anything else and then he gives the big blockbuster fun only after he has the basis to do this sequel proper justice. Their are such mature themes in the film from grief, to letting go off emotional weight and All of it is done in a way that isn’t preachy or cheesy but woven into the narrative in such a beautifully crafted way that it’ll make you get a little teary. The blend of hard hitting emotion and the sheer thrills of the aviation parts of the story was so well mixed I can’t compliment everyone involved enough. This is truly a blockbuster that delivers on every front and a large part of its success is due to the brilliant writing the strong direction and terrific performances and commitment from everyone involved at bringing this story to life. The sheer genius of having the actual actors in the cockpit flying the planes in this film is mind blowing and a feast for the eyes as it’s some of the most well constructed action sequences ever put to film with how they pulled that off. Joesph Kosinski gives a incredible follow up to Top Gun that is something truly magical and Tony Scott would of been so proud of what he did.